Avatar: World of Secrets
Introduction
Water, Earth, Air, and Fire. Long ago there was a great war between the four nations. Just as it seemed the fire nation would gain control, the Avatar, master of all four elements stopped them. With the help of his friends the Avatar was able to bring peace to a war torn world. This peace, however, was not to last. For some reason that none have discovered, the Avatar cycle was broken, he was not reborn into the next nation, the Water Tribes. Many years passed and without the Avatar the peace that once ruled the Four Nations slowly gave way to distrust, and fear. Without the Avatar the world literally fell apart. No one nation could depend on the other. Sick and tired of the way things were going, a group of people decided to form their own nation, not dedicated to any one element. This group grew in size until it was the majority, and then bending was outlawed. This new world grew and many centuries passed until the general population had totally forgotten about the original four nations…but we survived.
It is now the year 2008 and the Four Nations fight off their grudges in secret, desperately trying not to be discovered. I live with my parents and two brothers in the Water Nation, in the middle of Kansas in a small town filled with people loyal to the element of Water. The other nations wonder why we choose to live in the middle of a land locked state. That is one of the many secrets that I have learned to accept. My family and I keep hoping, for our own reasons, that one day the Avatar will return and once again end this strife. But with every lie, every new secret, and every loss in this war, my hope for a brighter future fades.
Chapter 1: A Normal Family
The moon shone bright over a small quiet park with a lake gently resting in the middle. Families gathered around to celebrate the full moon and the power it gave to the women and men in the middle of the lake, sweeping the water around them in graceful movements adding to the magic of their dance. One girl, about the age of 17 and wrapped tight in a wool blanket, watched the spectacle from a stone picnic table. She gazed with wonder as the moonlight in the water reflected off her golden eyes. Her frail figure shivered in the cold and she felt a strong arm wrap around her shoulders.
"Hey sis, you know you can go inside if you're too cold." Her older brother Ethan said as he motioned to their home across the street. His smile was energetic, he could feel the moon's power rushing through him, and his sister could tell how much he loved this time.
"I wouldn't miss your big night for the world!" she grinned back at him.
It was the first full moon since Ethan had turned 18 and it was time for him to be officially accepted as a full fledged adult water bender. Maya watched as he made his way to the edge of the water that looked black in the darkness of the night, he turned and waved back at her and then joined the ballet in the
middle of the lake. Her younger brother Tommy, a scrawny 6 year old with a crooked smile, sat on the ground next to her, the cold never seemed to bother him. He watched his big brother with wonder.
"Hey Maya, do you think that I will be a water bender someday?" He asked with hopeful eyes.
She smiled at her brother as she remembered growing up and wishing that water would move for her.
"I'm sure that no matter what, you will find your own strength, T and you will be very skilled at whatever you do."
She let her head rest on her knees as she lost herself in the wild dance taking place in front of her. They were very lucky to live in such a town were half the people new about bending and the other half could be monitored. Things like this were never done in larger cities. Maya's gaze wandered up into the sky and she caught a glimpse of a meteor shower. Her heart skipped a couple beats as she watched the rocks burn up in the atmosphere. Secretly she wished that she could for once be herself, to join in on the celebrations in her own, unique way. She let out a sigh and looked around the park again to see her best friend Molly at a small inlet of the lake showing some of the younger kids a few water bending tricks to keep them entertained. This night was so magical, but even with the calmness of the setting, Maya still felt the weight of her secret like a burden she would never be rid of.
The festivities started to come to an end as weary children were carried back to their homes by happy parents. Maya shifted with the blanket and waited for her mom and dad to get back from chatting with their neighbors. Ethan pranced up with the biggest smile on his face. The family walked to their house together, hand in hand. You would never think anything out of the usual with them, just a normal family from the Water Nation. Look closely enough, however, and you could see Maya's hand gently light up into the soft warm glow of firelight underneath her heavy blanket.