from her eyes while Sokka rambled about them being ahead of schedule. The boy had not only cut her hair back to its original length, but also gave her bangs after wrestling with Toph for the scissors. Katara left two little braids in her hair, wanting to spice it up.

"How did you pick this place?" Toph asked from beside Uzume.

"Before we split up, my dad and I found this island on a map. It's uninhabited, and the harbor surrounded by cliffs seemed like the perfect secluded place." Sokka explained casually. Uzume hummed while she surveyed the area. She certainly knew not even Azula knew of this place.

Katara readied herself for bed, "Nice choice Sokka. And we're here four days ahead of schedule."

Aang turned to them shocked, "Wait, four days! The invasion's in four days!"

Uzume nodded at the frightened boy while Sokka settled next to her, "Whatever. That's like... four days from now. Let's just calm down, and ..." He fell asleep the second his head hit the pillow. Uzume understood the kid's panic. She didn't want to return to the palace.

"Sokka's got the right idea Aang. We're here, we're ready... the best thing we can do now is get plenty of rest." Katara settled down. Uzume and Toph followed, Toph cuddling into Uzume's chest.

Toph needs you as a big sister.

They all woke up the next morning to the sound of Aang punching a tree. Katara drowsily turned to Sokka with a confused look. Sokka shrugged and laid back down, bringing Uzume down with him.

"Hey, how long have you been up?" Katara asked Aang slowly.

Aang continued to punch the tree, "A couple hours. I got a lot more skills to refine if I'm going to fight Ozai."

Uzume hummed from below the two bodies laying on her, "He's right. Azula knows about the plan so this won't be as easy. Plus, I've talked to the guy... he sucks."

Katara glared at Uzume's unhelpful words and turned back to Aang with a loving voice, "You know there is such a thing as over-training."

Aang punched the tree harder, causing the leaves to fall on him. The sound woke up Toph and Sokka so they got up from their pile on Uzume.

Uzume sighed as she cuddled into her blanket, Momo joining the resting girl and curling on top of her head.

The two water tribe siblings tried to alleviate Aang's anxiety, only for him to walk off. Sokka groaned and turned to Uzume's resting body.

"Uzume, please speak to him." Katara said, causing Uzume to groan, "Why me? I'm resting from being practically murdered."

Sokka shoved Katara, "Because you're like a cooler Katara. You and Aang just get along for some reason."

Aang needs you to support him. He thinks he's all alone, but with your new revelation, you can help him restore the Air Nation.

Uzume's eyes snapped open at the words bouncing in her head. She stretched and walked in the direction of Aang.

She found him sitting on a cliff watching the ocean. She sighed while she sat down next to him, letting her feet dangle.

"I'm not as good at calming people down as I thought... but you need to relax."

Aang huffed, "It's not that easy! I have to fight a horrible man and win in order to end this war! The war that took away my people." He pulled his knees to his chest and tears fell from his eyes. Uzume placed her hand on his shoulder.

"You're not alone anymore Aang. There's hope for our nation." Aang's head popped up from his knees.

"Our?" Uzume nodded with a sad smile on her face. Aang looked at her in disbelief before he let out a happy shout and threw himself onto the girl. She stroked through his short hair while he sobbed into her shoulder.

"There's hope." He mumbled into her shoulder. Uzume nodded with a smile on her face, "There's hope."

That night, Aang fell down on the grass, somewhat happier, "Good night Katara. Good night Sokka. Good night Toph. Good night Uzume. Good night Appa. Good night Momo. Good night Appa and Momo."

Toph yelled from beside Uzume, "Go to sleep already!"

Aang's happiness didn't last long. He woke up screaming and shook Sokka awake, "Sokka get up! I need to know what day it is!"

Sokka jumped up, "What?! Who's talking?!"

Toph sat up, "Relax, it's still two days before the invasion."

Aang hopped around Sokka's body and pulled at him, "Sokka, you've got to get up and drill your rock climbing exercises."

"What?"

Aang gestured towards a cliff, "In one of my dreams, you were running from fire nation soldiers, trying to climb this cliff, but you were too slow and they got you."

Sokka pointed to himself, "But that was just a dream, I'm a great climber."

Aang pointed upwards, "Then climb that cliff. Climb it fast!"

Sokka lazily got up and mumbled to himself, annoyed, "Stupid Avatar. Stupid cliff. Stupid dream! I can climb fast!"

Aang watched Sokka pleased. He turned to the tree girls just as Toph was about to drink from a waterskin.

"Don't drink that!" Aang yelled, startling them all, including Sokka who fell off the cliff he was climbing.

Toph spat out the water, "Why, is it poisoned?" Uzume flinched in her sleeping bag at the mention of poison.

"In my dream, we were right in the middle of the invasion, and you had to stop to use the bathroom. We died because of your tiny bladder." Aang points to Uzume who's half awake on the ground, "And you! You need to change! Your sleeves are too long. In my dream you were caught by one of them." Aang pulled at Uzume's limp body. She groaned while the boy tried to wake her up. Aang gave up and turned to Katara, "And you need to start wearing your hair up. In my dream, your hair got caught in a train, and..."

Katara cut Aang off by holding his cheek, "Aang, I know you're just trying to help. But you really need to get a grip. You're unraveling."

Aang let out a sigh, "You're right. I'm losing my mind."

"It's like every time I think about how stressed I am," Aang messed with his fingers anxiously, "I just end up more stressed. I'm like a big, growing snowball of nerves."

"Of course you are. That's 'cause you've got to fight the Fire Lord, the baddest man on the planet. And you better win, or we're all done for." Uzume nodded in agreement with Sokka.

"He once burnt down part of the palace because a servant brought him a mango instead of a peach."

"You're not helping!" Katara shouted at the pair.

Sokka stood up, "What? It's true. That's the deal, he knows it."

They all looked at Aang, worried.

"You know what? I've got just the thing. Get ready to be de-stress-i-fied." Katara smiled at the boy.

During sunset, Uzume twirled around the cliff. She had left the group to destress Aang, thinking she had nothing to offer for the boy. She was quickly proven wrong when she turned and saw Aang watching her.

He looked at the girl grumpily and threw his arms up, "Nothing they did helped." He threw himself onto the ground. Uzume smiled at his temper tantrum and paused her routine.

"You know, I get your worries. I'm scared to go back there."

She bent down to Aang's level and lifted his head, "Why don't you teach me airbending?" She asked, hoping to tire him out so he'll fall asleep. He sprung up with excitement.

"It's been so long since I've airbended with another airbender." They spent the rest of the evening practicing.

The two walked back to camp once nighttime came.

"Thanks for everything guys." Aang said while he settled into the grass.

Katara smiled at the young boy, "So do you feel less stressed? Ready for a good night's sleep?"

"Uhh...I kinda think I sorta might ... slightly feel a little better ... maybe."

Sokka shrugged at Aang's half certain words and laid down on his mat, "Then our work here is done."

They slept for a few minutes until Aang started to scream again.

Katara rushed to Aang's side, "What happened Aang?"

Aang turned from his friends sadly, "It's the nightmares. They just get worse and worse."

Sokka stroked his chin, "Looks like it's time for..." He turned away from the group, "another therapy session." He finished, now wearing a beard.

Aang looked at him angrily and disgusted, "No, that won't help. Nothing helps. There's only one thing I can do. I'm going to stay awake straight through to the invasion." He twitched while his friends watched shocked.

The next day, Katara dragged Uzume to Aang worried. She claimed the boy was laughing at Momo.

"Aang. We're all starting to get a little worried about you." Katara said to the boy who stood next to Momo.

"You've been awake too long." Sokka added.

"It's not healthy." Uzume offered, trying to help them talk Aang into sleeping.

"And you're acting downright weird." Toph unhelpfully added.

"Uhh." Aang bowed his head frustrated, "I appreciate what you guys are saying. But the stress and the nightmares, they were too much. Staying awake is the best way for me to deal with it." Aang focused on Appa and Momo. The four of them watched the boy freak out. Aang grabbed onto Sokka's collar,

"Sokka, what should we do?"

"About what?" Sokka asked.

Aang points to Appa and Momo casually chilling, "About that!"

Aang rushed to the two animals and tried to calm them down, "Come on guys, we're all on the same side!"

Uzume shook her head at the scene, "Aang!" He ignored her call for him while racing away from the group.

"I just need a jump in a cold waterfall."

That night, Uzume had the idea to make Aang a bed, "Guys he sleeps on the grass! No wonder he doesn't rest well," Was her reasoning.

Aang was now approaching their creation cautiously, "Oh look, another hallucination. An imaginary bed, made out of clouds."

"Hey! It's real! We spent hours working on it." Toph yelled at him, frustrated Uzume had made her work.

"We made it for you." Sokka said while Uzume gestured to the naked Koala-Sheep, "A good night sleep will probably take the crazy away... we hope."

"Look, you guys keep telling me I need to sleep, but I can't, the invasion's tomorrow." Aang declined the bed.

"Aang..." Katara tried to reason with him.

"No Katara, there's still so much I haven't learned. I don't need sleep. What I need is practice. Quick, hit me."

Katara shook her head, "I'm not going to hit you."

Toph eagerly stepped up, "You want me to do it?" Uzume grabbed the back of Toph's collar in an attempt to keep her away from their tired friend.

Katara grabbed his shoulder, "Listen to me, you've been training for this since the day we've met. I've seen your progress. You're smart, brave, and strong enough."

Aang looked into her eyes lovingly, "You really think so?"

Sokka cut in, "We all do. You can do this. You're ready."

Toph pointed at Aang, "You're the man, Twinkle-toes."

Uzume nodded, "You can do this easily."

"Thanks guys." Aang smiled. He yawned and spread himself out on the bed, "You know what? I think I am ready."

He fell asleep, leaving his friends to watch him with smiles on their faces. They all turned and got ready for bed themselves. Uzume fell asleep in the middle of Sokka and Toph, now content with invading her old nation.