Book Three: Fire

Chapter Nine: Nightmares, Daydreams, and Memories

"What are you doing?"

Mist raised her head at Ty Lee's appearance in her room. She glanced down at the small pack that she was packing and sighed. It wasn't really surprising, that the acrobat would be the first to find out. She hadn't even had a chance to tell Shun yet.

"I got a letter from my father," She said, taking a seat on the bed. "As well as a letter from my band."

"Good news I hope,"

Mist sighed quietly.

"Mist, wha-"

"Zera," The white haired girl cut her off and raised her head. "I will always be the Child of Mist. But right now, I have to honor my people for the sake of their memory and for myself. I have to be Zera Suzume again."

Ty Lee blinked at Mist -no, Zera- and then smiled gently in understanding. She placed a gentle hand on the older girl's shoulder before pulling her into a hug. Zera tensed at the contact, before relaxing and returning the hug. She had practically raised herself and had developed such an independant, lone wolf shield that she couldn't truly bring herself to rely on anyone but herself. She had thought that no one would ever truly care. But then she had met the gypsy, Yori, and later Shun. They had shown her such compassion and had cared for her injuries without even knowing who she was.

Zera swallowed thickly, blinked back the sudden wetness in her eyes. She pulled out of the hug and turned to the bag. Ty Lee watched curiously as she dug through the bag, removing two scrolls and another small object that she kept enclosed in her hand. Zera turned back to Ty Lee and hesitated briefly before opening her hand. A Pia Sho tile rest on her palm. Graceful white lines standing out against the polished dark, nearly black, wood. Along the edge of the tile, written in gold ink was a very familiar phrase. That which blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all. Ty Lee recognized the tile because she had one of her own

"They accepted you into the Order."

"Yeah."

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"This is it, the official rendezvous point for the invasion force," Sokka declared lowering the map to look at the field of sleeping koala-sheep.

"How did you pick this place?" Toph asked.

"Before we split up, my dad and I found this island on a map. It's uninhabited, and the harbor surrounded by cliffs seemed like the perfect secluded place," Sokka answered.

"I approve," Xena declared.

"Nice choice Sokka," Katara agreed as everybody readied for sleep. " And we're here four days ahead of schedule."

"Wait!" Aang exclaims, shooting up from the ground where he'd laid down for sleep. "Four days! The invasion's in four days!"

His sudden anxiety took Xena by surprise and she turned to him in concern.

"Whatever," Sokka says nonchalantly after yawning. "That's like. . . four days from now. Let's just calm down, and. . ."

Xena sighed quietly as Sokka started snoring.

"Sokka's got the right idea Aang. We're here, we're ready. . ." Katara adds, laying down in her sleeping bag. "The best thing we can do now is get plenty of rest."

"Uh . . . I guess."

Xena sighs and lightly brushes a comforting hand over his arm before laying down to get some rest.

'A four-year old Xena rolled over restlessly in her bed. Her dreams were filled with smoke, fire, and pain. Her breathing picked up as it became harder and harder to breath in her dream. A hushed conversation and the sight of a blurry figure in front of her was replaced by the feeling of warm slippery scales sliding around her until all she could see was blue.

Xena woke with a cry, arms wrapped around her stomach as she trembled slightly. Outside the Avatar's star, shining brightly in the sky, flickered before going out like a blown out candle. . .'

. . . Xena woke with a gasp, hand flying up to clench at the shirt over her heart as it trying to beat its way out of her chest.

"Aah!"

Xena jumps as Aang wakes up with a cry beside her. The boy quickly pats at his legs and then sighs with relief as Momo cautiously approached him.

"It was just a dream Momo, I still have my pants."

Xena let out an exasperated breath, startling Aang. His fear and anxiety quickly raised her own through their bond. She shot him a baleful look before laying back down and turning her back to him. A few moments later, Momo slips under her arm and curls against her. A noise behind her has her looking back over her shoulder at Aang, who is kicking the crap out of bush. Sighing, she once again turned her back on him.

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Zera watched in quiet amusement as the Palanquin servants hurry after Zuko. She yelps as a pair of arms suddenly circle around her waist.

"What's so amusing?"

She shivered slightly as Shun's breath tickled her ear. "The lives of royals."

"Hmm," He hummed quietly.

She relaxed back against him, confident that their spot in the shadow between the palace wall and a tree will keep them hidden, even if she is wearing white. Shun's chin rest on her shoulder as she places her hands over his.

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Xena groans and buries her face in her arms as the steady thwack of Aang's punches against a tree, drifted into her ears. She had hoped not to wake with sun today, but it seemed like Aang was intent on making that impossible.

"Hey, how long have you been up?" Katara suddenly asked Aang and Xena sat up with a sigh.

"A couple hours. I got a lot more skills to refine if I'm going to fight Ozai."

"You know there is such a thing as over-training?" Katara asked as Aang panted for breath.

Xena frowned in concern and shook off her irritation from her own nightmare. She stands as Aang gives a final punch before collapsing. The leaves all fall from the tree, covering Aang. Katara looks on in disbelief while the other two boys exchange glances.

Aang suddenly leaps to his feet, sending leaves flying with a brief blast of airbending. "You don't get it, do you?" Aang asks as he circles Katara, practicing his airbending. "My form is bad. I'm sloppy. And I still don't know any firebending, not even the basics."

Xena caught Aang by the shoulders and forced him down into a sitting position before crouching in front him.

"That's okay Aang. The eclipse will block all firebending anyway, you don't need to know any. Plus it's a stupid element," Sokka said only to yelp and start rolling around on the ground as Xena lights his sleeping bag on fire.

Era quickly stamped it out. "You just had to say something didn't you?"

"Okay, well, I still have to work on everything else. I'd better spend the whole day training." He tries to stand, but Xena pushes him back down.

"No you won't. You're going to sit here and meditate until I say otherwise."

"But-"

"Mediate," She orders fiercely. "Or I swear by Agni that I will have Appa sit on you."

"Okay." He nods meekly.

"Good."

Two minutes later, Xena is seen chasing Aang around the small island as he runs from her on an air scooter.

"Well . . ." Era said into the tense silence before trailing off.

Katara sighs and flops down next to her brother, who busies himself by rolling up his still smoking sleeping bag. The bag suddenly bursts into flames again and the Water Tribe War yelps in alarm. Katara outs it out again with waterbending. Toph justs sits boredly, unconcerned about the whole ordeal.

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Xena sinks to the ground next to Toph as far away from Aang as she can get.

"Good night, Xena. Good night, Katara. Good night, Sokka. Good night, Toph. Good night, Appa. Good night, Momo. Good night, Appa and Momo-"

"Go to sleep already!" Toph yells at him.

Xena is so exhausted from chasing Aang that she quickly falls asleep after that.

'The Dai Li agents were a little more wary of Xena, sensing the anger radiating from her. She noticed when Aang sealed himself in a crystal tent and couldn't help feeling happy when she realized he was going into the Avatar State. The crystal tent began to glow and suddenly the crystal exploded. Aang began to float into the air. She shouldn't have been happy about him using the Avatar State. The flash of lightning rang in her ears and her sword was forgotten. For the first time in the battle, she used firebending.

White flames danced down her sword and spun around her body. She ran forward and came to a stop in front of Katara as she caught Aang in her arms. Pain flashed through her mind, announcing the presence of the quickly weakening bond. With a roar of anger, she sent out a ring of superheated flames.

Zuko stared in surprise and didn't have time to protect himself from the flames. They were unbearable hot, but as they wrapped around him turned silver. Even angry, Xena was still unwilling to scar him. Azula was a little more aware of the danger though and was able to make a fire shield of blue flames to block the white fire. She was still pushed back several feet by the force and power of the flames. The flames dissolved as quickly as they came.

Azula recovered quickly from her shock of the strange colored flames and launched a ball of fire at Xena. A burst of orange flames blocked the blue fire. Iroh landed in front of the three teens.

"You've got to get out of here," He ordered. "I'll hold them off for as long as I can."

The two girls didn't hesitate. They ran towards the waterfall after a brief passing off of Aang's limp body. . ."'

. . .Xena shot up right and automatically glanced over at Aang. The young monk tossed and turned in his sleep, but was otherwise alright. She sighed and stood, pacing to the cliff edge to stare out at the ocean. The roiling waves helped her to relax somewhat and she slowly sank into a sitting position, one knee pulled up to her chest.

Xena's failure as Aang's Guardian was eating away at her, reminding her of her numerous shortcomings when it came to protecting him. She was strong and could fight, but lately it didn't seem like any of that mattered. She could fight, yes, but she wasn't fighting smart and it made her angry. Angry, that all her training, all her oaths were not being honored. And she couldn't for the life of her figure out why the others weren't angry with her as well.

Aang had forgiven Xena for not protecting him in Ba Sing Se and had even forgiven her allowing Katara to be captured by Azula. And Katara seemed to have forgiven her as well. She didn't understand why. Had she kept Katara from being captured, now of this would have happened. The wouldn't be hiding out in the Fire Nation like refuges and Aang would have never been shot by lightning. It was agonizing in a way to know this, but be unable to change anything. Perhaps it would have been best if she hadn't accepted the spirits offer.

She stands and stretches out her muscles before taking a few steps back. Xena took a couple of deep breaths before jumping into the ocean from the cliff in a running leap. The cold water washed over her head, helping to clear her tumultuous thoughts. She lost herself into the soothing motions of waterbending as she began to circle the island.

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Zuko glanced down at the top of Mai's head as they cuddled together on an ornate couch in the girl's parents' sitting room.

"Tell me, if you can have anything you wanted right now, what would it be?" He asked thoughtfully.

"Hmm. A big fancy fruit tart, with rose petals on top," Mai answered, looking back at him with a smile.

"You know, being a prince and all, I might just be able to make that happen."

"That would be impressive," She replied with a quiet giggle.

Zuko shifts them upright to glance over the back of the couch to the two servants standing by the curtained doorway. "Do you think you can find a fresh fruit tart for the lady, with rose petals on top."

"Excellent choice, sir," One of the servants says, bowing.

"I guess there are some perks that come with being royalty," Mai says as they lie back down." Though, there is annoying stuff too, like that all-day war meeting coming up."

Zuko sits back up sharply, jostling Mai, who looks at him in surprise. "War meeting? What are you talking about?"

"Azula mentioned something, I assumed you were going too."

Zuko closes his eyes in irritation. " I guess I wasn't invited."

And why was that?

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"Sokka get up! I need to know what day it is!"

Era jolts awake at the shout as does Sokka, who jumps to his feet and stabs a rock with his sword before falling back. Era blinks at Aang and then lets his head fall back to the ground with a quiet sigh. He had been having a nice dream.

"Relax, it's still two days before the invasion," Toph said next to him and Era tilted his head towards her with a faint smile. He was sure that she could sense his stuttering heart.

"Sokka, you've got to get up and drill your rock climbing exercises," Aang demanded, tugging Sokka up.

"What?" Sokka asked in complete confusion.

"In one of my dreams, you were running from fire nation soldiers, trying to climb this cliff, but you were too slow and they got you."

"But that was just a dream, I'm a great climber," Sokka protested, jumping to his feet.

Aang pointed towards a cliff that overhung part of the camp. It was an almost vertical, smooth surface. "Then climb that cliff. Climb it fast!"

Sokka sighs and stomps over to the cliff, grumbling under his breath. Era blinks at the monk and shakes his head before getting up to help Katara relight last nights fire in order to make breakfast.

"Don't drink that!"

Era jumps at Aang's shout and Katara gets sprayed with the water that Toph spits out hurriedly as she throws away the waterskin. Katara scowls in disgust and waterbends the water off of herself.

"Why, is it poisoned?" Toph demanded.

"In my dream, we were right in the middle of the invasion, and you had to stop to use the bathroom. We died because of your tiny bladder. And you . . ." He turned to Katara. ". . .need to start wearing your hair up. In my dream, your hair got caught in a train, and-"

Katara grabs Aang's face, cutting him off. "Aang, I know you're just trying to help. But you really need to get a grip. You're unraveling."

Aang sighs and agrees, "You're right. I'm losing my mind."

Era blinks and smiles slightly before turning to ask Xena to light the fire. She wasn't there.

"Hey, has anyone seen Xena?" He asked, turning back to the other suddenly concerned.

Katara and Aang exchanged glances at the question. Xena hadn't been there all morning. Sokka suddenly screamed and the four teens turned to glance at him. The older boy was seated on his rear, staring at a drenched-to-the-bone Xena, who lay sprawled on the ground as she panted for breath. She had waterbended herself out of the ocean on a funnel of water, right over the top of the cliff, Sokka had been climbing, startling the Water Tribe boy.

Her eyes remained closed and she seemed to have no care for the water that soaked her clothes and hair. The other teens exchanged glances.

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Xena lights the fire at Era's request before changing out of her soaked Fire Nation clothes into her normal clothes. Setting the clothes out to dry, she yawned quietly, feeling the lack of sleep.

"It's like every time I think about how stressed I am, I just end up more stressed. I'm like a big, growing snowball of nerves," Aang was saying as he paced back and forth.

"Of course you are. That's 'cause you've got to fight the Fire Lord, the baddest man on the planet. And you better win, or we're all done for," Sokka replied.

"Sokka, you're not helping!" Katara snapped at him.

Sokka stands up. " What? It's true. That's the deal, he knows it."

Xena pushes him down and then turns to Aang. "Aang, there's nothing to worry about. You're not alone."

Aang is still shaking fearfully and Xena sighed, wondering how she can calm him down.

"You know what? I've got just the thing. Get ready to be "de-stress-i-fied," KAtara suddenly declared, putting a hand on the younger boy's shoulder.

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Xena glanced up at a dejected Katara as she joined her by the fire. Apparently her plan to get rid of Aang's stress hadn't worked. The older girl clasped her hands in front of her as she stared at the fire. The flames flashed blue and swirled chaotically for a moment. Katara blinked in surprise and the turned to Xena.

"Are you alright?"

"Quite frankly . . . No."

Katara frowned and leaned forward to rest a hand over Xena's clasped ones. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Xena didn't reply as she stared down at their hands. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before raising her head to lock gazes with the younger waterbender.

"Why aren't you mad at me?"

"Why would I be mad?"

"Because of what happened in Ba Sing Se. I was supposed to protect you and instead I let you get captured by Azula which interned led to Aang being killed. All of that was my fault, so why aren't you mad at me."

Katara considered the question for a second, withdrawing her hand and staring at the fire which was swirling and flashing between red and blue.

"I was a first." The flames stilled. "When we were leaving Ba Sing Se, I couldn't really think much besides the fact that we had to save Aang. But what I did think about was how it was your job to protect him and that you'd failed. I was really angry. So much so, that I felt that you should have been the one in his place. And then . .. and then you sacrificed yourself to save him.

"When you collapsed after healing Aang, I didn't understand what had happened until Sokka yelled that you weren't breathing. I couldn't stay angry with you after that. You died, Xena. Just for a short while, but it was enough. It was enough for me to realize that I should never had wished you to be in Aang's place instead."

Xena's breath caught at the confession. "Katara . . ."

"When we were waiting for you and Aang to wake up, I realized something else," Katara continued. "I realized that you would beat yourself up about it even though it wasn't." and that ."

"It was my fault-"

"It wasn't. We all had some blame in what happened. Xena, you're not alone and you don't always have to protect us."

Xena stared at Katara in shock and the fire went completely out. Katara pulled the older girl into a hug.

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"Hello, Zuzu. If you've come for a royal hair combing, I'm afraid you'll have to wait," Azula informed Zuko as he entered the room.

"So I guess there's a big war meeting coming up, huh. And apparently I'm not welcome there," Zuko saied bitterly.

"What do you mean? Of course you're welcome there," Azula retorts.

"Oh yeah? I guess that's why no one bothered to tell me about it," Zuko snarked.

Azula rolls her eyes. "Oh Zuko, don't be so dramatic. I'm certain Dad wants you there. You probably weren't invited, because it's so obvious that you're supposed to be there."

"Well, were you invited?" Zuko question curiously.

"Of course. I'm the Princess," She replied smugly.

"And I'm the Prince!"

" Exactly, so stop acting . . ."Azula gestures to him. " . . .Like a paranoid child. Just go to the meeting."

"Forget it, I'm not going," He declared and then stomped from the room.

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Zera raised an eyebrow as Zuko took a stance across from her with his dao swords in the training arena. Spinning her butterfly swords in a quick circle, she matched his stance with one of her own. He gave a sharp cry and swung at her. She deflected it easily.

"What's got you in such a foul mood?"

"The stupid war . . . Meeting that I wasn't . . . Invited to," He said in short clip phrases as he continued to attack her.

Zera sighed quietly, but continued to spar with the boy, letting him get his anger out. Besides it was likely to be the last spar they had. Shun stood in the shadows of the stands surrounding the training area, watching the two spar. The Crown Prince actually relaxed somewhat and his movements smoothed out.

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"Thanks for everything guys."

Xena glanced at Aang thoughtfully. They'd meditated together before dinner and he was noticeably calmer on the outside, but she could still feel his turmoil.

"So do you feel less stressed? Ready for a good night sleep?" Katara asked.

"Uhh . . .I kinda think I sorta might . . . slightly feel a little better . . . maybe," He replies and Xena doesn't say anything about the lie as she tries to send calming emotions through their bond.

"Then our work here is done," Sokka replies before quickly falling to sleep.

The others quickly follow his example. Xena and Aang are the only ones left awake. Xena continues to send him calming emotions until he falls asleep before falling asleep herself. Her sleep is dreamless for the first time since they'd arrived on the island. Sadly it doesn't last through the night as Aang's scream wakes everyone.

Xena lunges to her feet, swords drawn as she blinks, completely disoriented. She shakes her head slightly and turns to Aang, sensing his fear. She sheaths her swords and moves over to him as the others rush over as well.

"What happened? Are you alright?" She demanded immediately.

Aang turns his back on her, head bowed."It's the nightmares. They just get worse and worse."

"Look like it's time for . . ." Sokka starts and then turns his back on them. He turns back to them wearing his Wang Fire beard and collides nose first with Xena's elbow.

"Is there anything we can do to help?" She asked, ignoring Sokka as he whines and curses in the background.

"Nothing you guys can do will help. There's only one thing I can do. I'm going to stay awake straight through to the invasion," Aang declared determinedly.

Sokka stops rolling around to stare at Aang in shock, blood running down his face. Era and Katara also stare at him and Toph just seems amused. Xena sighs. This will not end well.

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Zuko stretches out on Mai's couch, watching as his girlfriends pours them some tea. His sparring session with Mist had helped him to calm down and now he couldn't really bring himself to care about the war meeting anymore. If his father didn't want him there, then so be it.

"Prince Zuko . . ." Zuko turns to the Royal Messenger as he bows. " . . . everyone's waiting for you."

"What?" Zuko asked in confusion, getting up and walking over to him.

"The high admirals, high generals, the war ministers, and the princess have all arrived. You're the only person missing," He reports, lifting his head.

Mai smiles besides him as Zuko blinks uncomprehendingly for a moment.

"So, my dad wants me at the meeting?"

"The Fire Lord said he would not start until you arrived, sir." The messenger bows again.

Zuko smiles. Okay, so maybe he does care.

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"Hey," Era protested as Xena grabbed the back of his shirt and began pulling him away. "I was doing something."

"You can stare at Toph later," She replied. "RIght now, you're going to help me corral some sheep."

"What? Why?"

"Because."

"That's not an answer. Xena!"

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Zuko doesn't glance at Mai, who had been waiting for him, as he leaves the war meeting.

"So, how did it go?" She asked.

"When I got to the meeting, everyone welcomed me. My father had saved me a seat. He wanted me next to him. I was literally at his right hand," He answered, still walking.

Mai grabbed his arm, stopping him. "Zuko, that's wonderful. You must be happy?"

Zuko glanced to the side at the portraits of Fire Lords, specifically at his father's. He is not happy.

"During the meeting, I was the perfect prince. The son my father wanted. But I wasn't me." He bows his head and then pulls free and continues walking.

Mai stares after him in concern.

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The expression on Katara's and Sokka's faces when Era and Xena returned with armfuls of wool was almost comical. Toph had tilted her head in confusion. Xena had then told them her plan and the earthbender had quickly raised a large section of earth, making sure it was perfectly flat. The five of them then spread the wool across the top, Sokka and Era having to make several trips to collect the large amount of wool that had taken Xena most of the day to shave from the koala-sheep. Era had been unable to help, afraid that he might hurt the animals. Instead he had been given the job of corralling and capturing the animals for Xena to shave.

Now the teens stood to the side, watching as Aang approached the bed. Mist rolling in from the ocen gave the entire scene an eerie feel. Aang pokes and prods at the woolf covered rock before pressing his cheek to it and staring at it skeptically.

"Oh look, another hallucination. An imaginary bed, made out of clouds."

"Hey! It's real! We spent hours working on it," Sokka protested and paled at Xena's and Era's irritated expressions.

"You mean Xena and I worked hours on it, you guys just helped us put it together," Era corrected.

"Ah heh, right," Sokka replied nervously then turned back to Aang. "A good night sleep will probably take the crazy away. . . we hope."

Aang hops off the bed and moves closer to them. "Look, you guys keep telling me I need to sleep, but I can't, the invasion's tomorrow."

"Aang . . ." Xena sighed.

"No Katara, there's still so much I haven't learned. I don't need sleep. What I need is practice. Quick, hit me." He raised his hands in a feeble defense position.

"Okay, one, I'm not Katara. And two, nobody is going to hit you," She aimed the last part at Toph, who had started to crack her knuckles.

Katara grabbed Aang's shoulders, pulling his attention to her. "You've been training for this since the day we've met. I've seen your progress. You're smart, brave, and strong enough.

"You really think so?" Aang asked skeptically.

"We all do. You can do this. You're ready," Sokka declares and Xena nods to the young monk in support.

"You're the man, Twinkle-toes," Toph declares, pointing at the boy.

Era shifts his weight, brushing a scrap of wool from his shirt. "I haven't known you very long, but for what it's worth, I think you're ready too."

"Thanks guys." Aang yawns and Xena guides him towards the fluffy bed they had made. "You know what? I think I am ready."

"Good, now sleep," Xena says, smiling before beginning to sing softly.

The boy's eyes drift closed and she runs a hand through his short hair as she continues to sing. The other teens smile at the sight.

'. . . Xena fixed the straps of her swords nervously as she stared up at the Air Temple. A kindly old monk, who had been introduced to her as Gyatso, placed a gentle encouraging hand on her back. She glances back at him and seeing his wide smile, took her first step into the temple. Almost immediately a boy, three and half years younger than her, slammed into her gut. She stumbled.

"Hiya," The boy greeted, smiling widely up at her. "I'm Aang."

"Ugh, hi," She responded and then glanced back at Gyatso who nodded to her. "I'm Xena."

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Zera grabs her pack and looks her room over once more. Shun stands at her balcony doorway, watching her.

"Ready to go."

She takes a deep breath and nods to his silent question. He steps back and she follows him as they sneak away in the dead of night.

I'm glad you guys are liking this story. We're starting to move towards the finale of this series which is both terrifying and amazing at the same time. I have a poll up right now on my profile for what stories I have planned. Some of them I'm going to do regardless of your votes, but they one that comes through with the highest number of votes is the one I'll focus on the most. So vote for the ones you'd like to see, Kay. XD

-Wolf