A Note

This idea was created in 2007-2008 during the time Book 3 was airing. This was before any news regarding Korra, the time of Aang's death, and parts of the world called Republic City and new technology was revealed. This is not meant to tie into Korra. This is, as of Korra's existence known, an alternate timeline with a different Avatar from the Water Tribes. This is going to be a long story and it is meant to be.

The Rise of the Avatar

Prelude

Decades had been spent by the Avatar, the Fire Lord, and the citizens of the world to rebuild following the century-long conquest by the Fire Nation. This time had been spent rebuilding cities, honoring lives lost, and the general changes which occur over time. Avatar Aang spent a good portion of his life rebuilding the Air Temples and bringing back the almost-lost art of Airbending. The Southern Tribe was restored to its former valor and size whilst Waterbending had been renewed in the South Pole following the near-extinction of the Southern art. Ba Sing Se's walls were rebuilt during the time the Fire Nation Capital was restored. A dedication to peace arose in the Four Nations and life continued on. Avatar Aang's passing was seen as a sad mark to the world. His beloved wife Katara and her brother Sokka had passed away only days before he did. Fire Lord Zuko had died five years before them, and Toph Bei Fong passed away a year after Avatar Aang. With the major icons that brought peace to the world gone it was now time for the ruling generation to stay committed to peace. Sixteen years following Avatar Aang's passing the world was earnestly looking forward to discovering the next Avatar who would be from the Water Tribes. Ninety years following the end of the war…and sixteen following Avatar Aang's passing the Avatar's appearance was to come as conflict had begun to shift the balance of the world two years prior to this day…

The Next Avatar

Before the gate of the Northern Water Tribe stood a group of eighteen people on a new expanse of ice made solely for today. It was the middle of the week which was driving the world into a frenzy; the next Avatar would be revealed sometime this week. On a massive slab of ice stood twelve youths all dressed in thick clothing accompanied by six adults. Two of the adults, both male and in decorated clothing, stood in front of the group.

The man on the left had a relaxed face. Standing over six feet tall, his slim yet imposing figure was reflected in his shadow by its massive stretch during the early hours of the sunrise. His dark blue eyes drew focus from his short brown hair which went to the tip of his ears with two long bangs held together by beads made of bone which went down to his short goatee. The dark blue of his whole attire accentuated the golden crescent moon on the center of his coat. This fine outfit ended in polar leopard boots. On his back were a whale tooth spear and a small hunting knife made from the bones of a polar leopard. This man was Chief Haruk of the Southern Water Tribe.

To his right stood a slightly shorter man with a sterner look on his face. He had long black hair in a single braid which went to his shoulder. His analytic gaze was as vibrant as the golden full moon on the center of his coat. The most notable feature on his face was a pair of two scars from a grizzly wolf's claws which were now bright marks on his left cheek. Strapped to his waist by a seal fur sash was a long machete made from the bones of a grizzly wolf. This man was Chief Arashi of the Northern Water Tribe.

Chief Arashi stepped forward and looked at the twelve youngsters. "As you know during this time of the year we normally examine older students to determine if they are ready to be recognized Waterbending masters. You twelve were all born on the same day within a week following Avatar Aang's passing. One of you might be the Avatar. We are putting you through the examination method of bending against Master Hie."

Chief Haruk spoke next. "We know this is not something many of you are ready for. However with the unrest in the Fire Nation we're hoping the next Avatar is in this crowd so he or she may be off to begin mastering the other elements as soon as possible. We need the next Avatar to be ready."

The sentiment amongst the twelve sixteen year olds was not sympathetic to this.

"I heard the students from the past two days were beaten senselessly by Master Hie. He took them on like he was fighting a Master." One voice said.

"He fought them as if he was against a Master? I don't want to die! I want to live!" another cried out.

"I need to go change my pants before they freeze." A third said which drew the eyes of everyone.

Not all were scared. A girl dressed in lighter colored clothing with long black hair with a braid for a left bang named Kala looked angry. She stood with clenched fists beneath her thick gloves. Her blue eyes were looking at the two Chiefs intensely. "After three years of talks I finally convinced my dad to let me go hunting with him. Today is when his hunting party goes out and I get dragged out here for some stupid bending test? That is not how I wanted to spend my sixteenth birthday. If I can marry I should be able to hunt." She said while venting her anger.

Next to her a boy with short white hair looked over and listened. His eyes showed sympathy for the girl. "Well I'm sure being a year away in the South Pole made it easier for you to talk to him and he missed you. I'm sure you can get him to let you go another day."

"But it's my birthday, Hakeinu!" she replied.

"It's mine too, Kala. I understand how you feel but we have no choice. Someone this week's going to be named the Avatar and the Tribes are just doing what comes natural with it."

"Yes but if they took my word for it I wouldn't be here. I'm sure I'm not the Avatar."

"I hope I'm not either but we have no say in this."

"Oh I'm going to get my say when I go up against Master Hie. He's going to regret that I had to come here."

"Aren't you taking this with a little too much anger?"

"Even if I go hunting again it's not on my birthday and the moment's value won't nearly be as great, Tattoos."

Hakeinu put his hand on Kala's shoulder. "Things will work out between you two and you'll get your moment. At least we get the celebration with the other masters tonight if we're able to best Master Hie."

"Well that celebration's going to be a nice consolation since he'll be there I guess. If I can't go hunting then my dad'll see me be a master tonight."

"I know you can do it." Hakeinu stated. After Kala's smile the attention of all turned to a man in his mid fifties approaching the group. His hair was long and set into eight equal strands which went just past his ears. His bright blue eyes skimmed the crowed as he got in front of the group. He merely shook his head.

"I don't think the next Avatar's in this crowd but we have no way of telling yet. If any of you kids can best me then you'll be a Master. I don't expect any lucky ones." He said before looking at the Chiefs.

"It's what must be done, Master Hie." Chief Arashi said before he and Chief Haruk sat near the gate of the city.

Master Hie gazed at the crowd of youths. "So who's first today? There's only a dozen so let's make today short. I have other 'real' masters to deal with today." He stated.

The crowd of young Waterbenders fell silent for a few moments until Kala stepped forward. "I'm not in the mood for this today but no one gave me a choice." She said while removing her gloves and stepping to the opposite end of the small island. She assumed her stance, ready to fight the master.

As soon as Kala was in her stance the old master immediately spun to his right and called forward a large stream of water his with his hands from the ice. Kala watched the stream drive toward her and she placed her hands in front of her and moved them away which parted the water stream as soon as it neared her. Kala then moved forward and pushed her arms forward which sent a spike from the ice at Master Hie. The man shattered the spike away with his hands and as he spun to the left water shot up around him and arched into the air. Master Hie brought his hands down and the arc water came crashing down at Kala. Kala swung her arms in small circle before moving in the incoming water to her side and made an ice path toward Master Hie which she used to get close to him. As she closed in her opponent drew his stance up which caused Kala's new ramp to move above Master Hie which he promptly turned into water with her target's feet stuck in it before tossing her down.

"You're making this too easy, Kala." Master Hie stated before bending a wave of water from the ice and sending it at her. Kala quickly faced the wave and as she moved to stand up Bended the wave away from her to create a large water whip which lashed at Master Hie's ear.

"I'm not done yet." She said as she pulled the whip back and drew it around her arms before charging at her master. Her opponent brought his arms behind his torso and sent forward two fast streams of water. Kala Spun to the right which added the water streams to her own attack at Master Hie's legs. Her distance to the man was enough where the attack swept him off of his feet. He promptly stood up and from there brought up two large water drills before bringing them down in front of Kala. She was forced to retreat or avoid getting slammed down by the drills which then broke through the ice the two Benders were standing on.

Kala moved around the gaps in the ice with her arms covered in water. Master Hie scoffed at the attempt and slid around the water gap before drawing from it a massive stream of water. The motions of his arms and torso sent multiple streams up from the hole at Kala. As she attempted to get closer to Master Hie she became occupied having to block his attacks. After she knocked away three streams she was hit hard by the fourth and sent back to where she had started. Kala rolled over and reassumed her original stance. She drew her arms up high and brought them down quickly which created a massive cloud of mist. When Master Hie drew down the fog Kala was nowhere to be seen.

"Where'd she run off to?" he asked himself as he looked around the ice patch. The sound of cracking ice appeared ten feet to his left and he quickly drew up the ice of that area and froze it. Kala was not within the ice. As he searched for her location once more a sudden burst of water from the hole he created leaped onto Master Hie and froze over his arms and legs. Kala soon burst from the ice gap with her legs from the knee down frozen into an ice block which allowed her to rise. Floating in front of her was an ice spike.

"How is that, Master Hie?" she asked him while not moving her body an inch.

"Well I have to say that's impressive Waterbending. You should get out of there before you get hypothermia."

"I think that's enough. Kala is no doubt good enough to be considered a Master." Chief Haruk stated. Kala then unfroze her master and helped him repair the battlefield. After bowing to Master Hie she returned to her spot in the crowd with all eyes on her.

"That was genius, Kala. When did you come up with that?" Hakeinu asked her.

"If I kept trying to out-bend him I would have worn myself out and had no chance. I had to distract him. An air bubble kept me with enough air until I broke the ice he attacked. I froze my legs and did the rest." She explained.

"Remind me not to get you angry." Hakeinu stated.

Following Kala's victory over Master Hie ten other students had gotten the courage to take on their Waterbending instructor. However their valor was not enough and the remaining ten were quickly defeated within two moves by the wise teacher of their sacred art. At this point only one student had not faced Master Hie and that was Hakeinu. He had waited for the ten other students (rallied by Kala's) victory to finish. Their momentum wasn't enough to get past their master's skill. Now Hakeinu was the last student left to combat. With the students and the Chiefs of the Water Tribes having their eyes on him it was time for Hakeinu to step up. He slowly made his way to where Kala had stood earlier and placed his gloves inside his coat.

"I hope you're not worn down by eleven consecutive fights, Master Hie. I wouldn't want to have an edge over you." Hakeinu said before assuming his stance.

Master Hie grinned and scoffed. "Oh don't worry about me. Minus Kala I've had no trouble. You should be worried about what'll happen. Let's see what you picked up these past four years when you started taking this seriously." He said before pushing forward a massive wave of water. As the wave rushed forward Hakeinu stepped toward the wave and thrust his arm in front of the wave splitting it in two before bending half of the wave and starting a run at Master Hie. As he closed in he jumped up into the air and thrust the water down at Master Hie. This attack was turned into ice around the master who quickly returned fire by using the new ice as projectiles against Hakeinu. The youth had to focus on shattering the ice projectiles with his bending before lashing back with a Water Whip. Master Hie jumped back and thrust the whip back at Hakeinu. Hakeinu took the blow to the shoulder and as he went down he yanked the ice under Master Hie's feet and sent him down to the ground.

"Your persistence at staying close is going to get you hurt fast, Hakeinu." Master Hie said as he jumped up and thrust Hakinu into the air with a column of water. As he was sent up Hakeinu froze the column and turned it into snow to slide down before using the snow as a wall which held against an incoming stream of water. Hakeinu promptly responded by spinning his hands and sending forward from the snow wall six ice spikes at Master Hie. Hakeinu turned his wall into water and ran forward as Master Hie evaporated the ice spikes. When Hakeinu got close the master swung his left arm up which turned the ice near Hakeinu into a moving water jet. Hakeinu sliced through it using his held water and made a second slice at Master Hie. As Master Hie moved back a portion of his hair was cut by the water slice. "Staying close to me isn't going to throw me off despite the advantage you get." He said before bending Hakeinu's water and using it to grasp Hakeinu's right leg and freezing it before creating a large Water Drill. As the drill came down on the stuck Hakeinu he quickly bent and froze the drill before freezing and promptly breaking it which let out a flurry of snow in front of the old Master. While he was occupied with the small blizzard created by Hakeinu the younger Waterbender unfroze his leg and circled his arms before bringing them down which shattered the ice around the two Waterbenders but left the areas bystanders were alone. He began to move floating ice around to unbalance Master Hie. When the master caught on he quickly froze a patch connecting the two. Master Hie froze himself in place and quickly rose up a massive wave which tipped the two and sent them under the water. When Master Hie resurfaced he noticed Hakeinu had frozen his legs to the same patch during the wave. As Master Hie went to use another Water Drill Hakeinu quickly created a massive water blast from the sea which sent Master Hie from his spot and into the gate. As the master fell down Hakeinu froze the man's hands and legs.

"Is that enough?" Hakeinu asked Master Hie.

"You have me frozen while you're able to attack. I yield." He said to Hakeinu. The youth unfroze his master. "Good job. Now we have two possible Avatars ready to travel." At that moment Hakeinu looked back at Kala with wide eyes. That was not something either wanted to hear.

"We could just be prodigies." Hakeinu said following this revelation.

"Perhaps you two are prodigies but it could be either one of you." Master Hie said. "Chief, I'm going back to the city. I need to finish preparations with my other students." He said before walking away.

The two Chiefs stood up and walked over to Hakeinu and Kala. "We'll see you two tonight for the ceremony. Be there when the sun sets." Chief Arashi said before walking away. This left Hakeinu and Kala to just stare at each other.

"Master Hie's full of it. There's no way either of us are the Avatar." Kala said to break the silence.

"I agree with you, Kala. We're just two really good Waterbenders. In a few days we'll see the Avatar and watch him go off into the world." Hakeinu said.

"You're right. I'll see you at the Chief's palace at dark." Kala said before running back to the city. Content with his actions Hakeinu walked back after letting Kala get some distance.

"It's not me and it's not her." He said to himself as he made his way back to the city.

After the sun set and the half moon was the dominant object in the sky a celebration was being held in the Chief's palace. While the general populace was seated on the floor of the gathering area the two Chiefs and a council of four elders and Master Hie sat in the center while twenty Waterbenders from both tribes sat on opposite sides of the area. Waterbenders of the Northern Water Tribe wore dark blue coats while those from the Southern Water Tribe wore a lighter color. A feast was laid out on a dozen tables in the center of the palace. When all were present Chief Karuk stood up.

"I'd like to thank everyone for attending and to thank Chief Arashi and our sister tribe for their hospitality this past month. To my Waterbenders who have spent years training and have come here to be announced as masters I have to say I am proud of you all." He said before standing up. The Southern Waterbenders stood up following their Chief.

"I'd like to thank the Spirits of the Moon and Ocean for this bounty we have accumulated for tonight's feast. May they continue to guide us and watch over us in times of peace and in times of war." Chief Arashi said before standing up. The Waterbenders from the Northern Tribe stood up following their Chief. The two leaders then picked up ceramic bowl with black paint inside them. One by one they would go in front of a Waterbender and put the marks of the Moon and Ocean on their foreheads. "These two marks designate the following Waterbenders as Masters." Chief Arashi added before bestowing the mark.

Towards the end of the row of Northern Waterbenders Hakeinu and Kala were standing between peers at least seven years older than they were. The two were looking at each other and around the room as the ceremony took place.

"Okay so I'm sure that the rest of the people here are at least in their early twenties." Kala said to Hakeinu as she looked across the room.

"Isn't that a good thing?" Hakeinu asked.

"Not when we're both sixteen and this is the week the next Avatar was born sixteen years ago."

"You're still worrying about that? There's still four days left anyways so the chances are low."

"You tell me who else you think could beat Master Hie this week!"

"Hokoshiro?"

"He's been saying it's him for four years now and you buy into that?"

"No I just don't think it's either of us." Hakeinu added before Chief Arashi arrived and placed the two marks on Hakeinu and Kala.

"I am very proud of you two. You have made your tribe very proud." He said before moving onto the last few Waterbenders.

"Look, Kala. Let's just enjoy the food and good times. My sister Yuki's all excited. I told her that with hard work and some patience she'll be a master at our age in no time." Hakeinu said.

"You're right. Plus the looks on my parents' faces were priceless." Kala said.

As the two spoke eased their worried by talking the attendance in the room increased as three old men in blue conical hats walked into the room which alerted the Chiefs.

Chief Arashi walked down to greet the three men. "Are you here to come enjoy the celebration?"

The center man with a long gray beard shook his head. "We have finished making preparations. The time has come to announce the identity of the next Avatar."

The room suddenly fell silent and all eyes were on the three men in the center of the room. Hakeinu and Kala both widened their eyes and pointed at the other without even looking.

"I knew it was you all along." Hakeinu said to Kala.

"Don't be ridiculous, Tattoos. It's definitely you." She retorted. Both were speaking with a nervous tone.

The center monk walked up to where the council sat and he looked at the audience. "As I said before we are here tonight to announce the identity of the next Avatar. We are here to tell our Tribe that we are in the presence of Avatar Hakeinu."

There were looks of shock and gasps (and a few "WHATS?") in the crowd. Hakeinu's hand pointing at Kala went limp and all eyes soon fell on him.

"This isn't a joke…" he said in shock.

Kala nodded slowly. "I don't think it is either." Following her statement the entire room was bowing to Hakeinu.

"Can I speak to the monks?" Hakeinu asked Chief Arashi.

"Of course, Avatar Hakeinu." He said. The young Avatar followed the three monks out of the room as the silence continued.

"I guess we have more to celebrate on now when he returns." Chief Haruk said.

"I agree with you, old friend. This day is truly a blessing." Chief Arashi said as they watched the Avatar and the monks leave the room.

Outside of the palace Hakeinu stood in front of the monks. "How do you three know I'm the Avatar? There's no way it can be me." He said.

The long-bearded monk shook his head. "It is you, Avatar Hakeinu. We've known for some time but it is tradition that we announce the Avatar's identity when they are sixteen years old." He said before extracting from his coat a small cloth holding four toys.

"How did you find those toys? I thought I lost those!"

"When you were young we were sent a massive pile of thousands of toys from the Air Temples. These ancient artifacts were toys from past Avatars. The four you chose were the ones from your past lives. You picked them out because they were familiar to you."

Hakeinu shook his head. "I loved those toys but that's just luck."

"Denial shall not change things," the monk began before bringing up a gold and black box before extracting four new artifacts. "Do you recall when you and the other children helped us with artifacts four years ago?"

Hakeinu nodded. "Yes…"

"The same process with the toys was used. We asked you and every other child to select an artifact from each of the four nations. You selected the four belonging to your most recent past lives." he stated before extracting the artifacts out one at a time. "This Bison Whistle you selected belonged to Avatar Aang; your most recent past life. This head piece from the Fire Nation was given to Avatar Roku by Fire Lord Sozin. This golden fan was a weapon used by Avatar Kyoshi and is her iconic weapon. This betrothal necklace you chose was the one carved by Avatar Kuruk."

Hakeinu looked at the four artifacts. "I chose these because they looked like the best artifacts of the four nations."

"They were familiar to you. A close personal attachment." The monk added.

Hakeinu stared at the artifacts. "I'm the Avatar…" he said while just staring at the artifacts.

"That is correct."

"So what now?" the new Avatar asked.

"Tonight you shall celebrate with the Tribes. Four days from now we'll be setting out to a town in the Earth Kingdom. You will head to the Northern Air Temple to meet with a guide to help you with your questions and then you shall head to Ba Sing Se to begin learning Eathbending." The monk said.

Hakeinu shook his head for a moment and then put the artifacts back in the box. "I guess I understand. I'm going to go back and celebrate. I just feel bad I stole the spotlight from the Waterbenders."

The monk laughed. "It's not every day the Avatar is revealed. Fate is a very funny thing at times. Go enjoy yourself." He added before walking away. Hakeinu took a deep breath and walked into the palace.

Walking back into the palace Hakeinu was relieved to see that the celebration had gone on. As soon as one person spotted the Avatar more eyes fell upon him returning. All the attention focused on him made Hakeinu nervous and he quickly made it to a crowd of familiar faces; his family.

The tall man in hunter's wear with short black hair and a scar over his right eye was Hakeinu's father, Kusen. The woman who was up to the man's chest with her long black hair in a single tail was Hakeinu's mother, Kyo. The thirteen year old girl next to Kusen with her hair in two braids was Hakeinu's sister, Yuki. Next to Kyo was a nine year old bow with extremely short black hair named Hisane; he was Hakeinu's brother. Hakeinu took a seat next to family but he remained silent.

Kusen looked over at Hakeinu and smiled. "Are you going to say something or are you going to sit there and mope, Hakeinu."

Hakeinu quickly looked up and shook his head. "I'm not moping, Dad. I'm just shocked is all."

"You should be happy. Enjoy the celebration. It's not every day you get to be a Waterbending master AND the Avatar."

"You're taking this predicament very calmly, dad."

"We can't go back in time and change it. Plus now your mother and I can say we're the proudest parents in the world since our son's the Avatar. Your mother is enjoying the attention she's getting from the other mothers over this."

Hakeinu looked over and saw his mother smiling and looking proud while various other women were complimenting and asking her questions.

"Oh well there's always a little feeling you get. I always thought that maybe he was the Avatar." She said to a crowd of amazed-looking mothers.

"She is taking it well." Hakeinu said to his father.

"As I said before we're the proudest parents ever." Kusen stated.

Hisane looked over at his older brother. "What about that trip you and mom were talking about, Dad?"

Hakeinu raised a brow. "What's Hisane talking about?"

Kusen sighed. "After hearing you had mastered Waterbending your mother and I had thought of a world-wide trip. Since you would be a Master you could teach your sister Waterbending along the way and then we would drop her off at our sister tribe for her year of training at the very end of the trip."

Hakeinu frowned. "And now that I'm the Avatar that plan's been messed up. The monks told me in a few days I have to go off and master the other elements."

"We're in no rush, Hakeinu. You have your duties to the world as the Avatar. We can always have the trip when you return. You shouldn't worry about it. Plus you can give us better information so we don't wind up going to boring places."

"I guess you're right about that." Hakeinu said.

Hakeinu's sister Yuki crossed her arms. "Don't get all frowny on us, Hakeinu. I'm still going to be a great Waterbender even if you're the Avatar."

Hakeinu laughed. "Well when you want you can always fight me."

Yuki pondered. "Fine. But just Waterbending!" she said.

The four present family members laughed due to Yuki's comment. "Now let's sit down and eat as a family. Time will fly by and you'll be off." Kusen said.