Disclaimer: Avatar is copyright of [whatever their names are]. We do not own the premise, concept of the Avatar, or the world. The characters are original, as is the story/plot. Enjoy!

Authors' Note: Yes, that apostrophe is in the right place. This is a co-op between myself, Stnemele, and Leona-Aurelia. We both enjoyed Avatar: the Last Airbender and decided to look at what we thought would be the very first Avatar. With that said, please note that this is a personal interpretation, based on what we know from TLA alone. We haven't had a chance to watch Legend of Korra yet, as we are the sort to need to see an entire series in sequence and can't stand to wait to learn more. As such, you will see parallels to TLA, as well as some bending skills/assumptions that are missing or seem very different. This story is set hundreds of years before TLA.

We would love any and all feedback! Please! It's what keeps us writing!

Neither myself nor Leona-Aurelia are adverse to feedback or critique. We listen and respond to any/all reviews or reactions. And, in the past, I've actually edited/changed stories based on reader feedback, when appropriate, so know that we appreciate and LOVE hearing your opinion.

With that said, enjoy!

Ba Sing Se. The Impenetrable City. Well, it's not like anyone had tried to break in. It had only been built about a century before when the Earth Kingdom was first founded. It was a beautiful place. The buildings were all earthbent from the rich, tan stone. The green roofs glittered like jade in the sun. The city was separated into four quadrants for each level of wealth, with the palace on a hill at the center: the landmark everyone used to determine where they were in the sprawling city.

Kang had called Ba Sing Se home for as long as he could remember. Well, he was an orphan, but he'd had family enough in the Earth Guard, the Earth Emperor's secret police. Being part of the Earth Guard meant that he was also a powerful earthbender. Though not the best amongst them, he was very good for his age (twenty-one). That helped with his personal life. Saying that you were part of the Earth Guard certainly got him credit with the ladies, but a bit of creative bending to get them into his arms got him so much more.

Today, though, women were the last thing on his mind. The Earth Emperor was calling a meeting of all the heads of state for the Fire, Air, and Water nations — which really meant that some advisor to the new Fire Lord and lots of chieftains from the Air Nomads and Water Tribes were going to show up and start a fight. They were uncivilized charlatans that only looked for trouble.

To take his mind off everything, Kang was training. That was what he always did whenever he didn't want to bother with what was really going on. Honestly, he was a bit of a muscle head. He wasn't particularly tall, but he was extremely well-built. LIke most people in the Earth Kingdom, he had black hair and green eyes. Sure, he was handsome, but he could blend in if he wanted to. He liked being in the background, honestly. He was relatively stoic by nature, although that was more out of necessity than choice. The Earth Guard moved in the shadows, whereas the army stayed in the open.

Kang bent the floor into a training arena. The Earth Guard's center was located beneath Lake Laogai, hidden in crystal caverns. Only earthbenders could enter, and the room where Kang trained was no exception. Although it was meant to be an atrium of sorts, the rest of the Earth Guard was too busy preparing for the other nations that no one was around.

Kang cracked his knuckles before sliding his feet into the base form of all earthbending. Earthbending itself had moves as determined and solid as the rock they bent. There was no doubt or guesswork or room for experimentation; your determination was synonymous with your power.

Kang started with the simple forms, making rock columns or boulders with every movement. Within a few minutes, he was punching and kicking disks of stone at unknown enemies. His more special moves, such as making himself armor from the rock, he didn't practice in public.

As Kang finished a set, someone applauded. Kang didn't have to look to know who it was.

"Wang," he greeted, smirking at his master. Wang was the head of the Earth Guard, answering only to the Earth Emperor.

"You should be with the others," Wang murmured, stroking his thin moustache.

"I wasn't called," Kang replied, stomping a foot and returning the atrium to normal. "Why? Do you have orders?"

Wang was used to Kang being irreverent. Actually, the young earthbender had never used anyone's title in his entire life. He had never spoken to the Emperor, but Wang was still positive that Kang wouldn't even start to say "majesty".

"You are going to be part of of the Emperor's personal guard," Wang answered.

Kang's eyes flickered with anticipation. The young man was ambitious, but also had the skill to deserve it. "Understood." There wasn't any check or argument; Kang had heard what he'd wanted.

Wang nodded. "Good. Report to the palace in an hour."

Kang's face broke into a grin as he left. This was the perfect opportunity to prove himself.

The countryside of the Earth Kingdom was a sight to behold, especially in contrast to the stark burnt, charred areas of the Fire Nation. Admittedly, there were also lush and fertile areas in the island Fire Nation.

Bao, the Fire Lord's most trusted advisor, was not so easily enchanted. The proceedings that he had been sent to — as the Fire Lord was too self-absorbed in settling into the throne to go himself. Frankly, Bao didn't mind in the least. Zheng Yi was too young to be able to handle the delicacies of diplomacy, let alone against Earth Emperor.

Although Sung Hai was new to the throne, he was not new to politics. The man had watched his grandfather, father, and three elder brothers pass across the dais before Sung Hai was crowned. The man was barely into his forties, but he certainly knew what he was doing.

That was what worried Bao most. In their times, it was rare for leadership to be won without blood, especially in the Earth Empire. The unification one hundred years before had been violent, forcing the various towns into submission by any means necessary.

The Fire Nation, at least, had banded together out of economic necessity. Although they were the only country with a standing army, the Fire Lord firmly believed that Sung Hai was working to raise an army, so then there was a need to keep the soldiers. Simply having an army begged an attack, which was why Bao's true task was to determine if Sung Hai was mounting military power, aside from the Earth Guard.

In the seat across from his was his eldest child, a daughter named Yun. She looked like her mother, with dark hair that glowed like fire in sunlight, hazel eyes of amber and green, and an almost colorless complexion. Although she trained diligently with her firebending, she enjoyed the luxuries of life and was neither trim not athletic. Though certainly pleasant to look at, she was no true beauty, except when she firebent. Then she was practically a goddess, with flawless form. The path to such power had not been easy, especially for someone as easily frustrated as Yun, but she had worked for hours on end to please him, a man who could not be pleased. Bao's heart swelled with pride whenever he watched her perform. Of course, his own pride did not allow him to say a word to her until she had achieved perfection. Even if she had yet to master the art of bending lightning, she had achieved balance enough within herself to create it.

As a reward for her achievements, she had received two things: a marriage proposal from the Fire Lord and her foxwolf, Hui. Needless to say, she loved the animal far more. Bao did not blame her, either. Although Zheng Yi was, for lack of a better word, a beautiful man, he was vain, shallow, and did not deserve Yun. The only reason Bao had consented to let Zheng Yi propose was under the condition that Yun be able to accept or reject the Fire Lord without consequence.

Despite how much better the nation would be to have Yun near the throne, Zheng Yi needed to use his status as an unmarried young man to forge peace, such as marrying a young, highborn woman from the Earth Empire, Air Nomads, or Water Tribes. The Fire Nation could not afford to be without allies in the world.

Thankfully, Yun had been tactful enough to not give Zheng Yi an answer. Bao had taught her well: when it came to matters of the state, never do anything in haste. As a child, she had had a short temper. Well, she still did, but she had learned to keep it in check in order to better control her bending. Firebending was a matter of discipline, not passion. Mastering yourself was the first step to becoming a bending master.

This trip was her first true test. At the age of twenty, she was finally ready to accompany Bao and earn herself the respect of the other nations. In the years to come, her younger brother, Gao Hai, might follow, but the boy was too shy, quiet, and uncertain to be the strong and powerful representative of the Fire Nation.

Yun was toying with Hui, wiggling her fingers near his muzzle. The foxwolf came up to her knees, with silver-red fur, tall triangular ears, and a white-tipped tail that never could decide if it wanted to curl or stay straight. Although Bao had surprised and delighted Yun with the animal, Hui's intended purpose, guard dog, had failed. The foxwolf was friendly, lovable, and only protective if Yun felt uneasy. Since she rarely did within her own home, Hui barked at newcomers and didn't even attempt to growl at them or anything else unless she ordered it.

Bao took a deep breath. He wasn't sure how much to reveal to her yet. They had to speak, certainly, but he was trying to determine how many suspicions he should tell her. Thankfully, she was intelligent. If he began to suspect, something, she would be able to read his expressions and react accordingly.

"Yun," Bao began quietly, "we have much to discuss."

Yun nodded, shifting her activity to simply scratch between Hui's ears. Whenever her father started in that tone, she knew that she was to stay silent and listen. As much as she may have wanted to respond, she would not until he was finished. Or she couldn't stand it anymore.

"I'll remind you once more, Yun. This is a very important task. If things go well here, our empire will no longer be faced with the constant threat of war. Even if the peace lasts for only fifty years, our nation will be the better for it." There was a hidden request in his words: do not accept Zheng Yi's proposal and, instead, use her leverage as the desired of the Fire Lord to gain other suitors for the sake of peace.

Yun was listening, but her attention was more focused on Hui's happy little licks to her fingers than to her father's speech. "And I can only assume you do not wish me to speak during these important discussions."

"You assume correctly, Yun" Bao replied. "And there is another matter."

Yun narrowed her eyes, worried. Her father had remained suspiciously silent about Zheng Yi's offer of marriage. She had hoped that he wouldn't intervene any longer in her life, but apparently that wasn't the case.

"As good a companion Hui is, he cannot accompany us into the proceedings."

Yun frowned, although she was grateful that her personal life was not up for discussion. Then again, she knew better than to argue with her father when he had that kind of look in his eye. "Very well, Father," she grumbled. "He can stay in the carriage."

Hui snorted, not pleased with the decision.

Bao's brow furrowed. "Watch your tone," he warned his daughter. "The other politicians expect you to be honey and milk, not to have the sting of the nettle added to your words."

Yun rolled her eyes. "Yes, yes, I know."

"Yun..."

She sighed. "I will do as you wish, Father," she bitterly reassured him. "You needn't worry about me."

Mikka dragged her feet — not because she wanted to, but rather because she had to. With her twin eight-year-old siblings, Miko and Milo, hanging onto her ankles, and three cousins piled onto her neck and wrists for a ride, she was the center of all the childish games for the tribe. Her older brother, Kotor, was laughing so hard that he was crying. Mikka was sweet and innocent by nature, but she also was stubborn and patient. The children had been hanging on her for more than an hour and she was still determined to keep walking.

They were rapidly approaching Ba Sing Se. According to her father, who was a guard of Tribe Chieftain Sikkar, said that they were almost a day late because of the children. Mikka's job was to entertain them and keep the moving. She'd managed so far, but after they all decided that she was their ostrihorse of choice, their pace had slowed significantly.

"Alright, kids, that's it," Mikka declared, stopping.

There was a chorus of "no" and "aw, c'mon".

"We're playing a new game," Mikka continued. She raised an arm (difficult with a child dangling from her wrist), a stream of water curling around her fingers. The kids all let go of her, staring with wide eyes as she waterbent.

"Where's it come from?" Milo, her younger brother, demanded.

Miko, his twin sister, rolled on the balls of her feet. "Yeah, where'd the water come from?"

Mikka had explained waterbending to them before, but not her talent was to take water from their environment. She narrowed her eyes dramatically and leaned down to look at them.

"The water is from all the sweat you've been making me build up," she replied. "Now, this is the game: I'm going to bend this into an orb. The first one to catch it gets a two minute piggy-back ride into the city. The rest of you have to walk next to us the entire time. Then, after that, we do it again. No twice in a rows, either, and everyone has to get a chance. Got it?"

The children clapped their hands, ran in circles for a second, and then organized themselves just enough that they would beg for her to start the game. Mikka lazily twirled a finger and the water turned into a sphere. She held it just out of reach, teasing.

Kotor knew what she was doing: resting. The children didn't know it, but they couldn't hold water in their hands, so unless Mikka could turn it into ice — unlikely, since she'd never really figured out how to do that — the game was more of a taunt than a game.

Mikka rubbed her neck. "Why'm I the babysitter again?"

Kotor jerked a thumb to the group of women trailing them. "Because they're trying to make you want to get married."

At twenty-two, Mikka was well beyond the usual age to marry. Most girls found husbands at sixteen or eighteen. In her tribe, which was in a sense a wandering extended family, she was expected to lure in someone else from another tribe. However, as the designated childcare provider, most everyone believed that she was already married, so no one had even courted her. Not that she particularly cared; she'd never really met anyone she truly liked. Kotor gave her all kinds of trouble for it, but he hadn't had a girlfriend, either, so who was he to say a word?

Mikka rolled her eyes. "They need to work on you first, Ko. You're worse than I am."

"But I'm so ruggedly handsome that no one will care."

"Oh, hush." She waved a hand, sending the orb back towards the mothers. The children darted after it, nearly knocking Mikka over and breaking her concentration. "Eek! What the heck?!" she screeched as Kotor started laughing.

Chieftain Sikkar shushed them. "We're at the gates. Behave, all of you. You represent your people, now."

Mikka pulled the water, and therefore the children, back to her side. "Alright, now, remember what I taught you all, okay? If you're good and behave, you'll all get a treat once we're settle inside."

They nodded solemnly. "Yes, Mikka," they chorused.

She smiled. "Wonderful! Now, into formation!" she declared dramatically.

The children fought to get to their spots in line. Sikkar tried not to laugh at how hard Milo was trying to look like a full-grown warrior or how Miko and one of her cousins were trying to sway their hips. Regardless, Mikka stood behind them, ready to corral them into submission if necessary. Given time, and a little less obliviousness on her part, she would probably be the wife of a great chieftain. Unfortunately for her, as outgoing as she seemed, she was shy and clung to anything familiar. She probably wouldn't leave caring for the children until they were teenagers, and by then she would have more children to care for. She would die an old maid, probably, if she didn't start wanting to be anything more than a wetnurse. Considering how much she hated change, that was unlikely. Sikkar could always order her to marry, and she would probably smile, ask if the boy was cute, and agree to it so long as he was nice... or talk her way out of it. She rarely argued with anyone except Kotor, but she had a gift for speech and could manipulate almost anyone into doing almost anything.

Of course, there was the matter of her bending. Though few women in their tribe were benders at all, Mikka was. With an older and very competitive brother, she had never tried to excel at bending, content to just make shapes with small quantities of liquids or heal cuts and bruises. Or dazzling the children into submission. Usually the latter.

Kotor slunk up beside her. "You know that Sikkar's gonna make you meet someone, don't you?"

Mikka stopped in her tracks. "He'll... what?!"

"You're old enough. Every single guy here's related to you. And it's not like you're getting any younger."

Mikka flipped the water into Kotor's face. "Hush," she ordered. "They're going to make you, too, you know. It's not like you're some handsome wretch every woman's dying to be with."

Kotor gritted his teeth. "Mikka..." he said warningly. Like his sister, Kotor was a waterbender, but unlike her, he'd trained with their father to be a warrior. However, one thing they had both been taught was the technique for channelling lightning. When at sea, when storms hit, it was especially important to be able to avoid or deflect such a damaging blow. Few waterbenders were allowed to perform that task, considering how dangerous it was, but Mikka and Kotor were among them. Had either of them? No. Their father stepped in first to protect his children.

Kaito stepped between his children. "Both of you, no fighting. You're both expected to represent your tribe. You're the only two benders of age in our tribe and you're both expected to... charm someone. Is that clear?"

Mikka nodded. "Yup. Got it, Dad."

Kotor muttered something about not wanting just one girl, which got him violently slapped upside the head by Kaito.

Mikka laughed, but composed herself when the gates were starting to open for them. They were massive, the biggest things she had ever seen, bent out of rock and only openable by earthbenders. They eyed the Water Tribe as if they were wild animals or about to endanger the city.

Mikka swallowed hard when she saw the earthbenders. They were all so... large. Tall, strong, and built like rocks. She had never seen so many people in her life packed into such a small space. She found herself wilting a little and retreating closer to her father.

Miko and Milo looked back at her. She gave them a warm smile, even though she knew that it was false. Hopefully they didn't.

Kaito put his hand on her shoulder. "Take a deep breath, Mikka. It's just a city. There's nothing to fear."

Mikka nodded and did as he asked.

The Airbenders had made their marks on the world as mercenaries. That type of work fit well with their tendency to wander about the world as often as they were able. Sachin belonged to one of the many extended family clans that made up the majority of the Airbenders in the world.

Sachin's immediate family was luckier than most: they'd only lost one member of the family by the time the children grew up. For Sachin, however, this blow was particularly painful. The one person that had died was his younger brother, Hari, who Sachin had been trying to teach bending to at the time. His death was his own fault, but Sachin would not spare himself blame for not keeping a closer eye on him. After Hari died, Sachin's conscious had been filled with regret and guilt. Even his father telling him that there was nothing he could have done and that he was not angry with him over the incident made little impact on his feelings.

His mother, Aditi, had decided to refrain from going with the family to any missions after that loss — even from something as important as subtly protecting the most respected Airbender in the world as he went to meet with the Earth kingdom lord. Sachin worried about his mother, but he knew that she would be upset if he told her of his intentions.

He was twenty-five and still without a woman to keep him stable, but he was going to leave the only stability he had in the world behind; he was going to leave his clan. Sachin was done with the mercenary life, his tender soul unable to stand stealing the breath of another person.
This was the last job. Sachin felt both relieved and saddened by the finality of this particular task. He had tried to convince Indira and Ganesh to leave the clan with him, but they didn't want to even hear about it. Ganesh had nearly hit Sachin when he had come to tell their father, Savitr, that he was going to leave the clan after this escort mission. Savitr didn't want to further worry his wife, so he had ordered his offspring to keep the news between them. Indira had been shocked by Sachin's wish and barely stopped herself from telling their mother.

Sachin was laying on the back of the family's flying bison, Gauri, as he played with his flying lemur's ears. He gently pulled one, then the other, smiling at the silly look he was creating on the large eyed mammal.

"You're so tolerant, Vasu," Sachin murmured. "Thank you."

"You honestly think he understands you?" Indira asked him, scooting over nearer to her brother. Like most siblings, they looked remarkably similar, with the same green eyes and light brown hair. Unlike her brother, she wasn't scarred. As a matter of fact, she didn't have any scars at all. He, on the other hand, had them covering most of his body. As skilled an airbender as he was, he would stop at nothing to protect his family, especially after the incident with Hari. The arrow-shaped airbending tattoos — symbols of his people and specific to her mercenary clan — on his arms and back were interrupted left and right, so badly that he had forgone finishing the set to extend to his feet and head. Of course, he rather liked having hair instead.

"I do," Sachin answered easily, finally releasing Vasu's ears.

Vasu hopped up, perching himself up on Sachin's knee. The lemur's tail swished back and forth like a grandfather clock as he watched Indira intently.

"How much longer, father?" Ganesh sighed. Like Sachin, Ganesh was tall and strong, built for flexibility and speed. They were two of the three most powerful airbenders in the mercenary clans, their father being the third. Indira was skilled, too, but neither brother would let her fight if they could help it.

"Another couple of hours at least," Savitr replied easily. "Just relax. I have a feeling we're going to need all that youthful energy of yours."

"You suspect that this will not go well?" Indira asked, fear shaking her voice slightly.

Savitr did not reply, his eyes steadily scanning the horizon for signs of the large Earth kingdom and its capital city.

"Do you think so as well, Ganesh?" Indira asked her eldest brother.

"I think if there is trouble, we'll beat the tar out of those slow earthbenders."

Sachin shook his head slowly.

"And you, Sachin?"

"Ganesh, you're being arrogant. Earthbenders are mighty warriors." He paused, sighing softly as he watched Vasu jump about, playing with Gauri's fur. "But I honestly do not believe this is anything more than we were told: a meeting between the nations."

Gauri circled Ba Sing Se. From above, it looked like a maze with little ants running about within. Everything looked so small from the air. In all likelihood, Ganesh was already looking for escape routes, Sachin could tell. As the elder of the brothers, Ganesh insisted on being the leader. Ultimately, though, Sachin was the stronger of the two. He was quiet, rarely speaking unless he had something to say. He kept his thoughts to himself, did not ask for advice unless he truly didn't know an answer, and was slow to take action. It was partially his calculating nature, but also because he was trying to control his anger. In the old days, before he lose Hari, he had been known for his temper as well as his airbending. Now, though, he wouldn't bend unless his life was in danger. Well, or if someone he cared about was in danger. At the moment, that only meant his family.

Sachin leaned over the side of the saddle, gazing at the city. Maybe, when the summit was over, he could find a place to stay there and start life over. Not that he knew what he would do, but for once he didn't need a plan; he was simply going to do whatever he felt like, which could be meditating, teaching airbending to earthbenders, or becoming a scholar. Not that the latter particularly interested him, but the idea of true freedom was so alluring... Maybe, perhaps, he'd be free of his guilt as well.