I'm sorry this update is so late. I broke my promise. I'm really sorry. Special for you guys I made this one a bit longer! But I had this huge writers block. I hope you still like this chap. I tried something different. You'll see ;)
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Aang watched Katara and Zuko walk away. He didn't want her to leave. But if he said something they would know something was going on between Zuko and Katara. That kiss. She broke his hart, but he had never known if she even liked him. But what if Zuko would harm her! No, he wouldn't, would he? But Katara is now alone with him. But she could kill him if she wanted. There was nothing to worry about. It was just hard to be, without her. Since the North Pole she never leaved them. If you don't count the time she was with Zuko. Why was he only thinking about him? That name kept appearing in is head. I need to stop with this. Just think of something different. Ehm…Lets wash Appa. Yeah, they could do that.
"Let's wash Appa before we leave. Or else we would be under fur the whole time."
"The fun way?" Sokka asked.
"Is there an other way?" Aang said and chuckled.
They took Appa to the stream and Aang bended him wet. Sokka sneaked up on Aang and splashed him wet. Aang turned around and bended Sokka into the stream. Toph didn't know what was going on and just leaned on a tree. Iroh smiled while watching the two boy's fight. After a while they stopped fighting. Sokka knew he couldn't win from someone who could bend very element. And Aang missed Katara. It was easy to beat Sokka, but with Katara he could at least have some more fun. When all Appa's fur was gone Aang blew him dry, blowing all the water on Iroh and Toph. Toph bended Aang into the Earth, only leaving his head above the ground. Aang bended himself out of there and wanted to attack Toph when Iroh stopped him.
"It's time to go."
Everyone nodded and they all walked back to there camp. They packed there stuff and loaded it onto Appa's saddle. When they were all done they climbed into the Saddle and Aang called his famous "jip jip" to let Appa fly. They flew for a couple of hours. Aang was looking down the whole time hoping to see a gleam of Katara.
"You are looking for Katara, aren't you?" Iroh asked.
"Yes." Aang answered.
"I'm sorry, but you won't be able to see them. We are going straight to the temple. They have to travel another way."
"Oh." Aang answered disappointed.
He looked down again, to the forest. He knew there was no chance of him seeing Katara, but he still kept looking. He already missed her, just because he knew he wouldn't see her for a while. He didn't bother looking if Appa was going the right way because he knew that Appa knew the way. They both had been there before. That was the place were Aang picked Appa to bee his Bison, and they had been connected ever since. He was wondering how the temple would like. He hadn't been there for more than 100 years. Would the fire nation had destroyed it just like they had done to the other temple? Should he worry about what to find there. Perhaps the body of an other dead friend. The only still living friend from for the war was Bumi. All the others were killed. He was happy with the friend he now had. Sokka was a bit weird, but you could always have fun with him. Katara was caring and nice. And Toph, she was tough as a rock. No one could defeat her. Too bad that she couldn't see what she could do. And Iroh, he was just like an uncle to him. But Zuko, what to think about Zuko? He actually didn't know much about Zuko. No one accept for Katara and Iroh knew something about him. It wasn't strange they Aang didn't forget the fact that he tried followed them around over the whole world, and he kissed Katara. But he was changed. Why don't I trust him?
"Let's land and have lunch." Iroh said.
"Yeah, that's a great idea!" The always hungry Sokka answered.
The group landed and Iroh made lunch and tea. After Sokka came back with wood for t he fire. The others were happy with the opportunity to walk again. And as always Toph kissed the ground happy to feel it again. Aang walked into the forest and looked around. By the beauty surprised. Everything reminded him of Katara. They way she walked around. The way she smiled and cried. Aang walked to a stream and started to play with the water. They way Katara always does. He made circles and perfect round balls of water. He also froze the upper part of the stream and walked to the other side. He was still playing with the water. Making small waves or just stopping it. He said down and played a little more with the water. After a while he heard something. He stood up and looked around. He couldn't see anyone. Slowly he walked to the spot the noise was coming. He slowly followed the stream. He knew something wasn't right. Accept for the sound he was following he couldn't hear anything. Even the wind was quiet. Aang shivered. Something wasn't right. He wanted to yell for his friends, but he couldn't. He couldn't make any sound. He just kept walking, knowing that he couldn't stop if he tried. The sound started to get louder. The forest got darker were he was now. No birds to see. Not even a bug. He kept walking. Following the stream. Wondering what could be making that noise, that sound that made him walk towards it. The stream made a curve to the right. When Aang was on the other side of the curve he could finally see what was making that sound. He stopped walking and started to scream.
"Sokka, Toph, Iroh, anyone! You have to see this!"
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Zuko and Katara walked into the forest leaving their friends behind. When they had walked for 15 minuets Katara started to cry. When Zuko noticed it he stopped walking and took her hand.
"Katara, what's wrong?" She didn't answer. "Katara, what's wrong." He asked again. Instead of answering she did something Zuko didn't expect. She hugged him. He let her cry out on his shoulder. He hold her like that for a while.
When she stopped crying she whispered: "Thank you."
"Well, ehm.., it's alright. I think." Zuko said and he blushed.
"I think its time to go on." Katara said.
"You're probably right." Zuko answered and they moved on. Both walked without talking. With every step they took they came deeper and deeper in the huge forest they were walking in. Everywhere around them they could see animals. Birds were whistling, squirrels were collecting small insects they could eat and the dear were eating the grass they could find. None of them bothered being around the two humans. You could see that they weren't used to humans, and that they didn't fear them. No where they looked Katara and Zuko could find a trail, so they just had to find a way trough the plants. Katara tripped a few times, and Zuko helped her up. They walked and walked for hours. Didn't know what time it was, because where they were no light reached the ground. When it was round noon both got hungry, but didn't want to say it, so they walked on. After a while there hunger got worse, and when they reached for an open spot both stand still.
"Want lunch?" Katara asked.
"That would be great."
Katara got some of the food they brought. They both ate it without talking. Happy being able to rest for a while.
"When do you think we reach the temple?" Katara asked after a while.
"I think it will at least take 2 weeks."
"That long!"
"Not mine idea."
"Not mine either."
"You didn't complain about it. You said nothing at all."
"What could I say? Yes I would love to travel alone for two weeks with someone who tried to kill me more then one time. Or did you want me to say that I'm in love with you and can't live one second without you anymore."
"Your right, if my uncle want something, you can't stop him."
"Your grandfather must have been just like that."
"What do you mean?"
"You're exactly the same."
"Don't you dare comparing me to my family. They banish me. I'm not part of that family anymore. Uncle is the only family I have left."
"I'm sorry, I know."
"Let's go on, we have a long way to go. It gets dark early in these woods, and we have to make sure we find a place to sleep tonight."
They grabbed their backs and continued to follow the small trail trough the woods. Again they walked for hours without talking to each other. But suddenly they thunder disturbed the silence.
"It's not going to rain is it?" Zuko asked irritated. On the moment he said that the rain fall down.
"Let's find a place we can shelter. I saw cave 10 minuets ago."
"Let's go there then, quickly."
The rain fell down harder every second. It got misty and the both teenagers couldn't see each other anymore. They ran back over the small and rough trail without seeing where they were going. Dark clouds hide the sun and the few rays of sun that were left, were stopped by the treetops before they reached the ground. The rain falling on the wet forest floor made a lot of noise. All that water made it muddy and hard to walk.
"I think it was somewhere over here." Katara said and she went of the trail.
"Where?" Zuko asked because he couldn't see her.
"I'm he…" Katara said before she was cut of by her own scream when her foot got stuck under a tree root and she fell forwards. Her leg got twisted in a not natural position and broke it. She smacked with her head on a pointy stone.
"Katara, are you alright?"
No answer.
"Katara, Katara. Where are you?"
Zuko walked the way he last heard Katara's voice come from. With a lot of difficulty because of the rain and the mist he found Katara when he almost stood on her. The forest floor around her was red from blood. Quickly Zuko picked Katara up and brought her to the cave she pointed out. In the little light that was left he saw that she had a big wound on her forehead.
O no! I have to do something or she might die! What should I do?! Suddenly Zuko saw a small blue light coming from the wound. It was not more than a spark. It could have been his imagination. But when he looked closely he saw that the wound was healing. Very slow, but it was healing. She's healing herself! I should help her by providing water! Quickly he took the water she was always carrying around and let some drip on the wound. The water started to glow en the wound healed until there was no sign of it ever being there left. Very gently he got her stuff of her back and laid her down. He moved her broken leg straight very precise, making sure he wasn't damaging it more than it already was. After that he got her out of her wet clothing. He wanted to put a blanket over her, but they were wet as well. Let's find some firewood then. And Zuko went back out the cave again. After a little while he came back with a pile of wood. Although the wood was wet, with some fire bending he managed to make it burn pretty fast. He moved Katara to the fire, lay the blankets down on the other side so they could dry and undressed himself so he wasn't wearing anything else but shorts anymore. He sat down next to Katara and raised is body temperature to warm himself. Katara was in a deep sleep. Although she felt more comfortable with the fire warming her, she couldn't raise her own body temperature and shivered. Zuko didn't know what to do for her anymore except of; sharing body heat. She would kill me if she knew. It's for here own good. But what if she discovers. She won't. Fire benders rise with the sun remember. Zuko laid down and took Katara in his arms. He never thought of having her in his arms because of this reason, but alright. She was in his arms, and it felt good. Like it was mend to be. Zuko soon fell a sleep.
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Am I back in the fire palace? Where am I? Zuko walked towards a door, it was locked. He tried the next one, also locked. He tried a couple more, but they were al locked. When he tried to see what's was outside, he only saw darkness. He tried to find the end of the hallway, but it seemed there was no end. Zuko just kept walking, what else should he do? Finally, after what seemed years he saw something different. There was an open door. He entered the room. There was a huge bed. And on that bed, was Katara. She slept. On the moment Zuko walk towards the bed she sat up. She opened her eyes, but it weren't her eyes. Instead of the ocean blue eyes, they were red.
"Hello my lord. I've been waiting for you."
"Katara? You are not Katara."
"You are right, prince. I'm not Katara. I'm Azula."
Zuko recoiled from her when Katara turned into Azula. When he turned around the door was gone. He turned back so he could defend himself from Azula, but instead of seeing her, he saw his mother.
"Don't worry Zuko. Everything is going to be fine if you just follow your hart. Don't be afraid to open it for others. Don't be afraid to show emotions. That's what makes you human. That's what makes it possible for others to love you."
"Mom?"
Before she could answer she vanished. The only thing that was left of her was a whispering.
"I will always watch over you Zuko."
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"Why can't I stay here? I like it here. This is so perfect. To perfect to be real."
"You will know when it's time."
"Why do I have to go?"
"There is a journey you have to make."
"What should I do?"
"You have to break a curse. You are the only one who can break it. It will take you a long time, but I know you can make it. You are special."
"Where do I have to go?"
"Follow your heart."
"Will you join me?"
"No."
"Mom, I finally got you back, I don't want you leave you this soon."
"Katara, this is your destiny. There is nothing I can do for you. You have to do this alone. But remember, I will always be there to watch over you. I will never leave you alone."
"I love you." Katara said and she hugged her mother.
"I know you do. And I love you, I never stopped loving you. But you have to go now honey." Tears rolled from Katara her eyes. "Don't cry. You will be alright. Follow your heart, and trust yourself." She said before she vanished.
Let's go on then. With a feeling of sadness Katara picked the third of the eight trails. She knew this was the right one. She walked, and walked, and walked. There seemed to be no end. But again, she just knew this was the right way. She had to go this way.
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The next morning Zuko woke up with pain in his back from the cold bumpy cave floor. But he didn't want to get up again when he noticed Katara was still in his arms. He laid there like that until his back started hurting so badly he had to stand up. He got himself something to eat, and made from the leftovers from the fire he made last night a new fire to keep Katara warm. When he checked his cloths and the blankets he noticed they dried already. He dressed himself and went out the cave. When he came back he brought a lot of dead leaves, dirt and moss with him. Both of them had 2 blankets with them. With two of them he made a bed from the stuff he brought with him. Carefully he laid Katara on there. She would be grateful, and if she wasn't, Zuko was glad he made that bed, because another night on that floor would break him down. There was not much he could do except for waiting, waiting and waiting. He gave Katara something to drink. Although she was still asleep, she drank all of it. And within half a day all the water they carried with them was gone. Zuko figured that he could leave Katara alone for a while and went out again to find a stream. He found one 10 minuets walking from their cave. When he came back Katara was still asleep. Outside it started to get dark. Zuko got some more wood for the fire. Got something to eat for him self and made sure that the fire would burn the whole night. After that he went to sleep.
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Katara followed the trail she picked until she got to a river she couldn't cross. She tried to bend the water, but that didn't work. "How am I going to get on the other side?"
"That's easy, just believe you can." A voice said.
"Who's there?"
"I am Kozu, and I'm here to help you to break the curse." The person said who appeared from behind a tree.
Kozu looked familiar, but she couldn't remember who he was. "How do I get on the other side of the river?" Katara asked.
"That's easy, just imagine there's a bridge."
"How can I make a bridge just by imagining?"
"Imagine, and it will be there."
Katara closed her eyes, and imagined there was a bridge. When she opened her eyes, there was a bridge. "But how?"
"Things are different here."
"Is that why I can't bend water?"
"Yes. There is no moon here."
"What's the curse I have to break?"
"I don't know. But I have to leave now."
"You said you would help me break the curse! You can't leave now."
"I will help you, on the moments you don't expect me to." Kozu spoke and disappeared.
Katara walked over the bridge. On the moment she reached the other side, the bridge disappeared. She didn't look back anymore and followed the trail again. After she walked a while again she came to a splitting. She could go right, into a sunny open field with flowers and all kind of animals, or she could go left trough a dark forest that looked like nothing except the trees lived there.
"Kozu, what way should I go?" Katara asked.. No answer. "What way should I go?" she asked again. Still no answer.
"Follow your heart." Said her mothers' voice in her head. Yes, her mother told her to trust herself and to follow her heart. She had to do this alone, not with the help of others. When Kozu came she forgot that. Katara picked the left trail. She entered the dark forest. With an unpleasant feeling she walked on. Looked around at every step she made, afraid to fall down or being attacked. It looked like she walked for hours when she reached an open spot in the middle of the forest. In the middle of that spot there was a giant ancient tree.
"Oh wow, it is so pretty her. You should be the biggest tree I've ever seen in my life."
"I am the biggest tree ever." The tree seemed to say.
"Did you say something?"
"Yes, I did Katara. I'm Ozukai. I'm the oldest tree who ever lived. I'm the first tree in this world, And I'm one of the two still living elder trees." His low old voice said.
"Ohw wow, it is a honour to meet you."
"The pleasure is mine. Now tell me, why are you still here. I thought you would have broke the curse already."
"I don't know anything about this curse. I don't know how long I have to travel. Cant you tell my anything?"
"I'm Afraid I can't. You have to figure this out all by yourself."
"Then why do I keep meeting people?"
"You have to learn things from then."
"Then what should you learn me?"
"I'm here to learn you that you have to be patience. I lived more than a thousand years, and I'm still waiting for my destiny."
"Ohw wow." Was the only thing Katara could say.
"I have something for you Katara. Look in the water pool between my roots."
Katara did what he asked her to do. She saw Aang, Sokka, Toph and Zuko's uncle on the other side.
"Everything is alright with them; you don't have to worry about them."
"And Zuko? What about him?"
"He is still waiting for you."
"Why can't he be here then, were both alone now."
"I wasn't wrong about you, you are a fast learner."
"What do you mean?"
"Never mind, I'm going back to sleep again. Good night Katara." And the warm sound of his voice died out.
Katara sat down and thought about the things the tree said. "I had to learn some lessons. I learned to listen to my hart and to trust myself. I learned that nothing here is what it seems to be. But what did I learn that got something to do with Zuko?" She couldn't figure it out and went on.
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(From the moment we left them)
"What's wrong Aang? Where are you?" Sokka yelled.
"Follow the stream!" Aang yelled back.
After a few minuets everyone arrived at the spot Aang was.
"What's wrong?" Toph asked. No one answered. "What's wrong?" She asked again. After a while Iroh answered; "There's a tree here. A tree bigger than I've ever seen before in my whole life."
"That's because there is no bigger tree in the whole world."
"Who said that?" Sokka asked scared.
"I did."
"Who are you?" Iroh asked.
"He is the protector of this forest, the protector of the world." Aang said.
"How do you know?" Sokka asked.
"I told him. My name is Ozukai. I'm the biggest and oldest tree ever."
"That can't be, we met the biggest tree ever in the swamps. There can't be a tree bigger than that one, the whole swamp was part of the tree." Sokka said accusing.
"I'm bigger. My roots go deeper and reach the dream world. Talking about the dream world, everything is okay with your friends, although they will arrive a little later."
"How do you know?" Toph asked.
"There is no time in the dream world." Was al that the tree said.
"Why did you call me here." Aang asked.
"I have something to tell you. It is really important. It is about the destiny of the world."
"What is it?" Aang said a little to enthusiastic.
"There's a war avatar. Is you destiny to save to world. If you fail everyone will die. So be quite and listen to what I have to say. Soon you have to face fire lord Ozai, but you won't be able to defeat him if you are alone. You have to bring four people with you."
"Ohw, that's easy, I taka Katara, Toph, Sokka and Iroh with me." Aang cut him of.
"You didn't let me finish. You have to learn to be patience young avatar. If you don't you won't be able to safe the world. You and the four you bring with you are going to make a difference in this battle. You have to bring on person from every nation. One fire nation fighter. One water tribe fighter. One fighter from the earth kingdom. And one fighter from the air nomads."
"That's impossible. I'm the only air nomad left. The fire nation killed all the others."
"It's the future, don't doubt it. Choose wisely. The future is in you hands young avatar. Good night." Was the last he said before he went to sleep.
"That was weird." Sokka said.
"How can I bring some one from the air nomads, everyone is dead, right?"
"Maybe someone staid alive?" Iroh said hopefully.
"I hope so." Aang said.
"He didn't lie about he was the biggest tree ever. His roosts go deeper than I can feel, and are spread out under the entire forest." Toph said.
"Then there have to be another air nomad! Let's go on! I want to find him!" Aang said enthusiastic.
The team went back to Appa, packed everything again and flew away. Wanting to arrive at the temple as soon as possible.
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And, how did you like it? It was different. But what would that curse be? I'm not going to tell. No one knows accept for me! Nananana! Anyway, I need a new character. And you can help me with that. What do you need to do? That's easy. (1) Add me to you favourite/Alerts. (2) Leave a review. Having someone that reads my story but doesn't alert, isn't a real fan is he/she? I'll promise I post my next chapter sooner that I posted this one!
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