Avatar: The New Legend
Book 1: Seeds of War
Chapter 1: The Invitation
Aang and Katara. The Southern Air Temple. 13 ASC (After Sozin's Comet)
Aang sat outside the Southern Air Temple on a ledge overlooking the mountain peaks that dotted the horizon as the summer sun set. It was an end to a beautiful, albeit lackluster day. For the last few months now he's been at the Southern Air Temple on vacation with his family and it was much needed. Being the Avatar in a normal era was time consuming enough, but in an era where a hundred year war had just ended; this left Aang little time to spend with his family. He had recently gotten back from Whale Tail Island to qualm a rebellion involving the Dai Li and the Southern Raiders.
As he rubbed his temples, his wife, Katara approached him from behind and put her hand on his shoulder.
"Dinner's ready," she stated in her velvet smooth voice.
Aang looked up at her and smiled crookedly. They had known each other for almost fourteen years and she still looked just as beautiful as she did when she pulled him out of the iceberg. Not all the same, though. Her hair was somewhat shorter but retained the hair "loopies" and was still worn down, the way he liked it. Not to mention her body had matured into a feminine curve that drove him crazy sometimes. He then stood up and looked down at her.
Katara looked up back at him. She might not have changed much, but he did. Aang now stood a good head taller than her, and not to mention he had grown a considerable amount of muscle that rippled under his skin. She always found herself in a daze when he stood over her like that. Definitely not the little goofy boy she pulled out of the iceberg all those years ago.
Aang leaned his head in close to kiss his wife's lips when he suddenly felt a splash of water hit the back of his head. He snapped around to see who interrupted him and Katara in one of their few tender moments. Standing about thirty feet away were a little girl and boy laughing hysterically. He rolled his eyes, but wasn't too surprised that his kids would do this. Katara chuckled along with her mischievous kids causing Aang to smile and shake his head.
"See? I told you I'd get him!" the little girl Kya shrieked with laughter as she leaned on her little brother for support.
"Aren't you a little old for pranks?" Aang crossed his arms in mock anger.
"I'm ten, Dad," she smiled, "that's not too old."
"You know she gets that from you," Katara smiled and nudged his shoulder.
"Well, Sokka's your brother, remember?" Aang reminded her, "I think it's just a bad combination."
"Yeah, whatever airhead," she rolled her eyes, "Let's eat dinner."
Kya and her little brother, Ahmo, rushed ahead back to the temple where their mother had food ready. Katara ran after them in a vain attempt to get them to calm down. Aang just smiled and shook his head. He had a crazy family, but wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. He stole one last glimpse of the sunset before turning around to join his family.
Zuko and Mai. Fire Nation capital, Agnia.
Zuko rubbed his right temple as he sat in the throne room of the palace. He hated these lengthy meetings, but it had to be done. It was the duty of the Fire Lord to attend the monthly meetings with the governors, but it didn't help matters much when half of them were serving under his father during the war and didn't like the fact that Zuko "betrayed" his country to join the Avatar. The other half were people that Zuko had been forced to appoint because their predecessors had fled the country.
"So what is the status on the islands east of Ember Island?" a newly appointed Governor Zhou asked, "Do Separatists still control those regions?"
Zuko groaned. He didn't like this guy, but was forced to put up with him. Zhou was the late Admiral Zhao's son and had control of Fire Fountain Island.
"Actually, Hot Spring Island has done a lot to quall the Separatists," Governor On Ji retorted.
"Doesn't change the fact that you have many of them in positions of power there, Governor," Zhou sneered.
Zuko liked On Ji. She was young, but an idealist like himself and knew what it took to help the Fire Nation.
"We have tried many of them in court and those that were found guilty of treason were either sent to the prison here or to the Boiling Rock," she explained.
"In your courts?"
"Some of them. The biggest traitors were tried over here."
"Fire Lord Zuko," Zhou turned towards the throne, "I don't know if we can trust certain governors who rule in confirmed Separatist regions."
"Hot Spring Island has yet to be confirmed," Zuko replied flatly.
"What about the five traitors in their Island Council?"
"They were tried, convicted, and sent to the Boiling Rock."
"It's still hostile territory."
"The only confirmed islands with Separatist movements are Crescent Island, Roku's Island, and Igneous Island. That's it," he glared at Zhou who appeared defeated, "And I applaud Governors like On Ji who make the extra effort to eliminate and prevent separatism in their respective islands. Now, unless there is nothing more to discuss, I would like to close this meeting and call it a night. I'm sure you're all ready as well."
The governors agreed as Zuko stood up to adjourn the meeting. Everyone gathered up paperwork and filed out of the throne room. Soon only On Ji and Zuko were left in there.
"Thanks for praising me back there," she bowed.
"I give credit where it's due," he bowed back, "You're one of the few governors I could trust and I'm hoping by setting you as an example that they too will attack Separatism."
"I hope so. It feels like you and I are the only ones fighting it."
"I got the military on my side with the help from Admiral Jee. The Sages are on our side as well. We're not as alone as you might think."
"Not to mention your friend the Avatar."
Zuko sighed as they both exited the throne room, "Yes and no. He's a busy man I can't be calling him up here to do my job. Not only will it show my incompetence, but will also eliminate the thin trust the Fire Nation already has for the Avatar. No, unless full out war breaks out, we will not call upon him."
"Fair enough. Well, I'm going to return to the inn. Good night, Fire Lord."
"Take care," he said as she bowed, "See you tomorrow for the economy meeting."
"Should be a blast," she rolled her eyes and walked away.
Zuko walked up to the royal chambers and into his bedroom. Upon entering, he threw off the heavy shoulder pads the Fire Lord wore and untied his hair to let it fall naturally. He set the crown on a chair next to the shoulder pads before fixing his hair in front of a mirror. The simple cut he had thirteen years ago had long disappeared and turned into a shoulder length mane. He had a goatee that covered his chin and two braids hung down it a couple inches. As he unbraided it, the door creaked open and Mai walked in.
"You keep working all day like this and your kids won't even recognize you anymore," she smirked as she joined him in front of the mirror.
"I hate just as much as the rest of you do," he turned towards her and gave her an apologetic kiss, "These Separatist issues are very touchy now a days. Not to mention people like Zhou aren't happy that I rejected the Economic Stimulus plan. And then-," he felt a finger cover his lips.
"Shhh. Remember the rule," Mai said as she removed her finger, "No politics when we're in the bedroom."
"I thought that rule only applied to when we were in bed," Zuko smirked which earned him a slap on the shoulder.
"Ha ha," she smiled and pulled him into another kiss, "Now go tuck your kids in."
"Ok, but you better be awake for me when I come back," he winked causing her to sigh.
Zuko walked over to his oldest son's room and walked inside. His thirteen year old son, Rozin, sat in front of a few candles meditating with absolute concentration. He smiled at how much his son resembled him when he was younger.
"I told you not to disturb me while I'm meditating," Rozin stated without breaking his concentration.
"Surely you can take a break and say high to your old man," Zuko replied.
Rozin's eyes shot open and he ran up to his dad, "Sorry, dad. I didn't see you there."
"It's ok," he smiled and pulled his son into a hug, "How's your meditation coming?"
"Good, but I still don't see what it's supposed to accomplish."
"It's supposed to help you clear your mind and allow you to concentrate on what your drive is, making you a better fire bender."
"Did you learn that from the dragons?" he asked eagerly.
Zuko smirked. His sons always loved his stories, especially the one about the dragons.
"No," he answered, "Actually this I learned from your great uncle."
"But he learned it from the dragons, right?"
"Maybe, I'll have to ask him when I see him," he ruffled his son's hair, "Now go to sleep."
"Alright," he put out the candles and crawled into bed, "Good night."
Zuko nodded and closed the door as he walked out and headed to his other son's room. He opened the door and leaned in.
"Zek, you awake?" he whispered.
"Yeah," a groggy voice replied from the bed.
Zuko walked in and pulled the covers over him, "Just saying good night, son."
"Good night, dad," the boy whispered and fell asleep.
Quietly, Zuko walked out and closed the door.
Back inside his room, Mai was sitting in front of the mirror in her night gown brushing her hair.
"The boys asleep?" she asked without looking up.
"Zek is. I found Rozin meditating and I sent him to bed."
"Kid's almost exactly like you."
"And Zek's starting to turn out like you," Zuko threw off his shirt and climbed into bed, "I heard he was throwing knives at some of the palace servants yesterday."
Mai chuckled and walked over to the bed, "Yeah, some of his classmates at the Royal Fire Academy have given him the nickname 'Bullseye'."
"Nice."
"So what's going on next week? Are we going to Ember Island?"
Zuko looked dumbfounded by the question, "Why?"
Mai glared at him, "Your birthday, idiot."
"Oh, I completely forgot."
"You're not working are you?" she raised her eyebrow.
"No, no. We can still go," he smiled nervously.
"Good, because it's your thirtieth birthday and I don't want you to ruin it."
"Don't worry. Just don't throw me a surprise party."
"Urgh, don't worry I won't," she groaned.
Zuko looked at her curiously, "You invited people, didn't you?"
"Zuko, why would I invite people? I don't even like parties."
"Ty Lee did, didn't she?"
"There's no party, Zu- Zu," she kissed him reassuringly, "Now go to sleep."
He looked at her suspiciously but decided to go to sleep anyway. Besides, Mai was like him in hating parties and people. She wouldn't do something like this. There is no party. There were no invitations.
Sokka and Suki. Kyoshi Island
"Hey look, it's an invitation to Zuko's birthday," Sokka said as he read the note he pulled off a messenger hawk.
Suki walked over and took the note from him, "It's at his beach house on Ember Island," she said as she read it over.
"Can we go? We haven't been there for years."
"Don't see why not. It'd be nice for us to get out off the island for once."
"Go where?" their thirteen year old daughter asked as she walked up.
"You're up early, Jian," Sokka noted.
"Where are we going?" she asked as she grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl.
"Zuko's beach house," Suki answered as she went back to making breakfast.
"Will his family be up there, too?"
"I would think so," Suki answered.
"Then I'm in. I've been wanting to go to the beach for a while now."
"You live on an island," Sokka replied.
"Yeah, with a two hundred foot serpent that lives in the water," she groaned, "I don't like things trying to eat me while I swim."
"What's this about Ember Island?" their other daughter, Shaola came in with her little brother Dao in hand.
"We're going to Zuko's birthday," Jian replied, "Gives you a chance to see Zek again, huh?"
"Shut up!" Shaola hissed.
"Ha, I knew you had a crush on him."
"I do not!" Shaola yelled.
"Wait minute," Sokka held his hands up, "You like a Fire Citizen?"
"Yes," Jian said.
"No!" Shaola said.
"Sokka stay out of it," Suki said as she put their breakfast in front of them.
"Yeah, listen to Mom," Shaola hastily agreed.
"No daughter of mine is going to hook up with a Fire Citizen," Sokka continued as his eyes traveled down to his plate, "I mean who do you think we fought for a hundred…is that turkey-pig bacon?"
"Mmm-hmm," Suki replied.
Sokka started shoveling food into his mouth and instantly forgot what he was saying.
"So we're going right?" Jian asked.
"Yes," Suki replied, "We're leaving tonight. That is unless your father fixed the mast on the boat."
Sokka looked up as the three women in his life stared at him, "I'll do it later."
"No, do it now," Suki smacked the back of his head, "you were supposed to do it last week."
"Why can't we borrow someone else's?"
"Yours is the fastest," Suki replied, "And the sooner we get there, the sooner we can relax."
"Urghh, fine," he got up and grabbed his son's arm, "Come on, Dao, want to help me fix the boat."
"Sokka he's three," Suki stated.
"It's never too early to learn these things," he turned to his son, "Come on, unless you want to stay in the house with the girls."
"Stay in here, Dao," Suki said, "You can have a piece of cream cake."
"Yay! Cwem cake!" the little boy jumped up and hugged Suki.
Sokka rolled his eyes and grabbed his tools, "Yeah, there you go. Bribe and baby the boy. I'll go fix the boat by myself."
Suki just chuckled to herself as he walked out to the moor. She loved teasing him since the moment they met. Only after they got married and had two girls did it get easier to annoy him.
Aang and Katara
Aang and Ahmo were loading up Appa with their bags after getting the invitation to Zuko's party.
"So dad, what's the Fire Nation like?" Ahmo asked.
"Hot. But thankfully we're going to the beach," Aang replied, "You'll like it there."
"Cool," he said as he tried to water bend some water in a nearby well. After a few unsuccessful tries he managed to control it in a little water sphere, "Look, Dad! I'm doing it!"
Aang turned and saw him fighting to keep it from splashing everywhere. The water was then stolen from him and ended up with Kya.
"Hey!" Ahmo yelled, "Give it back!"
"Take it from me," Kya teased.
Ahmo ran up to her to try and steal it back, but every time he got close she bended it in a different direction.
"Give it," Ahmo demanded.
"No."
"Dad!"
"Don't cry to him, do it yourself."
"Please."
She shook her head.
Finally the water was taken from Kya and given back to Ahmo. He laughed and Kya looked at her dad, but he shrugged and pointed to Katara who stood behind her.
"What did I tell you about teasing your brother?" Katara asked sternly.
"I was just teaching him some water bending," she replied angelically.
"Nice try," Katara stated as she saw through her daughter, "We didn't teach you to be a bully to your little brother."
"Sorry, Mom," Kya looked down shamefully.
"Just get on Appa, we have a long flight," Katara said as she threw the last bag to Aang, "Why didn't you stop them?"
"They were just playing," Aang said as he strapped the bag down, "It's not like she was hitting him with it."
"Next time just make sure she doesn't play with her brother like that."
"Well, it's not like she has much options," Aang said as he lifted Ahmo up on Appa, "Neither of them do. In case you haven't noticed, there's no one else here for them to play with."
"I know," Katara sighed, "That's one of the reasons why I agreed to go to Ember Island, give them a chance to play with other kids."
"Yeah, plus we get to surprise Zuko. You know how he hates surprises," Aang grinned.
Katara chuckled, "Yeah, Mr. Hotman's not going to be too happy when he found out what Mai and Ty Lee did behind his back."
"Let's get going," Aang climbed on top of Appa and grabbed the reigns, "Everyone got everything?"
"Yep," Katara said.
"Yeah," Kya replied.
"Wait," Ahmo said as he jumped off, "We forgot Momo!"
The little boy ran off and came back a few seconds later with the flying lemur following him.
"Ok, we're good."
"Good," Aang said as he climbed aboard, "Yip, yip."
With a growl Appa took off and flew west towards the Fire Nation.
The Agnia Prison
"Is everything going to plan?" the former Fire Nation princess asked her visitors disguised as guards.
"Yes, Princess," one of the visitors answered.
"And the others will be there?"
"Yes, but with the Avatar there, along with the heroes of Sozin's War, don't you think we could be damning ourselves?"
Azula glared at the man who dared question her motives, "No, this is just the push we need. One of you needs to go to the Separatists and tell them their leader is coming. Another will go to the Earth Kingdom and tell the terrorists there to meet with the rest of us on the Crescent Island."
Two of the four guards bowed and walked out.
She looked at the other two, "You must stay for tomorrow when the plan goes down," she pointed to one of the faux guards before moving to the insubordinate one, "And you…"
She shot a quick lighting bolt at him, killing him instantly.
"Get rid of the mess," she dusted off her hands, "And be ready."