savedtheworld | Book 1: Fresh Water [Video]

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Book 1: Fresh Water [Video]

[Aang is peering into the journal so his face takes up almost the entire screen. He begins shouting into the book as abruptly as his image appears]

Hey! What am I doing here? I'm Aang! I'm an Airbender. Does anyone know what's going on here? I can't find my friends, my clothes or any of my stuff! I thought I was on my sky bison with everyone else going to see the Earth King. Now I'm here. Have anyone of you book people seen anyone I know?

[Aang has pulled away from the journal but continues talking as he sits in a patch of grass.]

This is a really weird place. But kinda peaceful. Definitely not weird enough to be the Spirit World. What is going on here?? And... have I always had these wings?

[Aang lifts up the book with one hand, squinting and examining it like some foreign object. This results in the picture showing his quizzical face from a skewed angle.]

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[This - this was the last voice Katara expected to hear when she opened up the journal. She'd very nearly forgotten what that voice sounded like, to the point where just a few weeks ago she'd been going back through the journal to refresh her memory.

The last time he left nearly broke her.

It's been two years.]

...Aang?

[There's still that hope, that sense of so wanting to see someone you care deeply for - but it's muted now by dread of loss and guarded, a bit, by disappointment.]

Sweetie! You're here!

[Wait, what?]

[Sweetie?]

[Did he seriously just--]

[Oh no.

What was happening? What if he wasn't 'her' Aang? What would she do? He'd still be Aang, but...

Sweetie.]

I'm here. [There is no joy in mudville, that's said in the tone of someone who is facing something they'd rather not and Being Brave.]

But... Aang...

[No. No, no, no. Maybe the Malnosso got a hold of him before they dropped him in Luceti. Maybe he's just confused. Maybe 'sweetie' is some strange code word from their future that Sokka forgot to mention.

No. It had to be Aang, it just had to be.]

Are you okay? You didn't - hit your head or anything?

Huh? No, I haven't bumped into trees and rocks any more than usual. I feel fine! You really have to stop fussing, Sweetie!

[He is a bit set back by her lukewarm greeting and being called by his actual name - hadn't they moved on to Sweetie, like all oogie couples are supposed to?]

But, are you okay? Something doesn't feel right.

[Again, with the Sweetie. Okay, this was really weird.]

Of course something doesn't feel right. You just woke up in a strange world with wings on your back.

[Immediately repentant of even being that snappish in his direction, Katara takes a breath.]

Look, just let us know where you are and we'll come find you. We'll explain everything face-to-face.

[Aang is a bit taken aback by this. Something definitely isn't right. And he has Sokka's words about different times fresh in his mind. He doesn't want to accept what is actually the truth right away, but he is considering the possibility that he's talking to the Katara of the past.]

That'd be great, Katara. I can't wait. I'm... there's a bunch of buildings nearby and I think I see fountain over there.

[Okay, a plan and practical action. She can totally deal with this.

The fact that he started using her name didn't hurt either. In fact, she almost started to feel good about seeing him again.

He's here. He's really here.]

Okay, don't worry. That's the plaza. We'll be there soon!

[But she's not going to stick around and wait for everyone else to get there. She's coming from the Battle Dome, so she might make better time than anyone else.]

[Aang's anxiety is outweighed by the prospect of seeing Katara and co. again soon. He sits himself down by the fountain and begins to lightly kick his legs in the air. It's as patient as he gets.]

[When Katara sees him sitting there, she breaks out into a run.]

Aang!

[She can't help it. It's him, he's really here, and despite the weirdness of his greeting she's smiling because she has missed him so much.]

[Aang immediately leaps to his feet at Katara's approach and runs towards her. She didn't look so different than when he last saw her... maybe his doubts about when she had come from were in vein? In his excitement, he lets one loose again.]

Sweetie!

[-and then he jumps into a hug.]

[Okay, hugs are acceptable, and she hugs him back - is he... taller? - but Sweetie still freaks her out.

Assuming that they developed similarly, the one big difference Aang will immediately be able to pick up with this Katara is that her ears are pierced with tiny silver birds.

She returns his hug eagerly, if briefly.]

[--but then she pulls back, even if her hands linger on his arms (he's here, he's really here, he's really here and she can't quite believe it) and she can't hold back the question which she asks much in the same tone as she once asked "Why are you looking at me like that?" if with a bit more apprehension.]

Why do you keep calling me that?

[Aang basks in the warmth of the hug before it is quickly withdrawn. Her words quickly bend his hopes into nothing. A year's worth of progress fades away, and Aang's face falls. He begins to grip through his memories to wonder how far back they had to be.]

Katara, I'm... sorry.

[He turns away from Katara. But he starts to think- Sokka had lived to the end of the war. Maybe Katara remembers their big kiss at least.]

It's... I made a mistake. Y'know, I thought... Katara. How long has it been since we... beat the Fire Lord?

[Katara sees his face fall and instantly her own concerns drop away. The last thing she wants to do is see him sad, he's already had to deal with so much sadness. It's even worse if she is the one making him feel that way.

She wants to follow and catch his eyes again, but... it's been two years, and she's greeted him by hurting him, does she even have that right anymore?

Katara takes a tentative half-step towards him, seeking his gaze.]

No, Aang, I'm sorry. I just - [She pauses there. She just what? Wanted to make sure that things were as she remembered it? Wanted to make sure he was her Aang? Was completely and totally selfish in her need for clarification?

She drops her gaze, slumping inwards.] The last thing I remember from back home, we were leaving Hama's village.

[...this isn't how she imagined ever seeing him again.

Then again, she'd almost given up on the thought of seeing him again here.]

[Aang's shoulders sink with her last words. The kiss after the war's end and the kiss at Ember Island... oh no, even that kiss from before the Day of Black Sun. All those times that validated his feelings for Katara, gone. He closed his eyes for a moment in silence and swiped his sleeve across his nose.

It wasn't so bad, though, he thought. Katara is still right there, after all. It's the Katara from his past, the Katara who was his dearest friend, and he still loves her too. It's not like those memories were gone for good, anyway... from what he gathered from his exchanges, he would eventually be sent back home, and the Katara who was his sweetie would be back again.]

[Aang turns around to face Katara with his brightest grin.]

Hama, that weirdo? That was a long time ago! That explains everything! I'm from the future... over a year after we kicked the fire lord's ugly butt! And that explains why you don't know what I mean by "sweetie"! It's...

[Aang feels some sweat accumulating on his forehead, matched with a small drum in his chest.]

...it's something we say to... make fun of Sokka! It was something really funny, trust me, you had to be there!

[Weirdo was the least of what she'd call Hama. But - he was from a year after? And oh.

Oh. Oh Aang.

He's protecting her? He's not... making a claim about what it was that he experienced? He's willing to meet her where she is?

Katara blinks away a sudden rush of tears.

She doesn't want to take it. She wants to sit down and talk things out and make things better and he shouldn't have to -- but. It's been two years. And she doesn't have anything to offer him that's less painful.

There maybe isn't anyone else in the world that she'd let slide by with something like this. But it's Aang and - for now, she makes a promise to herself that it's only for now - she'll go along with it.

It's not hard. It's a relief. She's so grateful that she doesn't have to hurt him more, she speaks without thinking, shaking her head a little.]

I've missed you so much.

[Aang's fake smile slides into a real one. Things were gonna be okay.]

I know it's only been like a day for me since I last saw you, but I missed you too. I miss everyone already. Do you know if Toph or Appa or Momo are here?

[Katara's smile falters at that a little.]

Momo's here! Toph... went home about a month ago. And I haven't seen Appa since the last time I saw you - but now that you're here, he might show up too! He's not in any danger back home, time just stops. So even if it takes a while, when you leave here, you'll go right back to where everything was.

[With Appa and with me.]

/sob, placeholder

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...lies, I think it may keep going

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done!

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