Book 4 Air
Chapter 60 More Daydreams and Nightmares
Zuko lightly tapped his index finger on the solid wood table as he grew impatient. His eyes set firmly on the doorway in front of him as his mind continued to focus on waiting. Iroh watched his nephew and chuckled to himself. He has seen many changes in the young Fire Lord. No doubt the lovely waterbender has influenced him…He only wished Zuko would take the opportunity to see more clearly when he worried about Katara.
The door opened slowly as Zuko's head jerked up while Sokka and Iroh turned their heads. First walked in was Katara. Zuko swallowed hard as he saw the waterbender. Her dress was beautiful and her hair had her traditional Water Tribe hair loops tucked underneath a braided bun with strands of her hair curled behind her hair like twisted tassels stringing down of dark brown silk. Her face was smiling softly as it then faded slightly as she turned around waiting for someone. Aang entered slowly, shuffling his feet as he came in. Aang then seated himself across from Iroh as he sighed, slightly shaking.
Everyone's expression shone with concerned for the airbender boy as Katara then seated herself closely to the Avatar. A glint of jealousy tugged in Zuko heart as he watched the waterbender sit next to Aang, placing her hand on his shoulder trying to comfort him.
"Avatar Aang, you don't look so well, perhaps you'll like some tea?" Iroh asked as he raised his hand up to a nearby servant signaling for tea.
"No…It's alright. Please tell me…How did you get into the spirit world." Aang managed to say in a low, tired tone.
"Just relax, young Avatar…You are straining your mind and becoming impatient. Just wait until the tea arrives." Iroh said as he sat back into his chair.
Aang sighed as closed his eyes.
"Aang, please tell us, what's wrong…" Katara asked in a caring motherly tone as she placed her hand on his.
The kind gesture and words from the girl made Zuko nearly gag. How could she have dated the airbender when she treats him so much like a child?
"I-I keep having these recurring daydreams and nightmares." Aang said as he covered his face.
"You mean like the ones before the invasion?" Sokka asked as he remembered how crazy the kid went during his few days before the attack of the day of Black Sun.
"Yes…Exactly those ones…" Aang said as he shivered by the mere thought.
"Well, then young Avatar. Tell us one of these nightmares." Iroh said as Aang took a deep breath.
"Ok...I-I'm somehow rising from the ground, crawling my way up in front of the Fire Nation Palace. Everything around me is dark and scratchy as rings of fire swirl around the towers. Before I know it, I'm already inside passing through the doors of the palace and I think somewhere in the throne room. I look around and then I see Toph from behind. S-She then turns around and…and I look at her face. S-She has no eyes!" Aang said as he recalled the nightmare.
"Then before I know it, she falls straight down into the ground. I was horrified. Then I saw you Sokka." Aang said as he turned to the Water Tribesman.
"You were running from something and then this darkness gulped you up, grabbing you and pulling you in until I only saw your eyes, you looked so afraid!" Aang said as he paused. "Then…Then I saw you Katara." Aang said as he turned to the girl. "You were dressed in your old Fire Nation outfit, your hair was down. You looked confused as I saw fire in your eyes. You pulled away from me, surrounded by flames." Aang said as he then shivered. "I reached out to you, but then I was frozen. Ice formed all around me, I couldn't move." Aang said as he started to tremble.
"A big outline of Fire Lord Ozai was laughing at me then he struck me down as the ice melted and I fell into ice cold water…Like in the Northern Water Tribe. I didn't know where I was!" Aang cried out as he started to re-live his nightmare. "I didn't know which way was up or which was down as I started to rise up. There was ice; I couldn't break to the surface. Then I saw him…I saw you Zuko, standing above me in the snow storm." Aang said as he looked at the young Fire Lord. You still had your ponytail; you just stared down at me as I then saw a raging ball of fire pass by you. Then I'm standing in a beautiful setting, surrounded by flowers and nature. Then the comet strikes everything is burned to the ground, everything is dead!" Aang said frantically as he cried out gripping his head.
"Aang! It's alright…It's over now…Aang…" Katara said softly as she hugged the nearly crying boy.
"Hmm…Sounds most terrifying and such a shame to plague your thoughts with such worry and stress." Iroh said with concern.
"Sounds pretty fishy if you ask me…" Sokka said as he rubbed his chin.
Katara's brow furrowed angrily, "And how could something so frightening be fishy to you, Sokka?" Katara asked mad at her brother for making it into some kind of joke.
"Hey, I'm just saying…It sounds kind of predictable…" Sokka said as he started to analyze the dream.
"Aang was scared to face the Fire Lord from the very beginning. Yet all these other things got in the way of him defeating Ozai. Distacting him." Sokka said as he started to name off the things.
"One, he got sacred that Toph had no eyes then disappeared. I mean, Heh, yea she blind right? Maybe he felt like she couldn't help him or she was weak." Sokka said as Katara tried to cut him off.
"Ah...Ah! Let me finish." Sokka said as he pointed his finger at his sister.
"Then he sees me…Of course I wouldn't be that terrified but whatever." Sokka said as he acted macho, "Anyways, he was scared of what I might face, the unknown…" Sokka said as he continued his evaluation.
"Then the next few parts are easy, he's afraid Katara will get burned and Ozai would have won the war." Sokka said skipping important parts of the dream.
"Some of those may be true…But I think you missed some part about your sister and me." Zuko said lightly as he narrowed his eyes.
'He's afraid I'll take Katara away from him…He's thought this even before I was engaged to her?' Zuko thought to himself as Iroh spoke, "Over- analyzing these things won't help Aang now." Iroh said as he looked at the boy who's calmed down a bit.
"Avatar Aang, right now you need to worry about Miss Bei Fong. I have thought about this recently…There is a way you could enter into the spirit world. But in your current state, I advise you wait a little bit longer before traveling." The old general said with wisdom.
"No! The sooner I save Toph; the sooner things will go back to normal!" Aang said in a frustrated tone as he stood up from his seat.
"Aang, please listen to Iroh. He knows what he's talking about." Katara said softly as Aang sat back down.
"Before I entered into the spirit world, I had reached spiritual enlightment through a good friend of mine. He is a spiritual brother of the Air Nomads. I one time, did offer him to become a special member to the White Lotus, sadly he declined." Iroh said as he rubbed his beard.
Aang lifted his head to this. A brother of his people…? Where has he heard that before?
Wait…It couldn't be.
"Y-You know Guru Pathik?!" Aang called out as his eyes widened.
"Guru Pathik is a man of great knowledge of the Spirit World and its effects on normal humans. He was the one who trained me in every way to physically and mentally journey into the realm." Iroh said as recalled his younger years.
"It was a grueling task to perform, and took me nearly seven times to complete. But after a year of training, I managed to find the bridge that connects our two worlds. To have found spiritual guidance and was reborn, I know its path. So then I will teach you Avatar Aang, how to prepare yourself." Iroh said in a serious tone as everyone stared at him with respect and amazement.
"Uncle…I had no idea…" Zuko said as he had a new respect for his uncle.
"There are many things you don't know about me, my young nephew. I just hope now you understand what I have meant when I've trained you." Iroh said as Zuko bowed his head.
"Yes, uncle." Zuko said lightly as Katara and Sokka smiled.
Aang then lowered his head, "B-But you said it took you a full year to do it. I can't wait that long." Aang said as Iroh smiled, "Yes, that is why you must start today…" Iroh said as everyone looked up at the old man like he's gone crazy.
"But General Iroh, he's in no position to train now." Katara said in Aang's defense.
"Of course he is…Young Avatar; your first step in training is to rest. I will see you tomorrow when you are ready." Iroh said as everyone relaxed.
"Yes…" Aang said disappointed as he stood up then shuffled back to his room.
As the airbender left the room, Zuko spoke to his uncle. "Do you really think he can do this?" Zuko asked as Iroh turned to his nephew.
"He is the Avatar. Of course I think he can do it. He is more than capable." Iroh said as the tea finally arrived.
"Ah, ginseng…my favorite." Iroh said as he poured himself some hot brewed tea.
Everyone drank their tea in silence as their food soon arrived in plates and trays full. Katara lightly munched on a rice ball as she turned to see Sokka chopping away at his plate like some cow hippo. Zuko chewed his eel meat quietly as Iroh stood up, "I'll be back, I need to see a man about a document." Iroh said as he made his way to the doorway then left the dining quarters.
After the three teens finished, Katara grabbed some leftovers and placed them on a plate. "I'm taking this to Aang, he must be hungry." Katara said as she started to leave.
"You don't have to do that, Katara. I can just have a servant bring it to him." Zuko said as Katara stopped.
"I don't mind. I want to…" Katara said lightly as she then left the room.
Zuko sighed as he pinched his brow.
"It sucks…doesn't it?" a voice suddenly said as Zuko looked up, "Yea it does…" Zuko said replying to the Water Tribe boy.
The two young men sat in silence for a while before Sokka spoke, "Do you think Suki might come here?" Sokka asked as Zuko blinked.
"I believe so; she was invited to the dance. So then she should be here within the upcoming in week." Zuko said as Sokka smiled widely. "That's so awesome! I can't wait to see her…I miss her." Sokka said softly as Zuko then excused himself from the table.
He needed to talk to Katara. Zuko thought as he left the dining room and headed to the Eastern wing.
"Here Aang, have this…" Katara said in a soft tone as she sat on the edge of the boy's bed.
Aang sat up as he looked at Katara. His eyes tired yet hopeful as he gazed at the waterbender.
"Katara…" Aang said lightly before he leaned in pressing his lips on hers. The plate fell to the floor as food scattered on the ground. Katara gasped at the boy pulled her in, kissing her.
Just then they both heard what sounded like a growl, Katara then pulled away from Aang. She looked behind her, Zuko stood with a dim expression on his face. "Perhaps Mai was right about you…" Zuko said darkly before leaving the doorway. Katara gasped, "Zuko!" the girl called out as she scrambled up and ran outside, leaving a confused airbender behind her.
"Katara…?" Aang questioned as he stood up and slowly followed her.
"Zuko, please!" Katara cried out as she reached out to him as he continued to pace down the hall.
"Wait Zuko!" Katara begged as she panted trying to lift up her dress lightly to catch up.
Zuko then turned the hall sharply out of Katara's sight. Tears formed in her eyes, "Zuko!" Katara cried out desperately as she turned the corner. Suddenly she was in the hold of two arms as she allowed her tears to flow. "Z-Zuko…" Katara mumbled out as she cried into his chest.
Zuko merely looked down at her. He couldn't stay angry with her, even if he tried…
Lifting her head, he looked into her eyes, looking for a reason why…An answer…
"I-I want you…" Katara whispered responding back the Fire Lord as his heart swelled. Trying to control himself, Zuko then kissed her deeply. Wrapping her arms around his neck as Zuko pulled her waist to him. The two then stepped slightly back as they continued to kiss passionately. Unknowingly they entered into the hall, both too lost in their heated kiss to notice the boy standing in the open watching them.
Aang never saw someone as passionate as the two teens, who continued to kiss one another. Each tried to grip one another so tightly almost like they were afraid one would fly away and lose each other forever.
At that moment, Aang felt like it was watching himself watching them. His body was there, but his mind wasn't. He couldn't wrap his mind around it.
The sound of their wet smacking lips were heard as heavy panting escaped their breaths as a slight moan passed by one another. Zuko then cupped the girl's cheek as he breathes out his words, which held a strong aggression in his tone of voice, "You are mine…No one…No one can have you…" Zuko said throughout their lips pressing back and forth as Katara moaned in response.
Aang's hand twitched as his eyes narrowed. He lost her…She was no longer his girl…His forever girl.
Aang then screamed out loudly as both Katara and Zuko pulled away looking at the person down the hallway. Time froze as Aang's cry toned down…Silence surrounded the area as two gray orbs expressed hurt and jealousy in his eyes.
Oh my…Aang knows now…What will happen, next chapter? Please review and comment for fast updates!!!!!
