"Why is he sitting like that?" Yue asked Katara as Aang tried to focus on the two koi swimming in harmony in the little pond of the Spirit Oasis, the place Yue claimed was the most spiritual one in the North Pole.

"He's meditating, trying to cross over into the Spirit World. It takes all his concentration."

"Is there any way we can help?"

"How about some quiet? Come on guys, I can hear every word you're saying!" Yue covered her mouth and Katara nodded apologetically, letting him focus on how the koi fish circled each other in some sort of eternal dance that looked familiar, a sign of equilibrium..

The girls watched in silence as Aang's eyes and tattoos start to light up, remaining in place and seemingly not even breathing

"Is he okay?" Yue whispered to Katara

"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." Katara explained, having enough experience of the avatar's spirit journeys to know Aang was fine. Except something she never saw before started happening.

"Is that normal too?" Yue said, amazed at how Aang's body started changing. Not into the crazy amazing spirit he wanted no, his body started to diminish, getting smaller and smaller. 

"I.. I don't know" Katara slowly approached her friend as the process stopped, he was smaller than the fish, a lot smaller. He looked like a little shining figurine that could get easily lost in the patch of grass around the pond. Katara wondered if she should just keep watching or pick him up, seeing him in such a state started to worry her.

"Maybe we should get some help?" Yue offered, but it was clear she didn't have an idea on who to ask

"No, I know he's fine. And I'm perfectly capable of protecting him" Katara said, trying to have faith in Aang as she has always done since the start of their adventure together.

"Are you? Where is he?" A male voice suddenly startled both girls, and a dismayed Katara saw none other than Zuko approaching. On instinct she took a look at the patch of grass and gasped when Aang was no longer there, but she quickly understood what happened when her gaze fell on Yue as she was running and hiding.

"He's not here" Katara focused on her enemy, hoping that moving Aang's body didn't break the connection with the spirit world.

"Tell me where he is and I won't have to hurt you" Zuko growled when Katara just answered with a defensive stance and the battle started. Katara was happy she could defend herself from Zuko's attacks with her water shields, but her priority was getting rid of him and protecting Aang. In the state he was currently in, someone like Zuko could easily kill him.

"Where do you think he is? He's fighting your invasion"

"It's not my invasion! I wouldn't have made such a ridiculous show. I just need the Avatar" Zuko took the bait, almost entirely "What are you doing here then? You clearly found a master, you little peasant"

"I'm protecting the princess, only men fight here" Katara quickly managed to land an excuse and make it sound convincing with her little resentment still active, knowing deep down if master Pakku didn't know her grandmother she still wouldn't have been allowed to learn. She pointed to Yue's hideout and the princess showed up, her hands cupped and close to her chest.

"I'm wasting my time here then" Zuko said with a frown that almost made Katara smile before going back to wherever he came from. The disgruntled prince might have called her a peasant, but it was clear he respected her as a fighter and immediately understood how stupid was the custom the Northern water tribe still had in place.

"Is he okay?" Katara approached Yue, starting to walk away with her just in case another enemy showed up. It was too dangerous.

"Sorry Katara, I panicked and picked him up" Yue said worried, opening her hands to show little Aang still there, in his meditating state.

"Don't be, you did great. We can't let anyone see him like this" Katara said as Yue very gently set the tiny Avatar in Katara's hands.

"What should we do now?"

"I don't know, but we can't stay here"

What happens next?