-Maya's Point of View-

"Here's the plan," Aang said as he pulled the three of us closer. "In order for this scheme to work, we'll need Aunt Wu's cloud reading book," he continued.

"But how are we gonna get it? It's not like she'll hand it over easily," Sokka asked. 

"We'll have to 'borrow' it," Aang answered. "Katara and Sokka will stand at the front door of their house and serve as lookouts from the outside. Maya and I will go in and search for the book. She'll serve as the lookout from the inside," Aang explained.

"But why do we need the book?" Katara asked. "If the people will only listen to Aunt Wu's predictions, then we'll have Aunt Wu predict something we want to convey," Aang answered.

"After obtaining the book, Maya, Katara, and I will fly on top of Appa and shape the clouds. Sokka will have to call Aunt Wu and bring him to the village square where she will pronounce the prediction we created," Aang further explained.

"Do I really have to join you and Katara up there?" I asked. I mean, it's not like I was necessary in that part since I couldn't bend.

"It will definitely be hard for Appa to maneuver alone with all those clouds. We'll need you there," Aang said. "Okay..." I replied.

"Alright, let's get this thing going before the sun sets and the volcano erupts," Sokka said firmly, and then all of us went into position.

Sokka and Katara stood in front of the front door while Aang and I ran to the back side of the house.

"Hold on to me," Aang said as he pulled me closer to him and carried me in his arms. He airbent his way up the roof, then we entered through one of the windows that was left open.

"I'll go to the fortune-reading room," Aang said. "I'll just be outside," I replied.

He went in while I roamed around making sure the area was clear of people.

"I was quite sure we weren't receiving guests anymore for today," I suddenly heard Sir Yuan's voice from behind me.

"Sir Yuan! I, uh... haha... I'm sorry I let myself in. There was just something we— I mean, me! Something I need to, uh..." I tried making up excuses but I panicked.

Sir Yuan smiled and chuckled. "You'll seek what you're looking for on page 47," he said.

"Uh... huh?" I stared at him confused. "You're looking for a prediction in the cloud reading book am I right? It's on page 47," he explained.

"How did you know?"

"How could I not when the speech your friend gave was very moving?" he said with a smile. I smiled back at him and replied, "Thank you, Sir Yuan."

"You're bald friend is the Avatar isn't he?" he asked. "Yes, he is..." I answered and he just smiled.

"You can leave through the front door, it's okay. I won't tell Wu that you guys went to 'borrow' one of her books," he said as he walked away.

"Thank you, Sir Yuan!" I said as he faded into the dark. 

For some reason, I keep on meeting people who are kind despite them having a fire element background. Maybe the Fire Nation isn't all that bad?

Maybe it's just those in power who have crazy distorted minds.

"Maya, I got the book," Aang said as he went outside of the fortune-reading room. "Great! Now let's get out of here!" I tugged onto his arms and was about to walk out of the main door when he suddenly pulled me back.

"We can't go out from the main door, they'll notice someone breaking in," Aang argued. "It's fine, now let's hurry before the sun sets!" I pulled him out of the house and we met with Katara and Sokka who were just waiting outside.

"We got the book!" I exclaimed. 

"Okay now on to phase 2!" Sokka said. "Aang your call," he continued.

"Let's now proceed with forming the clouds," Aang said. "Sokka, make sure you'll be able to convince Aunt Wu to come outside, your role is critical," he reminded.

"Got it," Sokka confirmed.

"Maya, Katara, let's go," Aang said to us and then we ran to where Appa was currently staying in.

As soon as we reached Appa, Katara and Aang climbed up the saddle and I hurried on top of Appa's head to maneuver the rope.

"Appa yip-yip!" I shouted once all three of us were settled. 

We soared through the sky just a few distance away from the smoke cloud coming from the volcano.

"Clouds are made of water and air, so between the two of us, we ought to be able to bend them into any shape we want," Aang explained to Katara.

"Okay, we'll start as soon as I find the cloud shape fitting for the situation," Katara replied flipping through the book's pages.

"Oh, try page 47!" I shouted. 

"Here it is! The symbol for Volcanic doom!" Katara exclaimed. "Wow, how'd you know the page, Maya?" Aang asked in amusement. "Wild guess," I smirked.

It was all thanks to a fellow tribesman. I owe this one to Sir Yuan.

"We should hurry. The sun is about to set," Katara suggested and then after that, Aang and her went into formation. 

They started bending the clouds and mended them into a shape. 

"Maya fly above!" Aang shouted. "Got it!" I shouted back and led Appa to soar higher.

"Circle around this ball of cloud," Katara pointed at the forming cloud ball in the center.

"We're almost there! Now Maya, stay in the center and don't move," Aang said as he bent a trail of clouds following Appa's tail.

I just followed every order they said and after a few more minutes of Katara and Aang bending the clouds, we were able to shape them into a giant skull.

"Great work everybody!" Aang said as they both sat down on the saddle. "Let's just hope Sokka was able to show it to Aunt Wu," Katara said.

"Let's find out for ourselves. Appa, yip-yip!" I shouted and then we headed back to the village.

We landed on the village square where the village people were gathered and Aunt Wu was standing on her podium; next to her was Sokka.

Nice job Sokka!

"You heard Aunt Wu! A massive volcanic eruption is gonna happen anytime soon! Now everyone must all come together and work on keeping this village safe from the volcano!" Sokka shouted.

The three of us ran towards him.

"So what now? What do we do?" Katara asked Aang. "That's all I've got," he replied.

"I have a plan, but I don't know if it's going to work," Sokka suggested. "Anything is worth the try at this point," I replied.

"We can dig a trench at the side of the village where the lava will flow, and direct that trench into the river nearby," Sokka suggested. 

"But we only have a few hours left, will we be able to make it in time?" Katara asked. 

"We will if everyone will work," Sokka answered.

"This village is part of the earth nation, right? Maybe some of them are earthbenders. That could save us some time," I suggested. 

"Good call," Sokka praised.

"Alright, we'll go with the trench plan," Aang said. He turned around to face the village people and shouted, "We could still save the village if we act fast! Sokka has a plan!" and then he pointed at Sokka.

"Lava is gonna flow downhill to this spot. If we can dig a deep enough trench, we can channel all the lava away from the village and into the river," Sokka explained while pointing to the part of the village where the lava will flow.

"If any of you are earthbenders, come with me!" Aang said.

"I'm an earthbender!" one of the twins says. "I'm not!" the other twin shouted.

"Everybody else grab a shovel—" Sokka was cut off when the ground was shaken once more due to the explosion from the volcano.

"Come on people! We've got to hurry!" Sokka shouted once more. 

The village people hurried to look for shovels and something they could dig with.

"Earthbenders! Let's start ahead! Follow me!" Aang shouted and they ran to the outskirts of the village.

"Maya!" I heard Sir Yuan call out to my name. I saw him holding four shovels. "Katara, Sokka!" I called the siblings and pointed at the shovels Sir Yuan was holding.

We ran towards him and took a shovel, each one for the three of us. 

"I would also like to help," he said. Sokka nodded at him and he nodded back. "But wait! Aren't you in pain?" I asked.

"Yuan, let the young ones handle it, you're in no condition to overexert yourself," Aunt Wu said as she approached us.

"I can handle this, my dear. The village needs our help," Sir Yuan pleaded. 

"But your condition—"

"I'll be fine... Trust me," he assured her. "Now let's get digging," Sokka energetically said.

All of the village people helped with digging a trench surrounding the village. The earthbenders were of great help because we were able to make a path for the trench as well as build a tall trench wall protecting the village.

By nightfall, the trench was almost done but it still wasn't ready.

The volcano kept sending explosions and soon after the lava started to overflow from the crater.

"Dig faster! Dig faster!" Sokka shouted and everyone doubled the time in digging.

Once the earthbenders were able to connect the trench to the river, Aang hurriedly evacuated everyone from the trench.

"Everyone needs to evacuate! We'll come for you when it's safe!" Aang shouted.

I suddenly felt a warmth growing closer and closer so I hurriedly made my way up the trench, but I saw from a distance that someone was kneeling down on the ground.

"Sir Yuan!" I shouted.

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-Aang's Point of View-

Momo placed a rock on the rim of the trench wall as if saying that he too wanted to help. I let him rest on my shoulders and then I ran to the middle where Katara and Sokka were standing.

"I think it's gonna work Sokka," I said to him

"Where's Yuan?! Have you seen Yuan?!" I suddenly heard Aunt Wu shouting as she approached the trench wall. I flew to where she was standing in order to stop her from getting closer.

"Ma'am you should fall back now, it's not safe here near the trench," I said.

"Young Avatar, please I need your help! My husband is nowhere to be seen! I'm afraid that he was stuck in the trench," she pleaded. "He was in no condition to work, and your friend Maya also tried to warn him but he didn't listen," she continued.

"Maya?" I asked. I looked back at Katara and Sokka who were on top of the trench wall and noticed that we hadn't seen Maya since the evacuation started.

I looked back at Aunt Wu and told her, "Don't worry ma'am. We'll make sure that your husband is safe."

I flew back on top of the trench wall and asked the siblings, "Have you seen Maya?"

"She was digging near that area with Sir Yuan," Katara said as she pointed to an area in the trench but no one was there.

The lava was starting to slowly approach and yet Maya and Sir Yuan were nowhere to be seen. If they were stuck in the trench, we'll have to find them now, or else...

"AANG!" I heard Maya shout. She was supporting Sir Yuan on her shoulders. "MAYA!" I shouted back.

The lava started to flow into the trench that's why I hurriedly flew towards them. 

"Here! Take Sir Yuan first!" she passed the exhausted old man to me. "But how about you?" I asked. "You can't save us both! Don't worry I can climb! Now hurry!" she commanded and so I flew back on top of the trench wall.

Katara and Sokka met with us and they helped Sir Yuan down the other side. 

I hurriedly went back to Maya and I saw her climbing the wall. The lava has already covered the trench floor.

"Maya grab my hand!" I shouted. She tried to grab my hand but she slipped through my fingers. Good thing Sokka was there to grab her arm.

The two of us pulled her up the trench and made our way to safety.

"Aang! The lava! It's too much! It's gonna overflow!" Katara shouted.

All of a sudden the volcano exploded spewing out more lava and large rocks.

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-Maya's Point of View-

"FALL BACK! I'LL HANDLE THIS!" Aang shouted. 

Katara, Sokka, and I went down the other side of the trench wall and stood at a distance to watch over Aang.

A huge rock landed on the trench creating a massive wave of lava that was about to enter the village.

Luckily Aang was there to save the day. He gathered large winds to blow off the first wave of lava and then he cooled down the second wave by blowing onto it using his air bending breath.

The cooled lava turned rock solid in an instant and it helped form a tall wall in between the flowing lava and the village.

"Man... Aang sure does kid but he can really be reliable in a pinch," I heard Sokka say as he marveled at the thing that Aang did.

Wait, what he said was familiar. I felt like I'd heard of it before.

"Wait, what was that you said Sokka?" I asked him. "Nothing. I just said that Aang is one reliable young man," he repeated.

I suddenly remember the fortune that Aunt Wu told me about my love line.

"I see a reliable young man—a future leader. He and you were destined to be together; bound by a spirit that transcends lifetimes..."

"Huh... I suppose he is..." I said uneasy about the uncanny similarity between what he and Aunt Wu said.

Aang flew down to where we were standing and said, "That rock wall will be able to hold off the rest of the lava. We should fall back for now."

"We can't be complacent though. We still don't know what danger holds," Sokka argued.

"Someone needs to keep watch in case something happens," Katara suggested.

"I'll take the first watch. You guys go rest," I said to them. I also needed time alone in order to process all these thoughts running inside my head.

Katara and Sokka agreed but when they turned to look at Aang he was hesitant. "Are you sure you'd be alright Maya?" he asked.

"I'll be fine," I said trying to avoid his gaze. For some strange reason, it's suddenly hard to look him in the eyes.

"You guys go. I'll stay here," I said to them and then I walked closer to the rock wall and sat down.

I didn't look back because I didn't want to see Aang. After what Sokka said, my mind suddenly became confused. 

I started revisiting Aunt Wu's predictions in my thoughts and I debated with myself whether what she said was true or not. Because if it was true, then time will come when I'd be separated from the gang. 

It means that my destiny is not to journey with them, but rather—in the Fire Nation.

Ugh! A lot is happening! It's just too much to handle! 

I have to be alert. I can't be distracted right now. I have to clear my thoughts

I closed my eyes and started to meditate. I tried pushing away all of the burdening thoughts so that I would be able to heighten my sense of hearing and touch. This way I'll be able to hear clearly if something is about to happen and I'll be able to feel the warmth of the lava getting closer.

I stayed that way for a few hours until I suddenly heard footsteps approaching.

"You must be cold..."

Oh, it was just Aang. He wrapped a blanket over my shoulders and sat down beside me. I don't know why I didn't reply to him but I just sat there silently, with my eyes closed.

"You know Maya, today was the scariest day for me ever," he said. "Not because of the volcano... but it was because I—" he paused.

"I almost lost you..." he continued. I wanted to look at him, but I was too shy to even open my eyes. I don't know what he means by that. What is he trying to say?

"When your hand slipped from my fingers as I was pulling you out of the trench, my heart stopped. I thought I was gonna lose you," he kept speaking on his own.

"I'll never be able to forgive myself if something happens to you because of me. That's why today, I promise, that no matter what happens I will always be there to save you," he said it so softly that it almost made me swoon.

"I don't want you getting hurt, because I—I like you, Maya," he ended his speech.

He, likes me? I'm the one he likes? All this time I thought he liked Katara, but instead... It was me?

I felt him standing up so I hurriedly opened my eyes and tried to grab onto his wrist but as soon as I turned around Zuko's face was just an inch away from mine.

I gasped for air as I jerked up from lying down on the ground.

"Maya? Are you alright?" I heard Katara ask. I looked at her with a shocked expression. I was still trying to process what just happened.

Was it all just a dream? Did I dream of the Avatar confessing to me?! That's so messed up! WHY DID I DO THAT?!

She knelt down in front of me and patted my back. "Same nightmare as before isn't it?" she asked. 

I took one last breath before I shook my head. "I thought I was on guard duty... Did I fall asleep?" I asked.

"Yeah, you stayed on guard for a few hours until Aang noticed that you were already asleep. He brought you a blanket and carried you back here," Katara replied. I looked around and saw that the whole village was gathered in the village square.

So it was just a dream... No wonder that scar-faced jerk showed up. That really shocked me to the core.

"I'm sorry I fell asleep," I told her. "No worries! You must've been tired. Aang took your place and he's been on guard ever since," she pointed at Aang who was sitting facing the rock wall.

"Good thing nothing happened last night. Everyone was safe," she continued. I smiled at her and directed my gaze onto Aang once more.

Ugh! I must've been so crazy to even think about dreaming such a thing! I shouldn't have let Aunt Wu's predictions get to my head!

I stood up and was about to fold the blanket that I used when I suddenly realized something—this blanket feels so familiar...

Was it...

Was it all really just a dream?