Here you go, everyone(: Enjoy.
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~Nightfall26
I was lost in a world of eternal darkness, falling down at a speed that reminded me of anxiety. I clutched around for something to hold; anything for me to grasp, to remind me I was alive. But nothing met my eager fingertips. My chest tightened with fear.
"Hello?" I whispered, my throat rasping in pain at the mere attempt of words. I frowned deeply- what was happening to me?
"There's nobody to hear you here, my dear, nobody but me." And suddenly, from deep within the shadows, he emerged.
I wanted to scream.
But as he said, there was nobody but him to hear me...
KATARA
I watched him approach with the gait of a predator stalking its prey. My heart hammered in my chest, my pulse a wild drum. I clenched my fists, my nails digging little half moon indents into the flesh of my palms.
"What do you want with me? What is this place?" I called, my voice a far cry from the intimidating bellow I strove for. Xai's eyes were filled with a slow heat that burned through my very soul. His lips curved up into a frighteningly breathtaking smile. I exhaled shakily.
"I only want to be with you, Katara. Forever." He whispered, reaching out to catch a strand of my hair between his gloved fingertips. I shuddered away from him.
"Don't you understand? We were meant to be this way. We were supposed to be with one another- always by each others sides. Never parting, never saying goodbye. You always knew it, didn't you?" He murmured soulfully, tracing a featherlight touch against my collarbone. A shiver danced along my spine, and I flinched at the sensation.
"Try not to fight it." His voice was softer still, enticing, seducing. My eyes rolled back into my head a little as his fingertips skimmed against the bare flesh of my arms. All at once, I could feel his chill, and my eyes fluttered open.
I shook myself and backed away.
"I don't understand any of this- why you're torturing me so, why you think it's such a game to destroy people's minds." I snapped, feeling fear melt away into the pit of my stomach. Xai's eyes narrowed into angry slits, and my heart skipped a beat.
"You think you're being tortured? You know nothing of torture. Nothing of the dark world that haunts me and every other utterly broken person in this cruel world. You think your silly four elements are the only ones possible in this rather claustriphobically small world? Think again. Delve into the depths of your small mind, Katara, and you'll find a tiny doorway that leads to enlightenment. I bend shadows, wisps of human thoughts, twisting them into something I want them to be." He grew closer with every sentence until he was a mere instant away from my face.
"And I am alone." The last four words came out as a wild snarl, ripping through the space until the darkness faded into a stark white. I glanced up at his expression, a sense of wonder inking my outlook on the situation.
"The only solace I have is knowing that you were meant to be by my side. That you were meant to accompany me on this otherwise lonely journey." He murmured, tangling his hand in my hair and pulling me closer still. We were barely touching, and yet, I could feel the chill radiating off of his presence. I was frozen to the spot, hardly able to move from his grasp.
For the second time I had known him, he did the unthinkable.
He leaned down and pressed his lips to mine. This time, roughly, applying pressure with an intrusion I was frightened of. The emotions in the air around us surged, attacking me with such passion I could hardly breathe.
And then I could remember.
"This isn't goodbye, 'Tara. I promise. You'll think I'm gone, but always remember I'll come back for you. I'll come back and save you- I'll take you to the safest place on earth. I want you to be safe." The little boy with stubby white hair murmured, his eyes filled with an ageless knowledge.
"I don't want you to leave." I muttered childishly, grasping his hand with my own. I was wrapped in thick furs that kept out the chill, and he wore only a simple black robe. Long fingers stroked the length of my face once, sending trembles across my skin.
"I'll be back." With that, he smiled, and pressed a hesitant kiss to my chapped lips. He showed me inside, and went and ate with the rest of us like usual. I became preoccupied with the dishes, and so, I never saw him leave.
I heard the men scrambling out of their seats, shouting and crying out. I hurried after them, my too-big coat flapping in the wind. The cold air stung my cheeks, but I dashed along anyways.
"Don't let him fall!" My father called, his voice a loud boom we could hear for miles.
I realized everyone had run to the cliff edge- had someone fallen?
By the time I reached the cliff, I felt emotion choke my throat.
Xai was dangling off the edge, his eyes searching for someone in the crowds around me. When those icy blue orbs found my own, he smiled a soft, sweet smile, and let go.
"NO!" I shrieked, throwing myself onto the edge and reaching my hand out as if I could grab him by sheer will. Helplessness made tears bubble in my eyes, and desperate cries for help ripped from my lungs. I cried his name out over and over, watching as he disappeared beneath the waves.
There was no way he could survive.
I gasped, tears trickling out of the corners of my eyes.
"That can't be true... It's another one of your tricks! I've never seen that boy before today! I would remember an event like that!" I cried, pushing away from his chest. Xai snatched up my wrist, his forehead furrowing with confusion.
"That wasn't a trick... What did you see?"
"I saw someone die! They fell! I'd never seen that before!" I was hysterical, thrashing out over and over again so he couldn't touch me.
"That was me, Katara."
"Don't say that!" I shrieked, clawing at the air in a feeble attempt to scramble away from him. I fell backwards, landing hard on my tailbone.
Xai only looked down at me, a mysterious expression clouding his eyes. He turned away from me to cough into his hand, and I noticed a single droplet of crimson liquid landed on my hand. I stared at it dumbly, hardly able to process what it was. I dabbed at it with my fingertip, shuddering at the sensation of the warm liquid.
Blood.
The same exact color of Zuko's blood, the same rusty smell. I choked on air, swaying, unable to bear the emotion. I saw Zuko's face flashing before my eyes, bloodied and broken. I shook my head against the images, and managed to pull myself a little closer to consciousness.
I could feel his warmth around me, his hand clutching mine. I could taste the spice of his kiss, and smell the fiery flames of his embrace.
Zuko.
I needed Zuko.
I could feel his heart pounding against our twined hands, the strong pulse a drum beat that pulled me farther away from the cold world Xai had forced me into. I clung to the sensation of warmth, begging for the tremors that rocked my body to end.
With that, I sat up with a gasp, clutching at the air in front of me. Zuko leapt back, his eyes wide and startled. We stared at each other for a moment until finally, I launched forward and threw my arms around him. Hesitantly, he pulled me closer, before releasing a shaky breath.
"I thought I'd lost you." He whispered hoarsely, gripping me to him. His heartbeat was a song that I knew the words to, carefully in time with my own fluttering heart. I bridged the gap between us, pressing my lips to his feverishly. He responded with a passion I hadn't known yet in my short life. The sensation sent a wild rush through my body, burning away the even slight rememberance of cold. His fingers dug into the skin of my waist, and I gasped lowly. Zuko's muscles tensed and relaxed beneath my sweaty palms, a constant rocking movement that lulled me into a dazed sort of comfort.
His hands wandered lower, then, to the small of my back. With the slightest of lifts, he stood up, taking me with him. I slipped my arms around his shoulders, standing on tiptoe. I could taste the fire. I could feel it everywhere.
There was no need to think now, only to feel. His lips were the reassurance that it would all be alright, that I would be safe with him for as long as I dared to stay.
But suddenly, he pulled away. Rejection swelled in my heart as he untangled my arms from around his neck and guided me back down on the bed. Zuko's eyes were slightly glazed over, his cheeks tinged red, and his chest heaving.
"I'm so glad you're alive." He whispered, sitting down next to me. I sighed, glancing over at him and reaching out to hold his hand. Zuko skimmed a kiss along my knuckles, sighing a little.
"I am too." I could barely force the words out of my throat. He glanced up at me from underneath thick lashes, his eyes speaking for him.
I blushed heavily, turning away. Sometimes...he could look so intense. The intensity frightened me a little.
"We need to get this maniac out of your head, Katara, and we need to do it fast. I don't like the power he has over you.." Zuko struggled to keep calm, his face wavering between a horrifying expression I recalled all too vividly. I glanced into his eyes briefly, and felt my heart stutter. Those deep, golden eyes which had been so full of love, now were radiating with an anger that frightened me.
For these eyes are the eyes of a killer..
I could remember how alone he had been, how calloused his outlook on life was, how broken his soul had been. It had taken no less than an eternity to repair it with the guidance of a few carefully selected friends- I couldn't bear to see him slip back into that old character.
"Zuko." I whispered, my fingers dancing along the skin of his bicep. I watched as goosebumps broke out along the pale flesh, and he shivered.
"I promised I'd protect you, and so far, I haven't done a very good job of that." He muttered lowly. I stroked his hair out of his eyes, smiling gently at him.
"I'll be alright, Zuko. That's my promise to you. I need to know what's going on here." I whispered. Zuko frowned.
"Even if it costs you your sanity?" The words were almost harsh. I swallowed loudly before replying, thinking of the terrible consequences that could await the answers I seeked so avidly.
"Perhaps." I forced the word off of numb lips. Zuko's eyes narrowed, and he pushed himself away from me.
"I won't stand by and watch this happen to you, Katara! You're dying before my eyes, and there's nothing I can do. And you're just going to stand back and let this... mad man dictate to you things that he wants you to see?"
I forced myself up off the bed, my teeth bared in a scowl.
"I have to know whether or not he's telling the truth! I could be making a serious mistake if I let this go!" I shouted, my retaliation ripping from my mouth in a way that made my eyes widen in surprise. Zuko's muscles tensed, rippling with waves of anger.
"If you don't want to fight, then you're on your own." He snapped, throwing a frustrated glance my way before leaving the room. As soon as he was gone, all the anger disappeared immediately. I sat back down with a thump, the air expelled from my lungs as I connected with the bedsheets.
What had I done?
AANG
Today was chilly. I wrapped a blanket around myself, sighing deeply at the sight beneath me. The rolling hills went on endlessly in every direction, the green trees seemingly everywhere. I ran a head over my smooth scalp before sighing again. It was too quiet, here, without everyone. Appa wasn't the best of company. It had been a while since I'd talked to anyone, and even longer since I'd left the North Pole. Weeks since I'd seen Katara, months since I'd felt warm.
Now the only emotion I felt was a deep, frigid loneliness.
"Well, at least I have you to talk to, Momo." I laughed a little at the sight of the lemur, curled up in my lap. My grin quickly faded into a frown as I remembered the good old days when Katara and I would play with Momo together. She had adored the little guy...
"Now she's gone." I muttered, scowling. I cast a look behind me, towards where the Fire Nation stood. I remembered that one odd day where the voice had whispered into my ear strange words of control, of power, of the terrible things he could do to me.
But what had really taken me over was the promise to hurt each and every one of my treasured friends until I gave in and left the Fire Nation. With me out of the way, Katara would be that much less protected... I worried my bottom lip with my teeth. I couldn't leave her so defenseless. It was wrong.
And yet, if I returned, she'd be in even worse trouble...
I groaned softly. This was such a predicament. I had no earthly idea what I was doing, and no possible way to remedy all of the terrible things that had been moved into motion- on account of me. I had begun the process. I had started the wheels.
It was entirely my fault for deserting everyone instead of staying and fighting to protect what was important to me. My head drooped lower still, until my chin skimmed my chest. What could I do now? Surely his forces were large enough now that he could see me coming from a great distance.
I supposed I'd just have to sneak my way back in then... But how?
"Any ideas, boy?" I chuckled, rubbing Appa's great head. He snorted once, as if to startle away any sort of ideas I was having.
"This isn't just about Katara anymore... It's about everyone. Zuko, Toph, Sokka.. they're all there. All of them... just sitting there waiting for someone to save them." Again, Appa snorted.
"Well okay, I don't know that they need saving, but they certainly need someone to inform them as to what they're up against."
As soon as my lips had uttered the words, I felt a great gust of cold wind blow the clouds across the sun. I shivered again, pulling the blanket tighter about my body.
Don't be getting any ideas now, Avatar. She's mine, and you can never have her back. Remember that.
There it was again- that haunting voice. It resonated in my mind, causing tremors to shudder up and down my spine. How could he possibly get to me? How was this possible?
Now, now. Try not to hurt yourself thinking too hard. I'm always here, Avatar. Always inside your mind. She's mine- and anytime you fail to recall that simple fact, someone will die.
"Die?" I echoed breathlessly, my hands fisting into tight balls of tension. Suddenly, I was aware of the fact that the chill in the air had faded, and the sun once more beat down on my back. I rubbed my forehead worriedly, shaking my head against the stress that began to cloud my vision.
Would I have to leave my friends to their fates?
KATARA
It was hours before I could drag myself from the bed to the window. My eyes were smarting with tears, my heart heavy with despair. Yet again, I had managed to mess up something beautiful.
Beautiful? Yes, you speak of yourself, my dear.
"Leave me alone!" I shrieked, pressing my back to the window and shivering. Would there be no more rest for me? Would there never be peace? I pressed my face into my knees, giving a great cry as the room began to flood with emotions. I couldn't bear this anymore. He had driven me to the brink of despair, he had stolen my Zuko from me.
"Katara?" The door opened quietly, and a familiar voice made the chill recede. I sighed in relief, glancing up to see my brother coming into the room.
"Sokka." I breathed, pushing myself off of the window seat to throw myself into his arms. Sokka held me, confused, for a moment.
"Katara, I need you to tell me what's going on." He instructed, holding me firmly by the shoulders. I swallowed loudly.
"I can't do that." I whispered, feeling tears of helplessness streak down my face. If I told him, he'd think I was insane!
"Katara, I'm serious." He said, force behind his words that was rarely inflicted by my harmless brother.
"As am I." I snapped, my eyes filled with bitterness. Sokka could never understand- he'd watch me, in horror, as I explained my insanity piece by piece..
"Zuko left the palace a few minutes ago. He's gone. I need to know what's going on, Katara, the Fire Nation needs a ruler." Sokka shook me once, violently, his eyes deeply serious for once. I gasped. Zuko had left? This couldn't be.
"Where did he go?"
He's coming to find me...
"SHUT UP!" I screamed, thrusting out my arms and shoving myself away from Sokka. He looked alarmed, to say the least.
"Katara, seriously...I'm worried about you." Sokka extended his arms to me, and I shook my head.
"There's...there's this new bender that can bend three things. Shadows-" The room began to shift as soon as I said the word. Sokka watched with eyes wide, and he hurried to gather me into his arms.
"What else, Katara?" He murmured. I took a deep breath before continuing. This was important now. Xai could not stop me from speaking of him.
"Dreams.." My head began to throb dully, pulsing with dread and fear.
"And..and thoughts." My voice was barely above a whisper.
He's going to die, Katara.. I will kill him.
"His name is Xai, and I knew him when I was younger, so he says. I can't remember anything about him except that we were extremely close, and he died. I'm so scared, Sokka, I don't know what to do, he's going to kill Zuko..." I pressed closer to my brother, my heart beating so fast I feared it would beat right out of my chest. Sokka gripped me tightly, glancing about the room with a murderous expression.
"Come on. We're going after Zuko. He needs to be with you- now." Sokka muttered, grabbing me by the hand and yanking me out of the room. I hurried to keep up with him, casting looks at the shadows that followed us. The hallways were endless, twisting and turning as if there was no end to them. I was positive we made a few wrong turns, but Sokka would have none of what I was saying.
"He's twisting your mind, Katara, just let me lead." The shadows were always there. They chased after us with a never ending speed, always just a step behind us.
I shouldn't have been afraid to tell him. He was my brother, he'd always believe me, no matter what. There was a sense of relief that accompanied that ephiphany.
And sure enough, we reached the outer doors just as the shadows would have caught up with us. Sokka threw open the doors to expose a moonlit night that lit up a very familiar silohette.
I took a deep breath, my eyes flooding with tears of relief and happiness. I would have fallen over, if Sokka hadn't been there to support me.
"It's okay, Katara, I know everything. Come with me, we'll find Zuko."
Aang reached his hand out to me, that same soft smile gracing his face and making my heart swell with hope. I grasped his hand with no hesitation, tears bubbling over to stream down my cheeks.
I felt oddly safe.
AANG
As soon as her hand was in mine, I was whole again. I was a person again. Warmth spread from the tips of my toes to the very top of my head, engulfing me in emotions I was afraid to even think of. I knew being here was against the rules- and the person who would die was Zuko. But I wouldn't make that same mistake again- I'd save him. For Katara. For all my wrongdoings.
You can't save him, Avatar. He's lost now, so lost... Don't you see, she doesn't trust you? She thinks it was you who nearly killed Zuko. She still looks at you as a traitor...not as an equal. The words were poison. I chose to ignore him.
As I helped Katara up onto Appa, I realized all at once how thin she'd gotten. Dark circles rimmed her eyes, and her lips were cracked.
"Katara...Is he in your head too?" I asked softly, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. She gave a start, flinching at my words- or was it my hand?- and looking up at me.
"You mean...you hear him?" She whispered brokenly. I nodded. She sighed in relief.
"I'm so glad...Spirits, if I was insane, I'd just die..." Her voice was weak with despair, and all at once I could see how much she needed Zuko.
But I also knew how much he needed her.
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~nightfall26