So, I've been watching Avatar for a very long time. I've been deliberating for quite a while at whether or not I should take a stab at Avatar fanfiction, so I finally decided to just do it.

This part of the story takes place 3 years before The Legend of Korra began. Korra has mastered Waterbending, and is currently training Earthbending. But, that's not really relevant, just thought I should mention it. Anyways, I decided I shouldn't just jump right into the main story. So I had Katara give us our opening. I'm also going to maintain this small sub-plot between Korra and Katara throughout the story.

Anyways, I say with fair warning that this is a pretty dark story. It's going to really stretch the T rating, but I'll try and keep it from going to off the deep-end. This story deals with a very dark time, so in order to get it across, some pretty messed up stuff is going to happen. Katara starts off the dark things near the end of this chapter, but I just wanted to give warning.

Anyways, let's begin shall we.

Avatar: Benders Rebellion

Prologue: The Storyteller

"Aang…" Katara said in the darkness. The sound of her own voice seemed to be everywhere at once. "Aang, where are you?"

There was no response.

"Aang… please, where are you?" She called.

She woke with a start, sweating profusely, and sitting up as fast as her old bones would allow. She felt into the bed beside her for that familiar form that always lay beside her, but it was not there.

Katara almost called out in panic, and then her memory returned. He was dead, and she was alone. Her old ears picked up the sound of a snowstorm outside of her small igloo. She lay back down, hoping that her sleep would not be disturbed by the nightmares again.

It had been almost fourteen years since he had passed, but here she was, still wondering where he had gone.

The Next Morning

She woke for the fifth time, and saw sunlight cascading through the folds of the cloth that made up her tents door. She stood, and dressed, and then left the igloo. She stepped into the sunlight to find that the snowstorm of last night had increased how deep her feet sunk into the snow.

She moved her hand slightly, melting the snow with her water bending and walked towards the icy gates that lead out of the small village.

"Master Katara?" Came a voice from behind her. She turned to find Korra running up to her with Naga bounding up behind her.

"Hello Korra." She replied.

"Where are you going?" Korra asked.

"Just for a walk." Katara replied.

"You shouldn't… you're um…" Korra grinned and scratched her head. Naga pushed his head under her arm and Korra hugged his head and scratched it without looking away from Katara's direction.

"It's alright; you can say I'm old." Katara said. "After all, I am. I can handle it Korra, no need to worry about me."

Korra flushed. Katara put her hand on Korra's shoulder and smiled warmly.

"You can come with me if you like."

Korra hesitated for a moment, looking back towards the small temple.

"Do not worry; I know you are supposed to be at your Earthbending training." Katara said. "If you wish to accompany me, I will make sure you don't get in trouble."

"Thanks…" Korra said. "I'd love to come along."

Korra pointed at Naga and then at the place where he coops up. He ran off.

"Rather be alone hm?" Katara asked.

"There are um… some things I want to ask you about." Korra said biting her lip. Katara laughed softly.

"I hardly know what I could help you with, considering you have already mastered your waterbending." Katara said.

Korra didn't say anything else, glancing up at the guard tower where the White Lotus guard watched.

"Do not mind him; he cannot hear us from all the way up there." Katara said.

"Still… can we get moving?" Korra asked. "I'm sorry, I forgot…"

She trailed off.

"Don't worry, your right, let's go."

Katara and Korra walked through the gates and started walked across the snowy wasteland. After a few minutes, the White Lotus town was out of view. Still, Korra remained silent.

"We are all alone now child, what is it you wished to speak about?" Katara asked.

"It's just…" Korra started. "I'm not sure what to do."

Katara placed her hand on Korra's shoulder; it was not often she saw her like this. Korra was usually brimming with confidence and enthusiasm, and always willing to learn. Now Katara knew why she had been acting embarrassed, because she didn't want others to know that she was unsure of herself. Korra felt like it was her duty to always know the right thing to do as the avatar.

"About what dear?" Katara asked.

"Ever since I was little… all of you had told me that, whether or not I like it, I have to connect with the spiritual world… connect with my past lives. But I've never been able to do it." Korra said. "What if I'm never able to?"

"It's part of being the Avatar child, do not worry… it will come to you in time." Katara said.

"I wish I could talk to them now, so they could guide me, tell me how this is supposed to work." Korra said.

"When Aang first went to The Spirit World, it was not by choice. He was… pulled there by a Spirit seeking vengeance for its destroyed forest." Katara said. "My husband was raised by the Air Nomads, he was always spiritual and free…"

"Is there a point to this?" Korra said.

"At least let me finish child." Katara said smiling.

"Oh, I'm sorry." Korra said blushing.

"My point was that even he had problems going to the Spirit World. You weren't raised like he was, so you're going to have difficulty with it even more than he did." Katara said.

"You know, I've heard the story of how you all saved the world over and over again as I grew up. I really wish I could speak to him…" She trailed off here as Katara frowned. "I… I'm sorry."

"It's alright child… even after all this time, I just can't forget about him." Katara said.

"If… if I ever am able to talk with him. I'll make sure to ask if he has anything he wants to say to you." Korra said. Katara let a tear run down her cheek as she hugged Korra.

"Thank you dear." Katara said. Initially, Korra was unsure of what to do, but then she hugged her back.

"You're welcome." Korra said. Katara released Korra from their embrace and they kept walking for a time. Korra broke the silence soon after.

"I… I was wondering. I've heard all about Aang, but what about my other past lives? Did he ever tell you about any of them?" Korra said. "Maybe understanding them will help me come to a better understanding of myself."

"You are quite wise Korra." Katara said. "Aang always thought so about those with willingness to learn from the past. He indeed did tell me many stories of his past lives. But, I find one quite more interesting than most. Scary, but interesting, with many lessons throughout."

"Tell me!" Korra demanded excitedly. "Oops, sorry."

Katara laughed as Korra grinned and scratched her head while blushing.

"Of course child, I will tell you of it quite gladly." Katara said. "It was very long ago…"

"You see Korra; today… bending is part of our lives. Something natural to every part of the world, no matter where you are from… But there was a time when Bending was feared by those who could not do it." Katara said.

"But why would they fear us? We don't threaten them, bending is the coolest!" Korra said.

Katara laughed.

"Child, they feared Bending because it can be used for evil. It's power is unmatched by any other force on the planet. You should remember that, you need to use your powers responsibly."

Korra rolled her eyes. Katara shook her head and continued.

"Anyways, they feared Bending so much, they used their superior numbers to put down the Benders and enslave them. Controlling them and stopping them, because they feared that they would exterminate all non-benders given the chance." Katara said.

"That's ridiculous; no one would ever believe that." Korra said.

"As I said Korra, it was a very long time ago. People let their fear control their believes." Katara said. "You will notice this lot. It's something I realized myself as we journeyed across the world all those years ago. When you have stricken fear so harshly into the hearts of others, more times than not, they will let the fear control them.

"Back then, the world feared Bending."

"But what about the Avatar? Surely he or she helped everyone, and he or she made them see that they were wrong!" Korra replied.

"Sadly, the Avatar was as much caught up in this as the rest of the Benders. Because they knew that killing the Avatar would just reincarnate them, they were kept in cells deep under the Earth under heavy guard at all times. The male Avatar's were tortured, beaten, and torn of their hope… the female ones, even worse." Katara said.

"What could possibly be worse…?" Korra whispered.

"You are too young." Katara said, and then she continued. "All of the Benders were torn of hope. When Aang told me of this story, it reminded me of what the Fire Nation did to one of the Earth Nation towns we passed through when we were younger. They took all of the Earthbenders and put them on a ship. Made them work, took their hope from them. I could barely imagine a world full of benders like that. But it was true."

Korra remained silent, obviously horrified at the implications.

"When the Avatar they held prisoner finally… passed. They would hunt down the new one, take them from their parents, and make them live the same life as the others that they imprisoned. Some families tried to hide their child if it turned out there was even a possibility that they were the Avatar. All of them failed, several children were hunted down and dragged away from their families regardless." Katara said.

"It's just… really hard to grasp a world like that." Korra replied.

"Don't worry; it was for me at first to." Katara said. "But, as you can probably guess. The cycle ended at some point."

"When? How?" Korra asked eagerly.

"An event called the Bender Rebellions." Katara said. "We should head back, how about I continue to tell you the story on the way? We can talk over dinner."

"I would like that Master Katara." Korra said bowing and smiling.

Done, I'll make more chapters if feedback is good. So if you want more, R-E-V-I-E-W REVIEW! :D