A/N: This is a story that grew out of an old roleplay some of my friends used to do. It got dropped before the plot ended, unfortunately, but now I have decided to take our plotline, make some edits to it, and smash it into a coherent story. Enjoy.
Prologue:
"Water. Earth. Fire. Air. Long ago, the four nations lived in constant war, but that all changed when the Avatar returned. Fire Lord Ozai and his forces tried to burn the world, but when he was at his strongest, the Avatar defeated him. Now, four years later, the Avatar and his allies have spent the time rebuilding the world, and although there's plenty of work remaining to do, this is a milestone that deserves to be commemorated.
And I believe this plan will be just the thing to do it."
Sokka of the Southern Water Tribe bowed to the group assembled before him, a small smile inching across his face as they clapped. They were good friends all, allies who had each contributed in some way to the victory over the Fire Nation's hundred-year war of conquest, leaders of the four nations, and now they were all listening and approving of his plan. Chief Arnook of the Northern Water Tribe. King Kuei of the Earth Kingdom. Fire Lord Zuko. Grand Lotus Iroh, of the White Lotus Society. His own father, Hakoda of the Southern Water Tribe. And, of course, Avatar Aang.
"Any questions?" He asked.
"So, if I understand you correctly, you want to start a tournament between the top fighters of our nations," Arnook said. "I know the aim is to establish a spirit of sportsmanship that transcends borders, much as our friends of the White Lotus have done, but you still have people fighting each other. Won't this cause further divisions?"
"It's also a celebration of our martial traditions," Sokka replied. "The Avatar is as strong as he is precisely because he understands the cultural, spiritual, and martial applications of all four elements. Our illustrious Fire Lord and Grand Lotus here have also advanced the pool of firebending techniques by studying the Waterbenders, and I myself have benefited from the tutelage of Master Piandao of the Fire Nation. I think it would be great for everyone across the world to see just how much we stand to learn from each other if we were able to share our techniques in peace instead of hoarding them in war."
"It's a fine goal," Zuko said, his brows furrowing in thought. "There is still discontent among my people about how I 'pulled them from the brink of victory'. This will raise their spirits."
"It would certainly bring foster cultural exchange, " Kuei added, adjusting his glasses. "Especially after that affair with the colonies. I endorse this. Although I am concerned about the one you selected to administer this?"
"Xin Fu assured me it was nothing personal. And you have to admit, Toph's parents had to have been pretty worried about their blind daughter running around with us. He says he gave up the bounty soon as they called off the contract. And he did let two of the best earthbenders in his stable go to join us during Black Sun." Sokka frowned temporarily at the brief reminder of his failure to end the war that day. "Anyways, he actually gave me a lot of ideas for planning this, and he does have expertise in managing this kind of event."
"The White Lotus Society is always ready to foster international exchange," Iroh noted. "This is a good idea you have come across, young Lotus. And the rules you have proposed are sound."
"I'm behind you, son," Hokoda said. "I imagine your sister will want to take some of her kids to this too."
There was one voice left.
"Aang?"
The boy he and his sister rescued from that iceberg many years ago smiled.
"I think it's an excellent idea, Sokka."
Sokka of the Southern Water Tribe breathed a sigh of relief. Screw you, Aunt Wu, he thought. A life filled with misery, most of it self-inflicted? If by that you mean "just took a massive step forward for world peace," then sure, whatever you say.
"Grand Lotus Iroh, welcome to my humble estate. Come in, I have a pot of Dragonwell brewing. To what do I owe the honor of this visit?"
"Master Piandao." Iroh made the common Fire Nation salute of left palm to right fist. "You have heard of the Harmony Games being proposed?"
"I have. I should hardly think a man of my age is to compete among those youngsters?"
"Spirits, no," Iroh chuckled as he and Piandao strolled through the swordmaster's gardens and took seats at a stone table. It was spring, and the fire lilies and star blossoms were just beginning to bloom. A light breeze rose, and the buds swayed, playing across the two men's fields of vision. "But what of your ward?"
"Kazuma? Are you sure about this?"
"Why not? We sent him to foster with you since his infancy. He's grown up cloistered from the outside, so seeing more of the world would do him good. And he's absorbed all of our teachings about peace and balance and harmony between the four nations."
"But…but what about it?"
"The Avatar has informed me that he has been smoothing things over with the other elemental spirits. Agni will play nicely for now."
"Very well. I suppose from that standpoint, then, he is more than ready."
"Boomerang, check. Meat, check. Space Sword, check. Meat, check. Bone club, check. Meat, check. Tarp-"
"Sokka, are you sure about this?"
"Very sure, dad. Look, on our travels, we've been noticing a trend of benders having power over nonbenders., and now that the war's over, people are starting to grumble about that. The Fire Nation's ruled by a firebender, for one. Arnook is the chief of the Northern Tribe, but not even he could do diddly-squat when Pakku refused to teach Katara waterbending. And the Earth King doesn't bend, but all his generals do, and back before we arrived in Ba Sing Se, it was Long Feng and the Dai Li who ruled everything. They need to see nonbenders holding their own."
"All right, fair enough. But who's going to be your partner? Suki?"
Sokka shook his head. "No, she's too busy. But I've got someone in mind."
Hakoda raised an eyebrow at the smirk on his son's face. He knew that smirk; had known it ever since he met Kya. "Is Suki going to be all right with that?"
"Oh, don't worry," Sokka replied. "We've talked about it already, and she knows who it is. We've been exchanging hawks pretty often these past few days. I just need to meet her in Ba Sing Se."
"Oh man, oh man, I am so psyched for this! Thanks Sifu Katara! You're the best!"
"Now calm down there, Brad. Pack your things several days in advance. The world outside the Water Tribes is a vastly different place, so make sure you don't forget anything," the waterbending master said, smiling at her young charge as he bounded about the training igloo in exuberance. It had been a long but rewarding four years. Ever since the war ended, she and a group of waterbenders from the Northern Water Tribe had been coming the Southern Tribe to awaken any latent waterbending talents the children may have. It was a slow process, but now she had a gaggle of students to take around, and Brad was the best and brightest among them.
"Thankyouthankyouthankyou!" Brad hugged her and ran off to inform all the other students of this little field trip. Oh, Brad. No one knew what his parents were thinking when they named him that. Then again, given that both his parents had died on the last Southern Raiders assault, no one asked him about it. Still, the kid had heart, and he learned quickly.
Katara smiled inwardly. As soon as Sokka proposed the plan privately to her that one night, she immediately seized upon the faulty premise – that it assumed "four elements, four nations" when the Air Nomads aren't really a nation any more (with a "no offense" thrown at Aang), and that the Water Tribes may as well be two nations. He'd agreed, after some coaxing from Aang, and now she was getting the best chance she could to take her kids to learn what real combat waterbending felt like.
Absentmindedly, she swept her arms into a ball, then lashed out in one fluid motion. The snow beneath her feet rose and condensed into a single water whip that blasted against a metal training dummy, sending a massive *crack* reverberating throughout the igloo as a foot-wide gash appeared in its side. Katara smiled.
By Tui and La, she still got it.
"And now, announcing our champion, he who now has the honor of representing the Earth Kingdom in the world's first Harmony Games, Hung Hei-Kwan!"
The swarthy earthbender stood above the raised earthen platform that had seen him dethrone countless opponents to emerge as the top dog, the best of the best, the one with the stones to achieve victory. He posed as artists built their outlines for fight posters. He laughed as a fangirl came upstage to kiss him. He posed again as he made the customary challenge, "Should any object to my placement, let him speak now or forever hold his peace!"
He did not realize someone would say "yes."
Hung surveyed this newcomer, who had left the Fire National woman he had arrived with and now hopped on to the challenge platform. He was an unremarkable lad of barely twenty years, with an average build and a roundish face. The only remarkable thing about him were his eyes - instead of the normal green of most earthbenders, this one had one green eye and one gray. Hung shrugged. Heterochromia was not unheard of, though this was his first time seeing it in person.
"Hung Hei-Kwan, out of Master Yu's Earthbending Academy," Hung said, saluting his opponent, then taking a deep horse stance, legs bent ninety degrees, side facing the enemy, front hand extended in a tiger claw, back hand clenched in a fist chambered at his hip.
"Lin Hayate," the newcomer said, not bothering to salute, instead just standing there with his hands behind his back. Hung kiai'ed as he jumped and stomped at the ground, quickly sinking Lin into a hole up to his head. He retreated back into his first stance, seeing what Lin would do.
Seconds passed as Lin looked around uninterestedly. Then his fist burst up, sending a pillar that shot up and catapulted Hung from the platform.
"Any takers?" Lin asked, climbing out of the hole he'd enlarged when Hung tried to trap him in it.
This time there were truly none.
Fire Lord Zuko sighed as he pored over the sheaf of reports and documents littering his work desk at the Fire Nation Palace. Since ascending the throne, a million and more things assaulted him, incidents to be ameliorated, minor lords currying favor, arranged marriage requests for his prospective children several years down the line. It was making his head hurt enough that the occasional Agni Kai from discontent nobles were starting to be a welcome distraction to this paper-pushing. Yes, he had ministers for some of it, but not all of them were trustworthy. And his sister was still out there, somewhere, plotting and planning as was her wont.
Soft but firm hands massaged his muscles where neck met shoulder, followed by the smell of light perfume.
"Don't kill yourself, Zuko," the Fire Lady said. "I'd hate for that to happen."
"Mai," Zuko said back, smiling. "You've made up your mind?"
"Yeah," she said. "The Northern Water Tribe girl tapped me. She's a nice girl, and being on her team would go towards this 'multinational' theme your friends have going."
"I'm still a little worried," Zuko said, frowning. "You're a high-profile Fire Nation royalty, and there are still people out there fighting the war after it ended."
"I'll take a platoon of your Royal Guards with me, along with some of Ty Lee's Kyoshi Warriors."
"My uncle and I carved through a platoon of Royal Guards like they were cake. You and Azula did the same."
"But they can think." Mai leaned down, holding Zuko's neck in embrace while reading over his shoulder. "Defending against an open spear is easy, defending against a hidden arrow is harder. And they can help detect the hidden arrows. Besides, we'll have a Fire Nation team of our own. Just pick one that doesn't have a grudge against us."
"I guess that means the aspirants from Clan Chan and Clan Ruon-Jian are out," Zuko quipped as he picked up another stack, this one containing the dossiers of aspirants to represent the Fire Nation. They were good kids, all. Strong ones, each hailing from prestigious martial clans. Clan Jaghatai, the bowlords of the steppes, home of the Rough Rhinos. Clan Murong, one of the oldest firebending families in existence. Clan Xiong, from which his own still-long-lost mother had hailed. Even Clan Zhao – no, that was a bad idea. As he flipped through the dossiers, analyzing the relative strengths and weaknesses of each applicant, one soon became apparent.
"The Fire Lord has chosen us?"
"Was it ever really a surprise? Though our influence has waned since the war ended, we are still the greatest of the clans who openly support him. And I suspect there were political reasons behind this honor as well."
"Very well. So shall we tap Shijie? As heir to the Clan, it is his rightful place to represent us in such important affairs."
"No, he's too old. Did you not read the rules? They don't want anyone who has fought in the war. This is to represent the new generation who will have had their formative years in peacetime."
"That narrows it down considerably. Bataar?"
No, Bataar is of too simple mind. What of Yunfei? From what I recall, he is the best broadsword-wielder of his generation, next in line for the position of Administrator of the Broadsword Chamber. Grew up free from the spectre of war, though has lost family to it. Retains the youthful vigor and arrogance of having returned from his pilgrimage. Dedicated to our traditional values."
"Is that the type of person we want representing the Fire Nation and the Clan?"
"That's the only type of person who can represent the Fire Nation and the Clan."