Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender or 'Once Upon A Dream' from the Sleeping Beauty OST. Finally, the song that inspired it all.

A/N: A huge thank you to everyone who reviewed! The amount of feedback this story has received really overwhelmed me. Too bad this is the last chap, as I'll miss checking it's reviews and posting new installments. Anyway, moving on…

This chapter is a definite AU, and you guys will soon find out why. And Katara-14, Zuko-16. And you know what that means…

-

I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream
I know you, the gleam in your eyes is so familiar a-gleam
Yet I know it's true that visions are seldom all they seem…

"…and Sokka's trying to teach the younger boys to become a warrior, but it's hard since he doesn't really know how to be one himself."

"Well, nothing but practice would help, wouldn't it?"

"I guess so. But sometimes I can't stand seeing him so frustrated. I know he's a big goofball and a jerk at times, but he's my brother and…"

"You finally understand what I've been telling you all that time, don't you?"

"Yeah. Sometimes I'd like to think I could give him a break, but it's the temper in me. It's always flaring."

"We never really figured out where you got that from." A laugh. A missed one.

"Sometimes, I really want to break down from all the pressure. It's hard to act so grown-up when I'm only fourteen, but I rarely think I have a choice. Well, I don't… don't I?"

A sigh. An identifiable sadness. "Think of it as an opportunity, not as a responsibility, Katara. It's… less of a burden that way."

"Maybe. You know, Mama, I wish you were real, and not just in my dreams." She looked down on her hands.

"We all wish for things we don't have, dearest." Mama placed her hand on top of hers, consoling.

"But I did have you… But you were stolen." One set of eyes narrowing, another (ruefully) amused.

"That infamous temper again. Past is past, you'd have to release that grudge someday."

"But they killed you… those firebenders! Not something you can forget easily…"

"You don't have to forget, just forgive."

"I don't know if I can."

"You will. I know my own daughter. And, speaking of firebenders, I met that one you once told me about."

"Yeah, he wanders back in here sometimes. But then, he's only an illusion, transparent, like a ghost. And even then it would only be memories, and very rarely do I get to see what's become of him. Sometimes. I miss him, especially when you're not here. I never really understood…him, that night. I never even knew his name."

"Well, what I meant to say was, he's not well."

"I already knew that."

"His heart is bitter; he's holding onto something he couldn't let go of. He's on a mission and… you ought to be careful…"

"Why? He won't hurt me, even after what happened. And how could he?"

"I'm not supposed to tell."

"That's not fair."

"Oh, fine. Here's the secret: you'll meet him."

"What? While I'm awake?"

"A little too eager, aren't we?"

"…"

"Are you hiding something from your mother?"

"Well, I…"

"You've been harboring a crush on him, haven't you?"

"Am not!" A blush. "Well, okay, maybe I liked him a bit…" Fingers fiddling. "Okay, I liked him a lot. But… he's changed."

"That much is right. Things won't always be as they seem. What's about to take place would be… complicated and difficult, but it will turn out right in the end. It always does. Just hold on to your promises, and whatever emotion overtakes you, never go too far if you know it would lead to the wrong path."

"What do you mean?"

"All in due time, Katara. Now, I really think you and I should be going. The sun's rising…"

"But, Mama…!"

"I'll be back soon."

"Mama...!"

"Mama…"

"Katara, wake up! There's a ship on the horizon!"

"Sokka, let me sleep…"

"Katara!"

Her eyes fluttered open, and she squinted to see Sokka hovering over her, with blue and white paint on his face.

"What?" She snapped, irritated that she'd been awoken from such an… interesting dream.

"There's a ship nearby! Gran-gran says it's a Fire Nation war craft!"

She groggily rubbed the sleep from her eyes, alarmed. Hastily, she got up and bolted from the tent, with Sokka right behind her.

A crowd had gathered near the small harbor, where a large black (ominous) vessel loomed closer. She pushed her way to the border of the multitude, and Sokka, the remaining male of age, positioned himself as the vanguard.

They watched, as if hypnotized, as the ship dropped anchor and a platform descended. A figure walked down, followed by a seemingly never-ending fleet of soldiers, all covered in armor. Some natives drew back, intimidated.

Sokka, on the other hand, was not to be daunted, and before Katara could call out a warning he'd darted forward, attacking the one on the front, the commander, presumably.

However, the boomerang hadn't even touched the figure when Sokka was, in a display of quick fire, thrown to the side like a piece of garbage. The throng cowered.

Katara's eyes widened. Where had she seen those moves before, that stance? She shook her head. Maybe from some other firebender… but then again, she'd never seen one, except maybe for…

Without Sokka, she was now directly in the path of the commander (they call him Prince), whose countenance was still slightly shadowed.

He sauntered toward the petrified tribe as if he owned the place (he just might), until he was only a few feet from her.

"Where is the Avatar?" Roared a voice that was so terribly, achingly familiar. Deeper, older, but familiar. How many times had she heard it laugh, cry, scream…?

'No…' She thought to herself. 'It can't be.'

He took bold steps nearer, and the light shone.

'It is.'

There was that face she so clearly remembered; twisted by a scowl (known so damn well), worn by anguish, but the angular features, those golden eyes (vindictive), and a crimson scar that encompassed an eye (left by a wound) was unmistakable.

The golden eyes suddenly looked at her, penetrating, searching, and for a moment she could have sworn a flicker of recognition light up in them, but then it was gone, and the mouth she had seen curve into a smirk for too many times didn't say anything that he would have.

Instead, as his eyes locked with hers, he grabbed her upper arms, so fast she didn't even see it coming. The gold danced darkly, flecks of ocher filled with malignance. She felt his breath on her lips (warm, so hazardously close), and wasn't comforted. Not like this…

'Where is the boy I once knew?'

"Answer me, peasant! I know you're hiding him!"

"I…" Her voice quivered with the dam of emotions that were about to burst (too overwhelming). Here was a one last chance to uncover the truth.

"I don't know what you're talking about." 'But I do know you!'

Too late.

'…Will you promise me that?'

'I'll always be here…'

Funny how the things we say and do find a way to come back to us.

Funny how we act like we don't want them.

Funny how we agree in the end anyway.

Promise sealed.


But if I know you, I know what you do,
You love me at once, the way you did once upon a dream…

FIN

-

A/N: First of all, there will be no sequel to this story. What happens next after this is simply where the series begins… and I didn't put Aang in there because 1) I forgot how the scene went, 2) It'll make things more complicated, and 3) It might interfere with the Zutara-ness. Yeah. Completely shallow and left a glaring plot hole, I know, and I know the last part's kinda BLEH, but I got lazy. I really tried to change it, but I can't, so you're left with that. So sue me. Anyway… yeah. The fic's over, and you're left with your imaginations. But before you actually leave this webpage, please grant this poor, impoverished author some happiness in her pathetic life by leaving a

REVIEW!