Unfortunately I do no own Avatar. It belongs to Nickelodeon and its original creators.
About 2 hours had past since Katara had died and Aang was a mess. He knew he had to fight to save his life and the world, but he was already mentally beaten up. His mind could not concentrate on battle; he was only focused on Katara. He was weak, tired, and depression began to settle in. He felt as if he could just go to the fire lord and take a fire blast right to the chest so he could join his beloved wife. But he knew he couldn't do that, he had a daughter at home who needed him. Aang couldn't leave her to grow up alone. That thought of his daughter kept him from backing down. Aang had to watch out every where. Soldiers were everywhere, and to make it worse, they were all after him. Aang wanted so badly to seek out that one particular soldier who killed his wife in his arms, but he figured he would get him eventually.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Katara awoke with a splitting head ache. "Where am I?" She questioned. She looked at herself, noticing the beautiful white dress she was wearing. "I don't remember wearing this." She swung her legs off of the rock table and held her head. "Ow my head." Katara squinted her eyes as her head pounded in pain. She stood to her feet stumbling a little, like a child's first baby steps. "Ow…ugh…AANG!" Katara yelled but heard no response. "AANG!" She yelled again. She began to walk, noticing her balance was off. She managed to walk out of the gathering of trees to go find Aang, remembering the battle that was taking place. Mini fires were everywhere, and dead fire nation soldiers covered the ground. She was scared, but knew she had to help her husband, who was most likely suffering himself.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sokka stood on the balcony, wishing to see Appa carrying his little sister and Aang, but he knew that wouldn't come any time soon. He had forgotten all about the incident with his sister and just wished she would come home. Song would repeat "Appa" and "Dad" over and over, and Sokka knew why. She missed them. Song was only 10 months old and her father and mother had to go away. That is heart breaking for a child. Sokka continued to care for Song. She would cry sometimes, and Sokka didn't know why. He would hold her or offer her food, but she would refuse both. He knew all Song wanted was to be with her mom and dad again.
Sokka placed Song off to bed and walked outside, grabbing his boomerang and knife on the way out. He walked out to the balcony and just sat, throwing his boomerang a few times and carving a piece of wood with his knife. He figured it would take his mind off of the situation, but he just couldn't let it go. "For all I know, Katara could be dead. And Aang could be captured by the fire nation." Sokka said as he caught his boomerang once more. Sokka threw his boomerang again, but then something caught his eye. He grabbed his boomerang real quick and walked over to the balcony to notice a brightly shining shooting star wiz by. "I guess I have a wish then." Sokka closed his eyes and clenched his hands. "I wish, my sister and Aang will return home alive." Sokka said and let a small tear fall.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night fell and Aang couldn't see anything, so he decided to rest near a small tree. He was panting and still sobbing a little. He couldn't get the way Katara died out of his head, and he figured if he slept, it would replay over and over in his mind. He struggled to stay awake and the smell of smoke in the air kept him awake a little. "Why couldn't it have been me? Why did that soldier have to kill Katara? They are all after me anyway. I never wanted it to end this way. I always imagined us together happy, not like this." Aang folded his arms to try to keep warm during the cold night. His arms brushed up against a small spot of blood on his shirt. He knew it was Katara's, considering he wasn't bleeding. Aang looked at his arm that had a small spot of blood on it. He didn't really care, but it still reminded him of her. His eyes filled back up, and his mind began to race once more.
You're not alone,
In my heart you will stay.
Although you lay on stone,
You're next to me each day.
My eyes may weep,
And my mind may race.
But in my heart I keep,
You're smiling face.
One day I will join you,
Under the moons great glare.
And I know one day too,
I'll always be there.
I'll fight this war,
I'll fight it for you.
Just to prove,
That I love you too.
Aang thought of this poem in his mind and he took it as a promise. He will fight this war for his Katara, and he would win. Aang needed his rest desperately. His strength needed recharging if he wanted to win this war. But he just couldn't get himself to sleep, even for a few minutes. His eyes would bob open and closed for most of the night. Aang fought it though. He would not let himself go to sleep. "No…I must…stay…stay…awake!" Aang's eyes eventually won and he fell asleep.
(Aang's Dream)
Aang woke up in his dream, only it was not leaning against a tree in a smoke infested kingdom, it was against a tree in a meadow, with Katara. Aang was so relieved to see her. She was in a watertribe wedding gown, and Aang was in an Airbender groom ensemble. It was there marriage night. Aang walked down the isle with everyone staring only at him and Katara smiling back at him with sparkle in her eyes. The sun was shining bright and Sokka was smiling with Song in his arms. Everyone was there. Roku, Gyatso, Hakoda, and a woman who sat next to Sokka that Aang didn't recognize. Aang made his way down the isle to kiss his beloved wife. He reached her and she grabbed his hands, waiting for the minister to say "kiss the bride".
"Aang, you many now kiss the bride." The minister finally said. Katara smiled and leaned in for the kiss. Aang leaned in as well. This was the happiest moment of his life. Just as they were only centimeters away, Katara gasped as if she was hurt. Aang let go of her hands to find her chest red and the fire nation soldier behind her with a bloody blade in his cold hearted hands. Katara fell to the floor, instantly dead. Aang stepped back and starred the cold blooded murderer in the face. His eyes glowed deep red and he was whipping his blade off with a clothes. He laughed evilly at the sight of Katara dead. Aang looked out to find everyone he loved gone and replaced with other fire nation soldiers. They all chanted as if provoking the killer to do it again. Aang looked back at the soldier who instantly stabbed Aang in the chest. Aang gasped at the sudden impact. The crowd cheered as Aang fell to his knees in pain. He just clutched his chest and starred out into the audience. The Killer threw his knife to the side and just walked away. With each cheer the pain just seemed to get worse and worse, until finally, he fell all the way, dead.
(End of Aang's Dream)
Aang woke up with his hand over his chest, as if someone had really stabbed him. It was still night out, so Aang had figured he had slept for only a few hours. It was true, the moon was still in the sky and the stars still sparkled above him. Aang felt up his chest, as if his dream was real. Nothing was there except his torn clothing and dried blood spots. Aang crossed his arms once more across his chest and tried to stay away, afraid to have yet another nightmare.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Katara found a nice place to rest, although she really didn't want to. Like Aang, she was fighting to stay away. Her eyes opened and closed, opened and closed. She relied on the moon to keep her from sleeping. Katara was also very confused. She had no idea what had happened or why she was there, or how she go that dress. She had no idea where Aang was or what he was doing. She was so determined to get to him during the night, thinking he would stay in one place to rest, so she got back up. Her balance was better now. She could walk straight. She continued to whisper Aang's name, hoping he was near by. "Aang… Aang!" Katara said in a soft voice. No one responded, so she figured he was farther away than she thought. She continued to follow the forest edge, hoping to spot him near a tree or bush. Her body began to shut down as she continued on walking. Her legs began to give out and her eyes shut periodically. She would lean up against a tree to keep her balance sometimes. "Aang…" Katara would whisper. She couldn't handle it anymore. Her legs finally gave out for the last time, her eyes shut all the way, and she fell to the ground asleep.
The night passed quickly for her. The sun rose only a few hours later and she awoke, still a little bit tired. She rose to her feet and brushed off her dress of any leaves or small twigs and continued her search for her beloved husband.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aang was exhausted. His eyes still opened and closed, but he knew he had to get up. His muscles were weak and his mind couldn't think straight. His eyes were blurry, and his hearing was muffled. As he made his way to the wall, he thought he saw figures of Katara, but he knew they were just illusions. He actually ran up to a tree thinking it was Katara. He needed that rest, but he couldn't sleep after that nightmare. What is he going to do when he faces the fire lord? Aang was in bad shape, and just getting worse.
TO BE CONTINUED…