A/N: This is book five, chapter nine of the Avatar story. This is part I of the story, where Aang enters a world in the Realm of Dreams where he sees...the future. Aang realizes that his future is going to be in a city known as Republic City. Aang figured if he gets to see his future, even though it's a dream, he would want to see the family he's gonna grow up with. However, things get ugly once he finds out something's wrong when he sees his children.

Chapter 9 - The Future part I - Family


Aang is deep asleep in a dark room. Aang opens his eyes and starts sitting up. "Oh man. I can't believe I feel asleep again." Aang looks around, seeing nothing but darkness. "I am awake...aren't I?" Aang looks around, then spots a light. Aang follows it until he reaches the outside. Aang sees that he's in a city known as Republic City. "Where am I? What dream is this?"

Just them, the clock strikes twelve and unleashes a loud ring. Aang becomes surprised, then he turns at the clock, noticing it's midnight. Aang also notices that the island he's standing on has a giant statue of him. "Whoa. Is that...me?" Aang looks back at the city. "I wonder if Katara is here."

Aang opens his glider and starts flying towards the city. Aang flies until he reaches the harbor. Everything seems a little...different from the current state. Aang takes a walk around, taking a look around the city.

"What kind of place is this? Seems very...different." Aang says. Aang walks for about half an hour until he reaches what looks to be the Police Station. Aang walks inside, then approaches the front desk. "Excuse me, sir."

"What is it? I'm a little-" The chief stops then turns around. "Aang? Is that you?"

Aang notices the chiefs look, then is shocked, it's Toph about 30 years older. "Toph? Is that you?"

Toph walks up to Aang then starts feeling his face. "Whoa...How did you get so young? You time traveling?"

Aang wants to say that he's really from the physical world and this world is really just a dream, but he knows that Toph wouldn't believe him, probably say something like he's crazy and then just tease him, so he decides to go with the act.

"Uh...yes, I am time traveling." Aang says.

"Man. If that can happen to you cause of your Energybending, then that would be very impressive." Toph says. "So, what brings you here?"

"I'm on a mission." Aang says. "I'm looking for dark spirits known as Nightmares..."

"Nightmares? Sounds like those creatures you and Katara were doing back in the Realm of Dreams." Toph says. "Well, you got the wrong idea, this isn't a dream. This is the future."

"Oh...you're right." Aang says. He know's Toph isn't going to be much help, but he decides to go to someone he knows he can trust: Himself. "Where's the future me, I need to talk to me."

"Well, if you go to the harbor, you'll find a small air temple in a middle of an island." Toph says. "That's where you live."

Aang bows. "Thanks Toph." Aang leaves the police station. "Man...I'm in the future. This is some dream...I wonder who's dream this is." Aang turns his head back to the path he took to get to the Police Station. "I'll worry about it later, I got find future me."

Aang opens his glider and starts flying. Aang flies back to the harbor, then finds Air Temple Island. Aang flies to the island and lands on the shore. Aang walks up the steps, but then notices something. On the yard, there are some artifacts that are from the Water Tribe. Seeing that makes him wonder: Who did he marry? Aang kept walking up the steps until he reaches the house and knocks on the door.

No one answers, but then a minute later, a water tribe women answers. "May I help..." The woman doesn't see anyone, but then looks down. She's surprised to see it's Aang. "Aang? ...Is that you?"

Aang takes a good look at the woman, she's a lot like his girlfriend. "Katara?"

Katara kneels down and puts her hands on his face. "What are you doing here? How are you young again?"

"What am I doing here? What about you?" Aang asks.

"Me? We're married." Hearing that puts Aang in a total shock. "Are you okay? You seem a little pale."

Aang shakes his head a little then takes a deep breath. "Sorry, just a little shocked...can I come in?"

"Oh, sure." Katara takes Aang inside the house.

Katara escorts Aang to a table then hands him a cup of tea, then she sits in front of him. "So, what are you doing here? And how are you young again?" Katara asks.

Aang sighs. "It's a long story. You trust me don't you?"

Katara nods. "Of course."

Aang explains to Katara about this mission he's on, about the Realm of Dreams and the Nightmares. He tells her about this world is also a dream, only he doesn't know who's it is. After Aang finishes his story, Katara is speechless. Aang is worried that she doesn't believe him.

"Well...I...I don't know what to say." Katara says.

"I know...I wouldn't believe myself too." Aang says with disappointment.

Katara puts a hand ontop of Aangs. "Oh no, I do believe you. I'm just...shocked. I never knew this world is just a dream."

"I know...By the way, where's the future me?" Aang says.

"You and Zuko are out on a mission in the Eastern Air Temple." Katara mentions.

"I see." Aang says. "How are we married? The past avatars said we couldn't be together because of reforming the airbenders."

"They did, but we just got married anyways. They weren't happy at first." Katara says. "But it's not so bad. We actually do have an airbending child."

"We do?" Aang says hopefully. Katara nods. "Wow...I just wish it will come true."

"I'm sure it well, for you and the real Katara." Katara says.

"By the way, have you seen...well, you?" Aang says.

Katara just shook her head. "No, but I'll let me know you dropped by."

Aang smiles. "Thanks Katara. So, have you notice any Nightmares lately?"

"Not really. There's just this disease." Katara says.

Aang is surprised to hear that. "Disease? What disease?"

"Well, it's the Pentipox. It turns out to be real." Katara says. "It's as deadly as we said it was back in Omashu, it's not very contagious, but you really should be careful." Katara looks down a little sad. "One of our children is infected...I'm not even sure if she'll make it."

"Why wouldn't she make it?" Aang asks.

"The disease is dangerous, and she's only five years old." Katara says. "People her age have no chance at surviving this disease."

"Isn't there a cure?" Aang says with little faith.

Katara just shook her head. "No...there isn't...Me and the other healers tried everything. It's uncureable...All we can do is hope."

Aang just looks down, sad. "It's...not the airbender...is it?"

"No, Tenzin's still fine. But he's still a baby. I try hard to keep him away from this disease." Katara says. "It's actually our waterbending daughter. she's so sweet, and kind...I love her so much. I would give up anything just to heal her." Aang know's that kind of feeling, with Katara.

"Maybe...the disease is only real...because this is a dream." Aang says.

"I don't know." Katara says. Katara faces the stairs then stands up. "I need to go check on her."

Katara walks to the counter, fills a cup of tea then heads upstairs. Aang just looks down, feeling upset, hearing about his own children suffering a deadly and uncureable disease. Aang decides to follow Katara upstairs, to get a look of this. Aang notices an open door, then takes a look. He sees Katara kneeling down beside a bed, he hears hard breathing and soft whimpering from a little girl.

Katara takes a wet rag then gently lays it on her daughters head. "Ma...mom...y."

"Yes, Kya? What is it?" Katara whispers.

"Am I...gonna. Gonna be...okay?" Kya asks.

Katara gives a small smile, trying to have faith for her own daughter. "You're going to be just fine."

"When I do...can we...go waterbending...again with...daddy?" Kya says.

Katara puts her hand on Kya's hair then gently strokes it, then gives a slight chuckle. "Of course we can...we'll do whatever you want."

Kya smiles a little, but then fades as she coughs roughly. "My...my head...hurts."

"I know, sweetheart...I know." Katara carries Kya in her arms, then moves to a rocking chair. Katara sits on it then gently rocks back and forth, trying to soothe her daughter to a peaceful slumber.

Aang takes a look at Kya, noticing the spots all over her body. She's also very pale and sweating, gasping for air like she's suffocating. "I'm...I'm scared...mommy. It hurts...so much."

"Shh. I know...Don't be scared...mommy's here." Katara whispers.

"Please don't go...please. Don't leave...me...leave me...to die." Kya whispers, with a slight sobbing at the end.

"I'm not going anywhere, sweetie...I'm not leaving you." Katara whispers. "Shh, don't cry, Kya, you're not going to die. Shh, shhh."

"I...I feel so...so cold." Kya whimpers.

"Shh, it's okay. you're going to be fine." Katara soothes. Katara grabs a nearby blanket then wraps it around Kya, trying to warm her up.

Aang can't help but let tears escape from his eyes, watching his own children suffer, even through he's still a kid and the family he's seeing is in the future...and a dream. Suddenly, Aang hears some soft whispering. He listens closely, it's Katara and she's...singing. Aang is surprised, he also listens to the song. He only heard it once, when Katara's mother sang it to her back in the North Pole, when Katara was injured from Azula's attack.

Kya starts to whimper softly, until she stops and goes to sleep. Katara gives Kya a gentle kiss on the forehead. Katara keeps her daughter in her arms, gently rocking on the chair. Aang slowly walks in, standing in front of Katara and Kya. Katara looks up at Aang, then back at her daughter.

"This is our daughter." Katara whispers.

Aang gently lays a hand on Kya's head. "She's beautiful."

Katara softly nods. "Yes...she is." Kya gasps in her sleep then whimpers painfully with a tear escaping from her eye. Katara gently wipes that tear away and tenderly hushes at Kya. Katara walks back to the bed and gently lays Kya on it, being careful not to wake her up, then lays the cover over her shivering body. Katara turns to face Aang.

"I'm sorry, I need to look after her." Katara says.

"It's okay, I should get going anyways." Aang says. "Well...it was nice meeting you. I guess I'll see you later...in 30 years."

Katara gives Aang a hug. "Good luck on your mission."

Aang hugs Katara back. After the hug, Aang leaves and Katara returns her attention to her daughter. Kya coughs in her sleep then whimpers. "Mommy...please don't go." Kya says in her sleep.

Katara grabs Kya's hand then gently strokes it. "I'm not going anywhere...I promise, I'm staying." Katara whispers. "You're going to be just fine. Just hang on." Katara then gives her daughter a kiss on the cheek.

When Aang exits the house, he doesn't bother leaving. Instead, he just sits out on the porch , his arms on his knees, laying his head in his arms and begins crying.