GUYSSSSSS! Guess who's back?! Man, I know I know, I've taken wayyyy too long to update this story. Please don't hate me! I've been so caught up in my Walking Dead fanfic that I completely forgot about this, but I saw your reviews, and I'm glad you still like the story. About one idea a lovely reviewer gave me, I really like it. Would it be okay if I somehow combined that idea with one I had? I think it'd be really cool! Thank you, Kira97, for your awesome idea! You rock.

Disclaimer: I don't own ATLA, still working on my plan to convince Mike and Brian into giving me ownership.

"We're gonna have to leave soon," Zuko said, watching the sky darken as the moon came into view. A few dark clouds passed over, causing the space around the little group to darken quite a bit.

"You don't think I know that?" Sokka said, voice rising. He turned around from where he was standing on the edge of the balcony of the Air Temple, glaring at their new recruit.

"Sokka," Suki said, warning him to calm down. She knew he was just worried, everyone was worried, but they could do nothing.

"Twinkles will figure it out," Toph said, leaning back against one of the cracked beams, crossing her arms over her chest. She looked blankly ahead, listening to Momo's purrs as he slept, nestled into Katara's thick hair.

"What if he doesn't? What if they're stuck there? What then, Toph?" Sokka said, jumping to conclusions much too early for anyone to be comfortable with. But he was right; they needed to know. They needed to have answers, because nothing like this had ever happened. And Sokka wasn't keen to having it ever happen again.

"I don't know, it's not like Aang gave me a study session on what to do if he gets himself into trouble in the spirit world."

Sokka rolled his eyes, walking over to take a spot on the hard marbled floor next to Suki, forming a circle next to Appa. He looked over, watching his sister to make sure he hadn't missed her move. Maybe she would wake up, maybe they'd come back. All they could do was sit there, hoping that the Fire Nation wouldn't find them. At least, not until their two friends came back to reality.

"They're gonna be fine, Sokka. We just need to watch out for them until they come back," Suki said, rubbing his back. He nodded, frowning as he looked to his right, watching his two friends sprawled out on the ground, unaware of the danger they were all in.

"What do you plan to do, now that I'm here?" Katara asked, slumping against the wall. She didn't try and move, because she knew she'd lose that fight in a heartbeat. Instead, she stayed in the dark cave, watching Koh enter and leave without a word. She had no idea what he was doing, what he was planning. But she had a mountain of questions, ones she wasn't sure he'd ever answer.

"I haven't decided," he said, coming to a stop in the middle of the room.

"So what, are you just going to keep me here?" she asked, hoping he'd let something slip. Maybe she wasn't useless; maybe she could bring Aang back. It wasn't impossible; she had grown to learn nothing was impossible with Aang. He'd saved her many times, and now, it was time to repay him.

"I'm thinking," he answered sharply, turning to look back out of the cave. The brightness from the spirit world flowed into the entrance, showing her surroundings a lot clearer now than earlier.

"Is Aang still in there?" Katara asked, afraid that he was really dead, and that Koh was lying to her. Maybe he wanted her to have some sort of hope, only for him to destroy it. He was playing with her like she was a toy, and she hated it. Feeling this low, this small, was horrifying. She hadn't felt this compressed since her mother had died, since she had been alone. And once she had found Aang, he brought it back. He helped her to grow, to become strong and bright. He brought back what she thought she had lost. But now that he wasn't here, that feeling of helplessness settled its way back in.

"Somewhat."

"You're killing him," Katara said, looking up at this monster with a mask. Tears welled in her eyes, and she blinked, letting them fall down her cheeks. "Aang, if you're in there, I need you. If you can hear me, you have to come back. You have to fight back, for me," Katara said, letting her tears go.

Koh stood in the light from the outside, tilting his head to the side as if he was studying her. His blackened eyes were mapping her out, trying to figure out her every word.

"He can't hear you. I've crushed him. And even if he could, there's nothing he could do to stop me. He is nothing now; I've intertwined with him. I am him; you're talking to me. And I'm afraid I'm not going to save you," Koh said, laughing. His cackle carried in an echo throughout the cave, and Katara sat up, wiping at her face.

"You don't know Aang like I do," she said, sitting up straight against the hard wall, staring into his eyes; so dark and gone. Koh's laughter ceased, and he stared back at her with curiosity.

"I have his memories. His thoughts… so many. You were dear to him, yes."

Katara furrowed her eyebrows, sniffling as she listened to him speak. "Why does it matter?" she asked, shaking her head.

"Oh it matters, it helps me know him. It helps me know you," Koh said, voice quieter now as he spoke. He closed his eyes, bowing his head slightly. Katara's breathing became shallow; afraid he would do something at any moment.

"You're his best friend. He cares about you a lot; I can see that. You've saved him countless times. Traveled all over the world, seen so many things… He's put so much trust and faith in you alone."

Katara swallowed hard, the lump in her throat not seeming to go away as his piercing voice bounced off the walls of the cave, making her wince as he continued to speak. It was like he was reading off the page of a book, talking as if he was reading out loud to a class ready to learn about all of the group's adventures. She closed her eyes, tapping her fingers on her knees. She could see everything etching out for her, like some sort of dream as he spoke.

"You were the one who brought him back, when he was dead," Koh said. Katara's vision collapsed in on itself, and all she could see was her friend falling down. But she caught him. She was the one who saved him, who was there to bring him back when he was so far gone. Her eyes shot open, and they locked with his pitch-black orbs.

"I'll do it again. I'll bring him back, I always do," Katara said, and she could feel it. In the pit of her stomach, she could feel her hope returning. That courage, that strength igniting in her stomach, spreading throughout her body; as her voice grew sterner.

Oh I know, cutting it off at the best part! Gotta love me and my cliffhangers! I hoped you guys liked this chapter, it was fun to write. Review and tell me what you thought, I'd love to know if you think it's cool what I'm doing with this story. Love you guys, you're the best! I promise I'll update soon, but I leave you with this. Bye guys