"Water."
"Earth."
"Fire."
"Air."
"Long ago the four nations lived together in peace and harmony. Then everything changed when the Water Empire attacked. Only the Avatar; master of all four elements could stop them, but when the world needed him most; he vanished."
"A hundred years have passed and the Water Empire is nearing victory in the war. The Fire Lord is getting desperate, but I, Zuko, still have hope. I know the Avatar is still out there. I just have to find him."
/
Book 1: Water
Prince Zuko practiced his firebending forms by the turtle-duck pond.
Step forward. Punch. He then unleashed a imaginary wave of fire from his fist. This attack would vaporize water, sealing the win for his imaginary opponent.
But was he good enough? Certainly not stronger than Azula.
"Zuzu,"
Speak of the devil.
Zuko stepped forward, facing his sister in the eyes. "What is it, Azula? Can't you see I'm practicing?" Zuko turned his back to her and continued his stances. If he ignored her enough; she would possibly go away.
"No need to be so hostile, brother. I only came to deliver the good news," Azula informed him with a smug look.
"I'm good," He said shortly.
She went silent then, letting the curiosity slip right into Zuko. Azula was a pain, but she always had her nose in the court. Getting good gossip to come with it. He sighed, turning back to her. "Fine. What is it?"
"You're going to love this." She smiled in a way that made Zuko's stomach tighten. "The Avatar has returned,"
/
Katara snuck away from the compound at the best time. Mom and Gran Gran were busy with chores. Dad was introducing Sokka to the art of weaponry. No one would even notice she was gone.
She sailed away in a canoe to a fleet of icebergs. "Perfect," She thought.
Her dad being the governor of the Southern part of the tribe; her family was almost royalty here. People would envy her for having everything she could want, but she didn't.
What she wanted more than anything was to waterbend. But thanks to the stupid law that forbid women from learning anything but healing, it was never even a choice.
But no stupid law was going to stop her. She believed she had seen enough from the soldiers in training camps to copy their movements. Everyday she went there and little did they know she was studying them.
Instantly the water responded to her movements and began to rise, forming a snake like form. "This is trickier than it looks," She thought as she felt herself losing her grip.
Unfortunately, at this time someone gripped her wrist making her lose control completely. She faced the man ready for a fight, but luckily it was just her brother.
"Oh, Sokka, it's just you," She said relieved.
Sokka gave her a sour look. "Don't you 'Oh, Sokka, it's just you' me. What were you thinking, Katara?" He demanded to know. "If anyone else saw you, you'd be dead. Why? Because it's treasone."
Katara groaned. "I'm sick of not being allowed to waterbend. Real waterbending!" She shot, throwing her hands in the air. "Gran Gran said that before that before the North took over that women in the South were allowed to bend. How would you like it if you weren't allowed to use your boomerang?"
"Look, I can only imagine what you're going through,"
"You have no idea,"
"But you gotta stop thinking selfish."
That was the last straw. The nerve that had been keeping Katara secure had finally snapped, and she exploded in a result. "I'm thinking selfish?!" She screamed. "Master Yuguda told me I have some of the best talent she's seen, and look what I'm doing with it!" The ice beneath her feet began to crack.
Sokka took immediate notice. "Huh, Katara?"
"I was born and raised right here in the south! My ancestors knew waterbending and I want to too!"
The cracks became wider.
"Katara?"
"I was made to fight, not to be some stupid healer girl!" With her final outburst the iceberg shattered completely with tremendous force, sending shards flying. Both siblings held on as tightly as they could until the water settled.
"Wow," Sokka breathed. "I hope that isn't how you treat your patience,"
Katara was in a daze. "I did that?"
"Yeah, I'm shocked too." Sokka began getting himself back to his feet.
Before him or his sister could move again the ice crumbled even more. A strange blue glow shined from it. Neither of them had seen anything like it. As they started into the iceberg, they managed to make out a figure-a boy-inside. Suddenly, the boy's eyes snapped open- they burned with a blue-white light.
"He's alive." Katara breathed.
/
She was lying.
Azula had to be lying.
But she wasn't.
The sages themselves said so. The meeting was already taking place; Zuko had to get in there, but the stupid guard wouldn't let him. Fortunately his uncle came along. Zuko managed to convince his uncle to let him join. As long as Zuko remained silent. That wouldn't be a problem. He hoped.
Fire Lord Azulon sat on the burning thrown. The minister of intelligence stood and waited to be recognized before speaking. "My Lord and Generals, just this afternoon we received word from the sages that the Avatar has returned; Roku's shrine glowing to prove it." He paused. "Though, the question of where the Avatar is still remains a mystery."
The next to speak was the general. "My Lord, with a due respect, do we even need the Avatar? Not long ago I remember making a plan in this very room that we would hold out until Sozin's comet."
"The Water Empire is biting into our smaller islands! By the time Sozin's comet gets here it'll be too late! We need the Avatar now." Zuko blurted out. He quickly grabbed his tongue; he looked at his uncle, then his father, and finally Azulon. He expected the Fire Lord to be burning with anger, but he wasn't.
He looked curious. "Boy, who are you?"
Zuko bent towards the Fire Lord. "Prince Zuko, your grandson,"
"Zuko?" The Fire Lord repeated, surprised. "Oh, yes, yes." Azulon pressed his hand on his four head. "Well, then, Zuko. Since you have the audacity to speak out in my court. What do you suggest we do?"
The Fire Lord was asking him? Zuko cleared his throat. "The Fire Nation needs the Ararat more than ever. I suggest we send out a search party."
Azulon stroked his beard. Then, Ozai spoke. "If we are to send out a search party, then I nominate my daughter, Azula."
Zuko felt like his heart had been stabbed. His father supported the idea, but only if Azula was in the picture. Of course; she was the prodigy.
"Azula can't be much older than ten,"
"She's fourteen, father."
"Ah,"
That's when Uncle took a stand. "If I may counter argument father," Spoke Iroh. "It was Zuko's idea; he is the eldest, and he is of age."
Azulon was silent for a moment, even if he decision seemed obvious to some. "If it is your wish, Iroh, to so be it. But listen closely young Zuko." Azulon's crimson eyes met Zuko's. The latter felt the breath being ripples out of him. "I will not tolerate failure. You will come back with an Avatar, or don't come back at all. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, My Lord."
/
Being locked in cell and being tied to chains gave Aang the time to think. He woke up into beautiful blue eyes of a Water Tribe girl, Katara was her name. He showed off a little airbending, then...
"You're the Avatar." The boy accused him.
"Yeah...how did you know?"
"Because all the airbenders are dead."
That didn't make sense. How could all the airbenders be dead? He was wrong.
"What? No, that can't be it."
"Well, it is. You said that bison could fly? Give us a lift home and we'll tell you all about it."
It was a trap. He was escorted to the audience chamber by Sokka and Katara and when they reached the chamber he was suddenly grabbed roughly and thrown to the floor. Before he could respond to the rough treatment; he heard the voice of Sokka.
"Avatar Aang, for being the greatest enemy to the glorious Water Empire. You are under arrest."
The next moment his face hit the ground. Hard. Later, he woke up, and here he was. Aang just couldn't understand it. How could all the airbenders be dead? And since when was it the Water Empire? None of this made any sense. The only possible conclusion he could come up with was that these people were pirates...of sorts.
He just wanted to be home. He missed the temple, he missed Gyatso, and he missed Appa. He wished that he didn't runaway.
"Everything will be okay," He told himself.
/
AN: This AU takes place in a world where the Northern Water Tribe took a rise to power, leading the world in a hundred year war. History will be further explained. This will not rehash what is canon.
AN 2: If you came here expecting Zutara. You'll be fairly disappointed.
