Prophecy (Sun and Moon Book 3)

Chapter 5 - Memories

            “Raava, please. I can’t open the portal, but Aang has to pass back into the physical world. Help him, old friend.” Wan laid the Avatar at the base of the closed Southern portal, and closed his eyes. After a moment, bright white light shone against his eyelids, and then was gone.

**__**

            I wake with the worst headache I have ever experienced. Moaning, I reach out without thinking and pull some water from the air, then wrap it around my head. As the healing properties of the water begin to work on me, the pain slowly fades. Eventually, it’s nothing but a dull throbbing, and I stand clumsily.

            Rubbing my head, I look around--but I have no idea where I am. How did I get here? The last thing I remember is… is…

            I frown. What was I doing before this? How did end up asleep on the floor of this crumbling pavilion?

            I walk outside and look around, but nothing looks familiar. I focus harder on myself, trying to remember. Suddenly, a name floats through my mind. Lia.

            I grab onto it, hold it with all my mental strength. Lia. Is that my name? No… it’s… my daughter’s name! I shake my head as my memories begin to come back, trickling in one after another.

            Finally, I can put together the puzzle! But as my life unravels behind my eyes, one thing becomes clear--wherever I am, I shouldn’t be here.

            The last thing I remember is being in Araden, when Zuko and I were running from Corr, that evil little…

            I remember flying… I remember thinking that I was going to die.

            Is that it? Did we die? Is this the Spirit World? But looking around, I find that hard to believe. Aang said the Spirit World FEELS different. This… doesn’t.

            So… what happened? Obviously, I’m not in Araden. I’ve been all over the city under the ice, and there’s nothing like this.

            With a deep sigh, I decide that the only thing I can do now is… start walking. Glancing around, I head in the direction that looks the least rundown.

**__**

            The man woke to a deep throbbing in his head. He groaned and sat up, and immediately soft hands pushed him back down.

            “Please, Firelord Zuko, you must rest.”

            Firelord Zuko? Why were they calling him that? Was that his name? He didn’t know. Resigned, he let himself relax into the soft bed. He didn’t know where he was, but obviously someone was looking out for him.

            With that being the case, he felt that it was probably safe for him to go back to sleep.

            So that’s exactly what he did.

**__**

            As he laid in the cold snow, shivering, his memories slowly began to return. He realized that the reason he couldn’t move was because he was stuck in some sort of mind-cell.

            He had no idea how to break free--he’d been trying for ages. The last thing he remembered was… Katara. Katara and Zuko, and the strange sensation of flying.

            Another memory slipped through his head, of a voice asking the Spirits to release him--but the memory was gone quickly, as if it had never been.

            Aang was afraid that he would freeze to death, wherever he was, if someone didn’t find him soon. He tried to move, tried to call for help, but as always… nothing happened.

            Feeling frustrated, not to mention freezing cold, Aang focused once more on his pale green light.

            As he did, another strange sensation came to him. Letting go of his focus, Aang realized that he was being carried. He couldn’t hear the sound of footsteps, though, and no voices echoed in the air.

            Aang had no idea who had found him--he just hoped that whoever it was, was friendly.

______

So, they're finally out of the Spirit World! But where are they? 

Five comments to find out! ;D