{Aang}

There are so many things I want to say about this particular moment in my life, but words really don't give it justice.

Perhaps I should stick with the basics and say it like I mean it. The truth and nothing but the truth.

So bare with me here. I'm going to try to make this as clear as possible. If anything comes out crazy...well, try not to point fingers.

The chaos never stopped with just this event. It was only the beginning of something more...something none of us were prepared for...

[Excerpt from AvatarOfWisDom784 profile…]

Chapter Seven: Eyes of the Beholder...

Reasons for Title: Have you ever thought that the sights around you could all just be a big lie? An illusion? Who's to say we're not daydreaming now, imagining what's in front of us in vivid detail.

Is what we see really the truth? Don't our eyes often deceive us?

Tricks of the light, vague outlines, dark shadows...what's in front of us may appear menacing when in reality it's nothing short of the natural environment we inhabit.

So, I guess the real question is...how can we tell when our eyes are lying?

Her scream grated against my eardrums, sending chills to my spine. I didn't dare to move or breath, stuck to the floor with the grace of a statue. My lips were threatening to split as my teeth sawed into the soft membranes.

I took in a deep breath and tried to speak again. "Dear...spirits..." I covered my mouth, trying to keep the nausea at bay. I had never felt so sick in my entire life.

Sokka wasn't saying anything, he was frozen. I was faintly grateful that he was in shock, because otherwise the fists would have come flying at me with the force of a rhinodillo.

Toph was muttering. "That...what just happened?"

Suki stared at the screen. "I think...did he take her bending?"

Zuko frowned, rubbing the bottom of his chin with his forefingers. "Well, to be honest we can't say that for certain. The explosion happened right while they were in the middle of it..."

"Who cares about that, what if her bending is actually gone?! What are we supposed to do?!" Sokka was glaring at all of us, but his eyes zeroed in on me. "You!"

I squeaked. "Sokka, please I-"

"I don't want to hear it! Just...urgh! Did anyone write down the list?"

Zuko gave him a quizzical expression. "What list?"

Sokka slammed a hand against his forehead. "The rules! The list with the rules! Did anyone write them down?"

Toph raised her hand and I cringed internally at what was sure to follow. "Yeah, I wrote them down. The paper is in my sleeping bag."

Sokka's eyes brightened. "Really Toph? Finally, someone gets it! We need to fo-wait a minute, TOPH!"

"Jeez, calm down! I was kidding!" She got up on her feet, sticking her tongue out in Sokka's direction. "You need to chill, alright? Katara could be fine for all we know. Let's not get overworked, it won't help in her case..."

Sokka's face grew red as he spoke. "Yes it will! Don't you see? Guys, how did this all start?"

I groaned. "When I found that stupid TV-"

"NO! I mean, when did Katara first disappear?"

"It was earlier today, when she went out to get groceries." Zuko stated bluntly.

"Right, and what happened before that?" He stared at me, obviously pushing me to make the next response.

Slowly, my eyes widened as I finally realized where this was all leading up. "I turned the TV on..."

"Exactly. You broke the rules, and that caused all this craziness. So, if one of us breaks the rules again..." His eyes were sparkling with excitement and mischief. "We can all get in there, whip his butt, and-"

"Sokka, breaking the rules won't give us an automatic ticket into Republic City. The only reason the Spirit took Katara was because she served as a punishment for Aang. He's not going to send us all in if that's what we want."

Sokka glared at Zuko, offended that he was interrupted. "Well, we need to get his attention somehow. We have to rescue Katara!"

Toph shrugged. "Or, we can just wait for the Spirit to bring her back. I'm sure there's a time limit to all of this..."

Suki smiled softly, rubbing Sokka's shoulders. "Besides, Korra was probably the one who caused the explosion. She'll help Katara out, I'm sure of it!"

Sokka gave her a weary look. "Really now?"

"Yes. Remember, Korra is Aang's reincarnation. Katara is an important part of Aang's life, so maybe Korra will be able to make some connection with her."

"Huh...that actually makes sense..." Sokka was staring at the screen with curiosity now, probably mulling the idea over in his head. "It just might work..."

Toph jabbed him in the back lightly. "The point is, we won't know unless we watch." She sat, tugging on Sokka's pants until he lowered himself, grumbling with his hands underneath his chin.

I sighed, massaging my temple as I tried to calm my racing heart.

I...I don't really want to watch anymore of this, I really don't...

I shoved the thought out, blinking away the moisture that had been clotting the creases of my eyelids. Get a grip on yourself! You're the Avatar, and if you want to help Katara you're going to need to toughen up! Be a man!

I puffed out my chest...and let out a long, drowned out moan. Ugh...

I looked up, startled to feel something rubbing my head. "Huh?"

Zuko gave me a small nod. "Relax."

I nodded vigorously. "I'm fine."

He kept his hand on my head as the screen puffed out static. It shimmered and vibrated before an image appeared on the screen.

The screen zoomed in closer to Mako's face. He grabbed his brother from behind. "Bolin!"

"Mako! You're my hero!"

"Come on, we have to go!"

I frowned. What about Korra? They weren't just going to leave her behind, were they?

Mako and Bolin went outside, climbing down a ladder that was set near the edge of a patio. They were about halfway down when a man with a green goggle mask took a step above them, swinging metal sticks. Electricity buzzed out of the tips, transferring to the ladder.

Mako and Bolin were sent to the ground in a harsh heap as the man jumped down, waving his sticks.

Wait a minute, didn't we see that guy before? "Who is he?"

Zuko grumbled. "I'm not sure, but I think he's Amon's second in command."

As the sentence left his stiff lips, Mako was currently battling the metal wielder, fighting with faint fire thrusts. He was shot back five feet, hitting the ground in a tumbling spin while Bolin shot up from the ground, sending multiple blocks into the air.

The metal wielder dodged them with ease, doing a set of back flips before performing rapid electrical jabs to Bolin's midsection.

Bolin screamed. "Ah-agh-ah-gahaaaaah!"

The sound oscillated from a high rattle to a low moan before Bolin fell forward. I cringed. "This is so messed up!"

Sokka grunted. "Honestly, their bending sucks."

Suki nodded. "Are they holding back? You'd think they would be a little more aggressive, considering it's their life on the line..."

"Actually, I think that's the best they can do."

I turned to Zuko with a dull expression. "What do you mean?"

"Well, they're just a couple of jocks. It's not like they've been properly trained for combat or anything like that."

Sokka huffed. "Than why is Mako able to lightning bend? I thought you had to be a master to do that."

Zuko sighed. "Uh...raw talent I guess?"

"Talent huh?"

"Yeah..." Zuko had a pained expression.

I knew this was a touchy topic for him. Despite being a master, Zuko still hasn't been able to produce his own lightning. I can imagine how humiliating it was, to see a firebender like Mako achieve something so blatantly without the proper training.

I gave him an encouraging grin. "I'm sure he must have had a teacher at some point. After all, we've only seen them in their teens. We don't know anything about their childhoods."

"Actually, we do. We know they both used to work on the streets, struggling to get by. They're orphans..." Zuko stared at me, his eyes flashing. "They've been alone all their lives, any defense they've picked up has been self-taught..."

"That's a pretty heavy generalization," Sokka mumbled.

Zuko shrugged. "That's what I have so far. It hasn't really been clear...but from the way Mako acts and speaks...it's all pointing that way to me."

I shivered, looking away from Zuko's solemn eyes. His analysis seemed pretty spot on.

The strange man with the metal weapons spoke, interrupting my thoughts. "You benders need to understand...there's no place for you in this world anymore."

His sentence ended just as a pillar of earth slammed into his ribcage, knocking him into the wall.

Korra smirked, standing from within the shadows. "I wouldn't count us out just yet."

Toph whooped. "Finally! Thank you oh so much!"

I let a small grin appear on my face. Just a small one...

Korra gave us all a huge smile as the metal wielder collapsed onto the ground. She then turned to the side, whistling for Naga.

The great beast came, running at a somewhat slow pace as the lone rider moaned.

"She has Katara!" I screeched, waving at the screen like a maniac.

Toph smirked. "Great intuition, Suki."

"Thanks."

Katara continued moaning on the screen, lifting her head. "Where...where am I?"

Korra smirked, ruffling her head. "Don't worry, sweetie. I've got this. Hey! Mako! Bolin! Get your lazy butts over here!"

I gulped. She sounded very sarcastic and arrogant...however, it still didn't make the situation less disturbing.

You see...uh, I'm like the only one who calls Katara 'sweetie.' I know, laugh all you want...but...hearing her say that?

Ugh...my stomach feels like a torched furnace. "I think I'm going to be sick..."

Seriously, I wasn't trying to be rude or anything. But all the stress was starting to snowball into an entanglement of nerves that sent endless chills down my spine. Like creeping spiders, all traveling in the same area, too small for me to swipe away...

I gripped my head.

Sokka gave me a half-concerned half-annoyed look. "You're not going to start hyperventilating are you?"

"I...I need a moment..."

"Toughen up! She got Katara, be happy!" Toph's encouraging back punch didn't make me feel any better.

I pressed a hand to my chest, rubbing in small circles. The pain, why won't it go away? "Sorry guys."

Zuko sighed. "Everyone just be quiet, alright?"

"I want-to be-on-your-back-oh!" Bolin's voice echoed in and out of the speaker as Naga carried him by his shirt collar while Mako and Korra rode safely with Katara on the saddle.

The metal wielder groaned as a bunch of random equalist soldiers came running from around the corner. "Everyone, after them!"

"Wait..." The soldiers paused in their positions, glancing up at their leader. Amon gripped the guard rails, his voice calm and foreboding. "She's the perfect messenger. Soon, the world will know of my power..."

I flinched. No matter how many times that guy talked, it still gave me the creeps.

Great, another maniac on the loose. Heh, Ozai was worse...

My teeth chattered, destroying my previous claim. It didn't matter how harmless the guy looked, he was somehow able to complete a process that only an Avatar could do. Something that I had discovered...

How could he have learned the technique? Was it something everyone could do? If a nonbender could do it, who's to say the same for all the other benders?

My stomach twisted precariously as I swallowed the acrid bile rising in my throat. "Could someone pass me a bag..."

Zuko pushed something towards me, his voice sympathetic. "Here's a barrel."

"Thanks." I took a deep, shuttering breath before hurling my breakfast into the poor wooden container.

Ick!

Blegh!

Groan. Glance at screen. Freak out. Repeat.

I know, pitiful right?

Well, I'm human. My spirit may be eternal, but I'm human.

Sokka sighed, placing a hand on my shoulder. "I'm sorry if I made things worse."

"Don't...don't apologize..." I stared at my sludge with disgust.

"Look, I know you really care about her. I was going over the line..."

"No, you have a right to be mad..." I turned my head towards him. "Please, forgive me."

Sokka chuckled softly. "Already done. Just...make sure you do the same for me."

I nodded, rubbing my eyes. "So...now what?"

Zuko stood up, stretching. "I think the show is over. The credits are scrolling up."

"Oh..."

Suki frowned. "That's it? What about Katara, she should be back...right?"

Toph made a popping sound, shifting the bones that made up her knuckles (man, why does she do that? It sounds really painful...). "Beats me. Maybe she'll be with us by tomorrow."

Zuko mumbled, staring at the screen. "Maybe..."

"I still say we break a rule and get in ourselves." Sokka crossed his arms, tapping his foot in the TV's direction.

"I don't think so, Sokka. That might just make it worse. I mean, there can't be two Avatars in the same world...right?" I glanced at everyone, desperately looking for approval.

Zuko was the only one that made eye contact. "Just the fact that Katara is there will mess up the timeline. If we all go in...there's no telling what could happen..."

"Indeed."

I jumped, turning back toward the TV. My foot swung out, knocking over the barrel as laughter coursed through the room. "That never gets old...I really love doing that."

I could feel my vision turning red as I growled menacingly. My hands shook, growing hotter by the second as my skin started glowing.

Crap! Pull it together! I huffed, trying my best to control the rage. My hands stopped glowing, but that was it.

"Aw, is somebody angry?" His laughter just kept getting louder. "You have more in common with the Firelord than you think, boy."

I wasn't having it. He couldn't distract me. "What did you do to Katara?"

"Oh, me? I haven't done a thing, I can assure you. However, Amon on the other hand..." He chuckled, as if he were going over a joke in his head.

Zuko stepped beside me, his fists clenched. "Bring her back. We already got the message...we're not going to break anymore rules."

"Ah, but you see? There has been a ripple effect..."

I raised an eyebrow. "Ripple?"

"Yes. You see, doing things like this does have a negative effect on...shall we say, the rules of your universe? In order for me to return your dear friend, well...a price must be paid."

I gulped. "What price?"

His voice was all business. "When a being is transferred like this, an equal transaction must take place, otherwise things will turn to chaos. As you all know...this show takes place in your distant future." He waved his hand dismissively, as if that was all that needed to be said.

"What do you need us to do?" Zuko said, getting straight to the point.

"I'm going to send someone from here to your present timeline. Also, just to show how generous I am, I shall let you have first pick?" He showed us various images of different characters from the show, starting with Korra going all the way to the metal wielder himself. "Who will you choose?"

Sokka frowned. "What about the show? It would be bad if the characters were randomly missing from it."

"That is a minor convenience. I can easily freeze their progress for the duration of their visit. All you have to do is make sure your guest doesn't figure out that they're in the past. Are we clear?"

"Yeah..." There was venom dripping from the end of Sokka's response.

"Good." The White Spirit smiled, rubbing his hands together. "So, who will be the lucky fool?"

We were all silent. I had an incredulous look while Sokka just looked pissed. Toph smirked, turning her head away while whistling. Suki was biting her fingers, worry running across her eyelids every now and then.

Zuko took a step forward, his expression neutral. "Mako."

I gasped while the Spirit clapped. "Mako. Excellent choice!"

Sokka made a sound that was cross between a snort and a groan. "You're picking him?"

Zuko glared at him. "Do you have a better choice?"

Sokka opened his mouth...then he closed it. "No."

"Good." Zuko turned towards the screen. "When will he be here?"

"In about two hours. Make sure you're prepared. He must not find out that he is in a different timeline. Pretend like you're a tourist spot, or history town...whatever. Something exotic, alright? Cover names would probably be a safe bet as well..." He spouted out the suggestions, as if we were all close friends.

"We'll...consider it."

The White Spirit chuckled. "So polite, if only everyone could turn out like you..." He flashed us all a gaudy thumbs up. "Have fun."

The screen instantly blacked out, sending our poorly lit room into a world of oblivion.

{Zuko} Wow, a month hiatus...okay then. Aang, you bought the shields, right?

{Aang} They're set and ready to go!

{Zuko} Good.

Okay, so you all are probably mad at us...like, furious to a fault. We're sorry about the long wait. We've been banned from the computer for weeks now thanks to school, Justice, and...well, school...

{Aang} They get it. We've got a strange schedule going on, it kind of interconnects with other people's stories so...yeah, updating has been kind of rough. But we're very grateful that you all stuck with us this far. Thank you for your patience!

{Zuko} Speaking of thanks...

We would appreciate the support from BlueSakuraKyuubi, LivanyandMaii, Alexandra989, Avatarfan27, Guest, and Xx Senshi of Ankoku xX for reviewing last chapter!

{Aang} And we really appreciate all the alerts and favorites! It's nice to know that so many of you care about our story! Thank you all so much!

{Zuko} Yep. You guys are awesome. None of this would be happening if it weren't for you.

Seriously, Aang really didn't want me to post this, but I think it's important to share our opinions. Right, Aang?

{Aang}...and signing off now!