Savior
"Gran Gran is that story really true?" asked a curious water tribe girl." You know that one about the Avatar." She finished just as her brother trotted up to the two. Gathering the two youngsters in her lap she barley rocked her old bones back and forth.
"Ahh, yes dear children" came the old woman's soft reply. "Would I lie to you?"
The small girl tilted her head back in laughter, and the boy, being the older and more sarcastic of the two, eyed the village granny suspiciously.
"Don't give me that look" the old woman chuckled as she ruffled the young boy's ponytail.
"Gran Gran, don't" the child whined as he smoothed his hair back into place. Recalling the story they were talking about earlier the boy's eyes narrowed and his voice grew serious. "I hate the fire nation" he said bitterly.
Seeing such anger in the boy's eyes when he said that mad the old woman's heart break.
"Hush boy" she said snaking her old arms around the kids' shoulders. "You don't need to worry about them" she comforted. An old man suddenly entered the igloo.
"Alright youngsters, time to get some rest" he said as the kids slid down and climbed towards the bed they shared.
"Night Gran Gran "the girl called as she snuggled up next to her brother.
"Goodnight" Gran whispered with a smile. She returned her gaze to the old man pulling up a chair next to her."
"Telling more of the village kids Aang's story, I see" the old man said smiling. The old woman nodded and stared out at the artic sky and allowed herself to drift back to that fate- changing day were her brother, herself and her best friend saved the world.
-Flashback-
She rushed down the unbearably long corridor toward the room where the battle between the Avatar and Fire Lord Ozi was going on. Outside of the palace two huge armies - one consisted of the earth kingdom and the water tribe soldiers, the other of the fire nation- fought the last battle in this century long war.
How bittersweet.
Although her father had told them not to go, Katara and Sokka had made a promise to Aang. A promise to always be there when he needed them, and he really needed them now.
Katara was only barley aware of her brother running beside her, only barley aware of her own two feet on the ground. After what seemed like an eternity they finally reached the large, already open door. The two water tribe kids rushed in through the door, only to find a sight that made them stop dead in their tracks.
To their relief, and the relief of the world, they saw Fire Lord Ozi's lifeless body lying on one side of the room, but to the siblings' dismay they saw Aang lying on the other side of the room in a similar condition.
Katara was in to much shock to speak, but she heard her older brothers' tear strained words.
"No…NO, AANG!"
Before she could really register what happened she felt her legs carry herself over to where Aang lay. Followed by Sokka she knelt down by the young boy. Katara could feel the tears streaming down her face as she cradled the 12 year old.
"Aang, can you hear me… c-can you hear me?"
"K-Katara?" was all the young boy could say before falling into a mad coughing fit.
"You did i-it Aang" Sokka whispered "You ended everyone's suffering… and b-brought peace back to the four n-nations…"
"Good" he shakily replied, before taking Katara's hand, then Sokka's "I'm scared guys…I don't wanna die."
This was too much for Katara and she broke down into sobs. Nobody wanted him to die, but all of this was just too much for his little body, and they all knew what was going to happen.
"Promise you'll remember me… and tell my story, okay" Sokka nodded and Katara slowly leaned and kissed him softly on the cheek. Naturally, because the three were so close, no one needed the other to say just how much they cared for each other, because strangely, there were no words to explain. As the light left his grey eyes he managed a few last words "I love you guys".
-End Flashback-
"Just like we promised" the old woman whispered.
"He saved a lot of people you know Katara" the old man continued "he saved you, and me, and basically the whole world. He saved them" he said gesturing to the two sleeping children that reminded him so much of himself and his sister when they were young.
"Aang saved everyone from the wrath of the fire nation"
Still staring into the moon and stars she replied "And yet we couldn't do that one thing for him. We couldn't protect him"
"Wha- Katara, please don't start this." Sokka pleaded with his younger sister. "He saved everyone!"
"Not everyone Sokka" A single tear fell from her deep blue eyes, and she didn't bother to wipe it away "H-he couldn't save himself".