HotXbun: Time to see if things get better or worse.

There will be a lot of emotion in this chapter and you will learn a lot about the characters.

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar The Last Airbender. Nickelodeon does.

Chapter 9 Love

Aang's POV

I was pacing back and forth in front of Appa and Momo.

"How dare she say that I was not honorable? I am the crown prince of the Fire Nation. I am the most honorable person in the world." [Avatar Extra: But not the humblest.]

Just then Katara came.

"Hey Aang", she said.

"Don't 'Hey Aang' me", I said pointing to Katara. "You know what you did!"

"What? State my opinion", Katara asked sarcastically.

"Well your opinion is wrong", I stated before I crossed my arms.

"Want to prove it", Katara challenged.

"How", I asked with a raised eyebrow.

"You and I go penguin sledding and how much you enjoy it will determine how much of a child you still have in you", Katara replied.

I thought about it for a moment.

"Deal."

Two Hours Later

Katara and I were zooming trough the snow on penguins.

And I gotta admit, I was having a blast.

I haven't had fun like that in a long time.

Sadly our fun was ruined by, of course, tiger seals. [Avatar Extra: In chapter 3 Aang and Katara were attacked by tiger seals.]

Katara and I picked up our penguins and ran while the tiger seals followed as.

Luckily we found a small cave and hid in it and the tiger seals ran past us. [Avatar Extra: And that is the last time tiger seals will be bothering them in this story.]

Katara and I were laughing with joy.

"We did it", Katara exclaimed happily.

"Yes we did", I said. "And...penguin sledding was fun."

Katara smiled at me.

"Thanks Aang."

That Night.

Katara and I were lying under an arch of ice while star gazing.

"Oh look", Katara said pointing to a star constellation. "That one looks like a bunny. See the fluffy tail?"

"Yeah", I replied. "Hey look, that one looks like two firebenders in an Agni Kai."

"What's an Agni Kai", Katara asked.

Is she serious?

"You seriously don't know what an Agni Kai is", I asked in shock.

"Anything outside of the South Pole is a foreign language to me", Katara replied.

"Man", I said. "Must be hard being in one place for your whole life."

"It's very peaceful though", Katara stated.

"Trust me I know peaceful", I stated. "Air Nomads are the rulers of peaceful."

"Why'd you leave home anyway", Katara asked.

"I ran away", I replied.

And it wasn't a lie.

Katara looked at me with concern.

"Wh...why did you run away", she asked.

"The monks of my temple wanted to separate me from my guardian", I replied before looking at the stars again. "He and I used to stargaze all the time."

Katara smiled at me before looking into the sky as well.

"Sokka and I use to stargaze with our parents all the time", Katara said.

"I've never seen your parents", I pointed out.

"My father left to fight in the war", Katara replied. "And my mother...died."

Now it was my turn to look at Katara in concern.

"H...how", I asked with tears whelming in my eyes.

"How what", Katara asked.

"How did your mother die", I asked.

Katara looked away sadly.

"She was killed by the Fire Nation."

I gasped slightly.

How could they do such a thing?

I got up angrily.

"How could they", I exclaimed before looking at Katara. "Tell me who they are, and I will make them pay!"

Katara looked at me in shock.

"Y...you would do that for me", she asked with a hand on her chest.

"My father taught me that people need to pay if they wrong you", I said angrily.

Katara's expression changed and she got up.

"Um Aang...", she started before she put her hand on my shoulder. "Was your father a...violent man?"

I got out of Katara's grasp and turned away.

"My father taught me that in order to survive, you need to fight for what you want."

"Your father taught you a lot didn't he", Katara asked.

I paused for a moment.

My father has done everything he can to shape me into the perfect fire lord.

"He's done everything he can to make sure I have a successful life", I replied.

"Where is he now", Katara asked

"Gone", I lied.

I knew very well where my father was. He was waiting for me to finish my mission. So why wasn't I?

Sokka's POV [Avatar Extra: This is the only time the story's in Sokka's POV.]

I was watching Katara and Aang on a cliff of ice.

Gran Gran walked up to me.

"Gran Gran", I asked in shock. "What are you doing here?"

"I should be asking you the same", Gran Gran replied. "You shouldn't be out when it's dark out."

"They shouldn't either", I stated motioning to Katara and Aang.

Gran Gran Walked up to me.

"Do you think Katara has feelings for Aang", she asked.

"What feelings", I asked in confusion.

"Romantic Feelings."

My jaw dropped. [Avatar Extra: It's never good when your brother finds out you have a crush on someone.]

"Katara has romantic feelings for Aang", I asked in shock.

"I think so", Gran Gran replied. "But I am not sure."

"Tomorrow I'm having a talk with Katara."

Aang's POV

"Aang", Katara started. "What do you mean your father's gone?"

"Forget it", I said.

If I didn't get out of this soon, Katara was going to find out the truth. [Avatar Extra: Maybe that isn't a bad thing.]

"I gotta go", I said before I started leaving.

"Aang, Wait", Katara said.

I stopped and looked at her. She looked sad. But I had to leave.

Before I could try again though, a man jumped in front of me.

He was wearing a pale yellow, long sleeved sweater with a turtle neck; dark brown pants and dark brown shoes. He was also wearing a weird medallion.

"Who are you", I asked.

"My name is Guru Pathik", the man, who I now knew was named Guru Pathik, Replied. "And you are?"

"Aang", I replied.

"Well Aang", Guru Pathik started. "I want to show you something. You and your friend."

I looked at Katara before looking back at the guru.

"And what do you want to show us", I asked while crossing my arms.

"It's a surprise", Guru Pathik replied.

"Then I'm not coming", I said.

"Oh come on Aang", Katara said placing a hand on my shoulder. "It'll be fun."

"Or it will be a trap", I pointed out.

"Good point", Katara said before looking at Guru Pathik.

"It is not a trap", Guru Pathik said. "You have my word."

Guru Pathik traced a cross on his heart.

"Fine", I said giving in.

"Very good", Guru Pathik said. "Follow me."

...

Guru Pathik led us to a cave.

"A cave is what you wanted to show us", I asked.

"what is inside the cave is what I want show you two", Guru Pathik replied before walking into the cave. Katara and I followed.

Names were engraved on the walls of the caves.

"The only thing in here is a bunch of names", I said angrily.

"They are not just any names young one", Guru Pathik said.

Not another person who thinks I'm a kid. [Avatar Extra: In the last chapter Sokka referred to Aang as a kid and he got angry at this.]

"I'm not that young", I stated.

"You are only thirteen Aang", Guru Pathik said. "You are very young."

"Wait", I said. "How do you know how old I am?"

"I'm good at guessing ages", Guru Pathik replied.

"Do you know how old I am", Katara asked excitedly.

"You are fourteen", Guru Pathik replied. "But you are turning fifteen next month."

"You can guess birthdays too", Katara said excitedly. "Amazing!"

Okay this guy is really starting to freak me out.

"Katara I think it's time to go", I asked.

"Ah ah", Guru Pathik said. "I have not told you why I bought you here."

"Okay then", I said before crossing my arms. "Tell us."

"Gladly", Guru Pathik said. "You think that these are just names, but they are not. They are the names of everybody who ever got married here in the Southern Water Tribe."

"He's right", Katara said before pointing to the wall. "These are my parents names."

I put my gloved hands on my clothed knees and read the names.

Hakoda and Kya

I looked up at Guru Pathik.

"Why did you bring us here", I asked

Guru Pathik took a deep breath.

"Aang, Katara, have any of you ever been in love.

That question took my by surprise. Why would he ask if we have ever been in love?

"Why would you ask that", I asked.

"Because love is an amazing thing", Guru Pathik replied. "And I want to know if you two have it. Because everybody deserves to be loved." [Avatar Extra: It's true. Everybody deserves to be loved.]

"I've been loved by my father and my siblings", I started. "But I've never been in love."

"How about you Katara", Guru Pathik asked.

"How do you know my name", Katara asked.

"I'm good at guessing names too", Guru Pathik replied.

Okay. Now this guy was really starting to freak me out. And by the way Katara looked, she felt the same way.

"Katara, now you tell me if you have ever been in love", Guru Pathik asked

"Um...actually", Katara started. "I would love to tell you but Aang and I need to leave so...bye!"

With that Katara grabbed my hand and we ran out of the cave.

...

"Is it me, or was that guy a little creepy", Katara asked me as we were on our way back to the village.

"Definitely", I replied. "Nobody can be that good at guessing, can they?"

"How should I know", Katara asked. "I don't now about anything outside of the South Pole."

"Well the only person that knows me that well is my brother", I replied.

"Speaking of that", Katara started. "You never told me you had siblings. And you only mentioned your father."

"I'm adopted", I replied. "And my siblings mother went missing before their father adopted me."

"What happened", Katara asked.

"Don't know", I replied. "My brother says that one night his mom came into his room, told him something weird, and then left. Next morning she was gone."

"Do you know what she said", Katara asked.

"Zuko, please my love listen to me. Everything I've done, I've done to protect you. Remember this, Zuko. No matter how things seem to change, never forget who you are." [Avatar Extra: That was an exact quote from the show.]

"That's weird", Katara said.

"I know right", I said. "She clearly knew that she would be away for a long time."

"Have you ever tried finding her", Katara asked.

"I've never met her", I said "but based on what Onji Chan says about her, she was a great person! I'd love to meet her."

Pathik's POV

I was using the medallion to speak the Avatars.

"I think I creeped them out", I said.

"It's okay", Avatar Roku said. "We will get another chance."

HotXbun: Sorry if that chapter was too long.

Challenge: Tell me if you think that chapter was too long.

My Answer: I think it was long but good.