This is my first Avatar fan fiction. I own nothing. Avatar is owned by Nickelodeon.
Book 1: Worth
Chapter 1: The Waterbending Maiden
The barren wasteland was no place for a waterbender. This was the thought that entered Katara's mind as she sat under the sweltering hot sun. At the present time, she found herself in the middle of a desert. "Damn it Aang," she said, "Where are you?" Katara was in the middle of a long, grueling search for the man she loved.
Five years have passed since the end of the Fire Nation's 100 year long war for power, five years since Phoenix King Ozai was defeated by Avatar Aang, five years since Fire Lord Zuko defeated his sister, Fire Lord Azula, and took his rightful place at the throne. For five years, the world remained at peace. That day became the happiest day in many people's lives. Not Katara's though. Her happiest day came three years later, the day when Aang handed her the hand carved betrothal necklace that now hangs around her neck, in place of her mother's. Not that her mother's necklace held no value, but the necklace she wore now was hers, celebrating her betrothal to, in her opinion, the greatest man that ever lived. Not many people argued that.
Katara walked over to the wall of a cliff that was casting a shadow, in order to beat the heat caused by the midday sun. Aang had vanished three days prior without telling anyone where he was going. "What's a pretty girl like you doing in a place like this," she heard someone say. She turned around and saw a man standing ten yards down from her. He was a foot taller than her, about the same height as Aang, and dressed in the traditional clothing of the northern water tribe. "I can tell by your cloths that you're from the southern water tribe," he said, "a little lost are we?" "Look who's talking," she said, "This isn't exactly the north pole. What are you doing out here?" "Looking for someone," he said, "You?" "Same," she said. He turned and walked over to her. "My name's Shiro," he said, "and you are beautiful." "And engaged," she said whilst pointing to her necklace, "My name's Katara." "He doesn't deserve you," Shiro said, "Your kind of beauty should not belong to a normal man." "My fiancé is anything but normal," she said. "I thought I recognized you," he said, "You're the Avatar's girl. Where's he been? No one's seen him lately." "Truthfully," she said, "That's who I'm looking for." "So he isn't here," Shiro said. She shook her head. A smile came across his face. "That will make testing your worth that much easier," he said. "What," said Katara, turning to face him.
Shiro assumed the fighting stance of a waterbender. "Who are you really," Katara asked. "I told you," he said, "My name is Shiro. I've spent the last five years perfecting my fighting skill. Before that, I was an assassin for the Fire Nation. My primary target was the Avatar." "So you're after Aang," she said shifting her stance. "No," he said, "My target was Aang, but frankly, Ozai was a nutcase. Azula wasn't much better. I can't tell you my motivation for it now, but my new self assigned mission is to locate, fight, and test the worth of everyone that aided the Avatar in his fight. You get to be my first opponent, but since it would be pointless to fight you, a waterbender, in the middle of a desert, without water, allow me to aid you." He shifted his stance, and off to the side of them, an oasis exploded forth from the ground. "There we go," he said, "Playing field even." She didn't give him time to react before she sent a wave of water at him. "Come on," he said, "I didn't even say 'go.'" "If you're my enemy," she said, "I will defeat you." "You can try," he said.
Shiro shifted his weight, and a large swirling wave flung itself at Katara. She held up her arms, and the water splashed around her, not hitting her once. "Is that all you've got," she said as she launched two water whips at him. "You wish," he said as he sent a water whip at her. He aimed the water at her neck, and she couldn't dodge. She flinched as though expecting the sting, but it never came. When she opened her eyes, she saw Shiro standing in front of her holding a familiar blue stone. She reached up and touched her bare neck. "Give it back," she said. "Take it back," he said. She launched herself at him in a fury of water whips and ice spears, but he dodged them all. Soon the rock formation that gave them relief from the sun was a pile of rubble. Katara stood tense and short on breath. Shiro, on the other hand was barely breaking a sweat. "This battle is pointless," he said, "As you are now, you are hardly worth my time and energy." "I'll show you," she said as she launched another round of ice spears, but they stopped in midair. With a flick of his wrist, Shiro melted the ice and launched the deluge at Katara. As soon as it hit her, the water changed back to ice. Katara had found herself immobile, frozen completely save for her head. "Let me go," she said. "No," he said, "We're done here." He walked over to her and melted a small patch of ice on her arm, and produced a needle from his pocket. "What are you doing," she said worriedly. "Good night beautiful," he said as he injected the serum into her exposed arm. Katara's eyelids got heavy as she fought the drug, but it was a losing battle.
After Katara fell asleep, Shiro thawed her out and picked her up. He carried her to the flying bison that was sitting on the edge of the desert. The beast growled at him as they approached. "Easy Appa," he said, "She's fine." The bison tilted his head and looked at the stranger. He walked over and place Katara on Appa's back. "Take her back to her family at the south pole," he said. The great beast nodded and took off into the sky.
Shiro turned around and walked out of the desert to the makeshift tent he had set up. "She was strong," he said to himself, "But the outcome was exactly as I foresaw it." He looked at the necklace in his hand, "I'll definitely see her again." He turned north and saw a plume of smoke. "There's the next stop," he said as he packed up his things.
Who is the strange man that is out to prove the heroes' worth? How was he able to control Appa? Where is Aang? What is the stranger's real plan? Find out next time.
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