This is the first time I missed my update deadline… I am ashamed.

I know I said that I wanted to try and leave the Fire Nation out of this, but I had this idea and I couldn't shake it off…

Do I even have to say it? I do? Fine. I don't own Avatar

Ch.11

Aang and Katara had finished their reminiscing and Katara once again fell into her thoughts. She had begun thinking of that dream that she had a few nights ago…

It was probably nothing, just a bad dream… But in the dream, Aang said he loved me, and he said it before I knew about it. And than he just left… er… faded away. What does that even mean? Could it mean that Aang would leave? It looked like Aang was in a big fight… Could it mean that he would die? No! I wouldn't be able to handle it if he did…

"Aang?" Katara sounded distant… and a little scared.

"What's wrong?" He asked, instantly picking up the distressed sound of her voice.

"What would happen if… I mean, it might not happen… but if you…" Katara had tears welling up in her eyes, she couldn't find the words. She was too afraid to say them aloud.

"Katara, whatever it is, you can tell me. I'll always be here for you."

That's when Katara started crying. "That's just it! What if you're not always here? What if you have to leave? What if you… die…?"

Aang pulled her into a comforting hug. "Katara, don't think like that. I'll always be with you. And I won't go anywhere without you." Aang was speaking softly to her, trying to calm her down. "I'm not going anywhere. I promise."

--------------- (Several minutes later)

Aang and Katara had finished eating their lunch, Katara's mood lifted by Aang's comforting words, and were getting ready to look for Sokka, Toph and Appa.

"If they are smart, they would be inland." Aang was thinking of where to start looking.

"Yeah, but Sokka's not smart." Katara laughed at her own remark.

"He's much smarter than you give him credit for. He's just… kind of slow." Aang tried to sound serious but noticed that Katara was trying to hold back her laughter by the scrunched up look on her face, and then Aang exploded into laughter himself. "Okay, maybe Sokka can be a little dumb, but he's still smarter than you say. And Toph should be with him, so she has probably made sure that they are alright."

"Yeah, you're right. I guess Sokka has proved his intelligence at least a few times since we left from the tribe." She once again laughs at her own comment. "What do you think they are doing now?"

"Let's see, it's high noon, and we are talking about Sokka and Toph… They're probably still eating… Or still sleeping." This time it was Aang's turn to laugh, and Katara did as well. "Either way, we should get going. Now, I think I heard Sokka yelling off in this direction…"

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(A/N Just for the sake of including them...)

Sokka and Toph were still fast asleep in their cave, Sokka in his sleeping back and Toph on a big rock.

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As the two started to leave their camp, Aang suddenly felt the need to look back. As he scanned the area, he saw smoke rising up, towards the sky.

"Katara, look! Smoke! You think it could be Sokka?"

"It might be… Sokka could have made a campfire… But it would have to be a big fire to make that much smoke."

Aang went silent for a moment, and his eyes widened. "Could be the Fire Nation?"

Katara nodded in response.

"Should we check it out or stay here?"

"I- I think we should go see it. Sokka could have had the same idea that we did, and he could be walking right into whatever is going on over there." Katara said, worried for her brother.

The two made their way towards the smoke, which was coming from the coast. They hid just behind the tree line, trying to see what was going on. Aang peeked his head around a tree, to get a better look.

"It's a Fire Nation ship!" (A/N Not Zuko's, he's still in Ba Sing Se somewhere)

"Is Sokka there?"

Aang looked around. "No. Nobody's there. Not even any guards."

"Let's go check it out."

"Okay. I'll run ahead and make sure that it is clear. You stay here until I give you a signal."

Aang made his way towards the ship, Katara still waiting by the trees, trying to remain silent so no one could hear him approaching. Once he got close enough, Aang motioned for Katara to come. Not looking back to make sure she was there, he waited what seemed like the appropriate amount of time for her to arrive.

"None of the hatches are open. I'll lift you up to the railing" He told her, not taking his eyes off the ship.

She didn't respond.

"Katara?" He turned around to find that she was gone. "KATARA!" Where is she? There was no one else out here!

He looked back to the tree line and saw some Fire Nation soldiers disappear behind some trees. Aang ran towards them as fast as he could, and followed them. He made it past a clearing and had to hold back a gasp. Katara was tied to a tree and being interrogated by a soldier.

"We know you travel with the Avatar. Now tell us! Where is he?"

"I have no clue what you are talking about!" Katara yelled at the soldier, and he slapped her across the face. Aang was seething with anger. There were too many soldiers. How would he save her?

"I'm only going to ask you one more time! WHERE IS HE?"

Katara remained silent.

"Fine." The soldier moved closer to Katara and held his hand out in front of her, a flame appearing in his hand. "I warned you. Now you'll see what happens to prisoners who don't comply!" He moved his hand back, ready to give Katara a devastating blow.

Aang couldn't take it anymore. He used his airbending to jump out from behind his hiding spot and landed in-between Katara and the soldier, using the opportunity to cut through the rope restraining Katara with a powerful gust of wind that seemed to come out of nowhere.

"Leave her alone!" Aang yelled, his voice backed by the voiced of predecessors.

The soldier had a smug look on his face. "Well, look who showed up! It's the Avatar!"

"I said leave her alone! Back Away!"

The soldier laughed. "You are outnumbered 20 to 1. You have no chance. You would risk everything for this… Water Tribe peasant?" The soldier spit at Katara.

Katara's eyes went black. She quickly uncorked the cap of her canteen and was ready to fight. She drew her arm back, ready to pull out the water and whip the man across the face, but Aang grabbed her arm and lowered it.

"Katara, go back and hide. Make sure nobody follows you! I'm staying here." Aang's tattoos were starting to glow.

"Aang… you said you would never leave me alone…" Katara whispered so that only Aang could hear.

"Please Katara! You don't want to see what is about to happen here!" Aang's eyes were starting to glow as well.

All the soldiers shifted uncomfortably after hearing this.

Katara seemed to understand because her eyes widened at his statement. She began to feel her necklace, her reminder of her mother, who was brutally killed by the Fire Nation, and she began to cry a little.

"Okay, I'll go. But please! Don't kill them! No one deserves to die that way, no mater what they have done!" She gave and her waterbending canteen and made her way out, and no one showed her any resistance.

"Now I'm outnumbered 40 to 1. I'll give you all a chance. Anyone who does not want to suffer indescribable pain, return to your ship now!" Aang's voice still backed by those of the past Avatars.

All of the soldiers, except their leader, looked at each other, and without a word being said, began to retreat.

"I'll still give you a chance. If you leave now, you will not be harmed!"

The man took a defensive stance and prepared for attack.

"So be it." Aang said and used his earthbending to make four walls rise from the ground, leaving the soldier trapped with an angry Avatar in a 100 foot by 100 foot room.

That was a longer chapter… I'll leave it there for now. If you want a fight scene in the next chapter, tell me in the reviews.

Rest in Peace, Mako Iwamatsu (Voice Actor for Uncle Iroh)