Chapter One: Dreams and Conversations

"No—no—no," Aang cried in his sleep, "No!" He suddenly woke up, sweat on his face and bald head. Aang was terrified from his dream but calmed himself by breathing deep of the cool, crisp air let in by the room's high windows and open ceiling screen (which could be airbent open in good weather to reveal the sky), and by dealing with his racing thoughts. It had just been a nightmare, nothing real, and Aang knew he was safe in his Northern Air Temple Room. Yet Aang felt there was something he was not getting, a message in his nightmare. He sat up on his bed and rubbed his head.

Suddenly the door exploded open, and Katara rushed in. "Aang!" She ran over to him looking terrified.

"I'm fine," Aang said as Katara hugged him around the neck.

"But I heard you screaming." Katara pulled back to look at him.

"It was nothing. Just a nightmare."

"Just a nightmare?" Katara sat beside Aang on his bunk, her hand on his shoulder. "You've been having these dreams since we got here and tonight's was worse. What are these dreams about?"

Aang wanted to change the subject but Katara's expression, intense in the dim starlight, told him she was not going to let that happen.

"I don't want you to worry," he said.

"I'm already worried."

Aang shifted uncomfortably to avoid her eyes. "Well," he began, "the past few nights I just saw bits and pieces in my dream, but tonight I saw the whole picture. There were people dying everywhere and no Avatar to stop it. The Fire Avatar had died—but no one came." His voice trailed off. He could still hear the hopeless screams in his head.

Katara put her arms around Aang's bare shoulders. She was surprised that Aang was still bothered by his situation with Ozai and Roku and being in the iceberg, and she was saddened too. Even though Aang had already defeated Fire Lord Ozai and won the war was he still haunted by his past?

"Aang," she said soothingly, "None of it's true. You've already saved the world as the Avatar and--," Katara searched for words, "I didn't know this was still bothering you. You really should have said something."

"That's not what's bothering me, Katara," Aang replied looking at her, "I feel this dream was giving me a message, but I don't get it. The missing Air Avatar wasn't me and the Fire Avatar wasn't Roku. And the war wasn't this war. My dream was like my story with different people and a bad ending."

"What are you talking about?"

"It doesn't make sense to me either."

The two of them sat saying nothing. Katara had nothing to say as Aang could no more answer her questions then she could, but Katara stayed with him for reassurance. Aang's dark dream had her curious for a meaning but unsure if she wanted it. For the longest time the only noise came from a persistant night breeze that rattled the ceiling screen.

Katara, Aang, and of course Appa and Momo, had been staying at the Northern Air Temple since leaving Ba Sing Se and the Earth Kingdom. After the war Aang and his friends had gone to visit Iroh at his new tea shop. He had opened the Jasmine Dragon with great success (and the help of a perky assistant named Jin) and everyone had been happily reunited before going their separate ways. The war was over but there were still many problems and matter of reconstruction to be dealt with. The hard work was only beginning.

Fire Lord Zuko and Mai had returned to the Fire Nation. Sokka had left with Hakoda and the other Water Tribe Warriors to rebuild the South Pole, and Suki had left with the Kyoshi Warriors. Toph had stayed with Iroh. Katara had decided to go with Aang as she felt he needed her most and because she believed that by traveling with the Avatar she could help more people. This belief was not unfounded as on the way here she and Aang and brought aid to a flooded, earthquake hit Earth Kingdom town—a series of tremors caused by a battle between Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation troops had broken the local dam—and it was why they had come to the temple. Fire Lord Zuko had commissioned Teo's dad to develop an earthquake detection device to be delivered by Aang to the town as a goodwill gesture.

Katara also loved traveling with Aang. Not only because he was her best friend, and now something a little more, but because she felt apart of a bigger picture. Ever since Aang had shown her the entire world outside her little village at the South Pole Katara could not just go back.

Now she was concerned about Aang. Katara was always worried about him, but even more so since his disturbing dream last night. Katara worried to herself as she walked along one of the temple's many open hallways, under a clear sky, towards the infirmary. Warm mountain winds tugged at Katara's braid and snatched at her skirt. She would not have believed so much wind could blow anywhere, but Aang had explained how late summer and autumn was the windy season (well the windiest, there was always a breeze). Katara now had an idea why the monks went bald. It would have been hard to meditate with your hair blowing about distractingly.

Katara turned to go through the infirmary doorway when she bumped into Teo.

"I'm sorry."

"No worries," Teo laughed, "I'm a little wider than most." He patted the side of his chair. "You looking for Lin?"

"Yes," Katara replied, "is she okay?"

"Probably better than ever thanks to you," Teo said, "you did such a good job healing her wrist she was released last night." He wore his usual smile.

"That's great," Katara said as she turned to go. She knew Teo visited the infirmary everyday to get his legs rewrapped in fresh gauze.

"You heading to breakfast?"

"Yes." Katara turned.

"Perfect, just where I was going. Let's go together." Before Katara could say anything Teo had wheeled to her side, and they set out.

"Is the Avatar coming to breakfast?" Teo asked.

"No, Aang's busy with Avatar work. He won't be out for awhile." Right now Aang was asking Roku about his dream. Katara had no idea how long he would need.

"Well can he come out to fly later?" Teo looked at Katara.

"I doubt it. I'm sorry, but he's busy." Katara felt bad. Everyone at the Northern Air Temple loved hanging out and flying about with Aang yet since arriving five days ago Aang had ignored them and everything else. He hardly came out of his room, but Katara figured it was just his dreams.

"It's a shame Aang can't come to breakfast," Teo said, "I'd hoped to go one meal without my dad and the other adults going on about Yun Zhen. Oh well."

"Yun Zhen?"

"Yeah, it's the town most of us came here from. Even though my mom and dad moved to Yun Zhen after leaving Ba Sing Se, they were university students, all the adults here talk about how great it was." Teo continued, "My dad said the Air Nomads were what made life there interesting."

Katara was surprised. "You mean there were Airbenders in your town?"

"No," Teo replied, "the Avatar's the only Airbender. I meant there were people with Air Nomad ancestors."

Katara suddenly recalled something Aang had said he, Katara, and Sokka at first arrived at the Northern Air Temple. Aang had said the people here had the spirit of Airbenders. Katara was going to ask Teo more about the people of Air Nomad ancestry when someone spoke.

"Hello, Teo," a girl said. She was petite, soft-spoken, and had a pretty face. Her hair was pulled back into a sleek high ponytail. Katara had never seen her before.

"Hey, Hana," Teo replied. He and Katara had run into Hana right outside the door to the eating hall. Voices and laughter could be heard inside.

"Oh, and," Teo gestured to Katara as a rough wind began to blow, "this is the Avatar's friend Katara." Yet his introduction had been lost to the wind.

"What did you say?" Hana said in her quiet voice after the wind had suddenly stopped, and Teo tried again.

"This is--," Teo began, but the wind blew again.

Now annoyed, Katara decided to try. "I am here with the the Avatar!" she screamed and continued, not noticing the wind had stopped again, "I'm Katara!"

Hana was speechless as she looked up at the girl who had just screamed at her.

"I am so sorry." Katara blushed. "I didn't mean to scream at you."

Hana smiled shyly. "It's okay—Katara!" She shouted the name, as Katara had, and the three of them started laughing. They then went to eat.

"Hey, boy."

Appa growled. Momo, who had been grooming the bison's neck, looked up as Aang flew by in a rush of air. Aang moved up the honeycomb of air bison stables in great airbending leaps. Aang had told Katara he was going to consult Roku about his dream, but that did not mean he had to say in his room. It was a clear day and mountain's usual gray crags were green and covered with magnificent orange and white flowers. Aang was certain the mountain had never looked more beautiful. The same, he told himself, could not be said for the temple. Yet Aang pushed the nagging thought to the back of his mind. There were more important things right now.

On the roof of the stables, Aang sat cross-legged and began to meditate. He took measured breaths as he slowly allowed himself to bridge to the Spirit World. The trip grew easier each time. Eventually his eyes and arrows began to glow. Aang had entered the Spirit World. In the Spirit World, Aang came to on a small circle of land amidst a field of reeds. The sky, an airbenders palette of oranges and reds, was reflected in the marsh water. Roku stood in front of Aang.

"Hello, Avatar Aang."

"Hello, Avatar Roku," Aang replied as the Avatars bowed to each other. Aang continued, "I came to ask advice on my dream. In my dream I saw the world without an Avatar. How can that be? Is it a message for something else?"

"In the mortal world," Roku began, "some believe dreams are a way for the spirit to communicate with the body. Although not untrue, as the Avatar you have need to deal with more spirits then your own. I believe the spirits sent you this dream as a vision of a possible future. One you need to change."

"How can that be the future?!"Aang exclaimed, "I mean after I die the Avatar Cycle will continue like always with water, earth, fire, and air again."

"But you are the last airbender, Avatar Aang. When you have passed nothing will be left of the Air Nation." Avatar Roku explained calmly and continued. "When you die there will never again be balance in the world."

Aang paled at this and said nothing. He knew he was the last airbender, the last remnant of Air Nomad culture, yet Aang had never thought too much about it. He had been so concerned with beating Ozai. Thoughts swarmed Aang's head. Now that Aang thought about it how had he expected there to be another Air Avatar? How would his successor, an Earth Avatar, even learn Airbending?

"What can I do?" Aang said as he looked at his mentor.

"You must find a way to keep the culture and philosophy of the Air Nomads alive. You must find those in the other nations who possess the spirit and talent for airbending and become their airbending master. You have no other choice." Roku paused. "I have faith in you," Avatar Roku said with a small smile, "as you are an extremely intelligent young Avatar and you have succeeded against great odds before."

Aang took Roku's words in.

"And now as you know the task before you, we must part. You will, no doubt, be able to find me if the need arises. Farewell, Avatar Aang."

"Goodbye," was all Aang could say as Roku returned to the fabric of the Spirit World as quickly as he had appeared. Aang returned to the mortal world. He returned to his body, his confusion replaced with hopelessness. A small part of Aang told him he could do this, yet Aang had not felt so burdened since his very first meeting with Avatar Roku.

This is my first published fic, so any comment/feedback is appreciated.

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