Chapter One

Meera's sleep had been plagued with nightmares of Ozai for weeks. The former Fire Lord's imprisonment did nothing to stop the fear that crept through her dreams into her bones and down to her very core. Each time she would wake covered in sweat and grasping greedily at the air of her room. The residents of Ba Sing Se were active outside of her windows, tending to start their days early, presumably from the influx of fire nation citizens that had bombarded the Earth Kingdom in the five years since the war had ended. Albeit arrogant and too pretentious for her liking, they did not hold the same evil as Ozai had, settling all over the Earth Kingdom in a state of somewhat strained peace.

There was no use pondering over a silly dream, she had work to do. The middle ring wasn't half bad compared to the lower ring, although Avatar Aang and Master Katara had spent a long time there to aid where they could. Meera worked as a librarian at Ba Sing Se university, where Master Katara attended for a year before she had to leave. Meera had formally met the master waterbender while helping her find books and scrolls for her classes. There was also the time that Meera had overheard her and the Avatar talking. She hadn't meant to eavesdrop but the talking quickly morphed into shouting and the Avatar giving Master Katara an ultimatum.

"I've hardly seen you since you started studying," Avatar Aang groused. "I get lonely when I travel."

"I'm sorry Aang, maybe you could take Toph on your next trip." Katara tried to sooth.

"It's not the same."

"I don't know what you want me to do, Aang."

"Drop out, come with me, travel the nations and help me rebuild." The Avatar beamed at her with wide-eyed hope.

"I-I can't."

"Then why are we even together?"

Master Katara gasped. "Aang, please think about what you're saying."

"I've been thinking about it for a long time and its either me or the school."

Meera had intruded long enough at that point, she crept away like a criminal and hoped that Master Katara had chosen her education over romance. Sadly, it had been months and Katara didn't return after that day.

This particular day stretched unusually long. Meera was in the process of stacking discarded books when her boss, Yang, stomped towards her. His bushy eyebrows knitted together, and the protruding nose hairs seemed to flare with his nose as he approached.

"Can you explain to me why the Avatar is looking for you?"

Her annoyance at the entitled Yang was forgotten. Why would the Avatar of all people be looking for a nobody like her? Meera had lived a quiet life with her mother, going about her days with as much discretion as possible. She didn't have many friends, only Haru who had moved to the city after the war and their mothers became quick friends. Haru would tell her stories of the war, including that he had personally assisted the Avatar and his group of friends in the battle against Ozai. Perhaps it was Haru that the Avatar was looking for.

There was no time to think of an answer, the quick tapping of feet on stone echoed in the large library. More than one person. Rounding a corner, Avatar Aang and Master Katara spotted her.

Katara eyed Yang up and down taking in his ridged posture. "Thank you, Chancellor Yang."

The master waterbender was passive aggressive, her tone dismissive as she smiled brightly at Yang who looked to Avatar Aang for confirmation. There was a reason Meera didn't like the chancellor and his sexist tendencies were it. Only after the Avatar had nodded back to him had Yang left her alone with two of the most powerful people to exist. Meera's palms became sweaty and she placed them behind her back in an attempt to hide her fidgeting hands.

"We've met before, I don't know if you remember me, I'm Katara."

There was no one that didn't know of Master Katara, yet here she was polite and humble towards a stranger.

"Yes, hello, my name is Meera." She returned the smile, although, not as bright. "Are you looking for Haru?"

Katara and Aang looked at one another, sharing a silent thought.

Aang tilted his head at her. "Why would we be looking for Haru?"

"I only assumed since we're friends and I can't possibly imagine why you would be looking for me specifically."

Katara's frown returned to a soft smile. "Well, we are looking for you. You're a waterbender, aren't you?"

It was a question that stunned Meera temporarily. Yes, she was a waterbender, or as close to one as can be, but she was more than that, her abilities going far beyond what was considered normal. For that reason alone, she had hidden her powers altogether.

"How-" Meera stopped. How did you know that? How could you possibly know that? What was going on? Too many questions mingled with a budding panic creeping up her spine and she instinctively stepped back.

"Please, don't be afraid." The Avatar filled the space Meera had just occupied. "I know about your dreams."

"What dreams?" Meera feigned ignorance.

"Of Ozai." The Avatars mouth set in a hard line, no doubt from harsh memories. "I've had them too, Meera."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Meera returned to shelving the last of the books to distract herself from the conversation.

"I've dreamt about you too. About your waterbending and … your father."

Meera looked up as if she had been slapped before schooling her features. "It was an honour to meet you Avatar Aang, Mater Katara." Meera bowed before rushing past the pair and out of the door.

The lack of footsteps behind her had Meera slowing down as she got a good distance away from the University. Catching her breath, she pondered that the Avatar knew too much, and it made Meera uncomfortable that a stranger knew of her life so intimately. Her father died a war hero, off to fight with the men of the Southern Water Tribe. When news had reached home that he had perished, her mother saw him in everything she did and everywhere she went. His memory became too painful coupled with the fact that the Southern Water Tribe was becoming increasingly open to attack with no sign of the men returning. At age four, Meera and her mother became Earth Kingdom refugees.

Katara hadn't been born yet when they immigrated and Meera often thought that if they had stayed then her life would've been drastically different. What if she had befriended Master Katara before she ever became a master? What if she had found the Avatar with her and Sokka? And what if she roamed the world with them, going on adventures and saving lives? She shook her head certain that no good would come from dwelling on what couldn't be changed.

"You're home early, angel." Her mother said as Meera bolted through the door of their quant, little house.

"Yang emptied out the library early today." She lied, rushing upstairs to her room.

Meera hoped she didn't dream that night and that tomorrow there would be news of the Avatar's departure.