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ABCLAF Logo This Kataang one-shot takes place in The Awakening.



Chapter Ninety-Three: Give Up[]

His legs flail wildly in the chilling water, and he grasps the driftwood with both hands. Lightning crashes through the skies, and he lifts his arm, but his glider—his lifeline—is already swept away. His heart beats with the cymbal of thunder, and he is plunged into the water, completely consumed by the waves, before surfacing and grabbing hold of the driftwood once more.

"I'm not going to make it." He closes his eyes. I'm sorry, Katara. "I failed."

From behind closed eyes, he sees the lighting flash, and suddenly before him is a spirit. "Roku?" he whispers hoarsely, unable to believe it.

"You haven't failed, Aang," the previous Avatar corrects.

He raises his head, and the rain pours down his face, mingling with his tears. "But everyone thinks I'm dead again!" he protests. "They think I've abandoned them." Like I abandoned Katara. "And I'm losing this war." I'm losing Katara. "I'm letting the whole world down." I'm letting Katara down.

Roku inclines his head. "If anyone is to blame for the state of the world, it is me." He's startled by the previous Avatar's confession. "I should have seen this war coming and prevented it. You inherited my problems—and my mistakes. But I also believe you are destined to redeem me and save the world."

"I don't know," he cries. I don't know anything! I want Katara. I want to her hold me and tell me it's going to be okay.

He hears the sound of bells.

"You already saved the world."

The sky darkens, and a single shaft of moonlight breaks through the storm. "And you'll save the world again." Yue, the Moon Spirit, lifts her arms, and he is reminded of her. Of all of their sacrifices. Of every sacrifice he has ever made . . . that she has ever made . . . all those sacrifices . . . just to save the world. "But you can't give up."

It's as if she has spoken to him.

But you can't give up.

"You're right." He turns back to the distant shore ahead, so distant he cannot see it, but he can feel it in his heart. "I won't give up."

She never gave up.

And neither will I.

Katara . . . the water. The moon. The ocean . . . His eyes widen. The ocean!

He presses forward, raising a wave behind him, and with every droplet of water he bends, he thinks of her . . . and her sacrifices.

She's out there, looking for me.

I can feel it.

As the power of the water builds, he climbs onto the driftwood, shaky at first, then confident. Every image of her gives him strength, strength enough to continue, and the wave surges forward. It rolls across the water.

The water.

She believed in me when no one would.

And she believes in me still.

He smiles, determined.

I can't give up!

I'll give it all.

For her.

Notes[]

Bow before the master. I can turn anything into Kataang goodness. You're welcome.

The part where Aang is flying through the storm is my literal favorite scene in Avatar. Just . . . Aang . . . in those robes . . . flying . . . never giving up . . . there's just something in that scene . . .

That scene is when I became a faangirl. ._.

"I'm sorry, Katara." -> I hate you, 220. I hate you.

"He raises his head, and the rain pours down his face, mingling with his tears." -> I looked at some screenshots. I can't tell if he's actually crying or not, but mingling with his tears was too beautiful not to put in. Artistic license, people! Shoop-de-whoo up!

"He hears the sound of bells." -> The music track's real. Deal with it.

""But you can't give up."" -> I always found it weird that Aang didn't listen to the wise Roku, but he did listen to the pretty young Moon Spirit, so I searched for an answer . . . and found Kataang!

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