Well, hello there. Have you ever watched a show and thought, "I wonder what would happen if things went differently"? Have you ever considered the implications if a character in a show did A instead of B? Have you ever wondered why superglue still works in a non-stick pan? Well, for me, Avatar: The Last Airbender and Avatar: Legend of Korra (Yes, I know, I know. But dammit James Cameron, THEY had the name first!) had many points in its plot where things could have gone differently...and wouldn't it be fun if we imagined the possibilities of what could happened?

In the style of Marvel's "What If?" and DC's "Elseworlds" style of books, this is a collaborative effort allowing you...and I...to do just that. For my part, I will write a oneshot describing what might have happened if only the character had chosen a different path at a certain point in time. On yours, please feel free to suggest any...umm...suggestions regarding major plot divergences (i.e. What If: Iroh Had Not Reconciled With Zuko?, OR What If: Korra Had Been Captured At The Equalist Meeting?). Or, if anyone of you want to offer their writing services, please inbox me and let's work something out.

So, right now, I would like to present to you the first ever What If? story. It was one that I wrote a heck of a long time ago, and, well, it's the one that started it all. Please, sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.

WHAT IF: THE AVATAR NEVER RAN AWAY?
AN AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER ONESHOT

Location: The Southern Air Temple
Time: 0130 hours

The bison snorted and reared back in fear.

"Shh, shh, shh. It's ok, Appa." The young boy whispered soothingly.

Looking up at the night sky, it was easy to see why Appa was scared. It was dark, pouring with rain, and at random intervals lightning flashed. Not even the most seasoned traveller would dare to set off in such conditions. And this was the night he had chosen to leave.

Aang sighed.

After being told that he had to leave his home, Aang had angrily decided to run away. Run to be free of the monks' unreasonable actions.

But now, his courage was wavering. After seeing at the horrible conditions, the Avatar was loath to continue. Staring up at the sky, he asked himself the question – should he go?

Then his nerve broke.

"Come on Appa. Let's go back." Aang said.

Location: The Southern Air Temple
Time: 1200 hours [5 Days Later]

Fire. Fire everywhere. The Air Temple was under attack.

There was a hurried conference held in the temple's inner sanctum, consisting of Aang and the monks in charge of the Air Temple.

One of the monks was giving a report: "...they've already breached the outer gates. The others are trying to hold them off, but I fear that it is only a matter of time until they overrun us."

Another monk turned to Aang. "Young Avatar, you have to step up and defend our temple. Push back the firebenders and win the war!"

There was a long silence while everyone looked at Aang. Then he did what no one expected him to do. He exploded.

"I can't believe it!" Aang yelled. "After you guys hounded me, restricted me, controlled my every movement and basically made my life miserable, now you want me to go and die saving you while you guys just hide out here? I never wanted to be the Avatar anyway!"

Aang stormed out of the room, furious with the world.

Outside, he met Monk Giatsu.

"I am ashamed of you, young Avatar." was all he said.

Aang begin to splutter. "But...but...they wanted to send me away! And now they want me to die saving them! They don't care a bit for me!"

"But they do care!" Monk Giatsu's voice cut through like a whipcrack. "For once try to think of someone other than yourself. People are dying all over the world because of the Fire Nation attack, including your friends right here in this temple."

He laid a hand on Aang's shoulder.

"Aang," he said gently, yet forcefully. "This is a time of great peril. You have in your hands the delicate balance between the four nations. Now with that balance at stake, you have to put everything on the line to save the world. And I believe you can do it."

There was silence for what seemed like a long time. Then Aang looked up.

"You're right," he said, voice filled with a new resolve. "I have to defend the free world."

Opening his glider, Aang sped off towards the thick of the battle, his eyes and arrow glowing blue.

Fire burned. Winds blew. The Earth shook. Light shone. Everywhere else around the temple, the battle was merely a distraction from the epic fight occurring. It was one man, no, one boy, against the world that seemed to be against him.

And he was winning.

Then Aang howled, eyes and arrow glowing blue again. Wind blew everywhere, the beginnings of a hurricane starting up. He raised his staff, mouth speaking words of power.

And then he smashed the staff into the ground.

It felt like the end of the world. No one ever knew what transpired for the next 10 minutes. Simultaneously, everyone in the vicinity blacked out from the sheer force of power.

But when the monks awoke, they found themselves the sole owners of an empty battlefield. No Fire Nation soldiers, weapons, flags, or bodies anywhere in the area.

And most importantly, no Avatar.

Different people reacted to the series of events in different ways.

The monks lit candles to honour the passing of Avatar Aang.

Monk Giatsu moved away from the monastery in self-imposed exile, the fact forever on his conscience that he sent Aang to die, regardless of the circumstances.

The Fire-Lord was shocked to receive news of the complete and utter decimation of part of his forces, collapsing in a heart attack in the middle of a meeting. His subsequent recovery, as well as the training of new soldiers, allowed the other kingdoms valuable time to prepare their defences.

And in a small Water Tribe, the newborn baby's eyes glowed blue.

***END***

Leave a comment and tell me what you think! Offer your suggestions, and keep on trucking, folks!

- NUMBUH777