Yo. Welcome to the start of my fic. If you have any thoughts I'd love to here them. Hopefully you'll like it as much as I like writing it.

Aang wanted to run away. The elders couldn't do this to him. Gyatso was his only friend after they told everyone that he was the Avatar, and now they think they can just rip him away from the only friend he had left? He wanted to smack their stupid old heads with his staff. The elders were supposed to be wise yet they were too stupid to see that Gyatso was the only reason he put up with them.

Aang glanced at his window, it would be easy to run away from everything. He didn't ask for this. It wasn't fair that he should be forced into accepting all this responsibility. He hopped onto the window sill and gripped his staff. Right before jumped, he felt a cold breeze behind him. He looked back. On the window sill next to him was the letter he had left for his last friend, Gyatso. He wondered once more if he wanted to leave, then remembered even if he stayed, he and Gyatso would be separated anyways. He turned back towards the outside.

"Aang?" A familiar voice said behind him.

Aang turned around. At the doorway stood his teacher and only friend: Gyatso.

"Not going to say goodbye to me in person?" He asked softly. Aang could hear in his voice that he was more sad than upset. Aang looked down and crumbled up his paper.

"I know you want to run away from this Aang, anyone would. I also know you think it's unfair, but you have to be strong. The hard times in life are only a path to the greatest times."

Aang felt his anger pushing to get out, and failed to stop it.

"How! I'm training hours on end and gave up all my friends to be the Avatar and now they want to separate me from the only teacher who sees me as an actual person! It isn't fair at all; it's completely unfair! I don't deserve this! I don't even want to be the stupid Avatar!"

"You're right. The elders should have waited to tell you, but they didn't. They should be giving you more time to grow, but they aren't. You shouldn't have to go through this, yet you can. I believe in you Aang. You are a very strong, and more importantly, very good person. The world needs someone like you to be the Avatar. Even if you don't want to be."

"But what if I can't do it? What if I fail?"

"You could wait a hundred years and still not feel ready, Aang. No one would feel ready, but you don't have to be ready. You just have to try. If you do, you will amaze even yourself, and achieve things you never would have imagined possible. And don't worry about losing me, Aang. You know I wouldn't let them take you away from me."

Aang cleared his eyes with his sleeve, then nodded. He wrapped Gyatso in a hug.

"Thanks."

Gyatso patted Aang on the shoulder and said, "Always remember Aang, only you have the power to shape your destiny. Do not let anyone change who you are. Even if they change the circumstances in which you're in."

"Aren't you telling me what to do by telling me that?" Aang said with a smile.

"Obviously, as your favorite teacher I'm an exception… Good night Aang."

"Good night Gyatso."

Gyatso went to leave, but before he left Aang called him.

Gyatso paused.

"Thanks for always being there for me." Aang said.

Gyatso smiled and nodded then left Aang alone. Aang looked at the window with a renewed sense of optimism. He wouldn't let the elders force his life's path for him. He wouldn't run away, he would stay with Gyatso no matter what. Aang thought for the first time, maybe being the Avatar wouldn't be the end of the world. It would be hard, but he could do it. Gyatso had faith in him, and that gave him faith in himself. He went back to his bed and closed his eyes. For the first time since learning who he was, he felt good about what was coming.

Water, Earth, Fire, and Air. These four elements have shaped our world, but few alive can remember a time when they were at peace: a time when the Avatar kept balance between the four nations. Nearly a hundred and five years ago my grandfather, Firelord Sozin, began the Great War when he slaughtered the Air Nomads. He passed on that war to his son, my father, Firelord Azulon. Azulon relished in war. My father was gifted with a brilliant mind and incredible bending, and was even more successful than his father before him.

I was a model son to Azulon. An unmatched bender, a legendary warrior, and an unstoppable general. However, when my son fell in battle I realized what I really was; what my father and brother are: Evil. An evil that takes and takes from this world, but never gives. An evil that threatened the balance. After my son died I left the fire nation in shame; not shame for my loss at Ba Sing Se, but shame for every victory that I brought to my terrible that very shame came the greatest gift I've ever been given. I was contacted by the White Lotus, and joined their ranks. Within months I earned their great respect, and became a Grand Lotus. In the span of a year I went from an enemy to the balance, to one of it's fiercest defenders.

While I was gone, my brother, Ozai took over the Fire Nation after our father's death. I returned to support my sister-in-law and nephew, but only my niece and nephew remained. I knew what Ozai had done, but I feigned ignorance. My priority was to protect my nephew from being corrupted by his father. I didn't know it at the time, but my return was far more important than I believed. Because of my decision, I was able to help my nephew and the avatar stop my brother, and end the war. My nephew became the new Fire Lord, and for a while all seemed well. Some even believed the balance had been mended. Then, right when we began to settle, chaos struck.

Now, the same Avatar that ended the war has not been seen for five years, and the balance is on the verge of death. Something more of a threat than any war looms over us. Before this story, however, we have to go to the beginning of this tale seven years ago: the prelude to this world on the verge of collapse.

Prelude of Fire

Book 1: Destiny

Chapter 1: The Avatar Returns

Summer, 97 AG

The Fire Nation Royal Throne Room echoed with the sound of fire. A sound which was to be expected; as long as the throne was occupied. The wall of fire always separated the Ruler from those he rules. The flames were tremendously hot, and fueled by hatred and anger. At the moment, however, the flames were tame, for the man who produced them was preoccupied with an emotion he rarely felt: pride. There seemed to only ever be two things that could invoke the emotion in Fire Lord Ozai. His armies, at least when they were successful, and his daughter. There was great reason for this pride as well. His son was a pathetic bender. The High Sage had said that Ursa would bear him with a child whose bending would be greater than any alive. It was the only reason he married to her in the first place. After Zuko was determined by the sages to have a weak affinity for bending, Ozai had been skeptical of the Sage's prediction, to say the least. The High Sage insisted that the next child may be the one the prophecies spoke of. He said while the prophecy showed Ozai's offspring would have great power, it did not specify which. Ozai suspected it was a lie to get him to spare the Sage's life, yet Ozai decided to trust the Sage's advice for his own benefit. If the next child was not a prodigy, he could simply kill the Sage then.

Though Ursa was still recovering from the birth of their first born, Ozai forced her into bearing another child. It paid off very well. Even before the child's birth, the Sages could detect the energy of the child. When she was born, Ozai himself knew that she would someday surpass even himself in skill. He would never vocally admit to it, but he knew it nonetheless. Ozai knew that day that he would need no more children. Ursa had decided on the name, one which he resented, but he had promised her to name the second in agreeance that he would name the first. It bothered him little. Her name was not important; it was the power that she would bring to their family that he cared about, and she possessed very much of it. It was this power that he was observing right now. At age twelve the girl was already showing skill beyond the level of his average military firebenders. What was even better was that she had absolute unwavering loyalty to him. Ozai was so deep in his thoughts that he almost didn't realize his daughter had finished her demonstration. He complimented her on the performance, then turned to Zuko.

"Zuko, get up and show me how little you've learned."

Ozai was ashamed that he shared blood with his failure child, and still disappointed that he had missed an opportunity to get rid of him. He still could, he supposed, but Ozai was a man of his word, so the boy lived on. Ozai was not surprised in the slightest when Zuko produced a pathetic wisp of fire with his harsh and less than elegant movements. The boy seemed to lose confidence, then lost his footing and fell face first to the ground. Ozai suppressed bitter laughter; his son was in a futile quest to earn Ozai's respect, but Ozai saw right through the mask that the child wore. Behind the anger and hot-headed exterior the boy was just like his own brother, Iroh; a soft and weak fool. The only hope Zuko had was if Ozai could teach him to be cold and tough by demonstrating those qualities to him firsthand. Of course the child failed at every chance he was given to prove his worth. Time and time again the boy would make a fool of himself by losing his temper or, in this case, his footing.

Ozai's felt a hot mixture of anger, shame, and indignation as he spoke. "Once again you prove to me that Azula will make a much more suitable Fire Lord than you ever could."

Zuko lowered his head and said nothing.

"Thank you, Father." Azula told him.

"I expect nothing less from you Azula, you showed me more skill in your performance than I've seen from Zuko in his lifetime. I look forward to see how much you will have learned next week. I have a war meeting to attend to soon, so both of you shall leave at once."

Zuko and Azula bowed towards their father and made their way to the door, as he had commanded.

He watched the two leave, and waited for his generals. Being Fire Lord was more of a chore than he had imagined, but he relished the power he had. Ozai often imagined what his children might do as Fire Lord. Azula was smart, he was sure she would do him proud. Zuko was a problem. He talked big, but when faced with reality the boy often didn't have the spine to impose his will. Ozai did hope the boy improved, but after so long he no longer expected it to happen. The first general entered the room. Ozai straightened up. It was Admiral Hao.

"Admiral. How is the blockade of the North going?"

"Very well sir. Quiet as always."

"Good. I don't need to remind you not to ease your grip on them."

"I'm well aware of the importance, sir. Even a second of slack opens up the possibility of the Avatar escaping. I won't have it happen. Have you read the report captain Zhao sent?"

"Yes. It's an interesting idea, but a foolish one. Who knows if what he suggests is even true? I won't risk our hold on the off chance that his fairy-tale happens to be true."

"I agree, my lord."

"For now maintain the blockade. Hopefully the Avatar will stay put until we defeat the Earth Kingdom. After that we can consider entertaining Zhao's idea."

While walking out of the throne room, Azula leaned toward Zuko and whispered to him.

"Why do you always make things worse for yourself Zuzu?" She told him. "We all know you aren't nearly as good as me at firebending. If you just stuck to forms for your level of skill you'd do better."

"Shut up Azula. I will get better than you. Just wait." Zuko replied in a hushed voice.

"Oh really? How exactly do you plan on getting better than me? We both know I'm leagues ahead."

The two exited the room. Zuko spoke louder.

"I'll train hard. I won't stop until I'm ahead, and when I am I'll wipe that stupid smile off your face!" Zuko said.

"Train hard? Is that your secret plan to get better than me?" Azula asked.

"W-w-well…" Zuko stammered, "Yeah. It is. What else would I do?"

"i don't know, but maybe if you spent all that time you spend daydreaming on training instead, you actually might make some progress."

"I don't daydream! And what about you? The only thing you've done in the last few weeks is sit in the library all day reading ."

"You should try it then, seeing as how I'm still the better bender here."

"Just leave me alone Azula."

"Fine," Azula sighed in mock defeat, "If that's what you want."

Azula turned a corner, leaving her brother confused. Azula hardly ever just leaves him alone after he asks.

Whatever, Zuko thought to himself as he entered his room and jumped onto his bed. hopefully she's thinking that being royalty is too much for her and she should run away.

Zuko stared up at the decorations on his bed's canopy as he theorized as to just what was making his sister act so strange. He wished his mother was still here; she always knew what to say to him. Ever since she disappeared Zuko realized just how much he needed her encouragement. Especially with his father.

Ozai always acted as if he was a mistake that wouldn't go away. One day he'll make sure that his father will be proud of him. He would do anything to have Father look at him like he does Azula, but every time Zuko tries it seems he makes things worse than they were before.

You know you'll never be as strong and confident as Azula. A thought said in his head. The thought was nothing new. Zuko found it creeping in the back of his head since he was little. Some days it was just louder, and more persuasive. This was one of those days. He wrapped his head in his pillow in an attempt to shut the voice out, then went to sleep.

Azula was not as successful in falling asleep, in fact, she hadn't had a good night's rest since a few weeks ago. Again she found herself staring at the ceiling while thinking back to the events two weeks ago that had since plagued her nights. The events flashed in her mind: the events that would change her life in a way she knew would ruin everything she ever dreamed of.

Azula had been outside in one of the many Royal Palace gardens showing off a new firebending move to her two friends Mai and Ty Lee. Of course, Mai seemed not to care, and was more interested in a bug on the ground. Ty Lee was cheering on Azula's display. Azula was momentarily distracted with her friend's cheering and in her confidence lost focus. She tripped on a small rock and lost her footing. She closed her eyes as she began to topple down and threw an arm out to catch herself. She feared she would fracture her wrist, but when she opened her eyes she was perfectly fine, even if she was a bit embarrassed. She sighed in relief, and her friend started her way in a hurry.

"Azula! Are you okay?" Ty Lee asked in a panicked squeal that hurt Azula more than the fall had.

Azula grunted as she got off the ground then looked to her friend.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I just lost my footing because of someone's obnoxious cheering."

"At least I know I'm innocent." Mai muttered, as Ty Lee huffed at her friends' teasing.

"Sorry," She said, "but I'm glad you're okay Azula. I really thought you were going to get hurt."

"I'm fine." Azula assured her. "I must have got lucky and hit some soft ground."

"Your arm is covered in dirt by the way." Mai told her.

Azula quickly swiped the dirt off her arm and said to her friends, "I had to land on something you know. Anyway that was nearly all of the routine; I've gotten it down pretty well. In a few weeks I'll get to show Father. I think he'll be happy with it."

"Really looks like you've gotten it all down." Mai said sarcastically.

Ty Lee shrunk as Azula gave a killer glare towards her other friend.

"Hey, Azula," She said. "Why don't we go see what your brother's up to, I know you love bothering him."

Her idea instantly changed the mood of both Azula and Mai, as one developed an evil grin and the other looked at the ground and grew a few shades of pink in the cheeks.

"Ty Lee," said Azula. "That might be the best idea you've had all week."

Zuko was easy to find. He also enjoyed being in the royal gardens, but unlike Azula he didn't have anyone to be with.

"Hey Zuzu! That's a cute little move you did there; do you mind showing us more of your amazing firebending skills?" Azula asked in a sickly sweet voice that never failed to make Zuko furious.

"I'd rather you get lost," Zuko retorted.

"So pushy and demanding Zuzu," Azula said in a hurt voice. "Honestly I have no idea what you see in him Mai."

Mai's cheeks grew even more red and Zuko said, "Shut up Azula! How do you even have friends when you make fun of them? Do you pay them to hang out with you?"

"Easy enough to say when you yourself don't seem to have any friends at all." His sister retorted.

"HEY I got an idea!" Ty Lee began, "Let's leave Zuko alone. I was wrong, this is a silly idea. We don't need Zuko to have a good time, after all. Also, both of your auras are looking really bad right now."

"I like Ty Lee's idea Azula." Zuko said. "You should really listen to her, but then again only a good friend listens to their friends."

"Who are you to say whether I'm a good friend or not, Zuzu? Shouldn't you get some friends of your own first before judging?

"Shut up and go away!" Zuko said as he threw a small ball of fire at Azula. Azula swat the flame

"You could leave to you know? Also learn to control that anger. You'll burn something down if you keep tossing fire like it's confetti."

"Why should I leave? You just came here to bother me anyway."

"I'm hurt you think I would stoop that low Zuzu, me and my friends here were coming to hang out by the pond when we saw you performing those legendary fire bending skills that you have."

"Whatever Azula, just don't follow me." Zuko said as he moved past her to head to the gardens on the other side of the palace.

"I'm sure I'll see you two again when she decides to bug me some more." He said to Ty Lee and Mai as he walked past them.

"Bye Zuko! Good luck with your firebending!" Said Ty Lee.

"See you." Muttered Mai, who was still looking at the ground.

Zuko walked away at a brisk pace and left the three to themselves.

"Well that was as fun as it always is. I swear he makes it so easy to mess with him." Azula told her friends as they began to walk towards the pond.

"Why do you always have to drag me into your feud with Zuko?" Mai complained.

"Duh, you're his big weak spot."

"Weak spot?"

"Of course Mai, he totally likes you," Ty Lee explained as Mai's cheeks burned, "You can tell just by how he acts around you, haven't you noticed? Every time you show up he avoids looking at you and tries to act all tough. I think it's pretty cute actually."

"Ugh please never use the word cute to describe anything related to my brother ever again Ty Lee." Azula groaned then smirked as she finished. "Now that I mention it, you too Mai."

"I don't like him," Mai said, "and he definitely doesn't like me."

"Don't hide it, Mai, I've known for a while that you do. How else do you explain getting all shy every time he's nearby? Well, more shy, I mean." Azula tease.

"Fine, I like him. Just shut up about it already."

They reached the pond as Azula busted out laughing at the expense of her shy friends awkward position. As she was laughing however, the ground began to shake. Small earthquakes weren't rare in the Fire Nation, but every now and then a bigger one would show up and do a little bit of damage. This quake was one of those bigger ones. Azula stumbled and fell. As she was falling, she couldn't help but think how unlucky she had been today.

"Azula!" Yelled Ty Lee when she saw her friend slip.

Azula shut her eyes and braced for the splash of water. She wondered if this was some sort of cosmic justice for the fountain incident. She threw her arms out instinctively. She was more than confused when she hit not the water, but a person. Her confusion grew when she hit something else, something solid. The ground? After a few moments the shaking stopped, and Ty Lee came rushing towards them.

"Are you two okay?" Ty Lee said, her voice uncharacteristically quiet.

"Having the time of my life." Said Mai sarcastically, while getting up with Azula.

"I'm fine, I- I think so at least."

"Azula" Ty Lee began, "how did you do that? One second you were falling and the next… you just switched directions and fell backwards. I've never seen anything like it."

Azula heard, but wasn't paying her friend any attention. Her mind was racing. She had suspected what she did from the start, but it's crazy; it just couldn't be possible. Why now? If she was... she would know. Wouldn't she? There was only one way to confirm what her mind dreaded to think of, to confirm what would ruin her life and crush every dream she had.

Azula looked at the water of the pond and held her hand out palm stretched open. She shut her eyes and focused. She prayed she was wrong as she willed for the water to move toward her. She heard both her friends gasp, unable to make words for what they were seeing.

Azula knew before she opened her eyes. She knew that the dirt she fell on less than an hour ago wasn't soft, but solid as a rock. She knew it should have broken her wrist. She knew that she didn't land on her hand, but that the ground caught her by the hand. She knew that she didn't magically switch directions while falling in the pond. She knew that a solid gust of wind had pushed her back. She knew that the water on her hand had flown to her from the pond below. She knew, but she didn't want to. The aftershock of the quake shook the ground, yet it was not this that caused Azula's world to collapse. She, Azula, the princess of the Fire Nation, could bend all of the elements. She was the one they were looking for. She was them: the Avatar.

Now here she was, sitting in her bed again after what felt like years, but was only a few weeks. Azula wondered for the thousandth time since that day just what this huge revelation would mean for her future. Why did the fates decide that she of all people should be given this power? Should she tell her father? Would he train her and use her as his nation's secret weapon, or would he give her to his sages and try to find a way to break the Avatar's, her, power? Would he kill her then and there? She was scared. Azula was uncertain for the first time in her life and had no one to count on but herself. The only thing she was sure of was that her life wouldn't turn out how she had hoped. This changed things, and it was very likely that change was not for the better. She turned and shut her eyes, trying to block out her thoughts. Azula prepared for another night of restless sleep.