Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar, The Last Airbender
It whispered almost like a small water fall, continual streams of words echoing in his ear. He could not decipher them, but he felt like he recognized the voice. Something deep down told him he knew it, but nothing came to mind. Darkness surrounded him, and he could see nor feel nothing. The voice seemed to become more and more clear as time progressed, forming into a dark and deep voice.
"Sokka…" He could only make out some words. "Come….me…I….set….free…" Every word dragged on with slow dialect, the speaker still shrouded in mystery.
"Who are you?" he asked the voice. "What do you want?" Everything went silent. His gaze darted in every direction, trying to find the speaker.
"I want…" Sokka's heart sank at the dark and demonic voice that overcame the silence. "You."
He woke up screaming, startling everyone on the flying bison. Sokka held his head while sweat dripped from his brow, breathing heavily. He felt a soft hand grasp his bare shoulder, and he shivered. "Sokka?"
"Wha-what happened?" he asked, looking around at the familiar faces staring at him.
"You were attacked by something over two days ago," explained Aang. "We healed you but you've been sleeping for forever."
Sokka looked curiously down at his pal. Something felt different. He observed his entire body, ignoring the questioning stares of his companions. His whole body felt strangely unfamiliar, like it wasn't even his own. Katara just watched with a worried expression while her brother scanned himself. She watched him, and seemed to notice a difference herself.
Her mind suddenly drifted from her worried state to the observation of his body. His muscles were actually bigger than when she last saw them, well toned built. With every solid movement his skin rippled with the new stretch of muscle along his back and abs. Has he always been this…fit?
She didn't know how else to put it. He was like a whole new person. When did this happen, while he was asleep? She shrugged away her thoughts and looked back to his face. "How do you feel?"
"I-I don't know," he said. "This doesn't even feel like my body."
"You look better than when you were attacked," Aang pointed out.
Zuko eyed him suspiciously. Come to think of it, he was different. Was this the goofy incompetent warrior he had come to know? Zuko's answer was plain and simple; this was not the old Sokka. "We should land." Katara turned to Aang. He nodded.
The giant ten ton bison glided softly to the ground, giving a grunt of weariness. "I know you're tired buddy, just rest." With a grown the bison fell to the ground.
Sokka attempted to put his shirt back on, but it didn't fit. Katara shook her head as he ripped the cloth to shreds roughly pulling it over his shoulders. He ignored the tears and left it on, walking to his belongings. "Sokka, you should rest," Katara suggested.
"I've been resting for two days, I'm fine." He pulled his machete from his pack. "I'm going to get us some decent food." Without another word, he left the camp.
Katara sighed and turned to Aang. "I'm so worried about him; he's like an entirely new person." Aang just offered a nod.
Zuko went through his belongings, making sure his swords were the way he left them and everything else in shape. While doing so he stumbled upon a large canteen filled with warm water. He suddenly remembered where he had gotten it from.
"Zuko, would you hold this water? Aang is supposed to give Sokka some water every once and a while but I know he'll loose it." Zuko grabbed the canteen without answering, placing it with his belongings.
His eyes narrowed, and he quickly looked up to where Sokka had gone into the trees. Aang had forgotten to give him water. He should be parched by now, unable to breathe with his mouth's dryness. Two days without water. Something was wrong with Sokka, and Zuko did not like it.
Sokka sat atop the tree without making a sound. He wasn't even paying attention to the bait he had left, just thinking. What had happened to him? In two days he had become this new person and what about that dream? I want you…
He was so caught up in his thoughts he didn't notice a pink blur behind him. Something triggered inside his head, the instinct of danger. He turned and brought his machete to block but wasn't quick enough.
With three jabs and a giggle, Ty Lee dropped Sokka from the tree. He hit the ground hard, falling on his arm. He couldn't move his body, and silently cursed his luck. He heard a twig snap and the next thing he knew, Ty Lee stood over him. "Awe Azula, he's so cute. I'm glad we're capturing him."
"Shut your mouth, we just need him to get the Avatar. What better a hostage then the stupid worthless warrior?" Sokka growled angrily at the words, remembering his companions' insults a few nights before. Something inside told him he had to do something.
"I'm bored, why don't we attack the Avatar?" asked a girl in the corner of the conversation. Sokka had seen her before, shooting those deadly daggers and arrows. But he did not know her name. Several soldiers stood behind her, which he did not notice before.
Zuko's sister gave her a dirty look. "How Zuko managed to master such a move I will not comprehend but I do not wish to fight him right now!"
"Well, you ladies seem to have plenty of problems," said Sokka on the ground.
"Shut your mouth peasant!" Azula kicked him in the stomach and spit on his face. Sokka clenched his teeth in rage. These girls were really starting to tick him off. A strange tingling suddenly ran through his body as his temper flared.
"Isn't this amusing? He's angry. What are you going to do about it you worthless, stupid, helpless, sorry excuse for a warrior!" She spat on his face again. The daggers girl laughed in the corner. The tingle ran through every limb of his body with every insult she gave. "I don't know why the Avatar has you come along, you can't do anything!"
The last four words rang in his head like a bell. Something overcame Sokka at that moment, something that he could not explain, control, or even comprehend. His body shuddered with hatred, and his eyes glazed over. Azula stopped laughing at him.
"Wha-what's happening Azula?" asked Ty Lee, taking a step back from the paralyzed Sokka. He shut his eyes as his body shook. The three girls watched dumbfounded as he shook furiously. As soon as it started, it stopped, and he fell limp, his eyes still shut tightly.
Ty Lee took a cautious step forward. She watched his face carefully as it twitched, his eyes still shut. His eyes suddenly opened, and she jumped back screaming. Slowly, his right arm twitched, and then moved. He slowly and with obvious struggle stood.
"Why is he moving, I thought you paralyzed him!"
"I did," said Ty Lee. "He shouldn't be able to budge let alone stand."
Sokka's face was turned to the ground, but he stood fully. Not a single person moved as he slowly lifted his gaze to meet theirs. The soldiers gasped in horror and the three girls fell back.
Sokka's eyes glowed red.
Well, I hope you liked this because I spent like two hours writing it. By the way, the pairings are Zuko and Katara, Sokka and probably Ty Lee, and maybe some Toph and Aang, but I'm not sure yet. Review.