Balance | Old Version

Chapter 84 (The Awakening)

Elua's POV.

It had been weeks since Ba Sing Si had fallen to the Fire Nation, and Aang had been asleep the whole time, even when we had taken over a Fire Nation ship after we left the city. I hadn't left Aang's side, hadn't slept in days, barely ate anything, but I didn't care. I hear the door open as I stare at Aang, he was laying on the bed completely still, his hair had grown out, and his wound was still healing but he was better then he was. The sound of footsteps echos through the room as someone comes to stand beside me, but I don't lookup.
"How are you doing?" I hear Sokka asks.
"Fine," I say simply, and then silence follows.

"Elua, you need to eat and sleep," Sokka tells me as he kneels down beside me, but I don't take my eyes off my little brother.
"It's not your fault," He tells me softly. He was wrong, so very wrong.
"No, it is my fault," I correct him.
"No, it's n-" He starts to say, but I cut him off.
"Yes, it is! I'm supposed to protect him!" I shout as I stand up. I was so angry with myself, I was angry with the Fire Nation, I was just, angry. "Not just because I'm the Nadir because I'm his sister! And I failed him!" I shout in agony as tears start to fall down my face.

"How could I let this happen?" I whisper, more so to myself than him. "I was right there I should have tried harder!" I say as my emotions get the best of me.
"It's all my fault, it's all my fault," I repeat over and over and over again.
"Elua..." Sokka trails off as he stands up with a look of pain on his face. "It's alright, he'll be alright," He reassures me as he walks closer to me. He wraps his arms around me, I shakingly wrap my arms around him too, hiding my face in his shirt as I sob. As I finally let all the emotions I had been holding in, we both slowly sink to the floor and he just sits there, holding me.

A Few Weeks Later.

After my break down a few weeks ago, I had gotten better. I slept more and eat enough food, but I was still worried sick about Aang. I was sitting beside him as he lays on his bed, one hand holding his and the other holding a book. I look up from my book every once in a while to check on him, but nothing ever changes. Suddenly, I feel him squeeze my hand. I quickly look up from my book and stand up, leaning over the bed.
"Aang? Aang?" I say softly as he opens his eyes.
"Elua?" He asks in a croaky voice as he sits up and looks around in confusion.
"You're awake!" I say smiling as I bring him into a long-overdue hug.
"We need to get out of here!" He suddenly shouts as he jumps off the bed and almost falls.

"Aang, what are you doing?" I ask him in confusion as he grabs my hand and we run out of the room. "You should be resting-" I begin to say but, he cuts me off by covering my mouth with his hand.
"You hear something?" I hear one of the ex-freedom fighters ask another. Aang gasps and hides behind a wall before sending a gust of wind at them, he takes my hand again and begins to run again, dragging me with him.
"Aang, wait!" I try to tell him, but he keeps running as the ex-freedom fighters 'chase' us. We run onto the deck and see Hakoda and Bato standing in front of us.
"Momo?" Aang says, extremely confused as Momo flies onto his shoulder.

"Twinkle-Toes, that's got to be you!" Toph says smiling as she and Katara run over to us.
"Aang, you're awake!" Katara says with a huge smile as she runs over and hugs him.
"Are you sure? feel like I'm dreaming," Aang says as Katara lets him go.
"You're not dreaming. You're finally awake," I tell him with a happy smile as Sokka walks over, dressed in Fire Nation armor.
"Aang, good to see you back with the living, buddy," Sokka says happily.
"Sokka?" Aang says in confusion, clearly becoming overwhelmed.
"Uh-oh! Somebody catch him, he's gonna..." Toph starts to say as Aang's eyes roll back and he starts to fall. Everyone gasps as I run over and catch him, gently lowering him to the ground.

It takes him a while, but Aang wakes up again. I put a blanket over his shoulders as he sits in front of Katara, obviously still confused.
"Why are we on a Fire Nation ship? Why is everyone dressed this way? And why am I the only one out of it?" Aang asks as the others walk away from us, giving him some space.
"You need to take it easy, ok? You got hurt pretty bad," I tell him with a caring smile.
"...I like your hair," Katara says smirking.
"I have hair!?" Aang shouts as he feels his now fuzzy head. "How long was I out?" He asks us.
"A few weeks," Katara answers, he looks at her with wide eyes. 

I stand up as I decide to let them talk, as I walk by Aang I mess up his very short hair and walk away with a small laugh as so I make my way to my room. I flop on my bed with a sigh of relief and tiredness, my mind finally at ease knowing Aang was okay. I groan in annoyance as a knock flies through the room.
"It's open!" I shout to whoever it is. I look over as the door creaks open and Sokka walks in.
"Wow, you willingly left Aang's side. I'm impressed," Sokka says smirking, I roll my eyes and smile at him.
"Are you here to say 'I told you so'?" I ask him as I sit up.
"No," Sokka says as he sits in front of me. "...But, I did tell you so," He says with a playful grin.

"Oh my..." I trail off as I smile and shake my head at him. "You're an idiot," I say playfully.
"I know," He says as he pecks my lips lovingly. "Now, go to sleep," He tells me as he stands up.
"That is what I was planning," I tell him.
"Goodnight, babe," He says as he kisses my cheek, I look at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Did you just call me...babe?" I ask him in confusion.
"I wanted to test pet names, a show of affection," He says with a shrug.
"Right...how about we don't use that one. Yeah?" I ask him with a small laugh.

"Okay," Sokka nods. "How about...baby?" He asks.
"That's basically the same thing," I state.
"Hm...Hon?" He asks again, I shake my head. "Bae? Angel? Sugar? Princess?" He lists names, I shake my head to all and laugh.
"How about you just call me, Elua?" I ask him with a small smile.
"If you insist," He says as he kisses me one more time before turning away from me. "Goodnight...babe," He says teasingly.
"Sokka!" I shout as he runs out of the room, I shake my head as I laugh.

The Next Morning.

We were all on the deck of the Fire Nation ship as we explain what had happened while Aang was asleep.
"After what happened in Ba Sing Se, we had to get you to safety. We flew back to Chameleon Bay, where we found my father and the other Water Tribe men. The Earth King decided he wanted to travel the world in disguise, so he set off alone. Well, not completely alone," Sokka begins to explain. "Soon, the bay was overrun with Fire Nation ships. Rather than fight them all, we captured a single ship and made it our disguise. Since then, we've been traveling west. We crossed through The Serpent's Pass a few days ago. We've seen a few Fire Nation ships, but none have bothered us," He finishes explaining.

"So, what now?" Aang asks.
"We've been working on a modified version of the invasion plan," Hakoda tells him.
"It's Sokka's invasion plan," Katara corrects, somewhat in a rude tone.
"Yes, Sokka's plan. We won't be able to mount a massive invasion without the Earth King's armies, but the solar eclipse will still leave the Fire Nation vulnerable," Hakoda explains.
"So, we're planning a smaller invasion," I tell Aang.

"Just a ragtag team of our friends and allies from around the Earth Kingdom. We already ran into Pipsqueak and The Duke," Sokka states as he points to the two people behind him.
"Good to see you again, Aang," The tall one, Pipsqueak, says.
"And the best part is, the eclipse isn't even our biggest advantage. We have a secret," Sokka says smiling, Aang gives him a confused look. "You!" He exclaims.
"Me?" Aang asks in confusion.
"Yep, the whole world thinks you're dead! Isn't that great?!" Sokka shouts smiling as Aang's expression turns to one of shock and horror.