Disclaimer: All rights belong to Nickelodeon, Bryan Konietzko, Michael Dante DiMartino, and all the men and women that created the A:TLA show, books, and comics. I take no credit, and I do not mean to break any copyright rules. This is simply a work of fiction made for enjoyment. No money is being made. The lyrics are from the song "Fortune Teller" by the Rolling Stones

Rating: General Audiences. Warning: some scenes contain dark themes and minor violence

Author's Note: This chapter is a quick breath of air before we dive right back into the depths. Also, I would like to mention that I have kicked up Aang's jealousness and immaturity up a notch (or two) from the show, but it's not because I'm trying to villainize him. I love Aang. But in this story, without him being the Avatar and having those responsibilities, he isn't as mature, and his whole character arc revolves around that.

Chapter 3: The Fortune Teller

Went to the fortune teller
Had my fortune read
I didn't know what to tell her
I had a dizzy feeling in my head

When she took a look at my palm
She said son are you feeling kinda warm?
And she looked into her crystal ball
And said you're in love

"Look at this great deal on platypus bear eggs!" Sokka pets one of the smooth, white objects. "I think we just found our lunch."

Toph sticks her tongue out. "Ew. I'll stick with something else."

Suki walks up from a market stall across the street, bearing a bulging bag. "I got all these apples for only one bronze piece!"

Aang reaches in and takes one, inspecting the shiny red surface before chomping down. "Hmm. This is really good."

Suddenly, someone cries out at the end of the street. Everyone turns to see a horse-drawn cart barreling down the main thoroughway uncontrollably. People dive out of the way, crying out in warning.

One man stands in the middle of the street, calmly facing the threat.

"Get out of the way!" Sokka shouts.

When the horse draws closer and the man still doesn't move, Aang sends a gust of wind to push him to the side. The horse barrels through the spot he'd just been standing in.

The man brushes himself off.

"Why didn't you move?" Aang asks.

"Everything was completely under control," he replies calmly.

"You almost got run over!" Sokka exclaims. "You were lucky that we were here!"

"I appreciate your help, but it was unnecessary. Aunt Wu said that no harm would befall me today."

"Aunt who?" Toph asks.

"Aunt Wu. She's the village fortune teller. Awful nice, knowing your future."

"It must be," Suki replies quietly. Everyone is having the same thought: it would be nice to know Katara's future.

"But she was wrong," Toph points out. "You would have been killed if we weren't here to help you."

"But I wasn't harmed." He smiles sagely and bows. "It is nice to meet you all. Oh!" He suddenly reaches into his bag and pulls out a long, thin item wrapped in cloth. "Aunt Wu said to give any strangers I encountered this."

He presses the object into Aang's arms and then is gone, lost in the market crowds.

The others gather around Aang. "What is it?" Suki asks.

"You know, maybe we should go see this Aunt Wu," Toph suggests. "It might help us with our mission. And, you know, we might learn something else…"

"It's an umbrella!" Aang exclaims, popping it out and holding it over his head. As if on cue, thunder rumbles and dark clouds roll over. Within a minute, it begins to rain.

"That proves it!" Toph exclaims, huddling under the umbrella with Aang. "Aunt Wu is legit!"

"That doesn't prove a thing," Sokka scoffs. "You can't really tell the future."

"I guess you're not really getting wet, then."

Suki smiles, amused. "I'm not so sure I believe in it all, but it can't hurt to go pay her a visit. We're not exactly on any sort of time crunch."

Mount Takapu looms over them as they wind their way through the village. They finally stop in front of a large one-story house, a man with white hair and burgundy robes standing outside. He smiles when he sees them.

"Aunt Wu is expecting you," he says, opening the door for them.

"See?" Toph whispers.

"He probably says that to everyone who comes here," Sokka hisses back.

They step into a warm and cozy waiting room. A young girl with a pink kimono enters and bows slightly to them in greeting.

"My name in Meng, and I'm Aunt Wu's assistant…" Her voice trails off as she sets her eyes on Aang. He's scratching his nose, completely oblivious. "Why, hello there."

"Hey," Aang replies.

Meng doesn't appear perturbed. "Can I get you guys something while you're waiting? Tea? Aunt Wu's special bean curd puffs?"

"I'll try a curd puff," Sokka says, following the others as they take seats on the cushions.

"And I guess I could go for some tea," Suki adds.

"Just a second." Meng crouches down in front of Aang. "So what's your name?"

"Aang."

"That rhymes with Meng!" She grins, revealing a gap between her two front teeth. "And you've got some pretty big ears, don't you?"

Aang frowns. "I...guess."

"They're huge," Toph confirms.

Aang shoots her a sideways look. "You can't even see them!"

"Well, it's very nice to meet you, Aang. Very nice." Meng straightens up, bowing as she slowly walks out backwards.

Aang turns to Suki, panic in his eyes. "Are my ears really that big?"

She presses her lips together. "I mean, they are slightly bigger than average."

"Is that bad? Do girls not like that?" Aang frantically touches his ears.

"Why? You got a thing for Meng?" Toph teases.

"What? No."

"Because she's definitely got a thing for you. 'Oooh, Aang, what big ears you have!' 'Oooh Aang, that rhymes with Meng!'"

Aang's cheeks turn red and his mumbles something under his breath.

Sokka os the one who saves him by changing the subject. "I can't believe you guys dragged me into the house of nonsense."

"Can you try to keep an open mind?" Suki asks. "There are things in this world that just can't be explained. Maybe this is one of them. Wouldn't it be nice to have some insight into the future?"

"It would be nice to have some bean curd puffs." Sokka sighs. "Okay, maybe some information about Katara would be helpful, too."

"What if it isn't good?" Toph asks. "Are we ready to face that?"

No one responds.

Meng is coming around the corner with a tray of tea and curd puffs when a young woman steps through the opposite door, a huge smile on her face.

"Oh, Meng!" she exclaims. "Aunt Wu says I'm going to meet my true love! He's going to give me a rare panda lilly!"

"How romantic." Meng sighs. "I wish my true love would give me rare flowers."

"Good luck with that!" Aang calls out cheerfully.

The woman drops her voice, but Toph still catches what she says. "Is that the big-eared guy Aunt Wu predicted that you'd marry?"

Meng blushes and barely pulls her face together as she returns to give them their refreshments. About a foot from Aang, she trips and falls, almost dropping everything. Luckily Aang reaches out in time to steady the tray, his hands inadvertently covering hers.

She blushes again. He awkwardly pulls himself away.

"Enjoy your snack," Meng says hurriedly before disappearing.

Sokka reaches over and grabs the bowl of bean curd puffs. "Mmm. This is some good food. Aang, your girlfriend can really cook."

"She's not my girlfriend," he mutters.

"Welcome, young travelers!"

They all look up to see an older woman standing in front of them. She has a pleasant expression on her face as she examines them all. "Come, who's first? Now don't be shy."

No one volunteers. Finally Toph stands up. "I guess I'll go. Since the rest of you are scaredy-cats."

They all wait anxiously for her to return. She's back before long, a satisfied smile on her face.

"What did she say?"

"What I expected. That I'm going to be famous for my earthbending skills and there will be statues of me all over the nations! I'm going to be the most sought-after earthbending master and my students are going to kick butt." Toph sits back down, looking very pleased.

"I can see that," Suki encourages.

Aunt Wu follows Toph out. "Who's next?"

Sokka stands and stretches. "Okay, let's get this over with."

Aunt Wu doesn't even bother to take him into the room. She just stares at him and says, "You're future is full of struggle and anguish. Most of it self-inflicted."

"But you didn't read my palms or anything!"

"I didn't need to. It's written all over your face."

Sokka scowls and sits back down. Suki rubs his back before standing. "I'd like to go next," she volunteers.

Suki returns a short while later. Her expression is pensive.

"What did she say about you?" Toph asks.

"A lot," Suki replies, taking a seat. "I don't want to share right now."

"Is it bad?" Aang asks.

Suki shakes her head. "No. It's just...I need to think about it."

Aunt Wu emerges and points at Aang. "Your turn. Come with me."

He swallows hard before reluctantly following her. Toph and Sokka's predictions made sense. But Suki's experience has him worried.

"This is the most reliable way of telling your fortune," Aunt Wu says, leading him to a cushion. "The bones never lie." She motions to a bowl of bleached white bones. "Go on, pick one."

He hesitantly reaches his hand in and pulls one out.

"Now throw it on the fire. The heat makes cracks in the bones, and I read those cracks to tell your destiny."

He follows her instructions. He had kinda hoped this would be more like a Q&A session, where he asks about certain things and she would tell him what happens. That would definitely be helpful.

The bone cracks in the heat. Aang's eyes widen. "That's a big crack."

"One I've rarely seen before!" Aunt Wu covers her mouth with a hand. "You will be involved in a huge battle. One against good and evil! The outcome of which will affect the entire - "

"The entire world, yeah. I knew that already. I've already been involved in one already. But what about a girl?"

Aunt Wu frowns. "A girl? You want to know about love?"

"Yeah! One girl, specifically. You may know her as the Avatar." Aang suddenly feels very selfish. "Actually, that's another thing - is there any death in my life? Like within the next couple weeks?"

The fortune teller shakes her head. "That I cannot foresee. But I did see the epic battle - would that battle happen if the Avatar is dead?"

Hope soars within Aang. He jumps up. "Yes! She's going to live! Yes!" Then he promptly sits back. "But back to love - did you happen to see that?"

Aunt Wu stares at the pieces. Then she suddenly reaches out and grabs one. "Here," she says. "This one says, 'Trust your heart and you will be with the one you love.'"

Aang leaps for joy again. "Thank you, Aunt Wu! You've helped me so much today!"

He rushes out of the room and back to where the others are waiting. They all look up as he arrives.

"You seem pretty happy," Sokka remarks. "What's the occasion?"

"Katara is going to survive!"

The others break out in relieved smiles. Suki pulls him in for a hug.

"That's great news!"

"Anything else?" Toph asks. "Anything personal?"

"Nope."

Aang wants to keep the love prediction to himself. This is between him and Katara. He's already making up a plan in his head for how he's going to make his move - he'll wait until she returns, then he'll confess how devastated he was when he thought he was going to lose her. He'll tell her that he loved her so much he was willing to let Zuko take her alone because it was the best option. And he'll tell her how he anxiously awaited her arrival.

There's no way she'll want to be with Zuko after what his father did to her - and after she hears how he reacted to her accident.

He and Katara can be together then. She'll realize that they were always meant to be together.

Then they'll defeat the Fire Lord together in that battle Aunt Wu predicted and they'll live happily ever after in a new era of peace.

Aang can hardly wait.

The night is dark and cold, but it doesn't bother Azula. She's protected from the winds by her thick robe, and she has liquid fire running through her veins.

A man stands in front of her. She'd sent one carrier pigeon and hoped that he would agree to her terms. But of course he would; she's Princess Azula, after all.

"The Avatar is dead, as you heard," she tells him. "But I'm not quite convinced. I didn't see a body. And though I don't doubt my father's power, I will not make the mistake of underestimating her and her annoying group of friends."

He stares at her silently. Were she anyone else, she would be intimidated by him; he's a big man, with strong muscles and a strange third eye on his forehead. His silence only adds to his mystery. But she's Azula, and she has her own reputation.

"I want you to find those friends of hers and end them." Azula narrows her eyes. "No survivors. And if the Avatar does happen to be there as well, end her too. Then report back to me."

He nods once before disappearing into the darkness. Azula smiles as she watches where he had just been.

The future is looking very good for her. Very good indeed.

"So, now you know for yourselves that fortune telling is a big, stupid hoax," Sokka declares as they exit Aunt Wu's place.

"You're just saying that because she got your prediction spot-on," Toph shoots back.

Sokka looks over at Suki for support. She shrugs. "She was kinda right, Sokka. You do make life hard for yourself."

"Don't you want to believe that Katara is going to survive?" Aang asks.

Sokka sighs. "I do. But I don't want to get my hopes up just to be disappointed. A lot of the things she said were pretty vague."

"That doesn't make them any less true."

"No, but it gives her a wider margin within which to be right."

"Well, I like my predictions." Toph puffs out her chest a little. "I'm already imagining what my statues are going to look like."

"Mine was pretty good, too," Aang agrees, smiling widely.

"Hold on." Sokka pauses when they reach the main square. Many of the inhabitants are looking up, where Mount Takapu rises in the distance. "Do you guys see that?"

"Yeah." Suki raises a hand in the air. "What's that in the sky?"

"We're waiting for Aunt Wu to come and read the clouds," a man near them explains. "To predict the fate of the whole village."

"Hey." Aang points to a particularly large one. "That cloud kinda looks like a fluffy bunny!"

"You better hope that's not a bunny," the man replies gravely. "The fluffy bunny cloud forecasts doom and destruction."

"Do you even hear yourself?" Sokka asks. The man shoots him an irritated look.

"The clouds will tell us if Mount Takapu will remain dormant for another year or if it will erupt," a woman in front of them says.

"We used to have a tradition every year of going up the mountain to check the volcano ourselves. Since Aunt Wu moved to the village twenty years ago, we have a tradition of not doing that."

Sokka shakes his head. "This is absolutely ridiculous. You trust your lives to that crazy old woman's superstitions?"

Suki slaps his arm. "Just because you don't understand it doesn't make it crazy, Sokka. Have some respect."

"She's coming!" Aang calls out.

Aunt Wu strides into the square, followed by her doorman. Her assistant, Meng, sidles up next to Aang. Like, right next to him.

"Don't you think that cloud looks like a flower?" she asks, directing his gaze to it.

"Sure...I guess." He turns his attention back to Aunt Wu, who has her arms spread out as she gazes across the sky.

"Bending arrow cloud," she begins. "Good crops this year, big harvest!"

The villagers cheer.

"Wavy moon shape cloud...let's see. It's gonna be a great year for twins!"

Toph nudges Sokka. "Finally some good luck for you and Katara."

Sokka mumbles something unintelligible under his breath.

"And a cumulus cloud with a twisted knob coming off the end of it…" She reads this one for a long moment. "The village will NOT be destroyed by the volcano this year!"

The village cheers again, this time louder than before.

Sokka facepalms. "I can't believe all these saps. Someone's gotta scream some sense into them."

"They seem happy, Sokka," Aang points out.

"Not for long. I'm going to prove that Aunt Wu's predictions are nonsense."

Toph and Suki shake their heads. "We're going to finish up buying supplies. Meet you back here in an hour?"

Sokka is already making his way up to a man, so Aang waves in acknowledgement to the girls.

"Hey, you!" Sokka grabs a man. "I bet Aunt Wu told you to wear those red shoes today, didn't she?"

"Yeah!" He clasps his hands together. "She said I'd be wearing red shoes when I met my true love."

"Uh huh. And how many times have you worn those shoes since you got that fortune?"

"Every day!"

Sokka nearly explodes. "Then of course it's going to become true!"

"Really? You think so?" He grabs Sokka's hands. "I'm so excited!"

Sokka moves on to the next innocent passerby. And the next. And the next. Aang follows him through the village, apologizing for Sokka's behavior when he yells or kicks things or screams in frustration.

"I don't care what Aunt Wu told you, you have to take a bath!" Sokka is currently screaming at a filthy and stinking man. The man simply smiles and walks away.

Aang needs to distract him - and he also wants to talk about this whole Katara business. Only not directly about Katara, because Sokka is her brother and that might be weird. But Sokka somehow got Suki, so maybe he was some advice.

"So, Sokka," Aang begins. "You know some stuff about the ladies."

"Some stuff?" Sokka rests his arm around Aang's shoulders. "You see my girlfriend? You've come to the right place. What can I do ya for?"

"Well, there's this girl…"

Sokka nods. "I think I know who you mean."

Aang shoots his head up in surprise. "Really?"

"Yeah!"

"And you're okay with it?"

"Of course!" Sokka pats him. "And, to tell you the truth, I think she likes you too."

"Really?"

"Oh yeah. Totally into you."

No one knows Katara the way Sokka does. If Sokka thinks Katara is into him, then that means it's true! Aang feels his heart soar. This has been a great day. Not only has he found out that Katara is going to survive, he's also heard a prediction that they're meant to be together AND she likes him, too!

"All you have to do now is not mess it up."

Good point. Aang hadn't thought about that part. "How do I do that?"

"Well, the biggest problem nice guys like you make is being too nice."

Aang frowns. "Don't girls like nice guys?"

"Yes, but not at the beginning. The main way to keep her interested is to act aloof, like you don't really care one way or another."

"Well...okay."

Aang isn't really too sure about his advice. Won't Katara just be offended or hurt? But then he starts thinking about her and Zuko's relationship and how that started out. Zuko didn't just act aloof, he was mean. Cruel, even. And Katara still fell for him!

He shakes his head. Who was he to doubt Sokka's advice? Sokka knows what he's talking about.

"Hey, Aang."

He jumps as Meng appears next to him. "I was wondering…"

He waves his hand, cutting her off. He needs to start rethinking his plan for Katara's return. First of all, he needs to find somewhere quiet to plot. Somewhere without any distractions. "See you later!" he calls to Sokka and Meng as he disappears.

Sokka is slowly trudging up the mountain when he stumbles across Aang. The younger kid is sitting on a rock ledge halfway up, staring into the distance. Sokka has to wave his hand in front of his face several times before the kid blinks out of it.

"Hey - uh, what? Sokka? What are you doing all the way up here?"

Sokka crosses his arms. "I'm checking the mountain myself. If it really isn't going to spew lava, then I'll admit that maybe Aunt Wu has a gift."

"You'd give up that easily?"

"You think climbing up a mountain is easy?" Sokka throws his arms up in exasperation. "But what are you doing up here?"

"I came to think."

"About?"

"The girl thing," Aang admits.

Sokka nods. "Nice. You know, you showed some mad aloof skills back there."

"When?"

"You just totally blew off Meng! It's driving her crazy."

Aang hadn't thought about his leaving her there like that. In hindsight, it seems a little mean. But if it worked on her, then it can work on Katara. "Yeah. I am getting pretty good at it, aren't I?"

"Since I gave you that great advice, you wanna join me in my quest?"

Aang shrugs and climbs to his feet. "Sure."

They climb up the mountain in silence. Well, not complete silence; Sokka is complaining about how hard mountain climbing is. But Aang doesn't respond. His mind is set on Katara and his plans for her return.

He could get everything he wants in just a short while. The war will soon be over, Katara will be his, and he can explore the world with her like they are now, only they'll be alone and they won't be hunted by the Fire Nation.

That's a future he can get behind.

Aang reaches the rim first. Some beautiful flowers are growing along the edge - tiger panda lillies, like the ones the woman in Aunt Wu's shop said her lover would give her.

Something else catches his attention - an intense heat radiating from the mountain. Aang peers over and leaps back in fright.

Sokka climbs up next to him right as Aang exclaims, "Aunt Wu was wrong!"

Sokka doesn't even feel vindicated as he stares down at the lava bubbling below. His heart begins to race as he realizes the implications of this grave mistake. Then his mind jumps into overdrive.

"All those people in the village think they're safe! We've got to warn 'em."

Aang stands and shakes out his glider. "No time to walk! Grab on."

Sokka holds onto Aang for dear life as they glide down the mountain. This is so much faster than walking; he should have asked Aang to fly him up the first time.

Then again, flying is so much more terrifying. So maybe walking is okay.

Aang lands near the marketplace. They run into the crowd, looking for Toph and Suki. They find them at a baked goods stall.

"Aunt Wu was wrong about the volcano," Sokka gasps as they skid to a stop.

"Just because you don't like her methods doesn't mean she's wrong," Toph says, popping a donut in her mouth.

A rumble suddenly shakes the village. Toph freezes mid-chew. "Okay," she admits, little flakes of powder spitting out. "Maybe you're right."

A huge pillar of smoke is shooting up straight into the sky. The people of the village let out startled cries.

"Everyone!" Sokka raises his voice. "That volcano is going to blow at any second! Aunt Wu was wrong!"

A woman rolls her eyes. "Yeah, yeah. We know you don't believe in Aunt Wu, Mr. Science-and-Reason-Lover."

"If you won't listen to him, maybe you'll listen to me." Aang steps forward. "I want to believe Aunt Wu's predictions - I really do! But I went up to the mountain and saw the lava with my own eyes!"

"Well, I heard Aunt Wu's prediction with my own ears."

"Please believe us!" Aang springs up onto a nearby roof and addresses the entire crowd. "Everyone is in danger! I know you want to listen to Aunt Wu's predictions, but sometimes you have to take fate into your own hands!"

The mountain shakes and rumbles again. Flakes of ash begin to drift down. Sokka motions with his arms. "Look! Can your fortune telling explain that?"

"Can your science explain rain?" another man scoffs.

Sokka wants to slap him. "Yes!"

The villagers shake their heads and amble away, their initial shock at the mountain now muted by their faith in Aunt Wu. The evidence against the contrary is right in front of their eyes, yet they choose to ignore it.

"They won't listen to reason," Sokka says, sadly shaking his head. "Only Aunt Wu."

"Well, that's the solution then, isn't it?" Suki says, her arms crossed over her chest as she surveys the scene around them.

Everyone turns to stare at her.

"I have a plan."

Aang sneaks into Aunt Wu's place. He slips through the window from the roof and begins searching the fortune telling parlor, looking for her cloud-reading book. He's still not entirely sure of Suki's plan, but it's the best one they've got.

A face in the mirror causes him to jump and spin around. Meng is standing on the other end of the room, watching him.

He laughs nervously. "Oh, uhm, hey, Meng. Didn't see ya there."

She looks at him sadly. "You don't like me, do you?"

"Of course I like you!"

"But not the way I like you." She hangs her head.

"Oh. I guess not."

She nods sadly. "It's okay. It's just really hard when you like someone...but they don't think of you that way."

Aang nods in agreement. He knows exactly how that feels. For months he's had to endure Katara making heart-eyes at Zuko while he was in the background.

"I know what you mean."

"Whoever she is...I hope she's beautiful."

"She is." He steps forward, closer to her. "And don't worry. You're going to meet an amazing guy who will totally fall for you. I know it."

"Thanks." She sniffs slightly. Aang steps away, glancing around for the book.

"Oh, here. I think this is what you want." She hands him a leather bound book.

"How did you know?"

She stares at her hands. "I've...kinda been stalking you."

A little creepy. Aang smiles awkwardly. "Uh, thanks...I guess."

Then he springs out the window, back to his friends.

The next step of the plan is a bit tricky. Aang flies through the air, trying to manipulate the clouds. They're made of mostly water and manipulated by air streams, so he can sort of work with that.

A large part of him whispers that it would be so much easier with Katara. Together, they're an unstoppable team.

He manages to make it work, though. At least, he hopes.

Down in the village square, Sokka has brought Aunt Wu back out. "Look!" he says, pointing up. "Something's happening with the clouds!"

She narrows her eyes. "That shouldn't be happening...wait!" She gasps. "That's the sign for...volcanic doom!"

The people all gasp. Suki has to speak up before panic settles in. "Alright!" she calls out. "We can still save the village if we act fast." She steps aside. "Sokka has a plan."

"Lava is going to flow down to this spot," he explains. "If we can dig a deep enough trench, we can channel all the lava away from the village to the river."

"Any Earthbenders come with me!" Toph calls out.

"Everyone else, grab a shovel!"

The ground shakes again. Some people cry out. It's enough to get everyone moving.

"Let's go!"

Toph leads the Earthbenders as they dig a deep ditch between the volcano and the village, shoving the excess dirt up into a wall. Sokka and Suki lead the other villagers and they dig with shovels. It's a slower process, but with dozens of people working together in panic, it goes rather quickly.

The earth shakes more frequently. Lava begins climbing up the mouth of the volcano and spilling over. Luckily it's a slow spill so far.

Toph blasts the last part of the trench, opening up the pathway into the river. When it's done, Aang leaps into the air and shouts instructions. "Everyone needs to evacuate! We'll come for you when it's safe!"

Sokka, Suki, Toph, and Aang stand on the wall of the ditch, watching as the lava pours out from the volcano and flows through the forest. Trees fall and join the lava stream as it heads directly toward them.

The trench works. The lava flows into it and away. Except…

"It's too much!" Suki cries out. 'It's going to overflow!"

They leap off the wall, heading for safer ground. The top of the volcano suddenly explodes, sending balls of flaming lava down towards them.

Tophs shoots up ledges of rock to cover them. Aang runs back, launches himself in the air, and bends the air around him, shooting it out when the flying lava falls. He blows it all back, sending it running down the trench and away from the river.

"Sometimes I forget that airbending is useful for more than just flying," Sokka admits.

"No offense," Sokka says, standing in the village square, "but I hope this has taught everyone a lesson on not relying too much on fortune telling."

"But Aunt Wu predicted that the village wouldn't be destroyed, and it wasn't!" a man replies. "She was right, after all."

"I hate you," Sokka murmurs under his breath while Suki leads him away.

"Aunt Wu?" Aang asks, hanging back from the others.

"Yes?"

"Did you really see love in my future? Or were you just making that up?"

She lays a hand on his shoulder. "I'll tell you a secret, young Airbender. Just as you reshaped those clouds, so you have the power to reshape your destiny."

He nods. It doesn't really change anything, then. Whatever happens, he has to tell Katara the truth. He can't hide it any longer. If he never tells her how he feels, he'll never have a chance.

He has to make the first move.

"Thanks, Aunt Wu."

"Are you coming, Aang?" Toph calls back. He runs to catch up with them.

"I'm ready." And he means it.