Episode 003 – The Dreamweavers

Gathered around their father they sit glued to his tale until finally the end comes. Hushed silence with jaws slack as they allow the words to sink and for the tale to cement into their memories. The questions form with each layer remembered as details knit together.

"Cooool," Sokka says breaking the silence.

"What happened to the Dreamweavers Dad?"

"Well as the tribes lost the need for it the practice wore off," he sighs looking at the lunar eclipse. "It is believed that they still roam, coming out on nights such as these when our moon is hidden. We draw from the strength of its presence. It shines in our darkest hours. It guides when we are blind to the trees and shadows that loom overhead but it isn't everything. The Dreamweavers believed that the moon held a power that nourished our body-"

"Our dreams," Sokka realizes. His father smiles, nods, but all this goes unnoticed by a completely in awe Sokka.

"Why wouldn't there be a need to practice it anymore," Katara yawns as she swirls a tiny amount of water between her hands in mid air.

"Many thought the ways of the weaver had become dark, others found the art ancient, and some didn't think it served a purpose."

Sokka leans over to whisper in his dad's ear as Katara looks on curious. Her father lets a low chuckle before shaking his head, "No, I don't believe they were sacrifices in the way many thought them to be however what is true yesterday may be false tomorrow."

Sokka belts a sigh of relief relaxing back onto a pallet of fur. "Then why call them sacrifices?"

"The dreams are quite powerful so it is believed when the beast comes around it is to bound the person forever. The neanderbeast feed off the fears and emotions intertwined with each dream. In legend they don't physically eat the person but do feed from their soul until there is nothing but a body. Villagers used to say people with blank eyes had been victims of the neander. Lives lost, dreams forgotten…"

Katara eyes wide with horror, "Why? How can anything like that be okay? I'm glad it's gone."

His father pats her, soothing the fear racking her small body, "You say that out of fear but the Dreamweavers are important. People only became sacrifices when they gave up. Dreamweavers aren't meant to torture they are there to help a misguided soul back to its path. True it's nothing pleasant if they can't find their way back but such as life. There is light Katara, always, it's just waiting for us to discover it within ourselves," he says pointing a figure to her heart. "That goes for you too Sokka. The nature of the beast isn't meant to be beautiful. It is there for us to learn from."

Katara sits clutching her fist over her heart feeling its beat, learning its rhythm until it slows and the only thing she can feel are the tears of fright and her raspy breathing like a chill that can not ease. She doesn't know why the story bothers her so but before going to bed that night she takes one last look at the moon.

The eclipse is over. She inhales deep feeling the power harvest from the brightest glow illuminating the sky, the earth's shadow may block it, but it presence still radiates her core. The pull of its life so fierce, that she could crumple against its magnitude.

She doesn't know it yet. She hasn't come to know just how great her potential is. And that someday the entire world could bend to her will.

She stands watching. Fearing that's all she'll ever be good at doing. Watching from afar and waiting for him to see her. The wind sweeps as she stands from a hill watching the activity down below. Her only companion is a wispy tree frail and on its last leg of life. There is also the lingering sorrow to keep her company but she refuses to give it notice. Ignoring it's lurking presence and knowing that it'll go away eventually.

She isn't jealous. No, she's happy for him but really envious of her. She supports them both and knows someday soon they will start a family. Her own dreams with Sokka will someday be Suki's reality.

Ty Lee commits to one fallen tear before ending the pity party and taking a seat to lean on the weakened tree. It's withered bark and slanted posture capable of supporting her weight in better days and Ty Lee is sure if it could speak it'd probably ask for support from her instead.

She pats the tree, "There, there" and it snaps. She sighs disappointed in her failed attempt in communing with nature in order to not feel as alone as she does. At the thought of alone her minds draws a case of how she isn't. She sees images of easier days with Azula and Mai, her family, the other acts of the circus, and the Kyoshi warriors but it's not the same.

Caught in her locked gaze of Sokka she doesn't hear the person approaching until he says, "Boo" into her ear.

Springing into action she immediately blocks his chi and watches in horror as her eyes awaken to see Haru collapsing to the ground.

"I'm so sorry!"

"What's going on?" Sokka asks with Suki beside him.

"It was an accident," Ty Lee starts but stops. She tweaks her eye, "You were just down there, and how did you get up here so quick? And Haru I didn't even hear you? When did you get here?"

Not waiting for them to answer, "You weren't here," she says, "I'm sure of it."

Haru vanishes instantly as does Suki leaving Ty Lee and Sokka. The scene shifts and Ty Lee is back at the circus standing tall before an audience of bearded Sokka's. All pointing, all laughing at only her, even the ringleader is bearded Sokka and she backs away.

"Isn't this what you wanted? It's me and look at little Kisu," he points to a girl in a cage, "she wants to come out and play too."

"But they won't let me," the little girl whines, "Free me Ty Lee. Help please."

Ty Lee stares at bearded Sokka and at the girl in the cage before feeling a powerful whoosh of air swirl around.

"It's your aura," the girl says, "it's all confused right now. Your already half way there, don't stop. I can help you. Help me and I'll gift you."

A bolt of lightening is shot directly into the cage and the girl is flung back, "No Kisu the only gifting you'll be doing is to me. We have a deal," Azula says throwing a side glace to Ty Lee, "Don't worry Ty, I haven't forgotten."

The room spins. She can hear the faint but uneven breaths of the girl and Sokka's arm at her wrist but Ty Lee stands still. She's numb to the moment biting back fear, choking on sobs, and feeling helpless.

"You don't have to do this," Sokka says holding his hand out to her. "You're stronger than this. Fight it," he says moving back an invisible strand of her to touch her face.

He leans into her. At first his hold is soft, tender, loving as he controls the emotion threatening to bring her down to her knees but slowly her strength builds. Ty Lee pushes him away ever so slightly and he kisses her on the lip.

She lets it happen for a moment. Though it could be easy to get lost in it, she could allow herself to drown in its blanket of warmth, security, and wonder but- no. The moment isn't right and as she reluctantly stops the kiss she catches her breath in order to say, "No."

She watches the smile spread across his face and he holds her hand as he begins to fade, "I knew you could do it."

Her body shakes. Quivers beating against her, tiny rips, bones cracking, limps snapping, and she begins to recognize the aggression. There is urgency in the motion. Like a rag doll she is shaken as her body jolts back and forth, back and forth.

"Ty Lee!"

"Ty Lee! Can you hear me? Wake up!"

"Ty Lee!"

Her eyes attempt to focus but they close as soon as they open unable to support themselves. She knows the voice calling out to her. A mix of sadness and confusion surround the voice but the image of the face can't be retrieved almost as if it's being blocked.

"Please Ty Lee! Don't die. Think about Mai! Zuko! Sokka! Suki! The other Kyoshi Warriors! Your family! Wake up! Leave the dream; you're almost there, pass through it. Wake up and make this your reality," she pleads her voice cracking midway.

"You are running short on time blood bender. You have a choice-"

Katara's eyes become slits to the side as she sees the wolf behind her knowing she'd been followed. She huffs deciding to ignore the beast. She hears the painful wail in the night and knows the Neanderbeast is somewhere close.

Ty Lee face is pail, her lips a soft purplish blue and Katara worries that she might already be too late. The moon is still hidden. Her powers are suspended and she looks to the creature as she drags Ty Lee's body knowing it has something to do with it.

"You have chosen not to help us then?"

"I have" Katara says matter of fact without any hesitation. She pats Appa who is also under a heavy anecdote of sleep.

"If you choose wrong he shall die."

The snow starts to descend again. The light specs flicker and Katara close her eyes feeling the tears burning beneath her lids cursing the Dreamweaver's existence.

"I don't understand any of this- Why must I choose? Why now?"

The wolf disappears and Katara is left standing at a still as a passed out Ty Lee on the brink of death. A soft crunch sounds as Katara comes down on her knees feeling the heaviness of it all for the first time.

Betray Aang or let Zuko die?

'But he won't really die,' she thinks but knowing for what life will be like once he does wake up he might as-

"No," she shakes it free already knowing.

She knows the answer. Not delaying another second she concentrates locking her body into a still motion as she taps into the bending. She can do this. This is hers. Whatever the Dreamweaver was doing or attempted to do would not keep her from the part of her most true- her water bending. She would no longer lie down without a fight against the restriction.

Her hand reaches out in the direction of the moon as she grabs hold of an invisible thread. Her finger in a grace so casual, hypnotic as it twines the line around her index finger. Slow but sure the motion moves at the pace of a slug-turtle yet with the fluorescent elegance of a leopard-fly taking flight.

Ty Lee's eyes attempt to budge, to fight the sleep as she looks at the figure standing before her. The girl is glowing with a soft blue light encasing her like an aura concentrated solely within her. The emanation is tantalizing. Ty Lee forgets. The images call upon her to remember but she is drawn. The girl is beautiful. She believes she might even know her. And for a moment she wishes for a friend in her. She pictures her and the girl laughing over nothing, they bond teaching the other tricks. But Ty Lee can't keep the toothpicks from snapping. She gives in to the desire burdening her lids. She sleeps dreaming of the girl with the blue aura that makes the air dance around her while the world stands still in awe.

Katara shoots off allowing her mind and heart to be the guide. She is sure the Neanderbeast has found Zuko but she is prepared to do whatever it takes. To sacrifice anything in order to save him, even if the answer leads to betrayal, she is prepared to make that choice.

"Your decision is too late blood bender. You are too late to save the boy. He is lost to his dreams, nightmares- they are his new reality."

The beast comes into view as Katara slows into a jog and her anger looms as she sees the animal hovering over Zuko's body. His face is twisted in an undeniable anguish and Katara worries about the images that fester within the mind of a once scorned prince. The life he has now, though better to some degree, is made worse by those that would love to see him suffer. And for all his pain the only thing he wants most in this world is his mother.

Katara realizes the emotion on his face has to be for his mother. He dreams of every missed opportunity, every happy-filled image snatching his mother away only leaving him more damaged than before. She listens as his breath goes ragged, wasted on the things he sees as the artic air that surrounds drains him of life. His fiery spirit engrossed in a nightmare.

She pulls the sniffling beast away from him and pulls him to the ground as several shards of ice are thrown her way. One breaks through her coat and slices her arm but Katara continues as more shards hit her.

She forces the blood to warm, to move his limbs and with each step she takes more shards come her way. She drops down beside him to cradle his body against hers. To warm him as more shards hit her arms before finally one, two, several glide into her back.

She could stop them. She could protect herself but all her power now is going into Zuko. She centers her body in order to experience the pain at a lesser degree. She shifts through the fog to create a temporary shelter to force the build up of heat. When his breath begins to find a comfortable flow she breaks the shelter up sending its pieces in all directions but there is nothing. The beast is gone and so are the ice shard throwers whom she never saw.

She bends the snow to move them across, too weak to pull Zuko, she keeps her line to the moon. She thinks of Toph rock blading and wishes she could show the blind bandit her own version of it as she holds tight to Zuko fearing she might lose him.

There is a light bouncing from the igloo Katara had made for Ty Lee and Appa. Dragging Zuko inside there is a fire going. Confused Katara gives a quick glance over the campsite before her eyes roll back. She falls to the ground and tries to fight it.

Fight it. Fight it. Figh-

She drags her body, no pulls her self closer to Zuko when another spells takes hold of her. She notices the trail of blood from her hand and fear takes a place in her heart. A new understanding forms as she reaches out to hold Zuko's hand. She closes her eyes feeling the heat of the fire and thinking of the one raging within her clasped hand.

"Congratulations blood bender. You have a made a choice. Until we meet again…"

Zuko wakes in the middle of the night. Beside him rest Mai sleeping quietly. For a moment his eyes show another but the vision is gone through the blink of an eye. He slips onto a robe and fumbles through the dark before lighting a flame in his palm.

He walks the garden path alone feeling the soft breeze carrying through the night. His hands gently caressing the flowers tall enough to reach the tips of his fingers and he closes his eyes against the sensation. There is a peace starting to build inside of him despite the day's event. He opens his eyes at the sound of his foot to the bridge. They widen at the sight just at the other side.

He whispers her name but no sound is made. Anxious to reach her yet afraid of it being a dream he takes his time to drink in every bit of this moment before it disappears. She is blanketed in a soft blue light that surrounds her.

She sits perched on a large gray rock. As if she knows he's there she shift to allow room for him. He takes a seat beside her. His arms reach to wrap around her but then he remembers why he can't.

"You're not dead are you?"

"Zuko," she exhales. She doesn't face him and only asks, "Are you happy?"

He opens his mouth to ask her what she implies, to accuse her of-

He stops and really looks at her. The dried tear trails still set on her face, the warmth from her eyes missing the life it usually holds, and her body partially faded from the waist down.

Before he can ask another question she reaches over to grasp his face in her hands. She leans into him. Their breaths collide. Eyes lock as they drink in the sight of the other. A moment that's been in the making as he leans into the hand to kiss it softly-

"Our nightmares, our dreams make their way through the world to become our reality Zuko. Don't lose sight of what really matters."

Their lips touch…

The world expands in front of him. He sees nothing but fire scorching the earth for miles and miles into the distant. A man standing tall on a hill, his back turned so that Zuko can't see the face but he recognizes who it is. He'd know the back of his father anywhere- Ozai. The world shifts, turning to confirm what he already knows.

The heat of the world burning touches him as he comes face to face with a man with empty eyes. Black pits sunken but wearing a smile happy in the destruction that he's created. Zuko stares disbelieving, knowing the scar that defines the face of this man. Knowing all too well that the person he faces isn't his father.

It's him.

The snow ruffles beneath the body as it moves, searching for a grasp to anchor it as it rises. Slow to rise, devoid of life her arms reach out in stiff like fashion. She doesn't hesitate, once standing she works to accomplish the task at hand. She drags the first body beneath the light of the moon. The snow shiny and slick doesn't deter her from her goal.

Like a woman possessed she latches onto Appa, now awake, whom hunches down to allow for easier access. Once she has a firm hold she puppets both bodies onto the curious bison that only huffs disturbing the peace of fallen flakes.

She controls their movements simultaneously. Through her the moon flows until finally she secures the reigns. They take flight.

In the sky the moon rides with them. Her aura bright as Katara eyes gleam the same shade as the moon. Katara's bright blues are pale as she sees the path lay out before her. Time moves quickly and soon the sun will rise against the horizon.

They land just at the edge of the Southern Water tribe shores. She doesn't have to walk far. She knew he'd be here. He heard her call and as promised there are others there to help.

She leaps from the bison and joins hands with Sokka.

"Thank you," he smiles reaching out to hug her. "I'll tell them," he says in a rush knowing that soon it'll be over and she'll be gone.

The sun touches her face as she smiles, "Goodbye Sokka," and she lets go freeing Katara's body as it drops into Sokka's embrace. Their father, Hakoda, scoops up Katara as her body lies lifeless.

Sokka stands staring at the moon fade and a new day begins.

"Thank you Yue."