"This is it. The official rendezvous place for the invasion force." Sokka declared, looking down at his map.
Your eyes raked the field full of koala-sheep.
"How did you pick this place?" Toph asked.
"Before we split up, my dad and I found this island on the map. It's uninhabited, and the harbor surrounded by cliffs seemed like the perfect secluded place."
"Nice choice, Sokka." Katara praised as she brushed her hair out for bed. "And we're here four days ahead of schedule."
"How'd that happen?" You muttered, rolling out your sleeping blanket.
Sokka stood on his, placing his hands on his hips. "I'll have you know that I'm a master planner. It took some changing of things, but we made it."
"Sorry, Master Sokka." You teased, bowing.
His eyebrow twitched in slight annoyance as the others chuckled.
Aang paused, as if realizing something. "Wait, four days!?" He hollered, jumping up in the air. "The invasion's in four days!?" He began chewing on his nails.
You swatted at his hand.
"Whatever." Sokka grumbled, yawning as he laid on his sleeping bag. "That's like… four days from now. Let's just calm down and-" He fell asleep mid-sentence, beginning to snore.
"Sokka's got the right idea, Aang." Katara admitted, looking over at her brother. "We're here, we're ready; the best thing we can do now is get plenty of rest." She said, laying down.
"I guess." Aang replied hesitantly.
You all awoke the next morning to a loud repetitive sound.
Aang was punching a tree.
"Is he for real?" You mumbled.
"I'll go see what's going on." Katara offered, standing and walking over.
You groaned, covering your ears. "It's too early for this."
Sokka nodded in agreement.
"How long have you been up?" Katara asked Aang.
"A couple hours." He replied, moving around the tree and kicking it. "I've got a lot more skills to refine if I'm gonna fight Ozai." He paused, breathing heavily.
"You know, there is such a thing as over-training." Katara informed softly.
Aang hit the tree again and a shiver ran up his body. He fell over, every leaf that was on the tree falling on him.
You, Sokka and Katara all looked at him in disbelief.
Aang stood, raising his arms in a defensive position as he moved around. "You don't get it, do you? My form is bad, I'm sloppy, and I still don't know any firebending. Not even the basics." He reminded as he circled around Katara, his eye twitching.
"Well, that's okay, Aang." Sokka spoke up.
You turned to look at him, seeing that he was laying on the grass, looking at his map.
"The eclipse will block of firebending anyway." Sokka continued. "You don't need to know it. Plus it's a stupid element."
Your mouth dropped open in offense.
"Okay, but I still have to work on everything else." Aang insisted, making slashing motions with his arms. "I'd better spend the whole day training." He bowed at Sokka, turning and bowing at Katara, and creating an air-scooter, rushing away.
Sokka sat up, a worried expression on his face.
"Nice going, map master." You told him, crossing your arms.
Sokka raised his map, hiding his face.
Day turned to night, and Aang finally reappeared. He flopped down on his back. "Goodnight Toph. Goodnight Sokka. Goodnight Katara. Goodnight Y/n. Goodnight Appa. Goodnight Momo. Goodnight-"
"Go to sleep already!" Toph cut off.
"Sokka! Get up! I need to know what day it is!" Aang shouted.
You cracked an eye open, seeing Aang pushing, pulling and prodding Sokka.
"What!? Who's talking!?" Sokka yelled as he leapt up, drawing his sword. He hit his face on the rock in front of him, falling back over.
"Relax! It's still two days before the invasion." Toph told him.
Aang pulled on Sokka's leg. "Sokka, you've got to get up and improve on your rock-climbing exercises!"
"What?" Sokka asked, his tone soft and confused.
"In one of my dreams, you were running from firenation soldiers, trying to climb this cliff! But you were too slow and they got you!"
Sokka stood quickly, looking down at Aang. "But that was just a dream. I'm a great climber."
"Then climb that cliff!" Aang shouted, pointing to the cliff on his left. "Climb it fast!"
Sokka looked over at the tall cliff. He pointed at it, to make sure that they were talking about the same cliff.
Aang nodded.
Sokka approached the cliff. "Stupid Avatar. Stupid cliff. Stupid dream! I can climb fast!" He vented to himself.
You shook your head, sighing.
"Don't drink that!" Aang shouted.
Sokka lost his concentration and slid down the side as Toph spat the water out.
"Why?! Is it poisoned!?"
Katara bended the water that Toph had spat out off of her.
"In my dream, you were right in the middle of the invasion. And you had to stop to use the bathroom! We died because of your tiny bladder!" Aang turned to Katara. "And you need to start wearing your hair up. In my dream, your hair got caught in a train and-"
"Aang!" Katara halted, placing her hand on his cheek. "I know you're just trying to help, but you really need to get a grip." She stated firmly. "You're unraveling."
"You're right." Aang admitted after a moment's hesitation. "I'm losing my mind."
"What was your first clue?" You mumbled.
Sokka yelled as he slid down the cliff again.
"It's like every time I think about how stressed I am, I just end up more stressed." Aang explained, pacing back and forth and twiddling his fingers. "I'm like a big, growing snowball of nerves!"
Sokka turned to him. "Well, of course you are! That's cause you've gotta to fight the Firelord, the baddest man on the planet. And you better win, or we're all done for!"
"Sokka!" Katara scolded.
"What? It's true. That's the deal, he knows it."
Katara frowned, shoving her brother. She walked over to Aang. "I know what'll make you feel better. Get ready to be de-stressified!"
"I'm guessing it didn't work, then." You noted, seeing Aang and Katara leave the yoga session.
Katara shook her head. "I think it only made it worse. He's going to try talking to Sokka about it."
Seconds later, you heard Sokka's 'Wang Fire' voice.
"Why don't you get right down to business and tell me what's been bothering you?" He said.
You turned, seeing Aang with his head on a koala-sheep.
"You know what's bothering me. I have to fight the Firelord in a few days."
Sokka- Wang Fire- nodded solemnly. "Tell me more about this… Firelord. Why are you so afraid of him?"
"You said it, yourself. He's the baddest man on the planet. I'm supposed to defeat him and save the world!"
"Life does feel that way sometimes, doesn't it? Like we're all trying to save the world from evil."
"Okay, but what can I do to feel better?" Aang demanded sharply.
Sokka held up a koala-sheep. "Want to try screaming into this pillow?"
Aang took it, yelling into it.
Sokka nodded, convinced Aang was better.
The Avatar shook his head.
"Okay, what you need is a good old-fashioned back-pounding to relieve stress." Toph said.
"What are we trying now?" You asked yourself, looking over.
Aang was lying on top of several small pillars of earth. "Pound away." He said.
Toph began stomping, and the pillars went up and down.
"Ow! Toph! I! Think! This! Is! Bruising! Me!" Aang hollered. He fell off the side and Toph stopped.
You winced.
"Sorry." Toph apologized. "I forgot you have baby skin. Well, there's one other thing we can try." She stomped her foot and something shot into the sky, landing in her hand. "Acupuncture." She said with a grin as the porcupine spread its quills.
Aang yelled, running away.
You grabbed onto his shoulder, halting his retreat. "I have an idea."
"Are you doing any better?" You asked, looking over at Aang.
He clutched his drink, gaze darting all over the place. As if expecting Ozai to invade him.
You sighed, sitting up from your reclined position. "I'll take that as a 'no'." You looked back out over the ocean that you were previously looking at before turning back to Aang. "Maybe we should head back. It's getting late." You noted, seeing the setting sun.
You grabbed Aang's arm, pulling him with you back to camp. You sat down in your sleeping bag.
"Thanks for everything, guys." Aang voiced, his tone still exhausted.
"Do you feel less stressed? Ready for a good night's sleep?" Katara asked from her sleeping bag.
Aang clutched his knees to his chest. "Uh, I kinda think I sorta, might, slightly feel a little better."
"Then our work here is done." Sokka declared, yawning and laying down.
You awoke to the sound of screaming.
You all stood, rushing over to Aang.
"What happened, Aang?" Katara asked hurriedly.
Aang turned away, resting his hands on the grass. "It's the nightmares. They just get worse and worse."
"Looks like it's time for another therapy session." Sokka said, spinning in a circle and revealing his 'Wang Fire' get-up.
"No, that won't help. Nothing helps." He denied firmly. "There's only one thing I can do. I'm going to stay awake straight through to the invasion."
Sokka's fake moustache, beard and eyebrows fell off in surprise as his mouth dropped open.
You all watched as Aang made noises to Momo the next morning.
"Aang?" Katara prompted. When he looked over at her, she continued. "We're all starting to get a little worried about you." She admitted softly.
"You've been awake too long." Sokka agreed.
"And you're acting downright weird." Toph added.
"You really need to relax." You told him.
Aang groaned. "Look. I appreciate what you guys are saying. But the stress and the nightmares… they were just too much. Staying awake is the best way for me to deal with it." He paused for several moments before lunging at Sokka, grabbing his shirt. "Sokka, what should we do?"
"About what?"
"About that!" Aang turned, pointing.
Nothing was there.
Aang walked out into the middle, looking around. Several moments later, he grabbed his head. "I just need to jump in a cold waterfall!" He ran off, yelling.
You all stared after him in shock.
"Okay, he needs professional help." You muttered.
Aang walked towards the camp, where you all set up your surprise for him. Aang felt the top. "Oh, look. Another hallucination." He grumbled. "An imaginary bed made out of clouds."
"Hey! It's real! We spent hours working on it." Toph informed, crossing her arms.
"We made it for ya. A good night's sleep will probably take the crazy away. We hope." Sokka added, gesturing to the shaved koala-sheep who were shivering without their wool.
"Look, you guys keep telling me I need to sleep." Aang said, climbing off to stand in front of you. "But I can't. The invasion's tomorrow."
"Aang-"
"No, Katara. There's still so much I haven't learned. I don't need sleep. What I need is practice." He brought up his arms in a poor defensive position. He was wobbling on his feet. "Quick, hit me."
"I'm not going to hit you." Katara told him softly.
"You want me to do it?" Toph asked.
Sokka elbowed her.
"Listen. You've been training for this since the day we met." Katara reminded, placing her hand on his shoulder. "I've seen your progress. You're smart, brave and strong enough."
"You really think so?"
"We all do." Sokka assured, smiling. "You can do this. You're ready."
"You're the man, Twinkle Toes." Toph said, pointing at him enthusiastically.
"Thanks, guys." He yawned, rubbing his eyes and laying down. "You know what? I think I am ready."