Updated 13. May 2013

The Last of the Benders Saga

My grandmother used to tell me stories about the old days; a time of peace when the Avatar kept balance between the Water Tribes, Earth Kingdom, Fire Nation, and Air Nomads. But everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked. Only the Avatar could master all four elements; earth, fire, water and air. Only he could stop the ruthless firebenders. But when the world needed him most, he vanished. Some people believe that the Avatar was never reborn into the Air Nomads and that the cycle is broken, while others claim there was never an Avatar to begin with.

A hundred years have passed and the Fire Nation already won the war, creating an uneasy peace between themselves and the two remaining nations. Two years ago, my father and the men of my tribe journeyed to the Earth Kingdom to help fight against the Fire Nation, leaving me and my brother to look after our tribe.

For over a year after the Great War between the nations, we waited for our father to come back, so we could tour the now peaceful world as a family. Slowly we watched as the other warriors returned to their families bringing new items from the outside world and information about other warriors, though none knew anything of where our father was. The last one to return was Bato. We were hopeful that he would bring news of our dad, but all he could say is that they got separated during battle and he didn't know anything of his whereabouts. The good thing was, he claimed, that having no news meant it was likely he was still alive somewhere, trying to return home to us. We waited for several more months before deciding to go looking for him. With Gran-Pakku and Gran-Gran's wishes, we set sail towards the Earth Kingdom.

Chapter 1

"Are we there yet?" Sokka sat back lazily and yawned.

Katara turned and glared at him. "If you want to get there so fast, why don't you help by rowing?"

Sokka sat up fast. "I was just commenting on the long time we've been out here. Plus aren't the sails supposed to help us go faster?"

Her look darkened. Hastily, Sokka changed the subject, "Have I mentioned how lovely your hair loopies look today?"

Katara stepped towards him, "I have been working so hard and you just sit there, being lazy—"

"Look out!" Sokka yelled and pointed ahead. Katara flipped around to see land coming up much faster than anticipated. She moved her arms quickly, causing the water near the boat to swirl, turning the boat. Another motion of her arms and the boat turned completely, avoiding the nearby rocks and setting its course directly towards a nearby bay, which hopefully contained a harbor. Sokka screamed through all of it.

"Are you done screaming yet?"

"Are you done trying to kill us yet?"

"In case you didn't notice, genius, I just saved us."

"Yeah, yeah."

Silently, Sokka stood up and helped Katara steer them into the bay. Sure enough, there was a port. Together they managed to bring the boat in. The silence between them didn't last long, though, as Katara began tying the boat to the dock.

"You're tying that wrong."

"No I'm not."

"Yes you are. Here let me do it."

"I am perfectly capable of tying my own knots, Sokka."

"You're a girl Katara. Girls are naturally less talented in the arts of knot tying than us men."

"What?!" Her voice raised several octaves. "You are the most sexist, immature, nut-brained… I'm embarrassed to be related to you!"

"Um Katara…" He pointed at a spot directly behind her.

"NO! That's it! I'm done helping you! From now on, YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN!"

"Hey there!" Someone yelled. She flipped around to see four people running towards them. Immediately, she felt heat rising into her cheeks, embarrassed to have been seen losing her cool.

"Um, hi," Katara managed.

The boy who spoke approached. He was incredibly attractive, with spiked hair and a piece of wheat between his teeth. "My name's Jet and these are Longshot, Pipsqueak and the Duke," he motioned to the other three boys. "And you are?"

"Just two people from nowhere in particular," Sokka jumped in.

"Sokka…" Katara whispered, "Don't be rude." She turned back to Jet. "We're from the Southern Water Tribe. This is my brother, Sokka. My name's Katara."

"Your brother?" Jet smiled. Sokka scowled angrily in the background. "So what're two siblings from the South Pole doing up here in the Earth Kingdom?"

"Nothing in particular. Just visiting, traveling, touring the world," Sokka cut in again, clearly upset he was being ignored.

"We're looking for our father. His name's Hakoda. He went to fight in the war and never returned." Katara glared at her brother.

Jet's smile slipped a little. "That is a familiar story," he mumbled quietly. "A good place to start would be in Ba Sing Se. They have a whole set up where they help you find missing people," his voice returned to normal.

"Thank you."

"Do you need anything right now?" The boy grinned.

"Nope," Sokka stepped up. "Thanks. We can handle this ourselves." He made as if to push Jet away from his sister.

"Well, actually, we could use some help finishing tying the boat to the dock," Katara mentioned.

"Of course. Guys!" And with that, the four boys jumped up and helped them. Sokka, meanwhile glared at Katara until Jet reappeared.

"Anything else you guys want help with?"

"That will be all. Thank you so much," Sokka once again tried to push them away.

"Um," Something in her wanted to see how much she could get this attractive man to do before her brother completely lost his cool. "We have a few things below deck…" She trailed off when they disappeared without question.

"Oh sure, just let the strange boys on the boat, great idea Katara." She turned to smack him, but the four boys jumped on faster.

"We can help carry them to wherever you're staying. Which is…?" Jet looked questioningly between the two of them.

"Uh…" It occurred to Katara that she actually had no idea what they were planning to do.

"Thank you, but we're fine on our own," Sokka said.

They returned from inside the boat, carrying Sokka's and Katara's baggage. "That may be true, but at least allow us to give you a place to stay for a few nights. The looks on your faces said it all. Plus, I doubt you have enough money to afford a hotel."

Sokka bristled a little at this. "We'll find one. Come on, Katara." He jumped off the boat. "And we can carry our bags just fine ourselves!"

Jet and his friends obediently dropped the bags over to Sokka, who collapsed under their weight. "Suit yourselves," he turned again to Katara. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask. We're on the outskirts of town near here. Just show up by the trees; we'll be able to find you from there."

"Thanks," she called after them as they disappeared.

After searching for three hours for a hotel that would take Water Tribe coins, their feet were tired, and their moods were slowly getting worse and worse. "We couldn't have just taken their help, could we? You had to be all prideful," she glared at him.

"Hey! I didn't know they wouldn't take our coins, and those guys seemed a little too…" he trailed off.

"A little too what, Sokka? A little too nice? A little too helpful? A little too willing to house us?" He raised his hand for her to be silent, but she continued. "And at the very least, could you manage to carry this? It's your bag!"

"Will you stop shouting at me, Katara? People are starting to stare."

"Fine." She stomped on his toe.

"OW! What was that for?!"

"Stop yelling Sokka, people are beginning to stare."

They glared at each other a moment, but continued walking on in silence. Two men brushed by them without a second glance, immersed in their conversaion.

"…they've captured another Earthbender."

"Really? How many is that this week? And here I thought they'd all but died out."

"Hahaha! Who knows? It sounded like they found an entire camp filled with those people."

"I shudder to think what would happen if we let those witches live in normal society with the rest of us anymore."

"Don't say such unlucky things! If I had my way, they'd all be gone in the next month…" The men's voices trailed off as they got further away. Sokka and Katara exchanged a confused look for a moment. Curiosity seemed to get the better of Sokka, because he approached a nearby elderly looking woman.

"Excuse me, ma'am, but I was wondering something. What happens when Earthbenders are captured?"

"Why the same thing that happens to captured Firebenders, young man."

"Which is what?" Katara cut in.

"They're executed, of course."

"They're what?!"

"Don't shout so loudly, young lady. What do you mean 'what'? Where have you been all this time?"

"Uh…" Neither of them were certain how to answer.

"Why are they executed?" Sokka finally managed.

"All benders are. Seriously, have you young people been living under a rock?"

"All benders are executed?" Katara gasped.

"Yes. As part of the truce reached between the Fire Nation and the Earth Kingdom following the war, benders of any kind are to be hunted down and executed. Bending has been made illegal by both countries."

They both stared at her.

"Now if you're done asking stupid questions, I have better things to do with my day." The grumpy old woman wandered away.

The siblings stood in silence for a moment.

"Katara, you're–"

"I know." They both knew. They didn't need to say it out loud. She wasn't safe here.

AN: I much prefer this version to the old one. Let me know what you think, and if you're getting alerts from these updates. Please review!