One-hundred years ago the Fire Nation started a war of conquest. In an effort to destroy the Avatar before he could master all the elements, the Fire Nation does the unthinkable and wipes out all the Airbenders they can find. For the next 100 years Airbenders are hunted down and killed. Many cities refuse the let Airbending refugees into their cities for fear it will bring the Fire Nation down upon them. 12 years before the return of Aang, the last surviving Airbenders are found and captured after being denied entry to Ba Sing Say on order of Lei Fong. No one knows what happened to them, but stories emerge of horrible torture. None of them are seen again.
The day that Prince Zuko assumed the throne all POWs were released, but there was one Prisoner that they should have left and soon they will feel her wrath.
Avatar the Last Airbender: Revenge of the Air Nomads.
5 years before the return of the Avatar. The Port of Kuzon:
They dragged her along behind them as they walked through the prison. One of the Fire Nation guards looked at the small Airbender. "So this is the last Air Bender alive," he said.
His companion nodded his head. "Yeah," he said. "The Admiral believes that it may be the Avatar."
The first guard snorted. "I doubt that," he said. "From what I understand the Avatar is born as soon as the old one dies."
The leader of the trio of guards turned to his subordinates. "Well Admiral Diap has been in charge of hunting down Airbenders now for the last 13 years," said the leader. "If he says this is the last one, then it's the last one."
One of the guards laughed as they came to the cell. He opened the door and tossed the young Airbender in. "You hear that?" he said mockingly. "You're the last of your kind." He slammed the cell door. "Enjoy your short stay here. The accommodations at the Crescent Island prison are a lot less comfortable."
The three soldiers laughed as they left the cell. Grey eyes opened as tears flowed from them. Where they telling the truth? Was she the last of her kind? Alone in the darkness she began to cry.
5 years later: Port of Kuzon:
Grey eyes opened as she heard the sound of the ships bell. Standing up from where she meditated the young Airbender watched as a Fire Navy ship arraived in Port. She sneered at the Red flags flying proudly over the ship. The sight of the town filled her with rage. Here was the place where her pain began. Here was the place where all that she held dear was taken from her. Here was where they began to strip her of her humanity. Here would be the start of her revenge. She smiled in anticipation of what was about to happen. Soon the Fire Nation would feel her pain. Soon the Fire nation would feel her wrath.
Fire Navy Ship FNS Azulon: 4 miles from Port Kuzon
Lieutenant Tan watched as several Dolphin-Sharks swam playfully in front of the ship's bow. Things were boring now that the war was over and being on the night watch didn't make things any better. Not that he was complaining or anything. He was finally going to get to go home and see his wife and child.
"Hey Tan," said someone behind him. "What are you up to?"
Tan turned around and saw Lieutenant Jang walking towards him with a hot cup of tea. "Hey Jang," said Tan. "I'm just looking forward to getting home."
Jang handed Tan a cup and leaned on railing. "Same here," he said. "I haven't seen home in a year."
Tan nodded. "I know what you mean," he said. "My little girl turns 3 this month. If we're lucky, we will make it back home in time for her birthday."
Jang let out a laugh. "I'm sure that will be the best present you could give her."
Tan smiled and took a sip of his tea. "I sure hope so," he said. "I just wished that… hey what's that?"
Jang followed where Tan was pointing. He saw what looked like a bird flying above their heads. He did several loops then all of a sudden its wings folded and it dove straight down at the boat. "It's gonna hit us," yelled Jang. "Brace for impact!" Jang and Tan held on to the railing with all their might, but just as the thing was about to hit the deck, its wings spread out and it landed lightly. Jang and Tan were surprised to see that it wasn't a bird, but a girl. Jang held his hands in front of him as he approached her. "Who are you?" The girl turned her head and opened her grey eyes. When Jang saw her eyes he recoiled in fear. She had a cold stare that made him feel as if she was burning a hole through his chest.
Tan gulp and walked up to her. "This is a Fire Navy Ship," he said. "You are not allowed to be here. Who are you?"
The girl held a staff above her head. "Who am I?" she asked in a soft voice. "I'm Vengeance."
The girl swung her staff down and Tan saw a crescent of air fly past him. He heard a gurgling sound and a pair of meaty slaps behind him. He turned around and to his horror saw that the attack had split Jang in half the length of his body. Tan turned back to the girl as she jumped into the air and swung her staff at the bridge slicing it from the ship. A moment later the bridge exploded causing flames to fall all over the deck. Tan covered his face as embers rained down on him as several of the crew came up from the inside of the ship. One of them fired a fireball at the girl, who dodged it and fired another crescent of air at them cutting the crewman and several others down. One of the last crewmen began firing fire balls at the girl as fast as he could but no matter what he did the girl simply dodged it. Soon she was right next to the soldier and knocked him on his back and straddled his chest. She pointed her finger to his chest and soon a small tornado appeared and drilled its way through the amour of his chest and into his body. The man screamed in pain as the tornado expanded outward until he had a foot wide hole in his body. The girl leapt off the man and kicked him into the burning part of the ship still alive leaving Tan alone. The girl turned her attention to him and their eyes locked. Tan saw hatred, anger, and one other emotion. Joy. She was enjoying herself. Tan fired at her, but she spun around in a circle and swiped her staff again. Tan jumped to the side but not fast enough. He felt a tug on his right arm and to his growing horror saw his arm flop next to him on the deck. Tan fell to his knees clutching the stub of his right arm as the girl walked up to him. Tan looked up and saw the blue arrow on her head. "You're an Airbender," he said in astonishment.
The Airbender sneered as she raised her staff and twisted the handle causing a blade to spring out. "In the name of my people," she said. "You and every other Fire nation citizen will die." As Tan began to pass out from the blood loss, he closed his eyes and silently prayed to Agni that his wife and child would be safe. Right before she could land the blow, the ship's engines exploded causing the ship to lurch violently. Tan felt himself fly into the air and land in the warm ocean. The pain from the salt water hitting his wound caused him to wake up. He grabbed a nearby piece of driftwood and looked back at his ship. As it sank beneath the waves, he could make out the Airbender fly off into the night sky towards the port. Tan lost sight of the Airbender as she vanished into the city.
She landed in the town square and looked around. A flood of memories came to her as she saw the route that they used when they dragged her through town like a trophy. She could still see the people throwing rotten fruit at her, pointing, laughing, and jeering. The citizens started to gather around and point out to the still burning hulk of the ship.
An old man walked up to her. "Do you know what happened?" he asked.
Grey eyes looked up into his and the old man recoiled in fear. He saw cold hatred. "Yeah, I know what happened," she said.
The old man gulped. "What was it?"
Grey eyes locked onto his amber eyes. A wicked smile played across her lips and the old man heard joy in her words. "I happened."
She started spinning in a tight circle and soon the old man saw a huge tornado form. The girl was an Airbender. People in the square tried to run, but they were sucked into the vortex and tossed around like dolls. The old man tried to run, but fear rooted him in place. All he could do was watch in horror as the tornado lifted him off the ground. The old man felt weightlessness for a moment before he was thrown into a building then he felt nothing.
24 hours later:
Fire Lord Zuko surveyed the damage to Kuzon from his personal war balloon. Never in all the war did he see damage like this. Where buildings once stood now only piles of brick and mortar remained leaving the now homeless refugees to sift through the rubble. The Merchant ships that had been tied to the docks were thrown like children's toys up and down the streets with the contents of their cargo holds scattered everywhere. Zuko turned to his aid. "How bad is it?" he asked.
His aid read from his notebook. "My Lord," he said. "It looks as if roughly 65% of the city is destroyed with the other 35% damaged. The docks are destroyed and several ships are not either run aground or drifting in the ocean."
"How many people have been hurt," asked Zuko.
"We still don't know," said the aide. "So far we have pulled several hundred bodies out of the ocean itself along with those buried beneath the ruins. We have found survivors of course but the longer the search and rescue takes the less likely we will find any more." The aide gave Zuko a glum look. "The death toll is expected to be in the tens of thousands."
"Damn," said Zuko. "Do we know what happened?"
The aid flipped a page on his book. "According to eyewitnesses, sometime in the middle of the night a fire navy ship exploded in the bay. As the people came out to see a tornado appeared and devastated the city," he said. "Then just as suddenly as it hit, it was gone. The strange thing about it is that it was a clear night. No storm clouds or weather to speak of."
Zuko rubbed his head. "This doesn't make any sense," he said. "A tornado doesn't just appear and destroy a city then vanish."
The aide opened his mouth to speak when the door opened. Zuko turned and saw the Admiral of the 4th Fleet Admiral Liu Lao walk in and bowed. "My lord we have found a survivor of the Azulon," he said. "He says he knows who did this."
Zuko got to his feet. "Where is he?" he asked.
Lao got to his feet. "We brought him on board a moment ago," he said. "He was the only survivor we could find." Lao opened the door for Zuko as he walked to the infirmary. "He's lucky," continued Lao. "He was fished out of the bay sometime last night with his right arm missing. It's amazing that he didn't bleed to death."
"Must be a strong soldier," said Zuko. "Or has a really good reason to live."
"Indeed My Lord," said Lao. He came to a stop in front of the infirmary and knocked on the door.
A fire navy doctor with an unshaven face opened the door. "Can I help you?" he asked.
"The fire Lord wishes to see Lieutenant Tan," said Lao. "We have questions we need answered."
The Doctor nodded his head and moved out of the way. "Please keep it brief," he said. "He lost a lot of blood and needs rest."
Zuko and Lao walked in and found Tan sitting up in bed. When he saw Zuko he attempted to get out of bed and bow, but Zuko stopped him. "It's alright," he said. "You don't have to move."
Tan nodded his appreciation. "Thank you my Lord," he said gratefully.
"Tell us what happened Lieutenant," said Admiral Lao. "How did your ship go down?"
Tan closed his eyes for a moment. "It was an Airbender sir," he said. "An Air Bender landed on the ship and attacked us without provocation. I tried to ask what she was doing on the ship, but she attacked me and a fellow crewman."
Zuko eyes widened in surprised and he and Lao exchanged looks. "You were attacked by a female AirBender?" asked Lao. "You must be mistaken. The only Airbender left alive is the Avatar."
"I'm not mistaken," said Tan. "When she landed on the ship she used Air Bending to slice a friend of mine in half. Then she turned around and cut the bridge of the ship in two before taking my arm." Tan shuddered at the memory. "She came up to me. I looked into her eyes and saw that she was enjoying herself. Then the engines exploded and I was tossed into the bay. I saw her fly off and attack the city before I passed out."
"Did she say anything?" asked Zuko.
"Yeah," said Tan. "She said she was going to kill every Fire nation citizen."
Tan started coughing. The doctor ran up to him and gave him some water. He looked up at Zuko and Lao. "He needs rest," said the Doctor. "I'm afraid that's all the time I can permit you now."
Before Zuko left Tan grabbed his arm. "My Lord if I may make a request," he said. Zuko nodded his head. "Will you please inform my wife that I am alive?"
Zuko shook Tan's hand. "I will personally write a letter telling her how brave you were, Lieutenant Commander."
Tan's eyes widened in shock. The Fire Lord himself just promoted him. "Thank you, My Lord," he said.
The doctor cleared his throat. "I'm sorry," he said none to gently pushing Zuko and Lao out. "But he needs rest now."
Zuko nodded and walked out of the room with Lao following. "I've put every ship in the area on alert," he said. "As well as all our garrisons and look out posts. We will find this Air Bender."
"We need to inform the Avatar," said Zuko. "He may be able to help us find her. He may also be interested to know that he is no longer the last Air Bender. " Zuko spoke into a nearby communications tube. "Helmsmen," he said. "Set course for the Tao Lon Base." He turned to Lao who had an uncomfortable look on his face. "What's wrong," asked Zuko.
"I'm just wondering if the Avatar will turn her over to us if he finds her," said Lao. "He may have forgiven the Fire Nation for what we did to his people, but this new Airbender could convince him to join her."
Zuko thought for a moment. "He'll do the right thing," he said. "We worked too hard for peace just to let this happen."
Lao still looked unconvinced but he bowed to Zuko. "I hope so," he said. "I'll send the messenger hawks out right away to our troops."
Zuko nodded as he came on the bridge. "Aang will do the right thing," he repeated to himself. "Or I'll have to take matters into my own hands."
Grey eyes looked at the ruined town from on top of a nearby hill and were happy at what they saw. The pain and suffering of this town was just the start. Soon all those that let her people die would feel what she felt. She looked up and saw the Fire Navy Airship floating in the sky. She wanted to strike at it and knocked it from the air like an annoying hopper-fly, but she couldn't. Not with them on alert. Still the destruction of the town was satisfying. She opened her staff and gathered the air under her. She had better leave now if she wanted to make it to Ba Sing Se before the week ended.
This is my first Avatar Fic. I hope you enjoy it and I hope to update it soon. In the mean time Check out my other fics and as always please leave reviews.
