The Great Switch Chapter 1, an avatar: last airbender fanfic

The Great Switch

This is a recreation and a clean up of a collaboration done on If you would like to read the original go to BSG forum and look for the ship topics, and enjoy.

Because this was originally done on a forum I've tried to keep the feel the same. The different forum posts are separated by either – or ZKZKZK This should help with the confusion.

Disclaimer: I don't own Zuko, Aang, Katara, or any of the other avatar characters. I also don't own this story. It belongs to the people who created it on BSG, and it is put here with approval of them and BSG herself.

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Aang had managed to slip away from Katara for a few minuets. It wasn't that he was trying to avoid her or anything. But she had been mother hening him to death. He knew that he had had a close call with Azula but really did she have to be with him during his every waking moment?

He wanders into a unique shop filled with potions. He goes to a shelf that has a lot of odd colored potions and laughs at the wired reflected shapes he saw in them. "Maybe I should get one of these for Sokka."

Azula was unusually bossy today and Zuko felt the need to get away for a while. Wandering the streets he saw a shop that reminded him of Iroh. Feeling slightly guilty at the remembrance of his Uncle he decided to go in and peruse the store.

"Maybe I should get him something for the trip home." He muttered to himself as he picked up a random bottle and looked at it quizzically. "What is this stuff?" He sniffed the pungent bottle cork and quickly put it back down. "I hope that's not tea."

Aang continued wandering around the shop and accidentally bumped into someone. Before he could apologies he heard a crash.

Zuko drops the bottle when bumped into and it crashes into a colorful sizzling puddle. "Hey watch it! yo..'" Zuko's eyes widen as he realizes who it is. "The Avatar!? "

As Zuko grabs Aang, the contents of the spilt bottle poof into a cloud of smoke blocking out all light and sound.

Aang's eyes grow wide as he recognizes Zuko. Then he starts to cough and he gets a little light headed. He passes out on the floor knocking some more bottles off the shelf in the process.

Unknown to Aang his soul leaves his body and hovers for a second before moving into Zuko's

Zuko felt himself get lighter and passed out on the floor unknowingly now in Aang's body.

Katara was looking frantically around the market for Aang. "Where could he have gone? He knows that he shouldn't wander off with out telling me. What if he got caught by a fire nation patrol?" Ok so that isn't very likely but still, he should have snuck off.

Just then she hears a loud crash from a nearby shop. When she turns to look she sees different color smoke billowing out of the building. As she gets closer she hears a familiar cough. "Aang!"

She makes her way into the shop and spots Aang and Zuko on the floor. Her eyes grow wide with concern. She droops down next to the two boys to make sure that they are both alive. Once that concern has been addressed she quickly looks around for an escape route, and spots the open back door.

She gathers Aang in her arms the best way she can and makes it out the back door with the unconscious boy. As they leave she spots an angry looking old lady, who she assumes to be the proprietor. "um ... the young man in there will pay for all of this. He's a ... um ... friend of ours."

She sees the old woman raise her eyebrow in disbelief. But if she didn't believe Katara's story she didn't say anything. Katara assumed that it didn't matter much to the shopkeeper as long as she got compensation from someone for her destroyed shop.

Aang's head was spinning, and he let out a groan. "What happened?"

Just as Aang was about to get up he hears some one approaching him. He looks up to see an old lady with her arms crossed. "Well I hope you can pay for this young man. Your friends certainly said you could."

"Friends? Wait was one of them a pretty girl with long brown hair in a braid and water tribe cloths? " Aang managed to get to his feet as he asked his question and was surprised to see that the old woman was shorter then him.

"As a matter of fact she was. And she took your bald headed friend with her." The woman glares up at him. "Now about the damage to my shop!"

Bald headed friend? This woman wasn't making any since. He was the only Bald headed friend Katara had. He was about to explain this to the woman when he caught his reflection in one of the potion bottles that had managed to survive. He blinks twice then squeaks out. "I'm Zuko?" Then he promptly faints.

The old woman just looks down at the young prince and shakes her head. "Young people." She starts mumbling about how they had no manners anymore as she starts to clean up the shop around the unconscious body of the prince.

Zuko was too disoriented to realize what was happening as Katara led him by the hand out of the shop.
"What's going on?" He groaned, finally coming back to his senses when hearing Katara talk excitedly about something some distance from the shop.

"Wait-! What do you think you're doing!? " Zuko took his hand out of Katara's and stopped walking, not yet realizing that he was Aang had switched bodies with him. "Are you mad? Where do you think you're taking me!?—" Realization dawns on Zuko that something strange has happened, as he hears his own voice.

Why does my voice sound like... The Avatars? Looking at his hands he saw t he blue markings of the tattoos and he felt his eyes grow wide. He looked up at Katara as panic grabbed hold of his better judgment.
"WHAT'S HAPPENED TO ME??!!"

Katara turns around when Aang pulls his hand out of hers and looks down at him with concern. "Aang are you alright?" She puts a hand on his forehead to check for a fever.

"You don't seem hot. ... Come on we have to get back to the others and tell them that Zuko is here. We'll talk about what happened at the shop when we are safe." Katara takes a hold of Aang's hand again and starts walking gently pulling him with her.

Zuko watches in shock as Katara actually shows concern on his behalf. "What? No I have to go back! My-- I left something.. Important in that shop!" He turned as if to run back, but Katara's gentle grip turned to that of an iron vice. "Hey what are you doing? Let me go! "

Katara turns around and looks Aang right in the eyes. "What ever you left there we will replace. What we can't replace is you." She wraps her arms around Aang's small frame and rests her head on his for a moment. "What we can't replace is you."

She lets him go and tries not to look at him as tears are starting to form in her eyes and she must be strong. After all it is her job to protect her "little brother" Aang from the Fire Nation, and more specifically Zuko. "We'll go back to camp. ... and if Toph agrees I will go back with her to pick up whatever you left behind alright. But there is no way you are going back there."

"I won't be long before that untrustworthy, ungrateful hog monkey of a prince wakes up and decides to come after us". Her voice gets more and more harsh and angry as she insults Zuko and she starts to drag Aang off not realizing how ruff she is being in her anger.

Zuko nearly has a heart attack as Katara pulled him into a hug and found himself speechlessly looking up into her eyes. I never realized he was this much shorter then her before. Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he felt himself scowl at Katara's "hog monkey prince" remark.

"Are you really that mad at me- uh.. I mean, Zuko?" He found himself asking as he was tugged along like a child.

Katara continues to drag Aang back towards the camp. She tries to think of an answer to Aang's question and doesn't notice his slip up. "because ... if it weren't for him. We could have beaten Azula! then she wouldn't have hurt you."

Her voice got darker and more filled with a mixture of hatred and regret. "We didn't need his help all he had to do was stay out of it. If only I hadn't ..." She lets out an angry growl "If I knew he was going to do that I would have frozen his but to a wall!"

They turn the last corner and Katara starts taking the dirt path that will lead in ten minuets to their camp.

"Yeah.. I guess he would have deserved that for trying to trick you". Zuko said dryly, not even considering whether Katara had told Aang what had happened between them in the caves or not. She seemed fond of the Avatar, so of course she would have told them.

He sighed and couldn't help the jab of guilt he felt as she talked with such regret and anger towards him.
I guess I'm not going to get out of this right away. Zuko gritted his teeth thinking about how each step took him farther away from his body, but he was too afraid of what Katara would do to him if she found out what had happened to them at the moment.

He allowed Katara to take him back to their camp and hoped that Aang would remember where he had camped and come for his own body. I wonder if I can even Fire bend in this body yet.

Katara in fact had not told Aang about what happened in the cave between her and Zuko. It would force her to try to straighten out her the jumble of feelings she had had on that day. Not the least of which was a mixture of intense guilt and relief that she hadn't healed Zuko, guilt because she had wanted to help him and had failed. Relief because she still had the water to use on Aang.

"How did you ... "she tails off as she realizes that Aang has to just be making a guess and she still wasn't ready to talk about it. "Let's not talk about Zuko. It will only cause us to turn emo and have permanent scowls upon our faces."

They walk in silence into the empty camp. She raises her hands to her mouth and calls. "Sokka! Toph! Kuei!"
They wait for a bit, but nothing happens. She turns towards Aang. "They must still be out gathering supplies."
Just as she finishes speaking a large thing could be heard approaching them through the woods.

Zuko already had a deep scowl etched on his face by the time Katara suggested they stop talking about him.
Toph? Who's that? Zuko got a little nervous thinking how he's going to fool them into thinking he's really Aang. "How long am I going to have to do this?" He groaned to himself, as Katara stopped suddenly, and the Noise from the bushes became louder and closer.

Zuko instinctively got into a protective stance and tried to identify where it was coming from when something jumped out and right on top of him. "Agggh!! What is it?? Get it off!!" Zuko pried the creature away from his head and gave it a dry look recognizing it to be the Avatar's lemur. What's this things name again? Zuko grimaced realizing he would have to deal with Aang's pets as well.

Just then an equally startling sound to Zuko happened, as Katara started giggling. Zuko couldn't help himself stare at her in amazement as she smiled and patted the lemur on the head. She seemed so completely different then any other time he had been alone with her. So... carefree. He had only ever seen Katara when she was angry or screaming at him, even crying. But never had he seen her smiling as she was just now. Looking so,... Happy.

Zuko felt a smile growing on his face too, until something heavy pushed him down to the ground from behind, and began licking the back of his head fondly.

Katara's giggles became full blown laughter when Basco tackles Aang from behind and starts licking his head. Basco looks up at Katara and gives her a grin. She reaches behind his ear and scratches it. "Aww, Kuei and the others left you behind huh?" Basco grunts and gives Katara his lost little cub look, and she giggles again. "Don't worry we're not going to leave you alone so you can let Aang up."

Basco licks Aang's head one more time then lets him up, but gives him the same lost cub look, hoping to get petted by Aang as well. Katara continues to giggle and absent mindedly stokes Momo. "I don't think he's going to leave you alone until you great him properly."

Zuko wiped the back of his surprisingly smooth head and thought that he would rather stay far away from the bear, but realized Katara was probably right, and patted him on the head stiffly. "Good... Bear."

He looked up at Katara nervously wondering if she noticed he didn't call the bear by name. He shuffled from foot to foot careful not to make eye contact in case she would suddenly realize. Zuko was feeling very paranoid, and more then paranoid, he was feeling fidgety. ... And itchy.

But that may have had something to do with the hive of fire ants he had fell on. "Aggh!!! Hot!Hot!Hot!Hot!Hot!" He pulled off his shirt and ran around in circles stomping on it. This is Definitely not my day. He though ruefully, biting his lip to keep from screaming.

Katara blinks a few times at Aang as he takes off his shirt and starts running around. As the shock wares off she begins to laugh, then she bends a spout of mountain water (AKA very very cold) from the creak that is next to the camp. She bends it around Aang so that when she lets it start to hit him it also pushes him back towards the creek.

Once the boy is safely in the creek she starts to bends the cold water into a wave and lets it gently fall over him. When she's done she is still giggling a little as she addresses him. "How's that? All the ant's gone?"

She giggles again and turns and walks to her sleeping area. She starts to take off her shoes then her outer robe.

Zuko thought he was done for sure when Katara started to bend the wave at him, bracing himself before it hit, but it wasn't meant as an attack, and Zuko could feel himself slip into the water with the relief from more then just a lack of fire ants. "Yeah, that's much better. Err, Thanks Pea-- Katara!" The first time he had actually called her name. Somehow it didn't feel right coming from Aang's mouth. Zuko dunked his mouth underwater and let the bubbles rise to the surface before starting to head out.

"I'm going to be sopping wet all day now unless the avatar has some spare clothes." He started to come ashore when he saw Katara taking off her outer robe and promptly turned around back in the river, intent on fighting a blush. "Sorry!" He shouted in the wrong direction, sure that he had accidentally seen Katara undressing.

Katara finishes undressing then turns around to face Aang. She is in her normal undergarments that she is always in when she is training Aang or when she just wants to get some practice in herself. She cocks her head to the side as she takes a step towards the blushing Aang. "Sorry for what?"

She was starting to get worried. Aang hadn't been acting like himself ever since she had found him in that shop. Deciding that he would talk to her when he was ready, she places a hand behind her back so that Aang can't see. With it she starts to bend a water whip and playfully snaps it at the water next to the boy. "Come on and show your Sifu what you have learned, that is if you are up to it," She taunts.

Zuko had just managed to stop blushing when he turned around to face Katara hearing her voice, and saw what she was wearing. Zuko could feel his skin turn beet red as Katara took a step even closer and he fought the urge to back off and run away.

"I er thought that--! I saw.. that is... " Thourouly tongue-tied, Zuko stared at his hands in the water to avoid looking at Katara, so he didn't even notice what she was doing until the water whip splashed the water directly in front of him. Zuko jumped.

Uh oh. Not good. Zuko thanked his lucky stars that Iroh had started showing him even the slightest in Water bending moves, yet somehow he doubted they would work, even in the Avatar's body. Unfortunately, Zuko's competitive nature caught up with his mouth before His brain could.

"Of course I'm up to it." He smirked, even as he was thinking, "What was that?!!! I don't know waterbending! What am I going to do? I have to get out of this before she discovers what happened and kills me." Zuko got into a stance and somehow kept from looking intimidated.

Katara watches as Aang's face turns many different shades in just a small amount of time. But she decides it must be lingering effects from recovering from Azula's attack. She makes a note not to let this session last long and to go a little easy on him. Interesting, Aang normally likes to go with the octopus. Says it fits his nature better. But now it looks like he's going for the double whips.

Katara smirks slightly, for this was a form she most definitely was good at, and truly she hadn't had much practice with it. Well if you don't count the fighting in the cave. ... But then again she couldn't beat Zuko, so that just proved that she needed more practice with it.

Katara swings one water whip at Aang's middle, and does spin so that the other will follow the first one and from the same side. Well attacking from he same side will have to be lenient enough

Zuko could see the water whip come towards him as if in slow motion, he felt paralyzing slow and he overcompensated his defense, and with an aggressive jerk through the water, he unintentionally sent a huge wave of water onshore.

His eyes got wide as he realized he was bending water, especially that much. Zuko was too busy gaping at his mistake and triumph that he didn't notice Katara's next moves. "Did-- I do that?"

It took a moment for Katara to adjust to Aang's attack. She had expected him to try to deflect her own then attack her in a similar way. She almost waited to long, but she managed to use the momentum of the wave to make it come back around and head straight for Aang.

She had been to busy trying to catch the wave that she hadn't heard Aang's question. She also neglected to notice that the wave that she had piggybacked from Aang's attack had grown half again as big as it started to crash. Her eyes widened as she realized that it was most likely going ta sweep up Aang ad possibly herself. "oops"

Zuko snapped out of his awe long enough to realize he was in big trouble, size of a tidal wave kind of big.
He didn't even have time to turn around before the wave Katara was riding back on him swept him up and into the water, that carried him out of the river and back onto the opposite shore from their camp.

Ugh, I'm never gonna do that again. Zuko slowly pulled himself up from the ground, which he noticed was incredibly soft and warm, ... And breathing. Zuko quickly opened his eyes and saw that he had landed on top of Katara.

"Agh!" Zuko scrambled off of her quicker then a fire ant. He breathed heavily and looked down at Katara, she seemed to be breathing, if unconscious. "Katara? Katara are you alright?" He shook her arm a bit to rouse her, wondering if she had gotten a concussion or swallowed too much water.

For some reason he started to feel incredibly guilty. Zuko found himself wondering why his conscience seemed to be bothering him so much these days, as he anxiously hovered over Katara.

Katara coughs up a little water after Aang scrambles off of her. Then she meekly smiles up at the boy. "I guess I over did it a bit huh?" Her hair is now a mass of wild wet untamed hair. She stands up and wrings it out with her hands. Once she is done she flips it over her shoulders and whips her head back and forth trying to get even more moister out of it.

She looks around the shore area that they had landed on and found a large stump. She crosses over to it and takes a seat. "I think we might need to re think our strategy." She giggles a little then pats the stump in a gesture for Aang to come sit down next to her.

Zuko let out a breath he didn't know he was holding when Katara sat up seemingly fine. "No it was my fault. I didn't mean to push a wave at y—" Zuko broke off somehow finding it impossible to look away from Katara, and ten times more impossible to stop thinking this was the strangest he had ever felt around her. Ever.

He shook it off as he realized she was saying something, and gesturing him to come sit by her. Zuko felt a little odd about that, almost as if she was treating him like a child. I wonder... Perhaps the Avatar hasn't really been all that up front with her, about... Everything. Zuko sat down next to her nonetheless, and tried very hard not to zone out again.

Katara notices Aang shiver slightly, and frowns. "Here, let me... " She stands up for a moment and takes a deep breath. Wither her hands spread out before her she bends all the water out of Aang's cloths. Once he is dry she does the same thing for herself. Then she gives her a smile that is somewhere between that of a mother and a best friend. "There I bet that's better."

Just then the wind blows which causes some of the last blossoms of the season to fall off the trees. Her eyes grow distant and she says softly, "I guess spring is truly about to end."

Normally, Zuko would have steam-dried himself, and he had no doubt the Avatar could dry himself with air bending as well. Yet for some reason, Katara did it for him. As if he was an invalid, yet Zuko felt no physical discomfort or problems in Aang's body. Not necessarily out of physical concern, no, this felt more like...

Zuko's thoughts went back to the cave, and what had happened. The healing water, her hand gently, yet confidently placed over his scarred face, and then the Avatar came in, and interrupted everything.
Zuko scowled. He remembered Iroh holding him back, his anger at seeing his own Uncle come in with the Avatar, and at seeing Katara leave with him. And then there was the heated looks Aang and he had exchanged.

Zuko went over that feeling over and over again. He looked at Katara and frowned in his concentration. He was sure that Aang had not given him that look for a different reason then he had. What was my reason anyway? Zuko felt himself blush again and gulped. He knew what the Avatar felt towards her.
What he wasn't sure of, was how Katara felt towards the Avatar.

"Katara, do you like Aa- Do you like me?" Zuko blurted out. He blushed immediately afterwards. What was that? What's wrong with me today? Zuko groaned and couldn't bear to look at Katara, he felt so stupid.

Katara blinks at Aang's question and there is a moment of nothing but the blowing of the wind. The she smiles at him in her motherly/best friend kind of way. "Of course silly, your my best friend." She leans over and gives him a quick hug.

When she releases him her face shows a little concern. "You aren't going to tell me to go away? That is all way to dangerous for me? Because if you do ...". Her eyes began to fill with hurt with a mixture of anger.

Zuko tensed as Katara hugged him. He wasn't expecting that of all answers. But at the same time, he found himself relieved. Why am I so relieved? ... Not good. Zuko took Katara's hand and looked at her concerned.
"I'm not trying to send you away." Then he smirked a bit and sat back.

"Somehow, I don't think I could anyway. You'd never abandon me, would you?" Zuko felt sick about that. For some reason, he knew it was completely true. He found himself thinking about Iroh. He forced himself to keep smiling anyway, to try and make Katara feel better. He didn't want her to worry.

Katara laughs, "You bet, wild horse-roo's couldn't keep me from coming after you. That and if you didn't have me that would leave just Toph to deal with Sokka's constant winning, which would mean I wouldn't have a brother anymore, just a pile of mush underneath a rock."

She removes her hand from Aang's and stands up, "Speaking of Sokka and Toph ... I wonder where they are ..." She bites her lip "...We still have to tell them about earlier. "

Zuko laughed out loud at the mention of Sokka's whining. But that quickly died down at the thought of meeting the others. "What do you mean?"

Zuko had no idea what he should do. If they found out, they would probably pack up and fly away on the Bison. He found himself panicking at the idea of them picking up and leaving his body far behind. "No, I don't think we should tell them." Zuko said nervously standing up, trying to come up with a good reason why.

Katara turns around and looks at Aang like he's insane. "Are you insane?! Zuko is in the village. And if we know one thing about him it's that he'll never give up!" She starts to pace and wring her hands, "That means he'll comb the woods for us."

There is worry in her voice though most of it is irrational. Zuko shouldn't be able to find them. Sokka had found the perfect place to camp. It was impossible to find if you didn't know the way. ... but that didn't stop her from worrying.

Ever since the incident in the caves, Katara would become anxious whenever anyone brought up the subject of Zuko. Usually she covered it by blowing up and calling the banished prince names. ... but she had already exhausted her ran. So instead she whispers "I ... I just can't lose you again ... not to him ..."

Zuko watched Katara's outburst slightly annoyed with his situation. I can't stay like this. I have to get her to stay long enough so that Aang can find us with my body! Zuko grabbed Katara firmly by the wrists and looked her in the eye, slightly annoyed remembering the last time he did this he could look down into her face. "Katara, calm down! We're very safe in these woods. I don't think Zuko even knows we're in here, he'll probably assume that we're going to leave now that he's seen me anyway. We'll be fine! Trust me."

Zuko could only hope Katara would listen to him. But he was sure that wouldn't be enough unless he did something to insure they stay. Zuko appealed to her the only way he knew would work, "And Katara, ... I didn't want to say anything, but I haven't been feeling... So good. I think I need a day, just a day to rest at camp." He stared at his feet, unable to lie to her eager worried face. "But if you're really concerned about Zuko, if you really think he can find us, we'll leave." Zuko ignored the knot of guilt cramping his stomach as he lied straight to Katara's face.

Katara looks down into Aang's eyes, and mistakes his guilt about lying to her for not feeling well. She sniffs one more time then whips her eyes, "Oh Aang, I'm sorry I didn't notice before... well of course I noticed that you weren't feeling alright. But you kept insetting you were fine. But taking in how odd you've been acting and even how off that display of bending was in our match ... I know you need to rest. "

She places a hand on Aang's back and starts to lead him back over to the creek. "I suppose the first thing to do should be to get you some food and maybe some hot tea."She starts to hop across the creek on top of a few jetting stones waiting for Aang to follow.

Zuko winced at the idea of tea, but resisted complaining about it for now. "Thanks Katara, I knew you'd understand." He followed her over the river with his head down. Great mess I've got myself in this time. That stupid Avatar better get here quick. Zuko folowed Katara back to the camp in silence and sat down by the empty fire pit as Katara started preparing tea.

Katara hands Aang a cup of green tea. Then she starts to rummage around in the packs that are leaning up against a tree. "Now where did I put the left over's from last night...". As she is searching through one bag she manages to knock over another one and something rolls out of it.

Zuko took the green tea with a fake smile. Belch. Better play this up. No telling how long I have to hold them back. Zuko breathed on the tea to cool it and tried to sip some. To his annoyance, he found he had unconsciously frozen it with water bending. "This accidental bending is getting old pretty quick". He muttered to himself, as he noticed something had fallen out of Katara's pack.

Zuko reached down and picked up what appeared to be a scroll of some kind. Curious, Zuko opened it up and looked inside. "What's this?" He asked Katara, not realizing it was her personal journal until he saw the words "hog-monkey prince" and "spoiled fire nation brat". Zuko scowled.

Katara had just found the fruit and only vaguely heard Aang. "What is what?" She turns around to see Aang holding her scroll. She drops the fruit and her face turns pale than pink with embarrassment.

She hastily walks over to Aang and takes the scroll from him. She wasn't too worried about him reading her rant about Zuko. It was the fact that during the rant she had mentioned offering to heal his scar, and that she felt strangely connected to him even now.

"This? um ... it's just a list of chores. " She pertends to read it "Number one. Clean Sokka's socks.
Number two. Mend Sokka's socks. Number three. Mend Sokka's sleeping bag. ... well most of these are about fixing Sokka's stuff. "

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Aang opens his eyes to see the shop keep looking down at him with a frown. "Well it's about time young man. I was thinking that I would have to close the shop with you sleeping on the floor."

Aang looks up at her confused, then recall the events of the day. His eyes go wide and he springs up. " Zuko!" He turns to the woman, "Did you see where the ... um kid with the tattoo's went to?"

The woman places a finger to her lips and contemplates the question. hmm ... "I believe a pretty young girl came in and dragged him off." Then she pokes him in the chest. "She said you were a friend and that you would pay for the damages."

Aang looks at the woman and grows embarrassed. He starts rubbing his head "Well about that you see I ..." His other hand finds its way into a pocket where there is a hefty money bag. Aang blinks in surprise as he pulls it out. "Um ... what I meant to say was ... how much?"

The woman holds out her hand Ten silver should take care of it. You broke bottle of switching potion. But luckily I was able to save some of it. Aang counts out the silver pieces and then realizes what the woman said. "Hey that is what must have happened. I'm now in Zuko's body and Zuko is in my body! ... wait that means Zuko is with Katara!"

His eyes grow wide and he runs out of the store calling over his shoulder, "Sorry I've got to go". Then he remembered he didn't have the potion with him and quickly turns around. The shopkeeper just watches the boy and raises and eyebrow at him. Aang rubs the back of his head again. "um ... how much for a dose of the switching potion?"

One silver Aang quickly pays the woman "Thanks" and then takes the potion and flees.

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Zuko watched Katara lie through her teeth. She was very obvious about it. He wondered if that would have worked on the real Aang, and sighed. "It's alright, you don't have to tell me what's in there. It's none of my business. "

He stared at his frozen tea sullenly, desperately wanting to melt it with fire bending, but he had no idea if that would be a suspicious move for the Avatar or not. He wished that he could talk to Katara as himself, he wished he could fire bend his tea. Zuko was frustrated with this situation. Not just with Aang's body, but with this whole war, and "catching the Avatar" bit.

He wondered what it would be like if there was no war. Would his father have banished him? Would he be friends with people of the other nations? Would he be friends with... The Avatar? Would he be able to talk to Katara like he was now? "What would you do after the war, Katara? When all this chaos, fighting and war... Is over, what do you want to do?"

Katara is still stammering trying to divert attention from her diary. She almost thinks she has misheard Aang. There is an awkward moment of silence then she blinks and says. "After the war?"

She walks over next to Aang, sits down, and looks up into the sky. "I hadn't really though about it. I mean before I meet you, I was just waiting for the men to come home. Then I guess I would have married one of them. But now ... I don't know." She places her hands in her lap, and gives a small smile.

"But now I don't know. Maybe I'll travel for a while. Maybe I'll even have that dream come true." She quickly puts her hand over her moth and blushes, realizing she's said to much.

Zuko was taken aback by the very idea of Katara marrying some random water tribe schnook. He remembered just how small her village was when he first saw her there. Just the idea of her getting married to any of those frightened water peasants just felt wrong. Not that any of the boys there were anything other then... Little boys.

He looked up at her curiously. "What dream? What are you talking about?" He found himself almost smiling at her cute embarrassed expression. "You're blushing!" He pointed a finger at her reddening face, and laughed.

Remembering all of the cowering villagers behind her, around her, somehow Katara stood out from among them all. Katara and her brother were the only ones with any fighting spirit in them.
No, he very much doubted she would have married anyone there.

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Aang was slowly walking out of the village. It wasn't that he didn't want to hurry and save Katara from Zuko. It's that he is not use to having a teenage body, much less one with out the ability to air bend.

The last part had really bugged him. If he was in his own body he would have been able to get the camp sight in no time. But this body was incapable of using the wind to help increase his speed.

So he had decided that running normally would have to suffice. But what he didn't count on was the longer legs and arms. After the second time he fell flat on his face trying to run, he had decided it was safer just to walk.

Once he finally reaches the end of the village he lets out a sigh of relife. "I'm coming Katara." He tried to pick up speed but quickly slowed down when the acing in his skinned up knees started to bother him. He had a thought in the back of his mind that Zuko might to offense at the way he was returning his body.

... but then he decided he would just have to deal with that later. Katara was his first priority.

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Katara starts to shake her head and cover up her blush, just making her blush even more. "It's nothing really." She takes a peek at Aang and sees that he isn't buying it. She lets out a sigh. "All right. It is something. ... but if I tell you you've got to promise not to tell anyone else. Especially Sokka, got it? "

She waits for Aang to nod his head. He hesitates a moment then does so. She smiles and turns towards him. "Now I'm only going to tell you because your my best friend. And I know you would never betray my trust. " She looks Aang in the eye to see his reaction, then nods as she sees what she was hoping to.

Then she giggles "It's quiet embarrassing, but when I was a little girl I use to have a reoccurring dream.
I was older in the dream ... I guess not much older then I am now though. And I was walking down a tree lined path. The path opens up into a clearing.

In the clearing is a bubbling brook that creates a pool that is deep enough to swim in before trickling away.
I decide to go swimming and just as I'm getting out of the pool I hear a rustlying in the woods. I turn towards the sound and there is a figure incased in shadows. The only thing I can tell about the shadow is that is male.

I call out to him, but instead of saying anything he bends down and lays down a single tiger orchid. Then he backs away. I give chase then ... "

Her face grows bright red again and she shakes her head. "Well it's just a dream."

Zuko raised an eyebrow and couldn't help but smile a bit as she talked about her dream. She looked so happy saying it, and hopeful. But he didn't laugh when she turned beet red, he just listened, until she stopped...

... At a place he was sure he wanted to hear more about. "No, don't stop there, Go on. Tell me the rest." Zuko prodded her for information, leaning on his elbow. "What happened next in your dream?" He smiled pleasantly at her.

Katara looks over at Aang, still blushing and gives a small chuckle at the look of eagerness on his face. "Well there really isn't much more. Um ... I catch up to him and he turns around to face me. I know him from some where but I could never see his face. I ask why he was following me. But instead of answering he looks away. "

She blushes again "Then ... um ...i kind of lose my temper and start yelling at him. Finally he turns around to face me ... " She sees Aang's eager face and shakes her head and looks back up into the sky.

"Then I wake up. I can't believe I even remember that dream. It's been such a long time." She whispers softly to herself not realizing that Aang might still be able to hear her. "But then again, I believe I've had it again recently. Maybe after we left Ba Sing Sei ... "

Zuko smirked. "Well that's interesting; I wonder why you suddenly had that dream again. After such a long time it is a little strange..." Zuko looked away from Katara's inquiring face, so as not to give the idea forming in his mind away.

"Maybe the person in your dream has actually come to life." Zuko couldn't keep himself from grinning at Katara.

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As Aang enters the forest that holds their camp, he doesn't realize the two thugs that are currently following him. Now this wasn't because his senses were any less acute in this body, but do to his own stumbling that was conveniently covering the sound of his pursuers.

He trips over a twig for the third time and lets out his frustration, "come on body. Just a little further and you can have your rightful owner again." He stands up and checks to make sure that he still had the potion.

When he lets out a relived sigh as he touched the curved bottle that held the potion was when the two thugs attacked. The taller of the two had moved around Aang and stood in front of his with sword drawn. "Well, well what do we have here?"

Aang's eyes widen and he frowns, he's about to say something when he hears a voice from behind him. "It seems to me that he as forgotten to pay the toll Jeppi."

Aang takes a step to the side so that he can see both men out of the corner of his eyes. "Um ... sorry. But I don't have time for this right now. If you could just let me pass. "

Jeppi lets out a laugh "Did you here that Akito? He thinks we are going to let him and his heavy purse go."

Akito takes a step towards Aang "We can't have that now, can we Jeppi."

As the two men get closer Aang tries again to reason with them. "I really don't want to have to fight you guys." He tries to think "I'm the avatar. I have to get back to my friends so that we can stop the war."

Jeppi lets out another laugh and swings his sword which Aang avoids by stumbling backwards, still not use to the new length of his limbs. "Did you here that he's the Avatar. And he's got important business…"

"Isn't the avatar supposed to be an air bender with arrow tattoos on his head"

"I think your right Akito, why don't we teach this guy not to pretend to be someone he's not ."

It was then that Aang realized his mistake that that these two were unlikely to listen to reason. He steps back into a defensive stance and gets ready to airbed.

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Katara gives Aang a look of shock that she tries to cover up with a cough and a blush. "It's just a dream nothing more." She gets up and gets some fruit and some of Sokka's dried meet. She begins to make them a small meal.

When she is done she hands Aang a plate of fruit and something that looks like porridge but that actually has a great taste. "Sorry that I couldn't have made anything bigger. If I did that Sokka would start complaining that we eat up all our supplies with out him." She lets out a small laugh and then starts on her own meal, which is just like Aang's except for half a piece of jerky.

Zuko stared at Katara, but didn't say anything. Instead, he turned his attention to the porridge, dubious of it's taste. Nonetheless he took a spoonful to his mouth, slowly, cautiously. Who knew what these Water people thought of as cuisine? "Mmm. Not bad."

He started to eat more vigorously, suddenly aware of how hungry he was. It must have been hours since he last ate. The sun was starting to climb down into the evening hours of the day. I wonder how long it will take him to find this place again. He should be here soon. Stupid Avatar, when will I get my body back, and get out of here...

He found himself staring at Katara. Staring, and thinking of impossible things. Oh great, now I'm starting to think like the Avatar too. He put the bowl down and walked to the edge of the camp quickly, before he paused to answer Katara's worried voice. "What's wrong?"

"... I need to stretch my legs for a bit, and think." He called behind him, somehow forgetting the fact that Katara was extremely worried about him in his "unwell" state of being. There was no way she was going to let him be alone. He walked into the forest quickly... Too quickly, for a full stomach. He wasn't paying attention to where he was going. And his head was spinning with... Strange ideas.

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Akito and Jeppi close with Aang. He manages to avoid them, although it is a clumsy attempt. He gets ready to send a wind funnel at the two would be thieves, but nothing happens. "What?"

Aang doesn't have much time to contemplate what just happened as Jeppi tackles him and Akito reaches for his purse. In anger Aang yells and fire swirls around him. The two thieves let out yelps that make them sound like twelve year old girls and take off into the woods.

Panting a little Aang straightens up, dusting off his cloths and inspecting the new cuts he has acquired. Oh well, it isn't anything serious He thinks back to the circle of flame he made and smiles. "Hey that was kinda cool. I wonder how I did that."

He tries again but can't repeat the feat with the flames. Disappointed he sighs "I guess I should get to the camp. There's no telling what Zuko will do with Katara."

Images of Zuko having tied up Katara and threatening her fills Aang's mind, and he takes off in a run. He hasn't gone more then five steps when he trips yet again. Sighing he picks himself up and checks the potion bottle.

... But it's not there. "But ... Where could it be ...Oh no the thieves! " Aang is about to take after the thieves when he hears a rustle in a bush nearby "Who is there!"

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Katara watches Aang leave for a moment flabbergasted that he would just leave in his condition. Finally her brain catches up to her body and she cries out "Hey! Aang you aren't well!" and takes off into the woods after him.

She's let him have to much of a head start and stops to listen for a sign of him. Finally she hears a branch snap off to her right. "Aang?"

A figure emerges and shoves her to the ground; she lets out a small startled scream. "Hey watch where you are going lady! "

"Jeppi we should get out of here. The girl's screams are bound to attract undesired attention."

Jeppi looks at Katara then back at his partner. "Your right. Let's get out of here before that fire bender realizes what we got." Then the two disappear into the forest.

Katara pushes herself up by her elbows and then holds one of her hands to her head "Owww ..." She gets to her feet and looks in the direction that the two men ran off in "Did they say fire bender?"

Argh, what's wrong with me? Zuko muttered to himself, as he walked deeper into the woods. He reached his hand up to his head to pull back his hair, and found he had none. He sighed and paused to look at his blue marked hands. "This can't get any weirder now. It just can't."

But Zuko was shocked out of his revelry by the sound of a familiar voice. ... A very familiar voice.

"Zuko!"

"My body! "

They exclaimed simultaneously, staring at each other. Zuko was annoyed to see that his body was bruised, cut and looked like he had fallen in the mud. He scowled, and glared at Aang, making a very un-Avatar like expression on Aang's face. "Took you long enough to get here!", He said as he watched himself panting for breath.

They both jumped at the sound of Katara's scream.

"Katara?! "

Zuko shouted out, concerned, just as Aang was yelling the same. They exchanged a glare as they ran back towards the camp to find Katara.

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Well this is it for the first chapter. I know that both Aang and Zuko are a little out of character. I would like to think that this is due to the fact that being in the others body is having an effect on their minds and emotions. I'll post more chapters the further the ship progresses at BSG.

Please leave reviews if you like it.