a/n: Ever since I first watched Avatar:TLAB, Waterbenders and their Water Tribes have always been my favorite of the four nations of the world, but I always wondered what would happen if a male Waterbender grew up in the Southern Water Tribe where the show only revealed a single female, my personal fave, Katara, as a Waterbender? Would the males of the tribe who had all been portrayed as knife, spear, club, and boomerang-weilding strong physical warriors accept him or shun his existence as an omen, despite their Waterbending brothers in the North? Well, here is my version of what would happen.Hope you enjoy.
The South Pole was unsually quiet that cool evening, as if sensing the ominous events that were soon to initiate. The ocean cove of the Southern Water Tribe's isolated main isle stirred roughly for a moment, then became deathly still. The ocean is never idle. A large, dark ship appeared on the horizon. The entire hull was steel of an ugly, burnt complexion. At its stern a long, curved, sinister-looking spike arose. A series of structures came together in the middle of the ship as a looming steel tower. A single tube jutted from the tower, pumping out a thick cloud of steam and exhaust as an elderly man would smoke from a pipe, though the ugly stream of toxins was constant. A Fire Nation battleship. Truly, a frightening sight for anyone not in their favor.
But, its objective tonight was completely different. Yes, it had been disguised as a method to "check up" on the Southern Water Tribe, but its true aim was to deliver a very special package. The battleship, now in full view, had moored to the icy land of the Tribe's frozen tundra and a figure clad in black and scarlet was creeping to shore, a bundle wrapped in fine red silks clutched to its bosom. Another figure approached cautiously from the opposite side, coming from the villages. Warm, blue furs lined with white pelt and decorated with wavy, brown and tan patterns insolated their strong build and dark features. The two figures met halfway between the icy shore and the snowy outskirts of the villages.
The heavily clothed figure removed its hood to reveal a chestnut face lined with the hard aspects of a man who has suffered many harsh happenings. Despite, his coarse appearance, he broke into a large warm, but curious smile. " Ah, Amira," he greeted warmly, ignorant to the frigid snow falling around them. "I got your message, and what, daresay, brings you here on the coldest of nights? Too warm up there in the throne room of the Fire Nation?" Amira's eyes narrowed as she took in the man's calm ambience. So unlike her own stern, rigid, venomous one. She clutched her silk robes around her slender frame, though she felt no chill from the enviorment; her inner flame was enough for the coldest of climates.
Softening her espression, Amira brought her cool, snaky voice to the kindest of whispers. "My son, Eran ..." she began, going straight to the point. She never could stand waiting for anything, especially the focus of a conversation. "I can no longer keep him in my care, my-"
"Duties are too much too balance a child?" Eran cut in sharply, "Or are they simply on a much greater scale, devoid of another life?" Amira took in a sharp breath, obviously striken by his cold words. It took her a moment to regain herself.
"My position in the Fire Nation will put him in grave danger," she continued anew. "I don't want... I don't want him to end up living the same mistake I made. Because of me, he will never know his father..." Tears begin to well up in her amber eyes. "Please, Eran, I'm begging you, take him." She finally extended her bundle to him. A pale hazlenut crown peeped out from an opening.
"And why should I?" Eran asked coldly, his peaceful demeanor gone. "I'm never taking the burden for you ever again. Not at the cost of my own expandablity." He began to turn away when Amira's scream stopped him. A soft wailing added itself to the sound of rushing winds. He turned. Amira had fallen pitifully to her knees, arms holding her infant to the sky as if in offering to a god.
"Please!" she cried desperatly. "You can show him... how to love, to nurture and cherish everything precious to him. I can't even hold on to my own love! But you, you are everything he needs to grow and mature..." She dropped her head and dark hair whipped across her face, obscuring it. "Please..." Neither sibling moved for what seemed to be the longest time. Then, Eran slowly reached out and lifted the baby from his sister's clutches, shushing its cries as he brought its tiny body to his big warm chest. Amira, looking slightly relieved, stood shakily, brushing frosted tears from her eyes and bowing her head in his debt. "Thank you...brother."
Eran said nothing, but turned his back on her and began to walk back to the village. He stopped suddenly. "What is his name?"
"Shir," came a strangled whisper. Eran nodded and headed off once more. When he finally looked back she was gone, already upon the deck of the dark ship. He shook his head, sighing, then giving his nephew one last look, he hurried back through the village gates.
From her vessel, Amira looked back to the old village that had once been her home, and smiled; a warm, wistful smile.
She never smiled.
It's still though prolouge, of course, but still tell me what you think. This is my first fanfic and I wanna see how I'm doing. Don't know if it's all that great, though. Thanks eitherway.