Oh. My. Gosh. After almost two weeks of working my butt off on this chapter, it's finally here! I really hope that you guys like it. The story does have somewhere to go and I'm praying to God that you all love this story as it progresses. Don't give up on this yet.

Chapter four is going to be full of hotness. When you meet the new character in the next chapter, things will definitely start getting interesting.

Hope you enjoy! And seriously, review. Please? I want to know what you guys think!

Disclaimer: Even if I wished on a shooting star, I won't and don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender. Bryke and Nick, do. Do I have a problem with that? Absolutely not.

Chapter Three – Genna

This wasn't supposed to happen. Things are not going according to plan—hah, what plan?

As soon as the master waterbender whipped out water from her pouch and snaked it up my arm, wrapped it around me, and tugged me forward so she could take my arm and drag me around the city, I knew all the plans I've wrecked my brain for in the past few weeks flew right out of the window.

I know I should be happy.

My original plans were pretty stupid, consisting of pretending I was Avatar Aang's long lost cousin (like anyone would believe that) and going to the Earth King to ask him to help me unite with my "cousin." It didn't take me long to dismiss those ideas. So when a door suddenly opened up and allowed for me an easier way to reach Avatar Aang, I should've have more or less been overjoyed.

Not the case—because his wife-to-be found me first. Katara of the Water Tribe, master waterbender caught me bending all four elements. That wasn't supposed to happen. What was supposed to happen was that Avatar Aang found out first. I practically am him, so it immediately concerns him. Plus, he'd know what to do about me…I hope.

When Master Katara started talking to me, I first felt like squealing like a fan girl, then logic rained down on me, and I panicked. I stood frozen on the spot and probably looked like a frightened idiot. A totally great first impression I made on her.

I mentally scolded myself when she stared at me with her wide blue eyes. I should've thought this whole journey through. Especially the fact that Avatar Aang isn't alone, he's got his whole gang with him. And I completely forgot that Avatar Aang is in a relationship with Master Katara, as her farther, Chief Hakoda reported back in the South Pole.

Oh man, I seriously should've thought this through.

Now, as Master Katara drags me left and right through the crowded streets of the lower ring, I feel my insides knot together and my stomach churn. It doesn't help that I feel my knees go weak as we run to some place I have no idea about. I don't know where Master Katara is taking me, and that is unnerving.

I'm unprepared and vulnerable. If there'll come a time when I'll have to defend myself against Master Katara, the only element I'm confident bending properly without embarrassing myself is water. And I'm sure that I'm no match for her. She'll have me knocked out before I can even draw any water.

I…am in serious trouble.

We run in silence and heavy breathing. We could've taken Ban—which would've been faster and less exhausting—but she ditched me at the clearing. I'm not worried about loosing her, she always finds me in the end. But even if I did have Ban, how could I be sure that Master Katara would willingly hop on her?

How can I be sure that I can trust her?

Funny thing, she should be wondering if I could be trusted. I know that I've got good intentions, but does she know that? What if she suspects that I'm a joke? Or what if an enemy of theirs sent me? Who the heck knows? I wouldn't.

I don't have time to take in my surroundings with Master Katara hauling my butt here and there. The only things I notice are the buildings how far apart they get. That's how I know what ring we're in. We pass through the middle ring, where the houses are evenly spaced unlike the cramped lower ring, and then we enter the upper ring with its pristine buildings and wide-open space.

Dripping wet with sweat, I feel self-conscious. Right now, Master Katara could be complaining to herself about how disgusting and out of shape I am. I feel the urge to squirm out of her slick, yet firm, grip. But I fight back the urge and focus on keeping up with her.

Master Katara stops in front of a staircase that leads up to a grand building named, The Jasmine Dragon. I squint and read the words displayed on the roof of the building.

A teashop? She's taking me to a teashop?

Master Katara takes in a deep breath then starts up the stairs in a hurry, pulling me behind her. "Go on without me!" I want to scream, but the whole reason she's dragged my sorry butt here was because of me.

"Come on." She huffs, finally talking to me. We spent the whole run with Master Katara giving me the cold shoulder and me trying not to faint from exhaustion and fear. I told myself not to do anything embarrassing, but I guess it's too late for that now. I should've prepared myself for all this exercise.

When we reach the top of the stairs, Master Katara tugs me forward and rushes into the teashop, disrupting the peace of the few costumers inside. As we burst into the shop, people stop whatever they're doing and stare at us. A thin man dressed in green robes to our right, has his cup of tea raised to his lips in mid-sip and his wide eyes trained on us.

I look awkwardly from left to right at the people staring openly at us. I feel self-conscious all over again and my skin begins to itch. I look to Master Katara who has her eyes trained on the three people at the other end of the emerald green carpet.

The tallest of the three is a man. I recognize the Water Tribe blue of a warrior's under shirt and pants he wears, and the warrior's wolf tail his messy brown hair is tied into. He's got the same skin color as Master Katara and mine that it's obvious he's from the Water Tribe, too. I take a guess and say that this man is Warrior Sokka, Master Katara's brother and Chief Hakoda's eldest child.

Warrior Sokka holds the hand of a woman to his right, dressed in a light shade of green and loose pants. Her stomach bulges beneath her robes and her free hand is placed on top of it. I realize that this is Warrior Sokka's wife, Kyoshi Warrior Suki. Her eyes dart between Master Katara and me.

To Warrior Sokka's left, is a girl who looks my age, with her head slightly titled down and choppy black bangs hang in front of her small face. Her pale green eyes look so unfocused that when I look closer at her, I realize her eyes aren't focusing on anything at all. She's blind. Now, there's no mistaking that she's Toph Beifong, the Greatest Earthbender. Chief Hakoda's stories say that she had other titles such as, "The Blind Bandit" and "The Runaway." He said that she is the first person to ever metalbend, which basically makes her a legend in her own right.

After realizing whom the three people standing across us are, an old round-bellied man is about to walk right in front of the three, when he stops abruptly and looks towards our direction. He takes in Master Katara's and my appearance in silence.

We probably look like exhausted hog monkeys.

The old man stands still, hands holding a teapot and eyes looking back and forth between Warrior Sokka and Master Katara. He somehow understands the telepathic conversation the two siblings are having.

The teashop is quiet.

Warrior Sokka's eyes, directed at his sister, clearly say, "You have some explaining to do." I know Katara understands because she nods and her head turns to the direction of the man with the teapot.

He's the one who breaks the silence. "Come, let's talk privately." He tells Warrior Sokka and motions for Katara and me to follow him. He ushers us to the right where a wooden sliding door stands closed and far away from the tables in the teashop.

The old man turns to the costumers, "It's all right, just some family business to take care of. No worries." He chuckles lightly and the costumers relax. The air turns from tight and anxious to peaceful.

I realize I've been holding my breath all this time and exhale, gulping up the air to fill my tired lungs. Gulping up the air may not have been enough for me, since I began to hyperventilate...right in front of the legendary members of Team Avatar. I've embarrassed myself twice now, in front of these heroes.

Negative two points go to me for impressing Team Avatar.

My cheeks burn when I realize Master Katara has tugged on my arm thrice for me to step inside the room we're facing. I quickly step inside the simple wooden room to avoid embarrassing myself further (like that's ever going to happen).

A wooden table covered in an elegant silk green cloth sits in the middle of the room. There aren't any chairs around. Actually, there isn't a lot in this room. Just a couple of the same matching silk green drapes hanging on the walls and on the wooden table.

The last to walk in is the old man, who quietly slides the door shut behind him. I feel my cheeks burning something fierce as I'm face to face with a few members of Team Avatar. I constantly shift my weight from leg to leg, that it begins to annoy me. I can't stand still, not knowing what Team Avatar might think of me.

Why? Why did I choose to do this?

The room is quiet so I'm left with my muddled and regretful thoughts. It's not so nice being inside my head at this particular time. I can't shut myself up no matter how hard I try.

I can feel four sets of eyes on me and I awkwardly avoid each pair. I'm not used to this much attention, that it makes me feel a bit queasy. I try to open my mouth to explain myself, but no sound comes out.

I now deem myself…hopeless.

It seems like an eternity until someone speaks up.

"I found her, just today, and I swear, there can't be any other explanation." Master Katara says, her voice echoing in my ears.

"Katara—" Warrior Sokka tries, but his sister interrupts.

"I saw her! Well—not really—but I heard her! She bent all four elements. I'm not making this up and you all probably think I'm crazy—my appearance doesn't exactly prove my sanity—but I'm telling you, I'm not crazy. She's exactly who I think she is. No, I know. She told me herself—"

"Katara!" Warrior Sokka interrupts her.

Thank the spirits, he did. She was seriously inching toward the lands of hysterical and beyond.

Master Katara bends down and gasps for air, trying to regain her breath. Warrior Sokka takes a step toward her and puts a firm hand on her back. "Easy, sis." He says softly. "Why not try telling us how you found her?"

Master Katara looks up from her gaze on the floor to look directly at me. I suddenly stop shifting and stand still. The weirdest thing was that my hands began to tingle as her deep blue eyes stared me down with different emotions ranging from fear, confusion, and worry, flashing in her eyes.

"I thought I felt Aang." She whispers. "I was positive it was him. The connection we had is growing stronger as our wedding day comes closer. Aang told me about that—the connection between the Avatar and lover. We'd be able to feel one's spirit."

I glance at Warrior Sokka. His eyebrows go down into a concerned frown. I can see the wheels in his head turning, trying to find a perfectly logical answer to counter what his sister's trying to tell them.

Too bad he won't find one.

"Katara…you're not saying that she's…?" whispers Kyoshi Warrior Suki. She doesn't finish her question, afraid that saying it out loud is only going to make it true. I'm already sorry to say that it is true. I've been sorry my whole life.

"Aang and her spirits are one and the same—if not, then share they a part of that spirit." Master Katara says.

"Wait. So you thought Aang was nearby, you followed his—whatever, and you heard Shifty over here, bending all four elements?" asks Master Toph in a slightly mocking and intimidating voice.

"Yes." answers Master Katara.

"O-kay." Master Toph whistles, the intimidation and mock disappearing from her tone.

Kyoshi Warrior Suki turns to the old man. He's been completely silent this whole time that I almost forgot he was there.

Almost.

"Iroh, is this possible?" Kyoshi Warrior Suki asks.

My eyes nearly bulge out at the mention of the name. Iroh? General Iroh? The Dragon of the West Iroh?

I turn around to look at him again, now feeling a flood of respect towards this old man. His white beard and hair past his shoulders don't make him look like a man who broke the gates surrounding Ba Sing Se and the leader of The Order of the White Lotus. Dressed in simple but formal and rich green robes and pants, he looks like an ordinary, yet successful, tea maker and the owner of this shop.

General Iroh's eyes focus on me and they bring back the itch once again. His eyes never leave me as he speaks, "I wouldn't know. I may have gone into the Spirit World before, but I do not know its ways. How this young girl could've came to be, is a mystery to me."

"You're right." Master Katara says. I can practically feel a speech coming off of her. "We don't know how this is possible, but there's no denying that she's the second—"

"There's no denying that who's the second what?" A voice comes from behind me. "What's going on, Katara?"

There's no denying who this voice belongs to. By the way my whole body buzzes with so much energy, it's like I'm about to explode, and the way I suddenly feel whole and full, there can only be one person who is standing right behind me—

Avatar Aang.

"Katara, I don't see what you're all so worked up about—" Avatar Aang said in a low, calm voice. I know he's having a hard time focusing on what Master Katara's saying because I can feel him trying to give Master Katara his full attention, but struggling. I know he's aware of the energy coursing through his veins and the tugging sensation, pulling him to me.

He's aware of me.

I've never actually been distracting before. Interesting.

Master Katara grabs Avatar Aang's arm and turns him around, so their backs are to me. They stand at the far end of the room, which isn't really that far at all. They keep their voices to a quiet whisper, probably so I won't overhear their conversation—which is not impossible—or to prevent eavesdroppers from outside from learning about this whole gathering.

Ms. Master Waterbender's about to be kicked off this Earth into Crazyland again. I can seriously feel the crazy radiating off her.

"You don't?" Master Katara interrupts. She continues in a high-pitched whisper. "You don't see how having her around two days before the wedding isn't something to worry about?"

"No, I don't." Avatar Aang honestly replies. I can sense that he's taking slow and calming breaths, trying not to go into panic mode, much like his wife-to-be is. I partly feel calm and peaceful, thanks to him.

Through her stressful voice, I can practically see her narrow her eyes at her fiancé. "Aang, she is you." She says, the anxiety and worry filling her voice once again. "What's going to happen to her—what are we going to do with her? What happens if others will find out about her?"

"We won't tell anyone about her." Warrior Sokka says firmly. Having him reply to her from all the way to the right of the room, shows that Master Katara does not know how to whisper.

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean they won't find a way." Master Toph says, the intimidation and toughness back in her voice.

"We have to keep her a secret." Warrior Sokka suggests—no, orders.

"That might be our only choice." Kyoshi Warrior Suki says, but I hear a slight hint of doubt in her voice.

Master Katara whirls around to face the others. "It is our only choice." She says. It stings to know that she cometeply accepts of this whole Keep-Avatar-No. 2-a-secret thing. "This happened at the wrong time. She shouldn't have come here—"

"Katara, don't—" Avatar Aang interrupts. He's a peaceful guy, that Avatar. You know, with him being an Air Nomad and all. I've heard hundreds of stories about Avatar Aang, some stories are obviously made up and some are real. They said that being the Avatar and an Air Nomad, he has to keep the peace, therefore be peaceful. At least that part of him is true.

Too bad I'm not as peaceful and patient as he is.

"No, Aang, I don't mean that." Master Katara says, already knowing what Avatar Aang was going to say. "What I mean is that she could have come at a better time. Not two days before the wedding."

"Katara, I understand. Really, I do." Her fiancé says in a calm and reassuring voice. He quickly brings up another question. "What are we going to do with her in the meantime?"

"What are we going to do with her? Period." Master Toph adds. Master Katara already asked that question before, but it was left unanswered.

"Where is she going to stay?" Kyoshi Warrior Suki throws in.

"How are we going to be able to hide her?" Warrior Sokka mumbles to himself.

"What is she doing here?" I hear Master Katara whisper to herself.

"How long will she be staying?"

"Will she—"

"Why—"

"What if—"

"Who is she?"

Warrior Sokka becomes oddly quiet. I watch him as his brows dip down into a frown and his blue eyes stare intently at the ground. Deep in thought, I can't help but want to know what he's thinking.

Then, I do. "Can we trust her?" He asks. None of them look at me and I know they're asking themselves the same thing. I look to each serious face, knowing they won't meet my eyes or even acknowledge my existence.

I'm a ghost. Again. Will things ever change?

I let out an exasperated sigh that sounds more like a crazed bark. "I am Genna of the Water Tribe and the second Avatar. I came here to help you guys and join your team, also at the same time, hoping that you'd find it in your hearts to train me. I came here to tell my own self about my existence. I came here for a change and I came here to do something good." I finally say. My voice is as loud as thunder in this desert quiet room.

I'm sick of being cast to the sidelines and I'm sick of others treating me like I'm invisible. I'm sick of others dictating my life and making choices for me. I can make my own choices. Watch me.

The room stays silent and no one moves.

"Yes." I say. "Yes you can trust me."

Still, no one moves. Avatar Aang faces the wall, with his back to me. "I've been sheltered from the whole world, all my life. My dying mother did her best to protect my identity and keep me a secret. I've lived my whole life knowing I am a mistake. But for some reason, I'm still here."

For some reason, I'm still alive. That's got mean something, right?

"There's a reason I'm still alive. I don't know why. But I'm going to make sure that I fulfill my duty as the second Avatar." And that's final. I finish to myself.

Nothing is said and a little part of me feels like I've failed. But the bigger part of me won't give up. I stand up straighter, ball up my fists, and stare at each of their faces until I get an answer, a reaction—anything from them.

The seconds tick by and quickly melt into minutes. I'm not going to stop staring them down.

I'm caught in honest surprise when Avatar Aang turns around and looks directly at me. I feel the buzz start up in my chest again. I feel my muscles throb with energy and I can feel both our hearts beating in a matched rhythm.

Unconsciously, I take a step back when Avatar Aang takes a step toward me. His whole face looks so serious, but kind. When I look into his eyes, it seems like I've looked into those eyes a thousand times over.

Avatar Aang takes several steps before he's right in front of me. Now every pair of eyes is trained on us. Avatar Aang looks down at me, studying me, like he's trying to figure me out. I look up at him, praying he see's something in me that'll convince everyone to train me.

"What I can't seem to figure out is…how are you here?" Avatar Aang mumbles softly, more to himself than to me.

Before I can ask him what he means or calm my racing thoughts, I feel a cool gentle hand on my forehead. Then Avatar Aang's gray eyes disappear under his closed eyelids. His breathing becomes deep and meditative, that I'm caught up in his trance and find myself taking slow breaths, too.

I feel my body start to hum, making me hyperaware and focused at the same time. My eyes find their way to Avatar Aang's forehead, where a blue arrow is tattooed onto his baldhead. It begins to glow with a bright blue light. I don't move. I stare at the arrow, watching as the light engulfs me and swallows me whole.

Then, the world before me disappears. And I am somewhere else.

"Let her go…"

The guru's wise voice echoes.

The crystals Aang encased himself in explode into a million jagged pieces, flying at every corner. The same bright white light that shone like a beacon when the iceberg broke in the North Pole, shoots up to the stone ceiling.

Aang is raised up, his eyes and tattoos glowing. His clothes are singed and messy as his body floats up higher. The Avatar State. He's in the Avatar State for everyone to see. Exposed.

Then out from behind and without any warning, a blast of lightening strikes Aang from the back and the energy exits out his foot.

The glow blinks on and off, before completely disappearing. Aang starts to descend to meet the ground.

Dead.

The Avatars are lined up. Roku disappears first, and then Kyoshi, Kuruk, and Yangchen, and one by one, the Avatar ceases to exist.

In the few moments of Aang's death, in the Southern Water Tribe, a woman is giving birth to her child. Her face is red and her forehead glistens with sweat. Strands of dark brown hair stick to her face and she grinds her teeth together to keep from screaming.

Her husband, completely out of place with his green eyes, stands by her side, holding her hand. The couple is inside a steady igloo and an old, gentle, lady soothes the woman as she instructs her on what to do.

In a matter of seconds, a small cry is heard. The baby is out. Their child is born.

The old lady takes the baby girl and cleans her off, then hands the child to her mother. Sweating and crying, she cradles her baby in her arms. She's a small, but beautiful thing.

Side by side, two scenes are played at the same time: One where Katara revives Aang with the water from the Spirit Oasis and the second where the couple looks down at their newborn daughter.

The scenes blur together and disappear into black.

Voices echo in the dark. Somehow, they're easy to recognize and identify.

"What shall we name her?" The green-eyed man asks his wife.

"I don't know…let's give her a name that's special."

"Gen."

"Now that isn't very traditional." The woman tsks fondly.

"What do you suggest, then?" Her husband asks. The woman pauses and thinks before answering.

"Genna."

And the girl's eyes open to reveal shocking ocean blue and earth green eyes.