Chapter One: 350 Years Later
"What?" The dark chocolate boy shouted in disbelief, "What do you mean 'I didn't make it'? I did everything you had asked for, I am better than that son of – ugh! What you do mean the spirits said no? How can they say no, they aren't here. They've never been here, ever, and yet they get to decide who has the honor on becoming the new Avatar?" A table was flipped by the same boy, his fist became inflames out of rage. "I've been training my whole life for this moment and now I will never become the Avatar!"
Her eyes gazed down, embarrassed to watch the teenager in front of her take his rage out on the Fire Lord Odo, who held his head high to boy. "Xathus, I know you are upset, but you must understand."
"Understand what? That your son is the new Avatar, that you told the priest to pick him so he can go on his 'little' quest to restore the Nations once more." He threw up air quotes before he had fist down beside him without flames against his long red pants. "You cheated! I know you did," Xathus left fist rose up in the air, his stiff index finger pointed right at his Lord. "Iona, are you just gonna let this liar make me look like a fool after all our father had done for this man?"
Her eyes fluttered upward at her young brother, their green eyes locked for a good five seconds before the young female teenager rose up from the pillow she had been sitting on. "Pardon my twin brother, Lord Odo," Iona bowed forward in respect. Her brother's jaw opened, feeling betrayed and hatred towards his older sister. "You know he isn't usually like this, so I ask that you would not punish him for his uncontrolled behavior."
"I cannot believe this! You—of all people, I thought you were on my side." Xathus, about the same height, five' five inches, his black hair was pulled back up in an adorable bun with a golden flame headpiece against his bun. The golden flame only had one stroke, instead of three like the prince has. He was dressed in black and red Fire Nation clothing, tight sleeveless shirt with tight red and black stripes pants tucked in by his high shin guards, that were also mixed in with black and red and his shoes were over his pants. "I thought you were my friend," Those bitter words hit Iona hard, feeling like she had just lost someone close to her, someone she trusted and believed in.
Her eyes never gazed upon him, but up at Lord Odo with a burning sensation lurking to drain her cheeks with a salty taste. She swallowed the hurting pain within her and before she could speak up, Lord Odo did. "Iona darling," His voice was so tender, releasing all the stress that had built within her chest. "I have a favor to ask you, it's very important." The dark chocolate girl focused on her Lord, curious and eager to hear his words. "I know your family has been kind to us over the years and your friendship with us has been truly a delight, now, I have a mission for you. You and you alone with do this. I want you to protect my son on his journey. As you know, the Earth Kingdom hasn't been pleasant to us since he was born, and I believe you will guide him on the way back. You are the only person I can trust to do this job. Can I count on you?"
"Iona hey, Iona, are you all there?" An eager familiar voice caught the girl's attention, her face turning towards the teenager boy who stood right in front of the raising sun. "Jeez, you were spacing hard." The boy commented before his cheesy smile broke a pink streak against her cheeks.
"Sorry, Darold," Iona replied, rising up from a gray rock she was sitting on. "I just got distracted, that's all. Did you pack up?" She asked him before she picked her backpack that sat beside her. Raising it over her shoulder before she glanced over at the lushes' landscape that sat there in the crack of dawn.
"Yeah yeah, come on! We better get moving." Both of their eyes gazed over at the Black Cliffs, still inside the Fire Nation territory.
They have been walking for days now, ever since Lord Odo had asked her to travel along his son's side, Daronld. She didn't want to fail her Lord, nor did she want to be apart from her childhood friend, Darold.
It has been over 350 years since Avatar Aang successed in complete learning all four elements, defeating the Fire Nation and restoring peace to the world once more. In fact, until Aang's death, it was quiet peaceful until he passed away to the spirit world, that's where it all started, about 250 years back. Since Aang, there has been two Avatar before the Fire Avatar came through. The Earth Kingdom were still in raged what the Fire Nation has done to its people, its land, they started rumor riots, charged against Fire Nation Capitol, however they didn't start killing anyone until Lord Odo became the new Lord of the Fire Nation. That's when life, here in the Fire Nation walls became difficult, it was like the Earth Kingdom decided to start a war, with the Fire Nation, wanting to kill every like one of them and anyone who agrees that they should still be living. When Daronld was born into the Royal family, that's when everything changed. The Earth Kingdom knew that the Fire Nation would have the Avatar next, and they had guessed it would have been Lord Odo's son. So they hunted for him, try to kill him whenever they could, but since they could never get passed the gate, they waited and planned to kill anyone of his family who journeyed out of the Fire Nation.
To top it all off, bending has become a thing of the past. Most people have lost the ancient scrolls of our people and have given everyone a cheap ability to bend. The Earth Nation thought it would be difficult for the Avatar to complete his mission if everyone had a piece of glove on their wrist. The glove allows them to use their Nations or Kingdom's ability. The more it became popular, the more industry the whole world became. Cars were finally invented alongside of a television set, however, most people didn't know about this. The Earth Kingdom kept everything to themselves, expect for their Kingdom Gloves, that's what they called it.
Finding a master to teach Darold has become difficult but not impossible, and Iona won't stop until he is done with his mission.
Darold (DARE uld), a master in fire bending and Prince of the Fire Nation, the Avatar was born a year older than Iona. His smooth white skin never seemed to crack nor get darker as he stood in the sunlight. His golden brown eyes seemed glance around the earth. He was dressed in normal Fire Nation clothing, hoping to bend in. He wore faded red and black vest over his torso and wore ripped-knee-length faded red pants and his borrowed black shoes. His black curly black hair lay just a little bit below his ears, his bangs flipped just above his left thick eyebrow. The buff Avatar smiled at Iona, "So how far do you think we'll get today?" Darold and Iona have been friends since they could remember. Her father helped Lord Odo during his childhood, and in return, he helped her father become part of the Royal family. "Do you think we'll be Fire Fountain City?"
Iona's black eyebrows folded against her dark chocolate skin, "Do you think you can walk that far? Please, I know my grandma could walk faster than you." She held her backpack straps and a pleasant smile against her face.
"Aw come on! I'm not that slow, see?" He pointed at his muscles on his upper arm, "Do you think someone could slow me down?"
"Yeah, I know someone who can."
"Who?"
"Me!" Iona had dropped the backpack and tackled Daronld down to the ground. Laughter was spilled in the sweet morning air as they tumbled around each other.
Iona (eye OWN ah), the oldest twin, fire bender, fighter, and guardian over the Avatar, is quiet beautiful. She has dark chocolate skin that seems to brighten the sun each time she's out. Her green eyes always seem nice. She is least five 'five inches tall, weighs about a hundred and twenty five pounds, which is bad for her. She has long curly black hair that she usually throws it up into a ponytail with a golden ribbon tied around it. The girl wears red and golden tube top with a matching short skirt with black knee leggings. She also wears one golden cuff bracelet around her right wrist and a golden charm anklet against her left ankle. Lastly, she has short ankle boots with the colors black red.
Once the fighting deceased, they gathered up they belongs and kept walking close to the cliffs. The sweet morning breeze welcomed the traveling group with breezy kisses, and lifted Iona's smile. It's been rough for her ever since they discovered who'd be the Avatar. It had been a week ago when her brother…
"So what do you think I should do first, learn Water, Air, or Earth?" Darold asked out-loud, his chocolate eyes gazing upon Iona, "I mean, it shouldn't be too hard right?"
The adorable Iona glanced up at Daronld, who was least five 'seven inches tall. "Well, I thought the plan was to leave the Earth Kingdom last, but Water wouldn't be half bad would it?"
"You want me to learn Water?" Surprise and unsure, he kept talking, "I'm not sure I'll be able to last down there. It's so cold and everything is like…" Iona stopped paying attention to Daronld. It wasn't his fault she had been spacing out, trying to remember every little detail about what had happened a week ago to this very day. The day they had discovered who'd be the Avatar, it certainly wasn't her brother of course, but the memory still haunted her.
"Yes." Her timid confident voice echoed through the halls of the Fire Nation Palace. Lord Odo seemed pleased with her decision and even smiled at her, "I would be honored to travel alongside the Avatar, you son. I will protect him until I breathe my last breath, I will not give up. I can promise you that, my Lord."
"What?" Xathus uttered under his breath.
"Very well," Lord Odo spoke with a cheery tone to his laughter and smile, "I knew I could count on you, Iona. Now, you must pack and—"
"Traitor!" A fist came slamming down against Iona's left cheek, causing her to be thrown a yard away from her spot in front of the Lord. "I thought I could have trusted you!" Xathus raged on as flames came out his hands, "I never thought I'd have to do this to my own sister, but you must die!" Flames came rolling out towards Iona, her back turned against it.
"Stop this childish behavior, Xathus," Lord Odo spoke up, getting out of his royal seat. "Do not be angered by your sister's decision, she's old enough to choice for herself. She doesn't need someone like you, telling her what to do. After all, you are both eighteen years old, you have your own life to fend for." Lord Odo took off his cap, revealing his red and golden armor beneath it. He looked like he was about to fight her brother.
"It doesn't matter anymore," Xathus hissed between his teeth, his hands balled into fist, ready to strike at Lord Odo, "She isn't my sister anymore. If she really was, she'd agree me with. She always has." The words seemed to hurt Xathus and Iona both, causing tears to drip down Iona's face and touch the marble black floor. "Now, she's worthless to me!" A fire burst through his right hand, aiming towards Lord Odo, however the tall man moved off to the side before charge at Xathus. "Wh-what?" Puzzled by what just happened, a fist knocked Xathus down to the ground. The marble floor beneath them was cracked, broken from where Xathus's face destroyed it.
Xathus cried out in pain, holding onto his face as Iona slowly rose up, staring at me. "Please don't hurt me, Lord Odo!" She cried out, "You know he doesn't deserve this, any of this."
Lord Odo glanced back in the corner of his left eyeball, seeing Iona, "…If that's what you want." Spoken like a true friend. Lord Odo dropped his fist, snapping his finger together before a few Fire Nation guards rushed to his side, "Take him away. Keep him locked up until he learns to respect his family and me."
Both guards did what they were told, cuffing Xathus before pulling him up and off of the guard. He cried out when he could, "I will find you, Iona! You haven't seen the last of me. I will kill you and your little boyfriend when I see you again. I hate you. Why won't you just die? Mother would be proud of you."
Bitter sweet tears tried to escape out of her eyelids as Darold kept talking on and on, "… I bet you're right. We should go to one of the Poles. They should know how to teach me, right?"
Iona's eyelids fluttered a few times before looking up at the Avatar, "Uh? I'm not really sure. They might teach us, or kick us out because we're from the Fire Nation."
A frown fell upon Darold's handsome face, "You're probably right… Let's not give up now!" A smile shined on his face as he jumped into the air.
"Right." Iona agreed as she followed Darold down a long stepped hill, feeling her feet wanting to go faster than her body really wanted too. Both of their eyes watched Koala Sheep, wander ahead of them. They were beautiful Koala Sheep with white fur and charming black faces. Darold kept chasing them, yelling at them that he was going to cut them up. Iona kept smiling, happy to see Darold in such a lovely mood. "Stop that Darold, you are going to get yourself hurt if you keep messing with the Koala Sheep." Iona shouted out from a distances with a laughter still leaking from her lips.
"Don't worry about it! I've got everything under control—" Darold tripped, falling down against the floor of meadow. His body clasped, causing the Koala Sheep to disburse.
"Darold!" Iona rushed towards his side, dropping her backpack half way through before she took a knelt beside him. "Hey, Darold, talk to me, are you alright?" She shook the Avatar's back before rolling him around, seeing his beloved face.
"Ow. What did I land on?" Darold whispered, his eyes barely opening up to her, but enough to see she was in front on him.
Iona's green eyes trailed around, in search of the object he fell on. "I'm not really sure…" Her eyes glanced only a few feet away before she found it. She bent down before she picked it up. "I found it…"
Darold slowly rose up, getting back onto his feet. "Great, what is it?" He dusted off the dirt on his knees. His face glanced up at Iona, who seemed to not be respond. "Iona, what is it?" Curious, he left his backpack where he had fallen before walking least a good two feet towards the beautiful girl, glancing over her shoulder. "Why can't you tell me—Oh." The words seemed to cause him to hush up.
What Iona held in her hands weren't heavy nor too light. It was metal, rusted metal that chipped off red and black. It was a helmet, but not any helmet- it was a Fire Nation guard helmet. The top of the fire helmet had been broken off, it had been here least a few days or so. "Why would there be a Fire Nation helmet all the way out here?" Iona asked before glancing up at Darold, passing the helmet to him.
Darold took the helmet, seeing Iona standing beside him as they look at the helmet. "I'm not sure… It has been here for days, due to the chipping of the paint along the sides here, here, and here." He pointed to inside the helmet, outside along the sides, and of course where the flame of the helmet was. "I don't think we are safe here. We better keep moving." Iona agreed, gathering up their belongs, but as they picked up their bags, a few strangers popped out of the forest beside the cliffs.
"Ah!" They screamed out at Darold and Iona, "We've been waiting for you two to come along and here you are, in the flesh." Faded red and black clothes were on all three men that had ambushed the two. "You are now our prisoners, you have to listen to everything we say or you'll be punished."
Iona blinked a few times before speaking out, "I'm sorry to interrupt you but we aren't prisoners, you haven't even captured us yet."
The leader with black hair and a few gray streaks in his ruffed bad haircut glanced over at his friends, seeming to be as puzzled as the two teenagers were. "Pretty's one right," He paused before pulling out his long iron blade, point it in-between Iona and Darold, "Get them!" the other two had gloves on their hands, lifting fire from their fingertips, and even shot some at the two.
Flips and turns, dodging the fireballs that seem to keep coming towards them, the two men went after Iona and the big boss went after the Avatar. Iona's foot flew in the air, twisting her body around as she kicked one of the man in his late twenties in the jaw, seeing drool flying out everywhere. "Take that!" She said before the other man came charging at her with flames in his hands. She dodges it before pulling his hand away from his body and kneed him in the stomach. Within seconds, both men were knocked out, even tried getting up, Iona stepped on their fingertips. Cries were shouted out as the men tossed on the grassland. Iona glanced up, seeing that Darold, the Avatar, was still fighting the older man in his late forties. The sword slashes side to side, nearly cutting some of Darold's body parts. Iona shook her head, "Do I have to do everything?" She sighed before she charged at the leader of the ambushed. As she ran, she had enough speed to jump on the man's back, her legs wrapped around his belly and her hands were wrapped around his arms.
"W-w-what the?" The leader became puzzled.
"Now!" Iona shouted out as Darold punched the leader in the gut, just a little above Iona's tangled feet. Again and again, Darold pushed the poor man only four times before he clasped forward.
Iona was back on her feet, glancing over at Darold who seemed to be out of breath, "Well that was an odd encounter."
"Agreed, hey, they wearing Kingdom Gloves, look." He pointed at the other men that Iona had taken out. "We better burn them before they wake up."
"Yeah," Iona said before her and Darold rushed over towards the other two men's side, taking off their gloves and with their fire powers, they burned all four gloves into ash. "Cool, now let's go."
Without even staying for another minute, both teenagers and eighteen, they ran without look back. If they left something, too bad, they would have to keep going forward now. They were being hunted.
By the afternoon, they had reached a small town, actually, it was a ghost town. Each house had been broken in some point, not one soul nearby. "Jeez, you want to stop here?" Darold asked Iona as chills when down his back.
Iona's green eyes glanced around, seeing how the broken windows, doors creaked and howled at each other, she only smiled at Darold. "This place is perfect for hiding out. If those punk come back to ambush us, they won't think we'll be here. I mean, come on, you saw how stupid they were."
Darold nodded in agreement, "Yeah, ok, you're right, again. Promise me this, when it gets nighttime, don't leave my side. I hate creepy places!" The Avatar shivered in his boots as Iona walked forward in the small town.
"I wonder what happened to this town. I don't even remembering this place being on the maps." Iona had walked up to some of the rusted wooden fences, her hand brief touching it.
"Beats me, now can we just find a spot to sleep, I really really don't like this place."
"Darold, stop complaining. I remember you being afraid of haunted places. Don't you remember when we had a haunted down in the Fire Nation Capital?" Iona grew up alongside of the Avatar since she could remember, and even through childhood, Darold was afraid of anything haunted.
"N-no! I don't want to go in there! Iona, please don't make me." Darold, least seven years old, cried out as they stood in front of a long tunnel that supposedly had a haunted temple inside of it. Darold was holding onto a tree to dear life as Iona stood alongside of her twin brother.
"Quit crying, you are supposed to be the Fire Nation's Prince. You can't cry." Xathus sticked his tongue out at Darold before Iona punched Xathus's arm. "Ow! Hey, Iona, what was that for?"
Iona crossed her arms, both of the twins wore their school uniforms, black and red. Girls wore long skirts and boys wore pants that had shin guards and awkward shoes and collared tops. "You could have been least nice to him. He's just a little scared."
"But, it's a dare. He has to do it."
The child girl rolled her green orbs, "If I'm not mistaken, you are afraid of the-"
"Sh! Not out loud!" Xathus interrupted his sister, placing his index finger over his lips, "Please please, don't tell anyone! You promised me that you wouldn't tell anyone."
"I will tell everyone if you keep bothering Darold." Iona statement, "Are you clear?"
Xathus nodded his head, ashamed of his fears. Iona walked towards Prince Darold, poor boy, he was still crying hard. "No no no! You can't make me Iona! Please don't. No no no!"
"Prince Darold," Iona had a pleasant smile across her lips, her hands folded behind her back, "You don't have to go alone in the cave. I'll go with you, we could hold hands so either one of us gets lost."
Darold didn't like that still, but he knew he had to complete the dare or he'll be a laughing stalk when he goes back to school the very next day. He sniffed up the snot that had been hanging out of his nostril, "Ok. Just this one time and I swear I won't do any more dares ever again!"
"Right." Iona agreed, holding his hand. Their cute little hands fit each other and sparked something in Iona's heart. It was something she had never felt before. It was a warm tinkling sensation that burned her soul and overflowed in happiness as they both walked into the haunted cave in the middle of the night. It started a crush that would build over the years.
Why do I keep having all these flashbacks? Iona felt confused, yet enjoyed that longing memory that never haunted her. She shook her head before walking deeper into the empty town, seeing that the water still worked. Her eyes glanced around, "What?" She uttered to herself.
"What's wrong?" Darold asked her, watching Iona bend down and pulling the small wheel around and water poured out of the water faucet.
"If this town was going to be empty, they would have stopped the water a long time ago, expect," She paused, cupping her hand and slipping it under the running water. It was chilled her skin, but when it was over filling her hand, she pulled it out and raised it to her lips. Tasting the water, it seemed to awake her body, feeling the cooling touch go down her throat and into her belly. "It's fresh water." She dropped the rest of the water and turned it off.
"What does that mean? You think there's-"
"Yes, this isn't a ghost town. This is another-" Iona couldn't finish her statement. In fact, both teenagers were hit with cubs on the back of their heads, knocking them both out.
An unusually man stood above them, "That's right kiddies, this is an ambush."
AN: Phew. What a chapter, I hope you enjoyed it. I have planned to make this my own Avatar story, because, it's not like I don't like the original, but that was perfect just the way it was. I am going to make my own story, own crazy plot. If you don't understand something, let me know and I will edit this chapter. Iona and Darold our my characters, I hoped you enjoy them. Please review, I want to get better, but I need your help! Thanks for reading!
