Destiny Altered (READ DISCLAIMER)

2 - Destiny

Iroh had told Zuko that it was his destiny to become Fire Lord and heal the rift between the nations since he was descended from both Sozin, who started the war, and Roku, the previous incarnation of the Avatar.

But what about Azula? She too had the same ancestry. She was on the precipice of becoming Fire Lord, but her destiny was altered. Perhaps it was altered long before Zuko and I had our final battle with Azula. I was determined to find out why her mind had collapsed. Maybe then I could help her to heal.

As I sat alone on the balcony of the soon-to-be Fire Lord Zuko, my gaze went toward the nearby island where Azula was sent. Heeding Aang's advice, she had gone to an asylum on said island where she was to be watched around the clock in order to gauge just how sick she actually was. Ozai was sent to the Boiling Rock to await a trial for his war crimes.

I heard movement behind me and turned to see Aang coming through the entrance. I smiled at him and motioned for him to have a seat next to me.

"How's Sokka doing?" he asked, taking a seat.

"Better. I did some healing work on him earlier this morning. I think he should be able to walk without a crutch in a couple of weeks."

"You really have a gift for healing. It flows from you so effortlessly."

I blushed at the compliment, not knowing what to say. After everyone's arrival the night before, exhaustion took over and most of us retired early, so I didn't have a chance to really speak much more with anyone. But now that we were awaiting the arrival of Iroh and the rest of the Order of the White Lotus, as well as the returning Fire Nation military, there was time to finally relax a bit.

"Katara, about what happened on Ember Island. I want to apologize for not taking into consideration how you were probably feeling that night. I was being selfish, and I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable." His voice held a sort of confidence as well as compassion. Something in him had definitely changed while he was gone.

"It's alright, Aang. I wouldn't let something like that come between us. We've already been through so much."

"How are you holding up?" he asked, his voice getting a bit softer.

"Happy that this war is finally over, but I'm tired, Aang. And I'm not sure what's ahead for all of us. For our family…"

He placed his arm around me, comforting me. Even his touch was different. There wasn't anything romantic about it—not that Aang was ever really romantic—there was no neediness to it. It felt protective and safe.

"You seem different…. did something happen? Something while you were fighting Ozai?"

Aang sat back from me and gazed into my eyes. His eyes were filled with love but they held a wisdom that I had not seen in them before.

"I feel different," he smiled. "I don't know how to explain it, but it's like everything is in its right place. For the first time in my life, I feel balanced. I feel whole. And I can see, I know what my purpose is in this world. And I have finally embraced it.

"When I first found out I was the Avatar, I ran. I ran from my destiny. And when I finally stopped running, I was still afraid to be the Avatar. I was afraid to fail. Only once before did I have a glimpse of what it was like to be free from fear—when I was with Guru Pathik, and he helped me to open my chakras to get into the Avatar State. But I had a vision of you being in trouble and I felt fear again. Fear of losing you. And my chakras began to close up.

"In Ba Sing Se, I was able to open my chakras again. I had to get into the Avatar State. I had to let go of my attachment. When Guru Pathik had first told me about giving up attachment, I didn't understand it. I thought that meant I had to give you up. But I realized in that moment in the catacombs, that my attachment to you wasn't love. It was a kind of ignorance. I had to let true love—a love free of attachment—flow through me. And you saw what happened. I was able to get into the Avatar State.