Thanks for the faves, alerts, and constructive reviews! I'll try to update again really soon Those who have read the promise will understand my over use of a certain "S" word in this chapter. :)
Chapter Two
"What happened?" Zuko demanded.
Nobody was able to fully comprehend what just had happened. The question went unanswered. Aang was giving Zuko a demonstration of energy bending, when Katara pushed Zuko. For some unfathomable reason. Instead of knocking The Fire Lord into the pond, she had simply joined them with her own light. Her energy was plum, Zuko noticed. For a few moments, the three stood there, trapped. Then, Aang lost control and the three of them were all hit with the recoil.
"Is everyone okay?" Aang asked, checking his own body for bruises.
"Yes," Katara answered, "and I'm glad you're okay, sweetie."
The couple hugged sweetly; Zuko rolled his eyes. "Why did you try to shove me?"
"I thought you were hurting Aang. But I'm happy it was all a misunderstanding. Speaking of which, what were you doing, anyway?" Katara questioned.
"I was practicing my energy bending. I thought it would be a good idea to fully master it in case something came up," Aang explained.
Since Katara didn't question what energy bending was, the topic had obviously come up. "Well I'm glad nobody was hurt."
Yet something was completely out of place. Zuko could sense it. A bone-chilling sense of foreboding crept up on him, although he did not know what exactly could've gone wrong. Over the years, Zuko had learned to trust his instincts more than anything else. He scrutinized his body, and was unable to find anything out of the usual. Skeptical, he crossed his arms. Something was coming, and when it arrived…
"What's this?" Katara said, looking at a cut on Aang's forehead, which was trickling a little blood.
"Sweetie, it's nothing," Aang insisted.
"Let me fix it."
Katara released her bending water, prepared to waste water healing Aang's inane injury. However, this time the liquid did not obey her hands. After two more tries, she grew frustrated and forcibly poured the water on her hands. It dripped from her finger tips, limp. For whatever reason, the master water bender no longer had control of her native element.
"That's strange," Katara remarked.
She turned to the pond, and Aang turned to watch. By the way she moved her hands, her intentions were clear. She was going to summon a colossal wave in the middle of Zuko's well-groomed garden. But when she moved her hands, the water did not respond. Baffled, Katara stared at her hands as if they were someone else's. She looked up at Aang, expecting answers.
"My bending's gone!" she exclaimed in horror.
"Calm down, Katara. Aang will be able to give your bending back," Zuko pacified.
"Uh…" Aang started, but was cut off by his girlfriend.
She glowered at Zuko. "Easy for you to say calm down! You still have your bending," Katara pointed out, and then in a softer tone she added, "but I trust Aang."
"I'm not so sure about that," Zuko said darkly.
"You never know until you try!" Aang chirped, cheerful.
Taking in a deep breath, Zuko thrust his fist out. His form was more than flawless. Usually, a powerful fireball would've been shot from his fist, charring anything in its path. Not today. Zuko couldn't even feel his inner fire. His element, too, had abandoned him. This was no shock to Zuko. He knew something was wrong from the very start. His fears were just confirmed.
"Well this is great!" He complained, sarcastically.
Aang airbended the leaves on the tree. "Well at least my bending still works." His intent was to be optimistic, but his friends' dismay doubled at this fact.
Zuko threw his hands up in the air, exasperated. "How can I be the Fire Lord if I'm not even a firebender?" he yelled.
"Zuko, we may have to start calling you the Water Lord," Katara told him, staring at something Zuko didn't see.
"Why on earth would you say that?"
Katara made the universal finger twirl for look behind you. She and Aang had been facing the pond the entire time; he had been facing them. Zuko pivoted. The pond's waters no longer serene. in fact, there were ripples, little waves dancing on the surface. Turtleducks bobbed in the water, helpless. Vacancy took over Zuko's features. The water…did it just…respond to his rage? Was that his doing?
"You're a waterbender."
The realization was startling. "No," Zuko growled, "I'm the Fire Lord. I can't be a waterbender! I've already lost my firebending before, and I'm not going to lose it again!"
"Sweetie, why don't you try to firebend?" Aang suggested.
"You don't just 'try to firebend'," Zuko grumbled, "It's an art that takes practice, time, and discipline."
Zuko's brooding went unnoticed. All eyes were on Katara, as she mimicked Zuko's punch from before. At first, nothing happened. But Aang nodded, encouragingly, and the girl tried again. Sparks flew. The flames backfired, and almost burned her face. But there were orange flames were there shouldn't have been. Perfect, Zuko thought, sourly.
"Ugh! We've switched bending! How is that even possible?" Zuko cried.
"Relax, Zuko," Katara mocked, imitating his patronizing voice from before, "Aang will be able to fix it."
"Shut up," Zuko hissed.
"And I will fix it. Avatar's promise, sweetie." The smile he delivered with his promise was sincere.
"How?" Zuko snapped.
"Um…I know! I can meditate and consult the spirit world. There's got to be someone who can help us."
"Aang's right," Katara placated, "we'll be back to ourselves in no time."
Aang sat down in the grass. He crossed his legs and closed his eyes. It was overt from the position he was in that he was trying to meditate. Both Zuko and Katara's eyes bore a whole in the back of his head. They expected that at any minute, Aang's eyes would snap open and he would devise a remedy for their dilemma.
The Avatar opened one eye. "You know, it's kind of hard to focus on going to the spirit world with you two staring at me like that…"
OoOoO
At high noon. That's the time the three picked to meet back up in the garden to hear Aang's vital news. Neither Zuko nor Katara could coax Aang into giving them any information about his journey to the spirit world before this designated time. Katara waited very patiently. Whatever news Aang had, it was probably not as bad as whatever she thought it would be. With this seed of hope in her heart, she was able to carry on without much fretting.
Eventually, the middle of the day was upon them. Just as promised, each party was there. With their eyes on Aang. Zuko's gold eyes were harsh and pessimistic, while Katara's were bright and eager.
Sighing, The Avatar delivered his message. "I spoke with the very first avatar. He told me that in his great grandfather's time, energy bending was still around and every once and a while, people would switch energies."
"Good," Katara said, "That must mean it's curable."
"In order to switch back, both parties must master the other's energy and adopt it as his…or her, in Katara's case, own. He thinks…"
"He thinks?" Zuko interjected.
"He's not quite sure, because back then normal bending didn't exist and energies were not quite tied to someone's bending. He thinks that if you master the other's elements that everything will go back to normal. But it's supposed to be hard, because you both have opposing elements."
"Did he say anything else?" Katara questioned.
"Uh, I don't know, something about you two developing a stronger 'connection' the more time you spend swapped. After that, I wasn't really paying attention," Aang admitted.
"Gee, isn't that helpful," Zuko muttered.
"What does this 'connection' entail?" Katara asked.
Suddenly, Zuko felt very uncomfortable. And by the scarlet blush on Katara's cheeks, Zuko knew that she, too, was unsettled by the word. They had seen the Ember Island Player's version of the "connection" the two had, and knew what false assumptions others harbored about their friendship. They were friends, with a healthy, platonic relationship. And if this accident caused the two to start feeling something deeper—Zuko refused to finish his thought. It wasn't going to happen. Aang smiled, oblivious to their concerns.
"It probably means you'll become better friends," Aang said, not phased.
"Ha! Looks like sifu hotman is going to become my super best friend," Katara joked. But she couldn't fool Zuko. He could see the glint of nervousness in her eyes; hear the hesitation in her voice.
Her boyfriend didn't pick up on the hints. "That's great."
"Say, Aang, why don't you start teaching me firebending tomorrow? Maybe afterwards you can show Water Lord a thing or two about waterbending as well," Katara suggested.
"Well, actually, I was planning on going to the Southern Watertribe to help with repairs. They need a lot of skilled waterbenders," Aang said.
"Maybe I can help!" Katara offered.
"Most of the job requires creating ice, sweetie." Aang was very subtle in his rejection.
"Oh. I can't waterbend. Right," Katara said, the dejection clear in her voice.
"But I'm sure Zuko would love to teach you while I'm gone. You can even teach him waterbending. Although, I suppose you'll both have to do without demonstrations."
"How long until you're back?"
Aang shrugged. "I don't know," and then, finally picking up on Katara's sullen face, her added, "but you'll have Zuko for company, and I heard Toph is stopping by at some point to have that 'life changing experience' that Zuko owes her. Or at least that's what she told me."
"I'll miss you, sweetie," Katara purred.
Aang laughed. "I'm not leaving for a while, sweetie." The two kissed, pretending that their mutal friend wasn't right there.
"Let's get this over with," Zuko grumbled.
Questions I thought I should answer:
1. Q: Where's Momo going?
A: He was scared, and ran off back to Appa. Don't worry, he's now safe and sound with Aang. :)
2. And why didn't Appa react to Katara's presence, if someone's nearby he usually at least grunts or something, or does he only do that to Aang? Was he asleep?
A: You seem to have a knack for noticing things! I didn't think anyone would ask. Appa was sleeping, but I didn't include it in the previous chapter.