Author's Note: Looks like I'm taking up another project. Silly me, eh? Sorry about the discontinuation and the other unfinished work--two out of two complete; that's not too bad, right?--but I've really got to play with me newest obsession; Avatar: The Last Airbender. Not only is it the greatest American Anime ever made, but it is one of the most compelling, well-thought-out, well-animated series with the most interesting, lovable, obesessable characters I've ever come across.

Sure, I've got my own threories, ships and plotbunnies that I'd love to play with, but that is not the purpose of this composition. This was written with the sole purpose of figuring out the inner workings of all of my favorite characters so that I could learn how to write them better before I attempt any real fanfiction.

Let me know how I'm doing, won't you?

--Koru

PS: I disclaim everything. Avatar and his affiliates are not mine. Like a couple million writers out there, though, I wish they were.

Book I: Water—Chapter One: The Boy in the Iceburg

Katara

Water. Earth. Fire. Air.

My grandmother used to tell me stories about the old days. A time of peace, when the Avatar kept balance between the Water Tribe, Earth Kingdom, Fire Nation and Air Nomads. But that all changed when the Fire Nation attacked.

Only the Avatar mastered all four elements. Only he could stop the ruthless firebenders. But when the world needed him most, he vanished.

A hundred years have past, and the Fire Nation is nearing victory in the war. Two years ago, my father and the men of my tribe journeyed to the Earth Kingdom to help fight against the Fire Nation, leaving me and my brother to look after our tribe.

Some people believe that the Avatar was never reborn into the Air Nomads, and that the cycle is broken. But I haven't lost hope.

I still believe that somehow, the Avatar will return to save the world.

Sokka agreed to take me fishing today. It took some doing, but it's been a while since I was able to practice my waterbending in open ocean, I had to try. I think he's still mad at me for accidentally freezing his boomerang to his back last week. I still haven't gotten the hang of waterbending yet, but it's all the more reason to get out into open water to practice. Sokka goes out so often, I thought he wouldn't mind.

He's always reminding me about the first time I asked to go out with him; after I found out that I could waterbend. It was really amazing! I did what Gran Gran told me to—I pretended I was the water, and that I wanted to move the way I wanted it to. And it worked! I made this big wave! But I accidentally tipped the canoe over and Sokka fell in the water. I managed to hop off onto an ice drift. He's never let me live it down.

I'm really glad he let me come with him this time. If he hadn't, I wouldn't have ever discovered something truly amazing—an airbender! A real, live, airbender! And he had this huge beast with him! He called it a flying bison, but Sokka doesn't think it can fly. The airbender—his name is Aang—said that his bison was just tired. I believe him. I'll be it really can fly!

After finding an airbender trapped in a giant iceburg, I'll believe anything!

Sokka

I can't believe her!

I knew it was a bad idea to let her come with me! Not only did I not catch any fish, but my boat got crushed! That's the second one she's sunk since she got those magic powers of hers.

Oh, wait—it's not 'magic' it's an ancient art, unique to our culture.

I swear, ever since she told Gran Gran she could make little pools of water out of ice cubes, that's all she's ever talked about. It's 'waterbender this', and 'waterbending that', 'I'm a waterbender and just as important to the tribe as a warrior.'

What's she going to do if the fire nation attacks? Throw puddles at them? The worst she could do is soak them—maybe those hotheads will get so cold they have to run back to their ships for blankets! I tell you, wet clothes and arctic air to not mix. You'd think she'd be better at washing clothes with all the water she gets on mine!

She's not very good at cooking, either. Or sewing, or cleaning. Mom didn't ever get a chance to show her the best way to do it, I guess. And all she ever talks about with Gran Gran now is waterbending. How does she ever expect to find a husband that way? She'll be old enough to marry in two years! Doesn't she think about her future at all?

I thought if I showed her how much work it took to go out and catch fish, she'd realize that I do a lot more work for the tribe than she gives me credit for.

I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up. I should have left her back at the tribe—Jenai and Ruka were learning how to make stewed sea-prunes from Gran Gran. But no; being the loving older brother, I let her tag along.

Now look where we are! Short one boat, and heavy one kid and his big, furry snot-monster.

I mean, this kid comes out of an iceburg! That came up out from under the water! With some glowing kid inside! I, of course, try to exercise a little caution. But as soon as she sees that there's someone in there, what does my sister do? She grabs my club and just starts hacking away! She wasn't even doing it right!

So, of course the thing has to explode, sending this impossibly huge beam of light up into the sky, probably signaling every Fire Navy ship for miles around! And Katara doesn't even care! This glowing kid climbs out of the ice crater, and all she can think about is catching him before he hits the snow. She doesn't even know this kid! He could have been dangerous!

Why doesn't she ever listen to me? I mean, it's nice that she makes friends easily, I guess, but does she have to befriend every living thing in the south pole? Even little kids who pop out of the ice? I swear, my sister is just crazy.

Zuko

I'm not crazy.

I've heard the men on board. They think I don't listen; that I'm too busy looking for someone who doesn't exist to overhear their little jokes—maybe that I'm deaf in my scarred ear—but I hear them.

This may be the twenty-eighth sign we've followed in search of the Avatar, but I don't care. If I'm going to find him, I can't afford to dismiss any indication of his presence. This new light must have come from an source of power, and it's the best lead we've had in three months. I'm not going to let it slip through my fingers just because Uncle has lost faith in the search. I'm beginning to doubt he had any in the first place.

It doesn't matter. My attention remains on our new course. My search may at last be nearing its end, so that I might finally end this nightmare and return home with my honor.

Aang

I had a nightmare about a storm.

Me and Appa were flying over water, but the wind and rain were so strong. Appa got tired and we fell in the water. I could feel my body start to freeze up, Appa's reigns sliding out of my hands. Then something deep inside me seemed to take control. It was a source of light and heat, but I could only feel it at the core of my arms, legs and body. The rest of me, I knew, was still freezing.

The light called the water around me and Appa and everything slowed down, got colder. My heart was beating so fast, but as the water around me slowed down, my heart did too. It got colder and colder, and slower and slower until everything stopped.

When I woke up, there was a girl holding me. Her mittens were soft and fuzzy. They reminded me of the pair I had when I came to the South Pole and went penguin sledding with Umi and Laza. It seemed like a great idea after a nap, so I asked her if she wanted to go. She said yes! Isn't that great? I can show her this new move I've been working on since I last visited the South Pole—I can use airbending to make the penguin go faster!

Now I just have to get her and her brother back to their tribe, and we can go find some penguins!

AN: Any kind of commentary is welcome. Have your own Avatar theories, plot ideas or predictions? I love hearing them, since I have so many of my own! Letting me know if you think these 'Journals' are correct, though, would also be appreciated!