AVATAR: LIGHT THE WORLD (The Illevitus Chronicles)

BOOK 1

-Air-

Chapter 1

-Birth of an Avatar-

We're sorry in advance for interrupting your usual broadcast for breaking news, Channel 12's Misty Haverford is live at the scene in the South Pole village of Kamu'kele, formerly known as the origins of the Southern Water Tribe, where heartbreak and tragedy stuck. Today at exactly twenty past one Avatar Korra, the most recent incarnation of the Avatar passed away in a freak accident. We now bring you live to Misty. Misty?

Across millions of televisions worldwide, society waited on baited breath as a beautiful young anchorwoman took to the screen on a live feed. She was bundled heavily in traditional coats also worn by the natives that surrounded her, and despite the thick fur that surrounded her face she was easily recognizable for her piercing blue eyes, pale porcelain skin, and kind smile that today was uneasy, "Thanks Seto! I'm live here at the scene of the accident, where initially our producers had told us, we were to conduct an interview with the revered Avatar Korra herself; however, tragedy stuck mere moments before our live interview. A freak avalanche that took place just about an hour ago trapped five young children under layers of ice and snow in a cavern the children were playing inside of." She paused for a moment and breathed an icy sharp inhale, "Immediately the Avatar along with the nations strongest remaining benders were summoned to save the trapped children," Misty paused again as another sharp icy wind blew through the area, "Within the hour four out of the five children had been rescued, leaving one child still trapped. Avatar Korra, in a valiant demonstration of courage saved the child, but as she herself was exiting, a second avalanche took place that knocked a loose icicle from the roof of the cave, and impaled the aged Avatar through the chest moments before she was buried alive. I'm now receiving word that just a minute ago one bender was able to pull her lifeless body from the accident. All the children who had been trapped are being treated for their injuries by the local healers. Tonight, in cities all over the world, the public is urged to light a candle in her memory, and we here at channel 12 shall be broadcasting a twenty minute silence in honor of the late Avatar. Afterwards the station will be airing Korra: A Life Full of Energy, a primetime special dedicated to her life and many great works. Our viewers can watch that report starting at 8pm central time, and the one hour event will be livestreamed in other timezones simultaneously. The Avatar is most famously known for opening the spirit world to our world, and taking out the tyrant Kuvira in the infamous battle of Republic City. The late Avatar Korra is survived by her widow, Lady Asami Sato, their children Gonzolo also known as 'Zolo', Tanraq, Kurbi, and their twelve grandchildren. So now with the Avatar gone, the world awaits to see if the lineage shall continue onto another bender. Historically the Avatar is chosen by the good spirit Rava. In order, the past several Avatars have been from the fire kingdom, air kingdom, and recently the water tribe, respectively. However, many have speculated that with the recent extinction of the earthbending technique that perhaps the Avatar cycle will come to an end. As of now the world awaits to see what happens from here on! I'm Misty Haverford, reporting live from the village of Kamu'kele at the South Pole. We shall now return viewers to their regularly scheduled programme."

Far from the freezing cold snow and ice covered village in the city of Zaofu, a young man is sitting on an ornate sofa in what appears to be a flat, his face is pretty with high cheekbones, full luscious black hair with a purple streak along the bangs. He's accompanied on the couch by a young woman who is sitting at the opposite end, with golden brown hair, tightly wrapped in a high bun on her head, and a semi innocent olive skinned face that is pierced along the right nostril with a gold chain connecting it to her choker collar. However between the two the most insane trait was perhaps the star shaped birthmark smack dab in the middle of the woman's forehead.

The young man picks up a remote from the metal coffee table, clicks the large red power button at the top, thus turning off the television, "Huh, Korra wasn't quite that old, I think my parents mentioned she was only in her sixties last we spoke of her." He gets up from the couch and yawns loudly, burping midway through said yawn, he stretches his arms out and yawns again, "Why am I so tired?" He yawned once more, but this time instead of air coming out a burst of flames was expelled from his mouth.

Startled, the young lady falls off the couch, and flings a metal dish from the table using her metalbending abilities to divert the fireball from hitting her. The fireball bounced back at the young man who quickly brought his arms up to shield himself when a powerful gust of wind produced by the movement of his arms blew out the fireball in an instant. The young woman looked up from behind the metal coffee table in complete exasperation, "Did you just fire and airbend!?" She began to get herself up on her feet when she heard the young man sniffle, and feeling not quite sure what to expect she remained semi-crouched as the man sneezed, but one of those crazy unrealistic sneezes where you body spasms from sneezing hard. Immediately his spit particles had stopped midair, then fell to the floor, "Sweet babies! Niko, what the heck? Are you –" she stammered, "Are you the next Avatar?"

The young man named Niko looked around at the slightly ransacked room then held his hand in his palm, looking pale and just short of fainting Niko quickly responded, "Scar- I- I- really don't know, but this is freaky!" He started to ponder what this could all mean, certainly it had to be some kind of shared hallucination, brought on by watching the news of Avatar Korra's death, yet part of him doubted that and seemed to like the idea of being the next Avatar. "Well how's that even possible? Isn't it supposed to be a thing from birth, when one Avatar dies another is born, right?"

Scar seemed a bit precautious about approaching Niko, tiptoeing around the coasters, magazines, and other objects that were on the coffee table that now littered the floor, but as she did her voice stopped trembling, "Well maybe this isn't a normal circumstance, after all Korra just died in a freak accident," Scar was next to him now, she closed her eyes and began to ponder this miracle herself. "I remember when my gran was alive she told me that Aang, the Avatar before Korra, died of natural causes, although he was young too…"

Niko couldn't come up with a reasonable solution, and as strange as it seemed an inner voice seemed to be telling him that Yes, you are now the Avatar. "So if I'm the new Avatar what should I do?" He was asking the voice inside.

Scar looked at him sideway, "I have no idea, don't ask me!"

"I wasn't."

Scar backed away slowly as if Niko were about to suddenly transform into some vicious beast bent on tearing her limb from limb. She kicked back the plate she flung at the fireball earlier. The clattering noise it made seemed to shock her back to her senses, this is still my friend, she thought, I can't back away now that he needs me! Scar ran up to Niko with tears in her eyes and flung her arms around him, "I don't quite understand why this is happening, damn, you probably don't either, but I won't leave you! If you are the new Avatar…" she took a knee "…consider me your trusted acolyte!" Niko brought Scar back up to her feet, and took her hand thanking her, without words, but somehow Scar could sense the gratefulness and some strange energy coming from Niko, "We should tell your parents before anyone else finds out."

Niko looked down at his bare feet then back up at Scar's face, nodding, "Okay, let me call them over." He walked into the kitchen area for a second then disappeared from sight, Scar could hear the buttons on the phone being pressed in quick sequence, followed by silence, then Niko's voice began from the other room, "Hey mom!" Silence. "I'm okay, well actually not really…" his voice got shaky, and after a long pause "…can you and dad just come on by? It's really important." More silence. "I'm okay… I think… Scar's okay too, but just get here as quickly as possible!" Even more silence. "Love you too, see you soon!" Scar could hear the click ending the call, and the subsequent sound of the phone being placed back on the receiver, "I guess now… we wait." Niko said in a plain and dry voice as he emerged from the kitchen.

About a half an hour later there was a knock at the front door to the flat, and immediately Scar and Niko got up from the couch to let his parents in. Scar unlocked the plastic deadbolt first, then the metal door lock with her metalbending. Niko's parent walked in quickly, allowing Scar to lock the door behind her just a quick as it was opened. Niko resumed his spot on the couch as his mother ran over to her son and sat down next to him, "My little lambchop! What's bothering you honey?" She grazed his cheek as Niko smiled. A single tear flowed down his face.

Niko's father, an average height older gentleman with a thick bushy but well coifed mustache, and slick gray hair seemed to have his own idea of what was going on. He looked at Scar very seriously, "Did my boy get you pregnant?" His face was just as serious as his tone.

The young man laughed and nodded no, Scar seemed livid at the accusation, rolling her eyes she looked over to Niko who looked back at her with an even bigger smile, "No dad, you're too young to be a grandpa." He took a deep breath, his parents hanging on his every word, "That would be easier to explain, but-"

Niko's mother, a short yet lively older woman with the most honest and gorgeous green eyes looked at her son intently. They shared this gaze for a moment before she started to speak again, "Niko, please tell us what's going on!"

He wiped away the single tear and took in a sharp deep breath, "Okay! Well, Scar and I were just sitting here watching the breaking news report about Avatar Korra, and then something- incredible happened."

"What, son?" His parents said in an ominous unison.

Niko laughed again, "This is gonna sound weird, and trust me it's legitimate. I- I- I- think I'm the new Avatar." Niko waited for his parents to find their words, clearly most parents would probably be excited to hear their only son is meant to save the worlds, but unlike most parents his just began to laugh hysterically, "I'm serious you guys, I literally just fire, air, and water bended in that order, almost killing Scar in the process, tell em!" He looked at Scar who started to blush. His parents were in such a hysteria that he blushed too from the embarrassment, "Here, I'll show you." He started to go for the kitchen as the others all followed, Niko's parents still in a wild frenzy of laughter, and Scar was not sure how to react to his parents being so daft. He turned on the tap by pulling the lever up, and the water started running. He started to focus with all his might to bend the water, but just ended up splashing about water everywhere with his hands, "I don't understand-" now both of Niko's parents were hunched over from laughing too hard. He was upset, his parents thought he must've been some huge idiot, this was all some dumb joke, and Scar was stupid enough to go with it. Did it really happen? Yes, it did. The inner voice was back. Snap your fingers. Niko did as the voice commanded and instantly a flame was produced in his palm, "I did it!" He chuckled gleefully. "I'm firebending!" His parents stopped laughing, and both stood with their mouths both agape. Scar began to cackle from the looks on Niko's parent's faces.

His parents stared at the small flame that refused to go out, "I don't believe it!" his father began, finding his voice, "Sanclea, our son… is the next Avatar!" Unable to contain her enthusiasm Sanclea ran up to her son in absolute delight, and hugged him, delicately avoiding the small flame, "We need to inform Thatcher, right away!" He was about to turn tail and leave, but Scar grabbed him by the shoulder.

Scar started a slow nod no, "As much as chief Thatcher would probably want to hear this, maybe we should just wait until tomorrow. Think about it like this Jeda, if you told Thatcher right now Zaofu would be swarming with news vans, reporters, and possibly enemies of the Avatar by morning light," she lets Jeda's shoulder go as he looks back at his wife and son.

Jeda sighed, "You're right, and then he'd probably get whisked away from Zaofu to fight crime or something of that nature," he locks eyes with Scar, "How about we celebrate tonight? Before Niko tells the world his secret?"

Sanclea let go of her son, "That's a grand idea Jeda!" She flew over to the fridge at top speeds, "I'll start cooking!"

Niko looked at his mom incredulously, "Mother, it's my apartment, please let me do the cooking!" Sanclea, in normal motherly fashion, shooed everyone out of the kitchen without a second thought, and began to descale a whole beaverbass.

The dinner was absolutely divine, beaverbass filets with a crème Brule sauce on top with lovely fresh vegetable medley side dish. Sanclea was such a talented chef in her youth that she was once asked by the President of Republic City to cook for him, his wife, Avatar Korra, the Lady Asami, Sir Varrick, and the lady Zhu-Li. Needless to say this was an odd bunch to cook for. Cooking for them was quite the deal to her back in the day, but this moment of finding out her son was the next Avatar clearly topped that day. Everyone was bloated by the time the sun began to set, Niko was entertaining his parents and Scar with his fantastic fiery burps, "It seems like your taking to fire quite quickly son, just be careful not to burn yourself or anyone- ELSE!" He shrieked out the last word as a fiery burp reached his well-groomed, but thickset moustache. Jeda began to pat the small embers out quickly, his face nearly twisted in alarm, Niko was definitely gonna hear a lot for this one, but then Jeda's expression softened. He raised his glass, "To Niko, our new Avatar! And to the smooth face I'll be rocking until he controls his fire!" Everyone started to laugh as they clinked glasses together. Niko then heard the voice inside him, but this time it was more morose. Your friend should go home now. Something isn't right.

Niko stood up quickly alarming the others. He stared at Scar, with a look of terror on his face that filled her with dread. Without a word between them, before anyone could speak, their eardrums were assaulted by a siren blasting outside.