Authors Note: I don't own Avatar: The Last Air bender, I only own Verona. Also, I got some information here from Wikipedia.
Chapter 1
I guess waking up in the middle of nowhere freezing in the snow isn't the best way to wake up. Especially when I'm wearing shorts and a t-shirt. I shivered uncontrollably and slowly stood up. "What the hell just happened?" I muttered.
I sneezed then rubbed my arms. I was looking out at an ocean with ice blocks on it. Oh, my god, I am freaking freezing! I sneezed again. Where can I find some shelter? I turned around and squinted my eyes, trying to see farther. I saw a black outline and figured I go there. I stepped forward and my leg suddenly sunk in the ground. A whole new wave of cold burst into me. I screamed.
So, my father taught me to keep calm in the worst possible situations, he's a police man. He was teaching me that since I was a kid. I sneezed again. That scream put me in my place and I stuck my foot out. How exactly do you know when you catch hypothermia? I was afraid to move from my spot so I did the next best thing.
"Help! Help!" I screamed.
I was screaming for a while and my throat started to hurt. My feet, which only had sandals covering them, where numb and so were my hands. What happened? How did I even get here? I got flash backs of where I was before. My fourteenth birthday, yesterday.
I cringed as my step-mother licked a spot on a napkin and wiped my face. She smoothed my hair down while I glared at her. She patted by cheeks twice then smiled and turned around to face the camera. She put her arm around me and I forced a smile.
"Great picture!" My dad gave us the camera to look at the picture. I looked miserable. "Honey, it's your fifteenth birthday, try to look a bit more happy."
"I would if Maria would stop annoying me." I muttered, Maria, my step-mother, glared at me.
She pulled me to the side and pitched my arm, "Listen, your father took a lot of time trying to father up the whole family and if you mess this up I swear I will smack you into tomorrow."
I felt like pulling her brown hair out of her spray-tanned skin. "What does my father see in you?" I glared at her then smacked her arm away.
Her face went red, she was about to grab me again, but then my father announced it was time to blow out the cake. I quickly escaped from her and planted myself in front of the cake. It was made of ice-cream, the only type of cake I actually like. I glanced around and forced a smile. Only my step-mother's side of the family was here, my dad's side didn't want to be in her family's presence. I don't blame them. They were a bunch of gold-digging, horrible people. But, of course, my father doesn't see that.
"Little girl, why aren't you smiling? This is your party, don't be rude." My new grandmother said and slapped my hand.
"Can you not?" The words escaped my mouth and mostly everyone glared at me.
"Honey, calm down." My father smiled nervously. He lit the candles. Everyone sang the Happy Birthday song, but they didn't sound too thrilled. Maria squeezed in between me and my dad.
"Did you really have to wear your bathing suit under those clothes? It looks tacky." She whispered.
I resisted the urge to yell at her and shut my eyes and made my wish. I wish I was somewhere where I belong and needed, somewhere where I'll be who I really am and people will accept me.
Next thing I know, I'm waking up in this snowy setting. I am dreaming. That's got to be it. Could you catch hypothermia and die in dreams? I ignored that thought and continued shouting for help. I heard splashing and turned around and covered my mouth to hold in a scream.
A huge, furry white monster with huge horns and a giant arrow on it's head. On it was three people. On was a young boy, wearing an orange robe of some sort with a blue tattoo of an arrow on his head. He was steering the beast. In the saddle was two other people, a girl and a boy, both wore bulky blue, fur coats. The girl had caramel-colored skin and dark, long brown hair in a pony tail. The boy looked just like expect he looked older and his pony-tail was only on the top, the sides were shaven.
The boy with the arrow tattoo glanced around and saw me staring up at him. He stopped the beast and started yelling something. My ears went deaf and black spots appeared everywhere. The boy flew off the beast and landed next to me. I drop to the cold ground and everything faded out.
I woke because someone was repeatedly poking my face. I moved my head slightly, a motion for the person to stop, and it did stop. I opened my eyes, they felt as if they've been glued together. I was facing the three people I saw on the beast. I yelped then jumped up and quickly fell down. Everything was spinning around. I noticed I had a thick, fur coat around me.
"I suppose we're going to find a baby in the snow next." The boy with the pony-tailed mused.
The girl elbowed him, "Be quiet." she helped me sit up. "Are you alright?" she asked.
I shook my head, "I-I am f-freezing." My voice shook uncontrollably. I sneezed.
"Maybe because you're practically naked out here. In the snow. You know, winter?" The pony-tailed boy said.
"Sokka!" The girl warned. Something growled and I realized I was on the furry monster. I fainted again.
The next time I woke, I was in a tent and I fairly warm. I stretched and yawned then leaned up. Where was I? I was laying on a fur carpet and I was slightly disgusted about how much fur form dead animals I have near me. I was wearing a wool shirt and pants, a fur coat, and leather boots were beside the small fire that kept the tent warm.
I was glad my father taught me how to be calm, otherwise, I was be crying and screaming my eyes out because I definitely new this was not a dream. But, my eyes did start blurring up and hot tears escaped them quickly. What if I never see my father again? What if Maria drugged me, threw me in a plane and left me in the middle of no where?
"Are you crying? What happened?" I jumped up then quickly wiped my eyes. It was the girl I saw on the monster.
"No, no. I'm just realizing that this is not a dream." I forced a laughed.
"Of course it's not." She gave me a friendly smile. "I'm Katara, what's your name?"
"My name's Verona. Nice to meet. Sorry we have to meet under these circumstances. You know, me passing out and everything." I replied and smiled sheepishly.
"It's okay, you were getting really sick. You still look really pale, are you feeling better?" She asked. I nodded. "Why were you out there without any coat or anything? Where are you from? I haven't seen you around here, it's a pretty small tribe."
"It's complicated." I said and stood. She nodded understanding.
"I'm going to be gone for a while, so make yourself at home." She smiled and left the tent.
I stayed there for a couple of minutes, debating whether or not I should look around. I decided I should so I quickly ran my hand through my long, black hair and exited the tent. It wasn't as cold now, maybe it was because I was 'half naked'. I looked around. The place was like a little village, there was tents set up everywhere, kids running around, adults looking after them (I noticed they were all women), and a giant igloo. There was also something that looked like a lighthouse made of snow. The boy who with the pony-tail was fixing it so I decided to talk to him, Katara wasn't around.
I tapped his shoulder, he groaned. "What now?" He saw me and glared. "Oh, the other person who we found stuck in the snow. Where do all you people come from?" He went back to his snow-sculpting.
So, I come from a rich family. Being ignored doesn't exactly appeal to me, of course I had something to say. "Oh, excuse me for being helpless and not knowing where I was or how I got there. Sorry for the inconvenience." I shifted in my itchy coat.
"Speaking of how you got there, where are you from and who are you?" He questioned, studying me critically.
I cleared my throat. "My name is Verona. I come from England, well, I'm originally from America. Who are you and where am I?" I asked.
"England? What is that, is it in the fire nation? And why do you want to know who I am?" He looked at me suspiciously.
All I could think is wow, this boy has problems. "What? Fire nation, what is that? Am I that far north that you don't even know what England is?"
He stared at me like I was an idiot. "I've never heard of England. You don't know what the Fire nation is? You know, fire bending, bending the fire?"
"Oh, god, I wish I was dreaming. I must have landed in a nutty town." I muttered. "Where am I?"
"Sokka, leave the poor girl alone." An old women approached me and shooed off 'Sokka'. "You are in the Southern Water Tribe. What's this I hear about England and America?" she eyed me warily.
Oh, my god, I thought solemnly, these people really don't know what England and America is. Where am I? Suddenly, I felt like my limbs were being torn apart. I felt like I was being vacuumed up. I was lifted up and dropped to the ground. The setting and me changed. Everything was a weird sepia tone. I looked down and saw my body passed out on the ground. I shrieked and fell back. People were rushing to me, wondering what happened. What did happen? I thought.
"Sorry for that painful experience, it is hard traveling to the Spirit World if you aren't the Avatar, I had to get you here myself." I turned to the person who spoke. It was a tale man with white, long hair and a white beard and mustache.
"What...what just happened? Can you explain all this?" I asked.
He nodded. "You are in the Spirit World, it is exactly what it says it is. The world where spirits roam. Listen, child. You were transferred from another world, it is one you call Earth, right? A wish was what brought you here, you wished, and I quote, 'I wish I was somewhere where I belong and needed, somewhere where I'll be who I really am and people will accept me.' That wish, my dear, has become very true."
I nodded, not really understanding. "So, I'm needed here? How? Why? And, I said somewhere where I'll be who I really am, am I someone else? I think I look the same to me."
"Yes, you are needed here. The Avatar needs you." He had a faraway look in his eyes then he looked back at me. "You are very much yourself. You are just who you really are, not in terms in person, but you soul. You'll find out what you are soon enough."
"What I am? I'm a what? Oh, god. Also, what is the Avatar? And fire-bending, what is that?" I asked.
"The Avatar is a spiritual being who is reincarnated when the last one dies. The Avatar is able to control all element, water, earth, fire, and air. The human world here is divided into four nations: the Water Tribes, the Earth Kingdom, the Air Nomads, and the Fire Nation. Each nation has its own natural element, on which it bases its society. Furthermore, people known as Benders have the ability to manipulate the element of their nation. The Fire nation has created a war, they are steadily going strong and control many parts of the world. Their fire bending is ruthless, they will stop at nothing to get their way. I hope this explained much to you." he said.
I nodded, I understood. "I get it. But, will I ever go back home? To Earth?" I questioned.
"You can go back, it's very complicated, though. But, my dear, you are needed here. The new Avatar needs your help in learning all the elements."
"That's a pretty big thing to ask for a nobody like me." I muttered.
"You will see soon that you are very important. Also, I am surprised at how well your taking this." he said.
I smiled sadly, "My father taught me to be in-control and calm in the worse possible scenarios."
"Your father has taught you well. Will you take it in consideration, helping the Avatar complete his journey?"
"I don't need to, I've decided to stay. There's not much going on at home, sure I'll miss my father, but that's it. This is my calling, and I'm going to answer it." I said defiantly.
He smiled, "Wonderful. Now, there's a fire nation fleet is near, I need to send you back."
I nodded, "Alright, but one more question. Who am I? Like, who am I really? My soul, what do you mean by that? And, who are you?"
"Lets just say you and the Avatar have a lot in common. Call me Roku." he winked and then I felt like I was being ripped apart. The being vacuumed part didn't come though, I went right back into my body.
I jumped up, scaring a bunch of kids who were gathering around me. The old woman stared at me, Sokka glared.
"Fire nation! They're on their way!" I told him.
"What? How do you know?" The old woman asked.
"The spirit world – Roku! We need to do something, they're on their way!" I shouted.
Sokka suddenly stared at something in the distance. I turned, it was like a glowing light heading straight towards the sky. What is that? "Oh, no. Katara." Sokka whispered.
"Sokka, it's probably nothing." The old woman said.
"Gran-gran, what if it's not?" He said.
The woman questioned about what I said about Roku. "Did you meet him in the Spirit World?" she asked.
"Yes, ma'am, he was the one that warned me about the fire nation fleet heading this way." I said, looking around nervously.
"That's strange. I don't see any fire nation. Why would Avatar Roku-" She started.
"Avatar? He's the Avatar?"
"Was, child. He disappeared a over a hundred years ago." She eyed me.
"Huh." Was all I said. Where these people not going to believe me? "What about the fleet that's coming this way?"
"What fleet? There is none! The fire nation attacked us long ago, why would they come back, nothing's left here." Sokka yelled.
I looked at him sadly. "Hey, guys!" Katara's familiar voice rang out.
Sokka suddenly pulled Katara from the boy with the arrow tattoo on his head. "What was that light?" He asked.
We all noticed smoke in the distance. "The girl was right, the fire nation is on their way." the old woman said.
Sokka glared at the boy. "This is all your fault! You signaled them with that light, now they're heading this way!"
"Sokka, you don't understand-" Katara started.
"Yes, I do! He's with the fire nation, Katara!" He turned to the boy again. "Leave, now! You've made enough trouble!" The boy said nothing, he had a surprised look planted on his face. "Go!" Sokka persisted.
He turned, then tapped a large stick he had. It turned into a glider-looking mechanism and he flew away. An air-bender, I thought, in awe. The old woman held back Katara, who stared after the boy. Sokka shouted orders to the young kids and they scampered off. The left of the village left in preparation of the fire nation's arrival.
I walked over to her, "Don't worry, Katara. Everything will fall into place soon." I said and glanced in the way where the smoke came from. I could already see a large boat made of metal heading this way.