Legal Disclaimer: In no way do I claim any right to Avatar: The Last Aribender. Nickeldoen and all Trademarks are copyright (c) all resective owners.
I'm sorry for not being straight forward-
I can tell you in my dreams-
My brain-circuit is about to short-
I want so see you real soon now-
I feel like weeping in the moonlight-
I can't call to you in the midnight-
My naivete- I don't know what to do-
My heart is like a kaleidoscope-
Led by the moonlight-
We cross paths again and again-
Kikuko Inoue, "Moonlight Densetsu" (Moonlight Legend, Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon)
DREAM SEQUENCE
"What is it about the night sky that gives it it's mystic and celestial meaning? The fact that we are just pawns in the woodwork of the bigger scheme of things? Or is it the need for man to own every thing he cannot? Greed has caused mankind many undeserved deaths, and yet, we keep going. The pursuit for the greater wealth. Can man forget greed, bandetry, slander, anger, hate? Can pain be purged from this fate we call life? And can we escape to where life is perfect?"
Katara stood in a field of white orchids. Wearing a white silk dress, it flowed freely in the soft wafting breeze that made the orchids sway too and fro. She looked to they sky, a crystal clear blue tint without a single cloud. On her neck she wore a single silver chain, with a crystal pendent. "Welcome... Katara of the water benders..." A soft vocie called to her from behind. When she came to look, she saw her mother, standing in the center of the field, where the same exact dress, only hued with a soft carnation color.
"Mom?" Katara questioned as she approched the figure.
"Katara... It's been too long..." The woman said with happiness. "Oh mom!" Katara said as tears sprang to her eyes, as she ran to her mother. Welcomed by open arms. "Mom... Where are we?" Katara asked, bewildered. "Are we in heaven?" Katara asked.
"Yes... I am so sorry, about that manta-raye... I should have protected you..." Katara's eyes shot open at that remark.
"What?" Katara asked.
"Katara... Your life ended before you could fulfill your destiny. Now the course of history as we know it will change. You my dear, were the key to the Avatar finding and reaveling his true power. His true potential. You my love, were the concrete angel of destiny it's self... The guardian in which protected his heart. And your star burned out before it's light made it to earth." Her mother stroked her hair.
"I'm dead?" Katara asked, choking back a sob.
"By my daughter, we can change that. Do you truly want to return to a life of now true home, and always in the face of danger?" "Mother. I would face the devil himself just to protect Aang. How dare you ask such a question." Katara spat as she stood, turned away from her mother. "Dear, do you know why you had those dreams? The nightmares that plauged you every night deep in slumber"
He mother asked sweetly. "Premonitions?" Katara's eyes widened in shock. "Love, you have a gift. A gift to fore-tell the furure. And those nightmares, you foretold your own death. Truly amazing for a young girl of 15. I could only see five minutes into the future at that age... Truly you must be an oracle..." Her mother placed her hands on her shoulders. "Mom - I want to return. I need to be at his side." Katara said in whisper.
"Then love, pray. Pray for a life that was once alive. Your life"
Katara nodded, and closed eyes. Mother and daughter linked hands. Katara's hands warm with life, her mother's cold and lifeless.
"I can feel the sun... I can feel the warmth of junketsu hikari..." Katara trailed.
END DREAM SEQUENCE
Aang studied Katara's motionless body.
She was growing paler by the minute, and nothing he tried could stop it.
Aang hung his head low in defeat. Soon, she was gone. Death had knocked, and Katara had answered.
Aang's eyes shadowed from view, leaked tears at Katara's side. "Why? WHY!" He rasped.
Sokka entered. "Is oka-" He left of. "Oh no... KATARA!" He screamed, like Aang, he too let tears spill from his navy orbs.
As the two contiued to grieve, Katara's aura suddenly changed from black, to an angelic white. The sign of life. Blood pulsed though her viens, her heart beat in her chest, and breathing in a steady rythm. Aang looked up at his current postion... And felt his heart stop when he heard Katara breath again.
Katara's eyes fluttered open, and she sat up with a start. Almost on imapct, Katara was smothered with hugs from Sokka and Aang. "Katara! Katara!" Both her lover and brother said with happiness. Katara simply laughed, and hugged them back. "How are you feeling?" Aang questioned her, ready to play 20 questions.
"Ahh... I fell beter thank I have in a while... I guess facing off with death gives on a great felling of peace..." Katara joked.
"I saw my mother..." Katara told Aang.
Aang was silent. "They say that all of life's questions are answered at death. It's true." Katara said, serious look on her face.
"I know why I was plauged with nightmares, night after night. I was fore-telling my own death. The first dream told me of an ocean, and the second revealed sand. What do ocean and sand make? Beach." Katara said, point-blank. "And you were stung by that manta at the beach..." Aang added sagely. "Geez Katara... First you are the only water bender in our tribe... Then you find a boy in a ice berg becuase a fit of rage... Now you can see the future? How did you get all of the good genes and leave me with weak human atrubutes?" Sokka asked.
Katara took his hand in hers. "But you are not weak. You my dear brother, poses more courage than any one I know. And that, makes you a strong warrior from the water tribe." Sokka smiled, and hugged his sister. "Thanks Katara"
"Any time." She replyed with smile. "Now... I would kinda like to streatch my legs..." Katara said as she stuggled to move from her current postion, only to fall back down.
Aang gave a slight laugh, walked over to her, placed her arm around his neck, and carried her out of the hut and into the warm sunlight.
Katara rested her head on his shoulder as he walked her down the beach, and back. "Umm... Aang, it's very sweet of you to carry me like this,
but the point of me comming out her was to stretch my legs. So if you don't himd putting me down?" Katara laughed.
"Oh! Sure! Sorry, I got carried away in the heat of the moment!" He laughed his mistake off.
Katara placed hand on his cheek and smiled. "Thank you, you are very sweet to carry me." She said as she made first attempt to walk in two days. Within her first steap, she stumbled and fell to her knees. She winced in pain as one of her wounds re-opened. Aang helped her to her feet, and aided her in her walk back to the hut, for rebandeging.
When they walked back into the hut, he helped her to a cushion.
"Gomen ne... I must be such a burden..." She said with sorrow. "Never. I love helping you. It gives me meaning in life other than playing avatar"
He said with slight grin plastered to his face. "There, all set. Wanna try walking again?" He asked. "Sure... Anything is worth another shot if I can walke again!" She giggled as he helped her out of the hut once more.
They walked along the beach, along the shore for hours. Getting her to walk like she used too.
Hence, the sun started to set, playing with colors in the sky. A brilliant show of pinks, reds, oranges, and purples. All mixed into one.
But night fall, the village where they where staying was alit with lanterns, and the enchoning laugh and dance of the locals. Holding a festival,
for no reason.
Just for the delight of dancing and socializing with each other. Aang and Katara stayed away from the festivites, the drunks, the vast amounts of food served. The smell of roasted pig, the stench of heavy wine, even when it was watered down, was too much for Katara. So they stayed to the shoreline, and gazed upon the stars.
"Wow... There are so many..." Katara sighed from her current postion. Laying in the sand with Aang, her head rested on his chest.
"Yeah... I wonder how long they live... Before they stop wandering the lonely universe..." He said as he felt his eyes grow heavy.
"Katara... We should be getting back..." He said softly as he nugged her lightly.
He got no resonce. She had fallen asleep, content and blissful. He gave a slight laugh and scopped her up in his arms. "Geez little miss water bender... Did all that walking wear you out?" He asked in whisper as he carried her back to the village.
TBC...
Whew... Long chapter... My fingers hurt from typing... Tell me what you think!
Always,
KirariSoldier