Katara struggled, trying to get out of the ground. This had happened to her once before, with General Fong. She couldn't believe that Aang would do this to her: she remembered how angry Aang was when he thought she was almost dead.
Did he really want to do this to her? Then again, what had happened to him in the first place? He looked as if he were barely kept together and she could see his...she didn't even want to think about this, and she closed her eyes.
"Aang, please stop," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. "I would have helped you if I could, don't you know that? I was always thinking of you."
"Oh really?" Aang's voice was higher now, and it sounded hurt with a small hint of cruelty. "You cared for me that much, Katara? Is that why you kissed that Meluly girl? Is that why you're in that clan of women that are intimate with people for the sake of doing things to them that would make them slaves? Is THAT why you've tried to kill things and protected criminals? I don't even know who you are anymore, but you're definitely not the girl I knew those years ago. That girl had more respect for herself. THAT girl was someone I loved."
It was quiet and hard and cruel...and there wasn't a lie in it. Katara felt her heart almost stop, and she closed her eyes. Those were things Sokka would have asked, would have wanted to know her whys and hows. What was more, the Litany came to her mind, and she repeated it gently to herself. She would need will power for this.
"Meluly is my friend," she finally said, "and despite what you think, that's all she's been. Yes, we've been close, but we know what it is for us: we're affectionate. She has someone she loves, and she knows I do too.
"As for the Bene Gesserit, you know I would never do that. And I will tell you about everything I did and why: and that the things I did were for you in one way or another. I also know one other thing: the man I love would never do this to me. I am sick of your lies, Nightmare King, and I am coming to him."
The Aang laughed at her. When he spoke again the voice was high and cold. "So you saw through that. Well, good. I wanted you to be the first to know: that stunt her pulled in saving you had him walk right into my trap. Now the Nightmare King has gotten stronger, and your monk is losing the fight."
Katara closed her eyes. Her hands were trembling, her forehead sweaty, and all she could feel right now was anger. The Nightmare King had been messing with her since he could, and now that he'd said that, she knew he wasn't lying: it was possible that he had done this, and that Aang was somewhere suffering.
"NO!"
And Katara burst from the earth, her training with Prana Bindu applying to her force, and now she was only a few feet away from "Aang."
"You won't beat me today, King!" Katara said. "If you want to dance, come on! I'm ready!"
2
Did he really want to do this to her? Then again, what had happened to him in the first place? He looked as if he were barely kept together and she could see his...she didn't even want to think about this, and she closed her eyes.
"Aang, please stop," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. "I would have helped you if I could, don't you know that? I was always thinking of you."
"Oh really?" Aang's voice was higher now, and it sounded hurt with a small hint of cruelty. "You cared for me that much, Katara? Is that why you kissed that Meluly girl? Is that why you're in that clan of women that are intimate with people for the sake of doing things to them that would make them slaves? Is THAT why you've tried to kill things and protected criminals? I don't even know who you are anymore, but you're definitely not the girl I knew those years ago. That girl had more respect for herself. THAT girl was someone I loved."
It was quiet and hard and cruel...and there wasn't a lie in it. Katara felt her heart almost stop, and she closed her eyes. Those were things Sokka would have asked, would have wanted to know her whys and hows. What was more, the Litany came to her mind, and she repeated it gently to herself. She would need will power for this.
"Meluly is my friend," she finally said, "and despite what you think, that's all she's been. Yes, we've been close, but we know what it is for us: we're affectionate. She has someone she loves, and she knows I do too.
"As for the Bene Gesserit, you know I would never do that. And I will tell you about everything I did and why: and that the things I did were for you in one way or another. I also know one other thing: the man I love would never do this to me. I am sick of your lies, Nightmare King, and I am coming to him."
The Aang laughed at her. When he spoke again the voice was high and cold. "So you saw through that. Well, good. I wanted you to be the first to know: that stunt her pulled in saving you had him walk right into my trap. Now the Nightmare King has gotten stronger, and your monk is losing the fight."
Katara closed her eyes. Her hands were trembling, her forehead sweaty, and all she could feel right now was anger. The Nightmare King had been messing with her since he could, and now that he'd said that, she knew he wasn't lying: it was possible that he had done this, and that Aang was somewhere suffering.
"NO!"
And Katara burst from the earth, her training with Prana Bindu applying to her force, and now she was only a few feet away from "Aang."
"You won't beat me today, King!" Katara said. "If you want to dance, come on! I'm ready!"