Chapter 3

The Journey Begins

Aang didn't sleep that night. So much on his mind prevented him from drifting off. He also did not cry.

Holding back the tears was hard, but he tried to avoid them and work out a game plan.

The night was long and morning wasn't as pleasant as it used to be. Now that Katara wasn't by his side and a new danger was threatening the world.

When the sun came through the windowsill, Aang nearly crashed.

He had pulled an all-nighter by just lying in bed. However, it was no use trying to go back to sleep now, they had to meet Zuko at the palace and head to Omashu. As he slipped out of his monk clothes and into traveling gear, he heard Katara's door open from across the hallway.

He put his ear to the door and listened to see if she was talking to anyone. But she was silent.

She made her way down the steps and was probably heading for the parlor. Aang sighed. He knew he would have to make it up to her somehow. Running downstairs as quick as he could he rush into the parlor to find Katara, Sokka and Toph all sitting together.

"Morning Aang, Sokka said with a small smile. Obisly he had found out about him and Katara already, Aang had guessed.

"Would you like something to eat before we leave?" We have a long journey ahead of us.

Aang sat down on the sofa next to Katara and shook his head. I'm not hungry," he said.

"Suit yourself; I'm going to have myself I buffet"

Aang looked at Katara who had not even said good morning to him.

Instead she was kneeling by a bowl of water and bending it back in forth in deep concentration.

Aang tried to work up a conversation. "Good morning Katara, how are you today?

"I'm fine thank you for asking," Katara said softly.

Her attitude had changed since yesterday, and she was clearly still upset. He did the only thing a boyfriend could do when his girlfriend was upset; he put his arm around her. Katara quickly noticed and took action.

"Aang not now, I'm trying to practice," she said.

Aang removed his arm and hung his head. Toph and Sokka both looked at him with uncertainty.

20 minutes later, after Appa was packed and everyone was ready, Aang started to board. Katara was the first to get on. A look of determination was on her face. Clearly she was ready for anything that the entity would throw at her. What a brave waterbender she was Aang thought.

Sokka a boarded onto Appa next after saying his goodbyes to Suki. He didn't want her on the mission, in fear that she might contract the sickness.

Suki was angry over this, but understood that her boyfriend probably knew best. She gave him one last kiss and waved as he and Toph climbed aboard.

Aang waved goodbye too and signaled Appa into the air. Looking over his shoulder, he took one last look at Ba-Sing-Se. For it would be the last time he saw it in a long time. As they flew Sokka pulled some parchments from his bag and unfolded them.

"I got these at Ba-Sing-Se University last night. They're medical documents. They tell about all kinds of diseases, how they are caught and what the cure is."

"Let me see those," Katara said, taking the parchment from Sokka's hands.

As she gazed over it she looked puzzled.

"I don't see anything about a disease that causes madness. Did Zuko tell you any of the symptoms Aang?"

"No, he just said people started to act different, and then would become violent."

Katara looked even more confused. "Odd, well we're almost there; we'll see what this prisoner has to say soon enough."

She handed the papers back to Sokka and stood up. "The palace is just up ahead."

Sokka stood up as well to take a look. My, it sure has changed," he replied.

"How so? Asked Toph fiddling with rocks that she had found on the ground.

"There are more buildings and it doesn't look as dark as before. It's a pretty fire nation!" He cried.

Aang landed Appa in the same place as yesterday and sure enough, Zuko was waiting for them by the door. He looked different not in his Fire Lord robes. His clothes looked just like the ones; he wore when he first joined them.

Katara quickly jumped off Appa when they landed and ran to Zuko. She embraced him with a big hug and smile. Aang's heart sank at the sight. "Katara it's great to see you again, Zuko said. How have things been?"

"Fine, Aang and I were getting married but we've decided to postpone it again."

"Ah, that's a shame when do think you'll have it? I'd love to come to the wedding."

Katara hung her head. "I don't know," she said.

Zuko could tell what had happened. He hands on her shoulders and said, "Hey chin up ok?"

Katara gave a small smile and thanked Zuko. She was joined by Toph and Sokka who greeted Zuko warmly.

"Long time no sees, Fire Lord," Toph said giving him a hard punch. Zuko rubbed his arm, and gave a smile. "Well that's one way I remember you, Toph.

Sokka pushed his way through the people and shook Zuko's hand.

"How has Fire Lord Duties been?" He asked. Zuko looked happy to answer.

"Very well, we just got back from the northern water tribe. We're helping them recapture the ice palace.

Sokka looked pleased. "Lovely. Yue would have really liked that."

Aang in the meantime, had not gotten off Appa. He sat on his back rubbing his hands together in worry. Zuko quickly noticed.

"Aang come on down and chat for awhile," he said.

Aang looked up and saw everyone looking towards him. His attidude then changed. "Let's go to Omashu, I'm eager to speak to this man."

His friends looked like they didn't want to leave yet. But they knew they had duties to fulfill, so the three quickly boarded and flew to Omashu.

By the time they arrived it was late in the afternoon and scorching hot.

Katara, do you have any water?" Toph asked.

"Yes, but try not to drink all of it. I need it for bending," she said.

Katara gave Toph the pouch and everyone began their walk through the city. Omashu looked the same as it ever did. Aang knew King Bumi would see to that. His friend never was fond of change, and Omashu wasn't the kind of city that needed it anyway.

As they were walking, they noticed a lot of people who were locking up their houses. Must be trying to prevent from getting the sickness Aang thought. When they reached the upper class part of town, it was practically deserted. The houses were empty, and their was no people Katara asked looking very sad at the sight.

"Yes, this is where it's the worse," Zuko said. "Many people have also left the city because of it, therefore transferring it to people in other towns and cities."

That's horrible."

"Indeed it is, and that's why we have to find out what's causing it."

They approached the prison and were surrounded by earthbender guards. The gang all put up a fighting pose, ready to spring into action. The guards warned them,

"You attack you all under arrest.

It wasn't worth it, so why bother to fight.

Aang put down his staff, and Sokka dropped his boomerang. Toph let down the boulder she was holding, and Zuko and Katara withdrew as well.

"We've come here to speak to a prisoner, Zuko said. The guards didn't get out of position.

"Many people are poisoned and are in a raging frenzy they are locked up for reason. No one may see them."

"I am the Fire Lord, and this is the Avatar. We've come to speak to Roki to learn information about the sickness that is spreading."

One guard's attidude changed. He signaled the others to let them through."

Alright but only for a few minutes," another guard said. Roki may not be as bad, but he's still dangerous.

They led the gang down to the lower part of the prison, where Roki was located. When they came to a metal door, a guard pulled out a key and opened it, revealing a single cell at the end of the hall.

Contained within the cell was am awful sight. A man who had no shirt and barely any pants was rolling in the dirt. His skin was peeling apart and was bleeding from his face. Near his eye lids were slits that had become infected. It looked as if his eyes were about to fall out. The man had something pretty serious and was desperate for help.

The gang almost through up at the scene, but they kept the illness in and faced the man. Roki stood up in his cell and walked over to them. Zuko stepped forward as well to interrogate him.

"Roki, I need you to tell me all you know about this sickness you've caught.

Roki's eyes had become bloodshot red and his lips were swollen, making it hard to understand him.

"This slimy disease, ripping me life apart. I'm left to rot in this cell while the creature carries out his plan."

"Plan what plan Roki?"

Roki moved closer through the bars and grabbed Zuko's shirt pulling him towards the cage. "The plan to posses everyone into a raging fury and destroy each other."

"Who is this is this creature? Why is he doing this?" Zuko demanded.

Roki threw up on the floor and lost his balance and fell. He lifted himself back up, and looked at Zuko.

"Once he has everyone kill each other, he and the one who awoke him we'll purge the world and make it their own. The human that awoken it, is granted powers and with these powers he posses one person in every city to infect everyone. Then leaves him to die and continues on to posses others".

"I was the one he chose. I infected everyone with the sickness, and now everyone is Omashu is practically dead because of me. I am no longer possessed but I am still infected. I will die shortly. And I am glad." " This world has become a terrible place, and the creature has only just begun its wrath and I wish not to witness it."

Roki fell to the floor again, this time he struggled to get up and was coughing up blood. Zuko knelt beside him to ask one last question. "Roki, what is this entity called?

Roki struggled to speak but he managed to utter one last word before passing.

"Kakorla!"

Roki's lips twitched as he closed his eyes forever, leaving Zuko in amazement. He turned to his friends who had witnessed everything.

"So what do we do now? Sokka asked.

Zuko looked back at Roki's body.

"Well, we know what the enity is and what its planning, now we need to find out how to stop it."

"Maybe we should head to the Southern Air temple. Gyatso showed me a book once on supernatural enemies who once tried to take over the world. Maybe information on the Kakorla is there."

Zuko nodded. It sounded like a plan, but he knew they didn't have much time. The virus was spreading and the Kakorla would win if they didn't find a way to stop it. The guard signaled them to leave. As his friends left, Aang ran back into the cage and kneeled down to Roki. Placing his hand on Roki's stomach

"Thank you for your help he said. The spirits will forgive you for your actions, and may you rest in peace."

Suddenly, Roki's eyes lit up and he bit Aang's hand. Roki looked up at him with pitch black eyes and blood dripping from his mouth.

"You're the key to our destruction Avatar," he cried.

Aang screamed and held his bitten hand tight and ran back upstairs. When he stepped outside he looked at his hand. The blood was mixing with black gunk in the wound.

Aang became scared. Had he become infected with the sickness?

He looked at his wound and wondered. Should I tell Katara? Maybe she could heal it.

"No! They'll just get scared and lock me up in there with Roki. I can fight whatever sickness that comes to me. Besides I'm the Avatar, I've probably built up immunity to illnesses."

He tore a piece of his robe off and wrapped it around the wound. Then getting up and running to catch up with his friends. But in his heart he couldn't help having a small feeling of dread.

Another cliffhanger! Anyway, I have more great ideas for the next few chapters. So please review! And beware of the sickness.