Being in the Northern Water Tribe wasn't so bad for Avani nor her friends. Things were looking up to them especially to the ones learning waterbending, their classes were going smoothly and now their skills had improoved greatly, specially Katara's who was already a skilled waterbender without training. Master Pakku helped her to sharpen her skills and teach her more advanced techniques and forms.

Aang was also certain his goal of mastering water was getting closer each day and having his friends to support him all the way made him even more confident, however it wasn't enough, he wasn't paying attention to his classes, not taking very seriously waterbending yet.

Sokka had also had a good time with his warrior training but what kept him in his toes was the engaged princess, they knew it was wrong but they couldn't ignore the feelings blossoming between the two, finding time to spend it together.

Avani had found a friend out of Kaito and not having enough earth to practice her bending, she had asked for permission to Master Pakku to watch his teaching class. Her reasoning was to support her friends, to show them she was there for them but she was lying to herself and Master Pakku knew. He knew as soon as he noticed the Avatar and the girl seeming to be in tune to each other, how they reacted at certain times as if sensing each other, which is why he allowed the earthbender to watch.

And that's where she was now, cheering in delight when Katara for the fourth time in a row defeated her opponent in their class. Kaito was sitting next to her, grinning as he rubbed his sore arms from when Katara had defeating him, enclosing him in ice.

"She's great bender" Kaito told her, seeing Master Pakku congratulating Katara, "Look at her, a few weeks ago she didn't have half the training we do and now she looks like a master"

Avani chuckled, "Yeah, I'm happy for her, but-" she glanced at where Aang was laying lazily with a flying Momo above him, "He's the main reason we came here. And he's not taking it seriously"

Kaito pursed his lips as Master Pakku called out to Aang irritably, "Pupil Aang!"

"Would you?" Kaito asked. Avani looked at him alarmed "If you were in his shoes, and you had the fate of the world in your shoulders with little time to master the four elements, will you take it seriously even if you're just a kid and everyone is pressuring you to save everyone?"

Avani looked back at Aang, the answer clear in her mind. No. Because it was too much weight in her shoulders, and she still felt it, even if she wasn't in her time. She had the fate of her time's world in her shoulders and if Korra was right and Aang failed, she had to step in for him as the Avatar in this time and that would be hard if she didn't start mastering fire.

Kaito took her silence as an answer, "He has the world in his shoulders, everyone looking up to him to make things right. But he doesn't know it yet, he doesn't know the hope the world has in him. The impact his presence has made and how vital it is he learns. Once he realizes that, it's when he will take seriously his duty as the Avatar"

Avani looked down, taking his words seriously even if he wasn't talking about her. She had a lot of common with Aang, she realized. Neither of them wanted to step up completely as the protector of the world, Aang was trying but he wasn't fully committed while Avani didn't even try.  

Suddenly Korra's reasoning to send her to Aang specifically and not other past Avatar was clear. They were to help each other realize their importance to the world.

~8~

It was later on the day, Avani, Aang and Kaito were playing a snowball fight against each other.

"Cheaters!" Avani called out laughing as she dodged another snowball. Her seismic sense was helping her realize when they were going attack on from where. However, they were using their bending in the game.

"Says the earthbender who somehow knows where the attack is coming from!" Kaito replied laughing as he threw another snowball.

Aang smiled mischievously, jumping high in the air while Avani was focused talking to Kaito, bending a snowball, throwing it toward her.

But what Aang forgot to realize was that Avani felt the spark of mischievousness in Aang and sensed when he disappeared out of her mind's eye, ducking at the last moment behind the fountain. Avani peeked her head, sticking her tongue at Aang, smirking.

Aang landed in the ground, pouting "Aw, not fair"

Kaito was looking between them, gaping in awe "You indeed are a master!" He looked at Avani "How do you that?"

Avani smiled, not answering

Aang looked at Kaito, "I've been asking that since I met her and she won't tell me!"

"I told you you'll know" Avani told him, smiling "At your time"

Aang groaned.

Suddenly black soot started to fall from the sky, combining with the snow falling. They looked up at the sky.

Aang had a concerned frown, having seen this before

Avani and Kaito had never seen the snow like that, confused.

"Aang?" Avani asked

"This is not good" Aang told them

It was after a moment that a drum began to sound, signaling the Fire Nation's approach. The teens and several citizens ran to the town hall.

Inside, the chief Arnook had a meeting, he wasn't surprised by the Fire Nation approaching but he looked worried for the safety of his people, specially his daughter.

"The day we have feared for so long has arrived" Arnook told them "The Fire Nation is on our doorstep. It is with great sadness I call my family here before me, knowing well that some of these faces are about to vanish from our tribe, but they will never vanish from our hearts. Now, as we approach the battle for our existence, I call upon the great spirits. Spirit of the Ocean! Spirit of the Moon! Be with us! I'm going to need volunteers for a dangerous mission"

Sokka raised from his seat, "Count me in!"

Katara looked at her brother in worry "Sokka..."

Kaito stood, looking serious. "Me too"

Arnook looked at the boys, concerned but yet grateful "Be warned, many of you will not return" Several Water Tribe men stood, walking forward "Come forward to receive my mark, if you accept the task"

Arnook painted in their foreheads three red line marks with his fingers, including Sokka and Kaito. Sokka and Yue looked at each other, concerned and sadly. Yue looked down, closing her eyes, softly starting to cry as she really liked Sokka and wouldn't want to lose him.

~8~

Outside, Aang and Avani were sitting on a snow mound, watching the horizon from where the Fire Nation was coming.

Aang had his staff in his hand. He looked at Avani, "You're worried"

"It's the Fire Nation, Aang" Avani replied, not taking her eyes from the water. "They're here for war against their most powerful enemies. You and the water tribe"

"But this is more than that, isn't it?" Aang argued, "You forget I can feel what you're feeling, and you fear something terrible will happen, you dread it"

Avani looked at Aang, her eyes slightly wide "I know something will happen, I can feel it" Aang looked at her in worry because he could feel her anxiety spiking, "I-I just don't know what it is, and not knowing..." She sighed, closing her eyes "It feels like not being able to see"

Aang didn't know what to say to reassure his friend, instead they both resumed looking toward the water, in silence.

Arnook walked closer, "The stillness before battle is unbearable. Such a quiet dread"

Katara walked closer.

"I wasn't there when the Fire Nation attacked my people" Aang told them. He looked up at them, determined. "I'm going to make a difference this time"

Aang stood, holding his staff behind his back.

Avani looked at him in awe. Maybe this was the time Aang finally opened his eyes on how important he was to the world.

Maybe, he'll helped her open hers too.

~8~

The Fire Nation was now here.

Aang, Katara, Sokka, Kaito, Appa, Avani and all the warriors were gathered at the wall. Suddenly something was seen from the horizon soaring toward the city. Aang squinted his eyes before realizing the object was a fireball.

The fireball collided into the wall of the city, sending them and the warriors flying back. The wall of the city was now damaged and beginning to fall apart. More fireballs were launched into the air, one disintegrating a bridge within the city and another a wall.

"Yip-Yip!" Aang told Appa.

Appa took flight, heading toward the fleet. The warriors helped each other up.

Kaito looked toward Avani, "Help?" He asked, waterbending the snow away from her. Avani stood with his help, dusting the snow away from her "You okay?"

Avani grimaced, "I won't be useful to fight" Sokka and Katara turned to face her. She spread her arms around her, widening her eyes "I'm no waterbender. There's no earth for me to use"

Sokka frowned, "Shoot, I knew I was forgetting something"

"Coal" Katara told them. "It's earth. You can just use it"

"Do you see coal here?" Avani questioned. Katara sighed, knowing she was right, "I'll just go and make sure there's no people in sight who can be hurt"

Her friends nodded in agreement, neither of them wanting her to get hurt.

Avani turned, walking away, hiding her guilty expression for her lie. 'I'm no waterbender'

If only they knew.

~8~

Avani decided to find the princess, still having the feeling something was going to happen to her but she couldn't remember what the more she tried to. It was like she drew a blank the more she thought about it.

"Oh, spirits. She's a nice person, she doesn't deserve suffering" Avani murmured to herself as she stood in a snow mound, watching the war going on outside. From where she was, she could see Aang sending strong winds to stop the fireballs and the boats and waterbenders destroying the boats

Desperately, Avani for the first time she wished she had at least fire mastered. She could fight fire with fire, using their own element against them but she couldn't even lit up a candle yet. She couldn't bend any other element but earth, earth that wasn't useful in the north pole.

"This is a lesson, isn't Korra?" Avani asked nervously, "You want me to feel guilty for not accepting my role and to start mastering the other elements, right? Well..." Avani licked her lips, worriedly "It's working. But it won't be helpful right now when I need them!" She could see even more ships coming closer after Aang stopped most of them. The worry and shock coming from Aang hit her harder, making her double in surprise and pain, gasping. "I know, Aang. I know"

Master Pakku and several waterbenders stood next to Avani, all of them seeing several fireballs hitting the city, some nearing their place.

Pakku looked at his students, pointing at the sky "Stop those fireballs!"

The waterbenders bended up a column of water, freezing it, capturing the fireballs

Master Pakku looked at the earthbender, making sure no one was listening "You okay, Avatar?"

Avani looked up in shock. He was the second person who knew about her. "What?"

"Old people knows things" Master Pakku told her cryptically, "I knew when you and Aang seemed to be connected"

"But..." Avani trailed off, confused

"There's a legend about Avatars sent back to the past" Master Pakku explained. "You and Aang are the same. That's why you feel each other"

"I know that" Avani told him "The Avatar who sent me explained that to me. I just... I want to help but, I haven't mastered fire yet, not to mention air or water"

Master Pakku nodded in understanding "I know. What you need to do is protect yourself, find the princess and protect each other. I know you're not ready but your instincts are there. Aang's instincts as the Avatar are within you as your own. When you're in danger and when you most need it, you will fight. No matter if your mastered element isn't here" 

Avani nodded, not wasting another moment as she ran away to find the princess, the sun setting behind her back as she ran. 

~8~

As she found the princess the moon was starting to rise, Avani slowed down for a moment, looking up, sensing a wave of strength passing through her.

"As the moon rise, so do the tide" Yue commented softly, her eyes in the moon as she stood next to Avani "Waterbenders are strong at night with the light of the moon shinning on them. Their power is drawn from the moon"

They both looked down to see all the waterbenders attacks becoming stronger against the fire nation as they began to retreat

"Just like firebenders are stronger with the sun" Avani realized, "They will retreat because they're weaker at night"

Yue slowly nodded, "It's not only me who feels it, isn't it?" She looked at Avani, concern in her eyes "The air is buzzing, something is coming"

"You're wise, princess" Avani told her

"So are you" Yue told her softly.

Katara walked closer, looking at the fire nation who stopped their attacks, looking up to see Aang flying closer. "Aang!"

Aang landed next to them, tired and exasperated. "I can't do it..." He placed his hands on his head, overwhelmed "I can't do it"

"What happened?" Katara asked

"I must have taken out a dozen Fire Navy ships, but there's just too many of them" Aang told them, grimly "I can't fight them all"

"But you have to" Yue told him pleadingly "You're the Avatar"

Aang looked at her solemnly "I'm just one kid"

Aang buried his face in his hands.

Avani stared at him in understanding. She felt the same. She felt like she was just one person with a burden in her shoulders she had to resolve alone. Just like Aang was feeling right now. She wanted to help him. But how?

Katara knelt beside Aang in an attempt to comfort him.

~8~

Yue, the Avatars and Katara were still standing together, thinking on what to do.

"The legends say the moon was the first waterbender" Yue began softly. The other three were standing on a balcony, looking up at the sky "Our ancestors saw how it pushed and pulled the tides and learned how to do it themselves"

"I've always noticed my waterbending is stronger at night" Katara told them

Yue and Avani looked at each other as it was what they had been talking about before Katara arrived

"Our strength comes from the spirit of the moon" Yue told them "Our life comes from the spirit of the ocean" Aang was looking down with a dull expression on his face "They work together to keep balance"

Suddenly Aang looked up, startling Momo "The Spirits!" He exclaimed "Maybe I can find them and get their help!"

"How can you do that?" Yue asked hopefully

Avani looked at Yue, "The Avatar is the bridge between our world and the Spirit World"

Katara nodded, thinking it was a great idea, walking closer to Yue "Aang's the Avatar, he can talk to them!"

'So am I' Avani realized, looking at Aang

Yue looker at Aang "Maybe they'll give you the wisdom to win this battle!"

Aang waved his arms out in gesture "Or maybe they'll unleash a crazy amazing spirit attack on the Fire Nation!" The two girls looked at him oddly. Avani smirked in amusement; Aang looked at them, straightening up "Or wisdom. That's good, too"

"The only problem is, last time you got to the Spirit World by accident" Katara told him "How are you going to get there this time?"

"I have an idea" Yue told them "Follow me"

Yue walked away

They followed her through the Royal Palace and downwards to the center of the city, arriving to a small, round wooden door

Aang walked up to the door "So, is this the way to the Spirit World?"

Yue laughed "No. You'll have to get there on your own" She leaned inward. "But I can take you to the most spiritual place in the entire North Pole"

Yue opened the door.

Inside the room was a small verdant oasis lying ahead, a waterfall flowing directly behind it.

Aang gasped in amazement, running to the back of the oasis, rolling around on the ground. "I never thought I'd miss grass this much!"

Avani walked closer to the oasis, pulling off her shoes, wriggling her feet in the grass, closing her eyes in relief and content "Now, this is my favorite place in the North Pole"

Katara walked closer too, "It's so warm here! How is that possible?"

"It's the center of all spiritual energy in our land" Yue explained

The three girls removed their coats.

Aang sat, posioning himself to mediate "You're right, Yue. I can feel ... something. It's so tranquil"

Avani looked around the oasis, looking down at the pond, seeing two fish, one black and one white swimming about the pond circling each other, her muscles relaxing. The sight memorizing to Avani as she tilted her head aside slowly, the girls talking before Aang snapped at them that he needed to concentrate becoming white noise, all she could do was watch the koi fish swimming in circle, circling each other.

"Ava?" Katara walked closer in concern seeing her friend staring at the water, an almost dazed look in her eyes "Hey, are you okay?" She touched her shoulder, making Avani jump, snapping out of her trance and looking at Katara, blinking several times. "Ava?"

Avani looked back at the koi fish, somehow sensing a wave of spiritually energy coming from them "I'm okay" She looked at Aang, his eyes and tattoos starting to glow, pointing at him. "Does that mean he's in the Spirit World?"

The other girls turned to face Aang

Katara nodded, "He's crossing into the Spirit World. He'll be fine as long as we don't move his body. That's his way back to the physical world"

"Maybe we should get some help" Yue told them

Katara smiled "No, he's my friend. I'm perfectly capable of protecting him"

"So am I" Avani nodded

They heard a sarcastic voice from behind them "Well, aren't you big girls now"

They turned around to see Zuko, alarmed.

"No" Katara said in dismay

Zuko smirked in determination "Yes" He glanced at the Avatar "Hand him over and I wont have to hurt you"

"Princess, get help" Avani murmured.

Yue nodded, running away

Katara took on a defensive stance, "Ava, get out of here. There's no earth for you to use"

Avani was going to protest, feeling the rock and the earth beneath her feet but paused, feeling the spiritual energy she knew and had the feeling she couldn't hurt, even if she wanted to use it

Avani nodded, running away from the oasis, dismayed she had ran away from a fight. However, deep inside she knew she had done the right thing even if her head was telling her she was a coward and a shame for an Earth Kingdom citizen.

As Avani ran away from the oasis, she sensed the warmth of the sun in her skin, breath hitching as she realized what that meant, looking toward the fleet, seeing them starting to break through the ice wall of the city, dreading for what was to come now.

Kaito stopped at her side, having seen her running "The fight has just began"

They both looked at each other in worry, looking back at the Fire Nation worriedly.