Asuka stood in a dark wood, utterly and completely confused. She had her plugsuit on, but she didn't know where she was or where everyone had gone - a voice at the back of her head said that this wasn't right. She glanced up, feeling a small sense of relief - her mother was here. Everything would be alright, wouldn't it? And she could go to Arha if things got really bad. Before she could speak to her mother, before she could do anything, her mother was gone, walking off into the trees. Fear and panic shot through her, her gut churning as she realized that her mother was leaving. She ran after the fading figure of her mother, arms and legs working as she dodged through trees and undergrowth.

She couldn't keep up. Her legs were too short. She didn't have the breath. She was a small child again and she stretched out a pleading hand as the panic and fear began to rise to a fever pitch. "Mother! Don't leave me here! Mama! Mama! I need you! Don't go! Please, don't go!"

As her mother vanished into the trees, Asuka trailed to a halt staring after her as tears started to well in her eyes. This couldn't be. She turned around, hoping to find someone - anyone - there to help her. Shinji. Kaji. Misato. Aang. Arha.

"Arha?"

Her voice sounded weak and small in her ears as Asuka tried to stave off the tears, a few drops starting to roll down her face. She didn't want to be here. She wanted to be somewhere safe, to be protected, held, told it would be alright, loved. "Arha?"

She was supposed to come. She'd said she would.

"Arha!" Her voice was a scream now. "Aang? Somebody! Somebody help me!"

She sank back against a tree, her usual teenage self again. She slid to the forest floor, sobbing into her gloved hands. She couldn't deal with this. She didn't want this. She didn't want to be alone. Quietly, Asuka continued to cry, her muffled sobs echoing amongst the trees.