DISCLAIMER: All recognizable characters, themes, and dialogue are the property of Nickelodeon, or whoever owns this epic awesomeness.
But before I begin I would like to thank ALL of the readers who've subscribed and reviewed! After the success of Running I decided to have meh alter-ego of this world have her time in the spotlight.
And when I say alter-ego, I mean a character I came up with. Niwakaame's past is far more complicated than mine, by far.
It's hard being a girl living in the Northern Water Tribe.
Let me make that clearer, it's hard being a female waterbender in the Northern Water Tribe.
Whenever I'm bending, I feel like I can truly be myself. I can truly be me, Niwakaame Jewel.
Waterbender.
I'm not just any waterbender, either, no-sir-ee! I am a waterbending prodigy. I can kick the asses of any of those chauvinistic pigs that use their powers to fight. I can fight too, you know.
But, since I am a girl, I am sentenced to only use my bending to heal. I have to hide my skills from the world.
But I don't want to do that! I want to be out there, with the soldiers, fighting.
I want to be a hero.
There has to be a way . . .
Five Weeks Later . . .
Niwakaame sat in the dimly lit dining hall of her grand home near the Waterbending Academy, where her grand-uncle Pakku was a master. Her fingers tapped restlessly on the ebony table, her eyes narrowed with frustration.
She was grounded for life. Literally.
She had disguised herself as a boy and joined Pakku's classes, rising to be an elite student in a matter of weeks. She pretended to be mute, as she knew she couldn't pull off a deep voice, especially with her recognizable accent, refined and elegant. She went under the alias Sonku Rayne. For four weeks, she had gotten away with learning to fight with her bending, taking Healing at night, until Pakku and Yugoda put two and two together, and Pakku had torn off her headdress, revealing her long hair and forcing her to talk.
Pakku had kicked her out on the spot, calling her a disgrace. But she had stood in front of him defiantly, ready to defend her powers.
"I'll bet I can beat any of the other students here!" she had screamed at Pakku. The man had gasped at her open defiance. The other students still had their chauvinistic attitude, but their respect for her powers kept them silent.
"I will not have you waste our time any more, Niwakaame," he said calmly, "Go."
"Waste your time? I was the best student here! I dare you to deny it, Pakku!"
None of the boys dared to challenge her. Except for the old dustrag himself.
"Your place is in healing, I-"
"Who are you to decide where my place is?" Niwakaame screamed, "I am a fighter, Pakku, through and through. I am not a Healer, and I never will be!"
"I am sorry, but-"
"You're not sorry," Niwakaame spat, "You're just a prejudiced old man who refuses to swallow his pride and admit there might be a female bender better than you."
That comment had been a huge risk.
If she had been wrong, she would have been a laughingstock.
But she wasn't wrong.
Some called her proud, but she wasn't. She was simply aware of her talents and would do anything to be able to use them.
The two hadn't talked since.
I need to find some water, she thought, standing up. Her mother had been sure to hide all of her spare bending water, but that didn't stop Niwakaame from searching out other sources. She glanced around the room, and grinned when she saw a small plant at their window. The soil was nice and moist, recently watered.
I'll put the water back, planty, I promise, Niwakaame thought lightly as she bended the water out of the soil. She made the water into a ball while she thought of what to practice. She eventually decided to do some target practice. Thinking quickly, she took a plate from the cabinet and a small ball she used to play with. She grabbed glue and stuck the ball on the plate, and the plate in the wall. Proud with her work, she stepped away and bent a water-whip. She slowly had it creep forward until it lightly tapped the ball.
Grinning, she formed a sphere with the whip and propelled it at the ball, hitting it directly. Grinning hugely, she bent the water back into the soil of the thirsty plant.
She glanced around the room, wanting to go out. She missed Kamoaka and Fakka from her Healing classes, but she knew her true friends were warriors, like her.
She bent water from a nearby cup of water angrily at the plate, making a small dent.
Her mother had assured Pakku of a severe punishment.
But she didn't care enough to even listen to her.
She bent the water at the window in fury, cracking it.
She finally collapsed on the ground, crying.
She wanted everyone- Pakku, her mom, the soldiers, the other students, and her long-gone father to see that she was great. She knew in her heart that she was far more talented at bending than all of the other boys at the Academy, and equal in raw talent with Pakku.
Dumb old man.
She took her water-whip and flung it at the door, locked to keep her from escaping, and severed the knob. The door blew open. Niwakaame frowned.
She closed it.
It blew open again.
"What in the-" she muttered, closing the door, or, rather, slamming it.
There was commotion outside.
Niwakaame felt the energy as the Benders out on patrol returned, but she could also sense a far more powerful energy nearby. She had never known such an energy existed.
That was unacceptable.
Her Bending garment, which fit her tightly, and exposed her legs, covered with tight leggings, was thin, graceful fabric that moved with her body, making her more agile, wasn't enough to keep her warm outside, unless she was openly Bending. She wore tight slippers that made jumping easy. Her hair was worn in one long braid, which was up in a bun, and her sidebangs covered her forehead.
She grabbed her cloak, which was navy blue, and had thick fur outlining it, and a rather concealing hood with fur outlining, so that nobody would recognize her.
Her face obscured, she walked outside to see what was going on, and her eyes popped wide open at the sight.
"No. Freaking. Way."
The Avatar had arrived. She watched as he and his companions were guided to meet the others. She eagerly ran beside the boat, and rammed into a stiff body.
"You're supposed to be grounded, Niwakaame."
Niwakaame's stomach curled in anger.
"Like I care about that," she replied icily, "Since when do you even care, Pakku?" The old man glared at her.
"I only want what's best for my great-niece," he said cooly.
"I'll believe it when I learn to fight."