Yay! People reviewed! I'm not a loser at all! (does a dance) Also, I failed Social Studies, so I have no clue about longitude and latitude and stuff like that. Also, the show has only introduced some of the old Avatars, so I had to make some of them up and stuff. The mystery of Momo will be solved….eventually…(evil laughter) But that's part of the mystery isn't it! A little hint though: animals can sense the supernatural. – ZeroSoul

muted fate, chapter II: a vessel is needed

"Sir," said Uncle to the captain of the ship, "can you show me the maps?"

"They're right over here, my lord," answered the captain as he gestured to a bookcase.

Uncle walked over to the bookcase and pulled out a specially selected scroll. He laid it over one of the nearby tables as he opened it and studied it. He turned to the captain, "Captain, what's our location?"

"Latitude 10, Longitude 75,"

'Latitude 10, Longitude 75…Latitude 10, Longitude 75…' Uncle said as he let the words roll over in his brain. He traced with finger over the map to the direction location of where the camp had been.

Nothing.

Uncle blinked – was his old eyes playing tricks on him again?

Nothing.

There was nothing there in that area. There was no indication that there had ever been something there. No islands, no marked oceans or peninsulas…

Nothing?

But that was impossible. All these marks were up to date and marked by seafarers who had been around the waters over a million and one times. It was impossible…it was…

Nothing!

'Some strange things are at work here,' thought Uncle as he shut the map and placed it back on the rack. He then hurriedly left the room and went back to his own room to check something. If he was correct…by the gods he hoped he wasn't correct.

He forced open his door and almost fell backwards. On the ground (next to a half empty bottle of wine) was his drunken nephew.

"Prince Zuko…you didn't…" his Uncle said, on the verge of panic.

Zuko hiccuped and blinked confusingly, "…unc...le…"

"You did," his Uncle sighed.

Zuko stared at his fingers as his Uncle put back the bottle of wine and fixed back the liquor cabinet, "You know, I rarely do drink except out of celebration and even then it's a little," He observed the half-empty wine bottle for a moment. "This has a strong alcohol in it," He laughed to himself a little. "You'll have a hangover the size of this ship tomorrow!"

"What…do…I do…now?" murmured Zuko.

"What?" asked his Uncle.

"…what do I…do now that…I can never…go home…?" Zuko murmured.

"There's plenty for you to do," answered his Uncle as he picked the drunken prince from off the ground, supporting his weight as he led him from out of the room and back to his room, "You could always become a seafarer. You've been on this ship long enough to get used to the waters. We could see all of the world,"

Uncle pushed open the room. The room in itself was a little on the messy side, with cast aside papers and clothes everywhere. He laid Zuko on his silken red bed in the middle of the room. Zuko murmured something as he stretched out on the bed. His Uncle patted him on the end as he left the room.

"Sweet dreams prince," his Uncle said, "You'll need them,"

Zuko didn't hear – he was already dreaming.

The Avatars were not pleased – and having angered spirits of the once living is not a good thing. Spending the rest of your after life away from all the other spirits and crammed into one pocket of the spirit realm so that you could take on the heavy burdened duty of watching over the present Avatar was not something one wanted after dying.

Death was supposed to be a comfort – something to relax you and let all the burdens of living fly off your shoulders freely.

This was not their fate.

'What in all of the hells happened down there!' was the first thing said, the voice belonging to the 52nd Avatar.

All of the spirits were crowded around in the darkness of the realm. Their only way of viewing was a flat disc that peered into the mortal realm and showed them what was going on with the latest Avatar.

Of course, the latest Avatar was now dead.

'Something must be wrong,' stated the 36th Avatar. A ghostly rendition of her former mortal beauty, a Earthbender, 'Something must have interfered,'

'All of us know the past, the present, and have glimpses of the future,' said the 78th Avatar, a Firebender, 'and I sense that something strange has interfered here,'

'Forget what has happened now! We have other priorities!' commanded the 97th Avatar, a Airbender, 'Who will be the next Avatar now that this one has left the mortal realm? Has a Vessel even been chosen as of yet?'

'He is correct,' said the 10th Avatar, 'I doubt a Vessel has been chosen,'

'Then the great cosmic trail will fall out of order and into chaos is there is no avatar!' wailed the 36th Avatar.

Suddenly, the viewing disc began to shine and sparkle. The spirits were frightened and backed away from it. Shining orbs of blue rose up from the disc one by one and came together to form a shape. They formed a shining new spirit – the spirit of the last Avatar that had just died and ascended to join his fellow Avatars.

Aang.

Aang's spirit laid floating above the disc. The other spirits slowly began to crowd around him, observing this new member to their fold. Aang opened his eyes slowly and looked around at his surroundings. Then he touched his body.

His hand went through himself.

He looked at his hand.

He could see through himself.

'Where…where am I…?' Aang gasped. He clasped his hand over his mouth. His voice was echoing through the darkness.

'Among your fellow Avatars,' said the 78th Avatar.

'But…I…I'm dead?' Aang said, looking up at the other Avatar with wide eyes.

'Indeed you are,' said the 52nd Avatar, 'and have been dead for a day now,'

'How did I die?' Aang demanded, 'What killed me?'

The Avatars had frowns on their faces and looked at each other. Finally, the 10th Avatar spoke up, 'We know not what attacked you and your other companion. At that precise moment, our viewing disc disappeared. All we know is that it must be some supernatural force,'

'I have to go back!' Aang pleaded.

'YOU CANNOT GO BACK!' yelled the 52nd Avatar so loudly that Aang's spirit shivered. He then relaxed and spoke more calmly to Aang as he laid a hand on his shoulder, 'An Avatar is born and then dies, then is reborn over and over again. Letting you go back would make the cosmic cycle fall to pieces, as so would all the realms. It would be in chaos and it is our duty to prevent that,'

'But I have to do something!' Aang said. He fought back bitter tears, 'They need me!'

'No, they need a Avatar,' answered the 52nd Avatar, 'and that is no longer your duty. A new one must be born,' He then paused. 'You were in the mortal realm for a short time, Avatar Aang, but we must know…have you chosen a Vessel for the next Avatar to be born from?'

Aang looked down at the disc. He floated in front of it so that he could see. The viewing disc changed from the island where his body was buried to somewhere else in the middle of the ocean. He let out a tiny sigh and turned to the other Avatars.

'Yes…yes I have…'

When Katara finally slept, she dreamed of being a spirit and floating alone in the misty darkness of death.

She saw Sokka's spirit – looking just like his body did when he had died.

'Sokka!' Katara called.

Sokka's spirit looked at her. Katara floating over to him to embrace him in a tender hug, but he dissolved as soon as she touched him.

Katara saw Aang.

'Aang!'

He dissolved too.

Katara then saw many spirits – mother, father, Sokka, Aang, Momo, and Apa…all of their spirits swirling around in a torrent of darkness.

They were being sucked into the darkness.

Katara reached out her hand to them, but they were all sucked in. The darkness suddenly advanced on her as it grew three crimson eyes and stared down at her malevolently.

It was coming.

It was coming for her.

Katara screamed and the darkness plunged on her.

It was like she was swimming back at home in the waters.

Except this wasn't water, it was darkness and it was sticky and clung to her like mud. She gasped and gagged as she tried to swim, but it was impossible. The darkness began to crawl over her body and she struggled against it, but it was slowly sinking her in, like quicksand.

She was drowning.

She was sinking.

She was dying…

…she woke up.

Her body was sweaty, her hair stringy and wet, her eyes stinging from too many past tears, and her clothes and skin bloody. She took a deep breath and tried to recollect herself – going over what had happened and trying to think about what was going on – trying to think of a way to shake off the dream.

Where was she? Zuko's ship. Why was she there? They had found her there. What did that dream mean?

…there was no true answer for that.

Katara got off the bed she had been laying on and walked nearby one of the windows. It was dark outside and the waves splashed up against the boat. They made her think of home, being home with Sokka and…

'No. Stop it,' Katara thought, scolding herself.

Sokka was…gone now. She had to stop thinking about him. She had to think of other things. She had to think of what she was going to do now.

Mainly, she now had to figure out a way off the ship without being noticed.

She had to be strong now. Strength would keep her from a mental breakdown. Bury the pain. Forget about it now. Mourn later. Like Mom. Like Dad. Like Sokka. Like Aang.

Forget.

Forget and move on.

'But even if I do get off of here…where will I go? I have no way of getting anywhere anymore,' Katara thought.

She turned away from the window. She didn't want to think about water right now. She sat on her bed and tried to think. She tried to think, but no ideas were popping into her head. She then decided to give up thinking and trying to escape. Helping her or not, they were members of the Fire Nation and they had spare little and killed and tormented many.

They were monsters.

She cracked open the door of the room slightly and took a look outside. There were guards on each entrance and exit. Damn. So much for that plan. Katara closed back the door and went back to the window.

Maybe…maybe if she jumped out the window and used her Waterbending to…no, that wouldn't work. She would have to master the art before attempting such a thing and then there was the matter of opening the window and somehow maneuvering out of it.

Damn. Another plan was gone.

'My only option is just to sit here,' Katara thought, feeling defeated, 'Even though this isn't a cell, I'm still a prisoner here. Damn,'

Zuko did have a hangover the size of the ship…perhaps even bigger.

Every creaking noise from outside was like the fierce pounding of drums to his ears. The sunlight shining was all too bright and he hid under his blanket groaning. His head was throbbing without consideration for his comfort and it was all too much to deal with for one morning.

The door of the bedroom creaked open and he groaned, "…not so loud…"

"Hung over, I see," said a familiar voice, which could only belong to his Uncle. He was carrying a tray with breakfast on it. He sat nearby to Zuko and put the tray on a nearby table, "I think this is fitting punishment for underaged drinking and opening my liquor closet,"

Zuko grumbled and put his hand over his ears, "…not…so…LOUD…"

"Well, I've experienced a few bad hangovers in my wild days," answered his Uncle, "Bread, fruit juice, and rest usually cures it,"

Zuko grumbled something and wrapped the blanket around him even tighter.

"And I also see that you're in no condition to go and talk to the Water Tribe girl," added his Uncle, "What was her name again?"

"..kata...ra…" Zuko whispered. It was the only noise level he could tolerate.

"Katara? Sounds like a very nice name," said his Uncle. Zuko groaned and put a pillow over his head, "I suppose I'll leave you to deal with your hangover,"

Zuko grumbled as his Uncle exited from the room and went to the guestroom nearby.

I just saw "Unbreakable". God, that movie is strange. – ZeroSoul