Extraordinary: Fanning the Flames
Summary: The word 'extra' is defined in the dictionary as something additional to what was expected. In the story we all know, everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked. Only the Avatar, master of all four elements, could stop them. He popped out of an iceberg, and the balance was restored, through blood and loss and trial. In this story, he has something a little… extra on his side. Zuko/OC
There are no extra pieces in the universe. Everyone is here because he or she has a place to fill, and every piece must fit itself into the big jigsaw puzzle. – Deepak Chopra
Prologue (revised)
"S-sister Ashanti… I-I asked Sister K'rika for some of the ch-cherry pie she made t'day," a little girl stuttered out bashfully, little hands tugging on the Sister's long skirts. Her long dark hair blocked hair face from the older woman, who peered down at the blushing child.
"Yes, dear girl? And what did she say?" Sister Ashanti smiled warmly at the girl, half wondering if she had ever been so small, so young. She bent down so she was the same height as the girl, and brushed the hair away from her face, tucking it behind her ears neatly. The child was revealed to be Akari, one of Sister Ashanti's favorite children, and one of the quietest in the entire Western Air Temple. That is, unless she was in the company of her more… rambunctious brother, Aang. The Western Air nomads were very close to the Southern Air nomads, which was good for Akari. She never talked quite so much as when she was playing with her younger brother.
Akari glanced up into Sister Ashanti's eyes, frowning a little. "She said that I could have a slice of… Of the 'eggstrah'. I-I said 'Thank you', but Sister, what's 'eggstrah'?" Akari was so adorable, Ashanti mused to herself, that she sometimes wished she was her child. Of course, with the way Air Nomad culture was, it didn't matter that she wasn't her biological child. She was probably the closest thing Akari had to a mother, and it was moments like this one that reminded her of that.
"Extra, my dear Akari," Sister Ashanti said softly, "It means something… More than what you planned on. In this case, Sister Karika baked one pie more than she planned, and that is the only reason you didn't have to wait until supper with the rest of us." The normally calm Sister had a playful, teasing glint in her eyes. Akari was so much fun to tease, and she made it a point to do so often.
"I – S-sorry, Sister Ashanti!" Akari squeaked out. "But the cherry pie was so yummy, and, and, and– " The girl was cut off by a playful scream, as Sister Ashanti gave chase, and any thought of further apology was gone.
"I want some cherry pie, too, Akari! Come here!"
"Nooooooo! I already ate it!"
"I'll just have to tickle it out of you!"
The sound of laughter and squealing rose up, above the courtyard the two had been speaking in, to reach the ears of those above. Three elderly women, dressed in thick yellow robes despite the heat, were speaking softly. The Elders of the Western Air Temple did not often have time to leave their work and watch the children, but they made exceptions.
"The sister of the Avatar…"
"Yes, she shall do well in aiding him, I believe. Akari is a young girl still, but she already shows herself to be more than proficient in Airbending. Look at how she evades the Sister."
"Indeed. Master Piyana says she expects the child to exceed her in only a few years. We have a prodigy in front of us, my Sisters."
"She shall need it," Kaliya, the one who had spoken up first observed. "She will be the one to accompany the Avatar, and aid him on his journeys. That much, I can see."
The other two were silent. Kaliya had been born on a stormy night, when the winds blew most strong, and she had a stronger connection to their element than most. It was rumored that the wind spoke to her, and she could sometimes get glimpses of what would come, from the breeze that spoke of time and far-away things.
"May the Spirits bless them both," Kaliya invoked softly. "Somehow… I have the feeling they will need it. The winds will not be calm, for them."
Author's Note: This is a rewrite of a story I wrote once on a different account, but that was absolutely terrible. (Pre-re-edit, this version was rather terrible too, with lots of name errors - since I wrote the chapters with longs gaps of time in between, I embarrassingly kept misspelling 'Akari' as 'Akira', and therefore if anyone wants to beta a message would be gladly welcome.) I hope this is even marginally better; drop me a line and let me know, hey.