Disclaimer: I do not own ATLA or its characters (obviously).
A/N: I've been gobbling up ATLA fanfic left and right for about the past month and a idea to do one myself inexplicably popped up in my mind. Hopefully my first go at this isn't too atrocious.
Note: 12-15-12 - New content for this story is on hold while I edit existing content slightly and work on "Behind Closed Doors".
Silence broken only by the slight whistling of the wind among the towering temple pagodas reigned supreme at the Southern Air temple.
Monk Gyatso slept peacefully, but a slight, barely noticeable frown took hold of his gentle features. It disappeared as quickly it had surfaced, however, and his dreams soon reclaimed him. Usually untroubled and calm, Gyatso's dreams had recently been plagued by gathering storm clouds. The head council of monks had convinced a hesitant Gyatso to wait another week before announcing the new Avatar's identity during the middle of the yearly Air Nomad gathering. The gathering's location rotated every year, but this year it was conveniently going to be hosted at the Southern Air Temple. It would be the perfect opportunity to gather the Air Nomads together to both unite them under the banner of the Avatar and to peacefully resolve the seemingly inevitable conflict.
Gyatso only hoped it wouldn't be too late. He had waited long enough, and he intended to tell Aang as soon as he woke up, barring extraordinary circumstances. It would not be under ideal circumstances, but it would have to do.
But time was fast running short.
Across nearby valleys and peaks, a different man arose with the Sun as a feeling of warmth spread through his blood, today more powerfully so than ever before. Rolling over to face his nightstand, he sat up and took a deep, satisfying breath before he strode to his tent flap and flicked them open.
His simmering, molten amber eyes were welcomed by the ethereal sight of a bright, scar-like streak racing across the sky, lighting up both the clouds above and the ground below with a less-than-subtle red tinge.
Today is the day.
A pair of men in elaborate armor followed by a pair of attendants rushed to his side and knelt before him, their eyes trained on the ground and hands clasped in a customary symbol of respect. In unison, they greeted their master, drawing out their deep voices in reverence.
"Firelord Sozin, the men await your orders."
"Good. Signal the Attack."
The simplicity of his words belied their power, that of releasing into motion the final stage of a long-awaited plan.
An impossibly bright light parted the fog of his dreams as Aang stretched sleepily in his bed. As he awoke he noticed the glow even through his tightly shut eyelids. A deafening roar filled the air and a bone-shattering tremor shook the ground.
A new and terrible day had begun.
A/N: Short Chapter, I know. I need to plan things out and I just wanted to get this off my head before my mind explodes with anticipation.