Good morning people! This is a new fanfic I'm starting up (with a plotline, yay!) Anyway, I'll start out with a silent chapter. No dialogue, just storytelling. Don't hate me for it but I just wanted it this way. I hope this chapter isn't too bad. Well, here it goes!

The beginning of a revelation

Winter. It was such a harsh season, with its blistering snow storms that buried cities; the howling winds that blew the roofs off of houses; and the lethal hail that fell from the sky that could even penetrate glass. It was a time of cold, and a time of anticipation for many plants and animals, who lay in wait for the early onset of spring. Winter was always thought of as brutal and uncaring of whatever it destroyed. But…that was for people who didn't live in the Water Tribe.

It was nearing the end of December, and even then, it was snowing every day in the Northern Water Tribe. But, for all the Waterbenders, it was like paradise. There was nothing that a Waterbender loved more than just to be surrounded by their natural element. Water is found nearly everywhere you go. In snow, in ice, in plants, in animals, and even in thin air. Being surrounded by water was like home for these people. So in the Northern Water Tribe, when winter came around, instead of everyone going inside, people did the exact opposite and went outside to play around in the falling snow or even practice some of their forms. This tribe was a very peaceful one, filled with many amazing people with a great sense of culture. It was a tribe that resided, quite obviously from the name, in the North Pole. Like the Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation, the Water Tribe had the royal family. This particular couple was quite unusual, however. Unlike many people in the Water Tribe, this couple had porcelain white skin, making them look almost transparent when they walked out in the sunlight. They also had striking ruby red and brown hair. For this reason, the husband and wife were constantly mistaken for being Fire Nation, which they thought was quite prejudice, since the colour of your hair has absolutely nothing to do with what nation you originate from, but it couldn't be helped.

Speaking of the husband and wife…

The husband of course, was the dominant. Ruler of the entire North Pole, his duties were to his nation and for his nation. Over the years, they have managed to keep contact with their sister tribe, which resided all the way on the other side of the world in the South Pole, and both have been thriving. The man's name was Akashi Masaomi. Being the only son in his family, he was destined to be heir to the throne, and since birth he excelled in everything he did. He always seemed quite cold in nature, much like the climate he lives in, and he dealt with many business related affairs back in his nation and overseas. He was also an extremely skilled Waterbender, the most powerful in his tribe, and he intended to keep it that way.

The wife was like his polar opposite. Being the queen to his king, she was a kind woman who was married to Masaomi through an arranged marriage, the symbol of their relationship wrapped around her neck in the form of a betrothal necklace. Despite this, it was not like she despised her husband in the slightest. If anything, their relationship didn't seem dysfunctional at all like many people of their tribe assumed it to be. They talked together, they travelled together, they shared a cup of tea together, and, on very rare occasions, people might even see Masaomi with a smile on his face. Albeit a very small, very faint smile, but still a smile all the same. The woman's name was Akashi Shiori, and she was also a Waterbender. She specialized more in healing techniques, and, like her husband, she was the greatest one in her tribe. She could still use Waterbending in combat, but she preferred not to. She just enjoyed helping people in the best way she could. This fine winter, they were expecting. They had planned this for some time. Once those two were long and gone, they needed someone to look after their tribe and carry on the Akashi legacy. They wanted a child. And so on the 20th of December this winter, they were finally going to get their wish. Early in the morning that day, after three years of marriage, Shiori finally gave birth to their child. Their son. And his name…was Akashi Seijuro.

Once he was born, word spread like wildfire around the entire city that the Akashi royal family had given birth to a son. By sundown that same day, it was more surprising if someone didn't know the news. It was an important day for their nation, and the people of their tribe wished the couple great health, success, and prosperity for their newborn child. As Shiori held the boy in her arms for the first time, she felt at peace with herself and with the world. At long last, she now had a family, and she couldn't have been happier. Masaomi was standing in front of his wife as she held their son. He had the same red hair and eyes as his mother, practically the spitting image of her. The expression on Masaomi's face remained the hard mask that it always was, but, for a fleeting moment, there was a glint of pride in his eyes, knowing that they succeeded in bringing their young heir into the world.

They knew that that their son was a Waterbender from very early on. Shiori was having a conversation with Masaomi about his day in their bedroom as she played with two-year-old Seijuro on the bed. Masaomi was on his desk, writing a schedule down on a piece of paper when he accidentally elbowed the small jar of ink next to him and it tipped over. Just as the ink was about to hit the rug, it halted in place and then rose upwards, the ball of ink beginning to levitate in front of his very eyes. Masaomi's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. He looked back to his wife on the bed, Shiori staring in shock at their son, who had his hand outstretched towards the ink that never quite reached the floor.

His father decided to start his son's Waterbending training when he turned three. From that day onwards, instructors came into their home and trained Seijuro day and night. When the instructors left, his father would test him on what he learned, expecting to see nothing but perfection. Seijuro would not leave his sights until he could perfectly recreate every single form he learned, only being dismissed with the nod of a head after what his father had seen was deemed satisfactory, before he ran off to go find his mother.

His mother was his stronghold. She was what Seijuro looked forward to seeing every day, and the only person that he could be himself around. When Seijuro was around his father, he was stiff; tense; speaking only when spoken to; unmoving. He was always on his best behaviour, since it was what his father wanted. Not that he never was, but he was always especially careful not to let his behaviour slip in his presence. When he was taking a break from his training and tutoring, he was always with his mother, and Shiori would enjoy hearing the small padding of footsteps down the hall, where she would turn around and welcome her little prince with open arms.

It wasn't intended for Seijuro to learn healing techniques, but it happened anyway. When he was six, he was taking a break with his mother, drinking tea in their living room. She offered him his cup, and as he reached to grab it, it burned him. He instantly retracted his hand and shrunk back in pain, his mother putting the tray of tea cups and saucers of biscuits down onto the table and kneeling down in front of him on the couch to check the damage. It was only small little burn. The area where he was burned was turning a noticeable red on the side of his thumb. From the small pouch of water she carried with her, she surrounded her hand with the liquid and put it on the burned area. The water began to glow a fluorescent blue and then the glow ceased. When she took her hand away, the burn was gone. Seijuro was so impressed with her healing abilities that he asked if she could teach him. She smiled at his enthusiasm and whole-heartedly agreed. So then, when he wasn't learning Waterbending forms with other instructors, he was practicing healing abilities with his mother. It was a way for him to better himself with the gift he had been blessed with, and more importantly, it made him closer to his mother.

When he was seven, Shiori noticed how distant he was looking while he was training. The more forms he mastered, the more he was given to master. On top of this, he was tutored in high education, so that Seijuro would be prepared with the knowledge of ruling a nation when he was ready. He had a release when he was with her and practicing his healing, but Shiori felt that he needed something more. So one day, when Seijuro met her in the study after he was done with his training, instead of working on healing, she decided to take him outside.

When they were outside of the palace, they took a stroll around the area. Any time a member of the royal family were seen, people bowed as soon as they passed by. Seijuro always wondered why that was. He never necessarily regarded himself as special, but his father did tell him that their family was the most recognized in their nation, and so he supposed that would make anyone fall to their knees in their presence. Nevertheless, he shrugged it off as he held onto his mother's hand, accompanying her on this walk outside the palace grounds.

As they walked past all the people, Seijuro admired the way his tribe looked. The ice sculpted buildings were absolutely phenomenal in the sunlight. He enjoyed hearing the hustle and bustle of all the people around them, whether they're talking, working, or just sitting around. He watched as a man on a reindeer rode past them. He always loved animals and had a reindeer himself named Yukimaru. He's never taken him out of the palace grounds, and he wished he could have brought him on this outing. Perhaps another time.

He was snapped out of his thoughts when he bumped into his mother in front of him. She had stopped in her tracks, staring out to something in front of her. When he peered out from behind her, he saw an amazing sight. There were many children just like him, running around and playing together in the snow. Some even brought their pets as well. Seijuro had passed by this sight many times before. When he was drifting on a boat through the canals of the frozen city, he often saw children playing outside. He always looked towards them with a longing expression, but he could never join them. He knew he couldn't. His father would always pull his attention away, asking him about the progress of his studies. He continued to stare at the playing children in front of him and his mother nudged him to go and play. So, looking back at his mother one last time, he ran off, joining in a snowball fight with some kids who beckoned him over. His mother watched from a distance and smiled as she saw that sparkle come back into his eyes.

Shiori continued to go and take him out of the palace so Seijuro could play. One day, Seijuro met someone there. It was a boy who was older, but not much older than himself. He had long, black hair and a charming little smile. After introducing himself, he figured out his name was Mibuchi Reo. He was a Waterbender, just like Seijuro, and they quickly became friends. When Seijuro was let out of the palace on his breaks, he'd meet Reo outside and they'd play around. Sometimes they'd even have a little practice bout, and Seijuro won every single time. Reo didn't mind of course, he was more amazed than envious of Seijuro's skills as a Waterbender, despite him being around a year younger. Soon they did everything together, and Seijuro even got permission for Reo to come around their home a few times. Seijuro loved nothing more than to enjoy his time off with his greatest friend, and his beloved mother. It was like everything was right with the world when he was with those two. They were there for him when he was happy, when he was sad, and more importantly, when they found out that he was the Avatar.

It was found out in the most anticlimactic and non-theatrical way possible. Seijuro had invited Reo over on his off day and they were in the kitchen with Shiori and Masaomi, Shiori getting ready to make some tea. She had lost the spark rocks for the fire on the stove and was rummaging through the drawers in her search for them. Amidst his playing, Seijuro turned to his mother and offered to light the fire for her. Shiori accepted his offer, waiting for him to go and retrieve some spark rocks for her. Instead, he exhaled onto the small pile of sticks on the stove, and they ignited. The three of them stopped what they were doing and stared, struck dumb by the actions of the young red-headed boy. As Reo looked on in awe at his friend's abilities, Shiori glanced over at her husband in surprise, Masaomi giving her a short, but knowing nod of his head. From that moment on, it was clear that their child's duty was no longer to just his tribe, but now, his duty was to the whole world.

Welp! I hope you enjoyed that first little bit. I hope to upload soon. I am on Easter holiday so... Either way, please tell me what you think of this chapter. Is it any good? Thoughts? Opinions? I'd LOVE to hear from you guys. Well, I'm going to bed. See you all later!