I do not own Avatar: TLA in any shape or form.

Really.

If I could, then I would

I'll go wherever you will go

Way up high or down low

I'll go wherever you will go The Calling: I'll Go Wherever You May Go

Book 4: Jiāng lái: The Future ( 將來)

Chapter Three: The Ugly Duckling

The night rained down on them quickly and soon it was time for Aang and the others to head over to the hotel. Aunt Wu hugged Katara gently. "Come back in the morning before you leave for your fortunes dears," she told Aang and Katara.

Katara nodded as she walked away from the older woman. "Of course, I have some question I want to ask you."

"Let's go Katara!" Zuko yelled with his arm around Mai's waist. Katara shot Zuko a cold look before bowing her head at Aunt Wu again.

"Thank you for the food and hospitality. Tell Meng I said good night," she said before walking towards Zuko. "Don't rush me you dweeb!" Katara yelled as she hit him gently upside the head.

Aang turned to say goodbye to Meng and noticed that the girl was no where in sight. He picked a little inside the house, but she wasn't in there either. As he scratched his head Aunt Wu came up from behind him.

"Looking for someone?"

Aang jumped slightly in surprise he let out a harsh breath and nodded. "Meng, is she around?"

"I believe she is unpacking her things, but tomorrow you'll be able to say goodbye," Aunt Wu told him, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder.

The Airbender looked back as Aunt Wu led him out of the home. Aang knew that he could say bye tomorrow, but he still wanted to see Meng before leaving for the night.

"Alright Aunt Wu," he conceded. "Just let her know I said goodnight," he requested before running off to join this girlfriend and companions.

"Of course dear," she told him while waving them off.

Aunt Wu waiting until the group was gone from sight before heading back into her home. Closing the door behind her she looked up the stairs to Meng's room. "Meng," she called out softly.

There was no response from up the stairs. Sighing softly Aunt Wu made her way to Meng's room her feet making little to no noise on the usually creaky steps. Reaching the door Aunt Wu knocked gently on the oak wood door she waited for a moment before entering.

Meng was sitting on the floor taking items from one bag and placing them into another. It was a mixture of clothes, books and other miscellaneous items. The girl's dark grey eyes were in a daze as she worked ignorant of the woman in her room.

Aunt Wu kneeled down and touched the girls' shoulder making her head shoot up in shock.

"Oh Aunt Wu!" she exclaimed. "What's wrong?" Meng asked as she saw the concern in the elderly woman's face.

Aunt Wu looked at the bag she was packing. "Why are you packing up again?"

Meng looked down quickly to avoid meeting the woman's eyes. "I'm leaving."

The old woman gasped in surprise before kneeling down to the girl. "But, you just came back. Why do you feel the urge to leave once more?"

The young girl was silent as she folded a tunic and placed it into the brown bag. Aunt Wu grabbed Meng's hands and tugged the girl gently.

"Meng, is it the Avatar?"

"His name is Aang," she whispered back still avoiding eye contact.

Frowning slightly the elder woman placed a wrinkled hand under Meng's chin picked her head up. There was a distinct sadness in the young girls' eyes as well as a determination. It was the same determination the girl had shown nearly two years ago when she told Aunt Wu that she was gonna travel the world. Then the fortuneteller had been unable to stop Meng and this time would be no different.

Sighing she caressed the tanned cheek of the young girl. "He loves another woman, Meng. The Ava- Aang is not the big eared boy…"

"It's not about the stupid prediction!" Meng yelled standing up sharply almost making Aunt Wu fall back. She walked over to the window. "I used to think it was. But when I saw him today, the man he has become," she sighed and stroked the windowsill with a finger.

"I let him leave once and I always figured it was for the best. Now, I don't want him to leave without seeing if there is something more that just a crush. I'm not a kid anymore Aunt Wu," she said turning to face the woman. "I understand the risks of going after this, but I know if I don't you will regret it."

"Well," Aunt Wu started in a saddened voice, "let me help you pack then. What is left?"

Kneeling down to the floor Meng tucked an ebony lock behind her ear. "I've got all my clothes, my sewing stuff, notes and books. Can you grab my staff from under my bed and a black box that's next to it?"

Nodding Aunt Wu reached under the bed and pulled out a black metal rod along with the box. The elder woman felt the weight of the staff and gasped. "This is a weapon."

"What did you think I survived on my own for so long just with looks?" Meng teased grabbing both items. "When I went to the Northern Air Temple I met a man known as the Mechanist. I stayed with them for awhile. His son Teo taught me how to glide a little bit and before I left he made me this staff."

Meng slid the cool metal along her palm until she got to the groove in the metal, a button. "You press this," she explained pressing it and the staff expanded by a few feet, "and it lengthens or shrinks." Pressing the button again it became an arms' length. Placing it into the bag she then grabbed the box. "These are the blade attachments."

"Blades!" Aunt Wu exclaimed in shock. "Meng have you ever killed anyone?"

Meng sighed softly and looked down. "Not if I could help it."

"Meng!" she yelled standing up appalled.

Laughing the girl took the woman's hands. "I'm just joking with you Auntie. I haven't killed anyone."

Shaking her head Aunt Wu gave Meng a slight tap on the forehead. "Don't play like that. My old heart can't take that kind of stress."

Looking down at the young girl Aunt Wu could remember the night when Meng's mother brought the little baby to her doorstep. Raising the young girl like her own grandchild, all the nights Meng had cried she was not pretty. Each time she read Meng the story of the Ugly Turtle-Duckling telling the awkward girl that her beauty would come as long as her inside was beautiful.

That had been just another prophecy that had come true in its on time.

Bringing her "granddaughter" into her arms she kissed the girl's forehead lovingly. "I'll miss you Meng, please don't stay to long."

Wrapping her arms around the older woman Meng took in the smell of fire and powder. "No worries Auntie, I will always come back. This is my home and no matter what, this is always where I'll want to be."

Katara fluffed the pillow on her bed as she watched Aang look out the window. He had been doing so for awhile. At first she thought he was waiting for something, but now it looked like something was on his mind. Walking over to her boyfriend she placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"Are you okay Aang?" she asked rubbing his shoulder now.

The teenager Airbender sighed and smiled at Katara placing his larger hand over her smaller one. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just thinking about where we should go after this." He smiled and placed a hand on Katara's hip bring her closer to him.

"We could go back to Omashu visit the Cave of Two lovers," he cooed as he placed a kiss on his girl's lips.

Katara smiled and leaned into the kiss. Aang felt his heart skip a beat. It always did that every time he kissed Katara, yet even with that each time felt different. Like their love was growing.

After a moment the blue eyed girl pulled back and placed her head against Aang's. "That sounds like a wonderful time, but you know we can't."

"Why not?" Aang asked pulling away.

"Aang, we have important work to do back at the Fire Nation. I'm the ambassador for the Southern Water Tribe and you're the Avatar. We can't just go to Omashu without notice," she explained. "How would it look to everyone if we skipped town to go on a date? People will talk."

Aang frowned and fell back on the bed folding his hands over his chest in annoyance.

"Who cares if people talk? You're my girlfriend, we are supposed to go out."

Katara rubbed put her fingers to her temple before crawling besides Aang on the bed. He didn't understand just how people looked at their relationship. Once people got wind of the fact that he had once choose her over the Avatar State, they started seeing how their relationship would effect Aang's work. Already they were weary of such a young Avatar who had already failed them before. Now, even three years after the war they were still weary of him. She refused to be his downfall.

"We will go out soon," she whispered kissing him on the cheek. "I promise."

Aang sighed and kissed her forehead. "Alright."

"So as soon as we get back there will be a meeting with the Earth King and his new wife about setting up an embassy," Zuko told Mai as he paced on the floor in his sleeping pants.

Mai sighed and leaned back against her pillow. "Zuko, I know. This meeting was planned over a month ago. I've gone over every sheet of paper you've thrown at me. I know what the meeting is about."

"That's another thing," Zuko said as he kneeled besides Mai's bed. "Please be nice."

Mai sat up in the bed and shot a cold look at Zuko. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing, nothing," he said cupping her hand. "I just know sometimes you like to say things that are very…witty. I just need everything to go right with this Mai. You understand don't you?"

Mai looked down at Zuko's pleading eyes and could remember Aunt Wu's words floating in her mind.

I can feel you are losing yourself slowly under all the things expected of you and it is not only taking away your voice but it is taking away your identity.

Pulling her hand away she turned and lay back down in bed. "I understand."

The night faded and the day arose once again. Zuko, Mai and Appa waited outside as Katara and Aang went to visit Aunt Wu together. They decided that morning that it would be faster that way.

Aunt Wu was dressed in her usual attire, sat in the middle of the room with Aang and Katara in front of her.

"Thank you so much for seeing us this early Aunt Wu," Katara stated. "I know this isn't normal for you."

"Nonsense dear," Aunt Wu dismissed waving her hand. "I told you to come before you left and you did. Now ladies first."

Katara put her hand out eagerly and Aunt Wu slid a careful finger over the girl's palm. "Well my dear. Last time I told you that I saw the man you were going to marry. I told you he would be a very powerful bender. Well I was right and you know that man. Soon you and him will make my prophesy complete my darling."

Katara shot a look at Aang, smiling as she remembered her conversation with Mai last afternoon.

"I'm sure of that Aunt Wu."

Nodding Aunt Wu turned to Aang who was looking distantly at the door as if he was waiting for something or someone.

"Aang?" she called and the young man snapped out of his daze.

"Sorry," he apologized with a shy smile before holding his hand out to the woman.

Smiling the old woman took his hand and looked it over carefully. "Hmmm," she said softly. "That's very interesting."

"What is?" Katara asked more curious than Aang.

"I see a road with a fork in the middle of it, two paths waiting for you. Both paths are equal in length, beauty and importance. Yet you will have to make a choice about which one is more important to you. Both outcomes are positive, but the choice will be hard to make," Aunt Wu told Aang before closing his palm. "But in the end I see happiness for you once you have made you choice."

Aang looked at the fist Aunt Wu had made and uncurled it.

"A choice…"

Katara put her hand in Aang's. "Don't worry, whatever it is I'll be there for you."

"I know," he said kissed her on the cheek quickly before standing up. "We better get going before Zuko freaks out about missing his meeting."

Laughing at the though of Zuko raving the whole way through the ride about his "schedule" Katara got up and waved goodbye to Aunt Wu.

"Thank you for everything. Where is Meng?" Katara asked. "I wanted to say goodbye."

Aunt Wu's smile faded just a tad. "I believe she is outside."

The couple bowed deeply and left the backroom. Outside Mai and Zuko had already taken their place atop Appa's saddle. Meng was standing beside Appa stroking his fur gently.

"There you are," Aang said walking up to her. "I thought you had forgotten to say goodbye."

Meng turned to face Aang. A backpack hung from her right shoulder. "I didn't come to say goodbye Aang," she told him softly. "I'm coming with you."

I would like to say thank you to the following:

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Note to readers:

I did not kill Suki for Tokka. I killed Suki to show in later chapters how Sokka would deal with losing one of the most important people in his life.