Disclaimer: I don't own the Avatar World or Any of the Avatar Characters I mention from the Avatar Series or any of the real life stores/products that are mentioned here.

Prologue

The breeze picked up almost violently, blowing his hair across his forehead as it partly dried his eyes. He felt himself swaying half by force, half voluntarily

The sudden chill was off from the summer day, shoving his hands in the puffy white pockets his shorts provided; his fingers twiddled with the small contents inside.

Pausing to watch the sun creep to its rest in the distance; already the moon was above head. Its shining seemed to calm the wind.

'It's been three days. I'm sure it wouldn't be too much to ask for an explanation now.' He pushed his bowl cut brown locks, every strand falling back to place.

Striding off the path onto a grassy hill, he found a large rock placed at the top, offering a magnificent view of the river below.

He climbed to the top of boulder, and sat cross legged in a meditation style.

At first he just looked to his pale hands, which were folded in his lap. Then taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes, pressing his fists together.

How this worked; he never quite understood.

But it was the only technique he knew.

A tranquil, uplifting feeling almost immediately came upon him. Waiting a few seconds, he opened his eyes.

Instead of the outskirts of one of the Earth Kingdom towns, he found himself in a misty swamp; the area of which he knew was the spirit world.

He stood up, and looked around for a moment.

'Now where could he be?' He wondered, taking a step into the water.

Looking down to his reflection, the ripples of the water settled into the image of an older avatar.

"Avatar Yasuo." He announced before backing up.

The elder avatar rose from a reflection to a true being before the boy.

"It's good to see you again, Avatar Ashton." The avatar gave a gentle smile, as the two exchanged a proper bow.

"Actually I kind of go by Benjiro now." He corrected as politely as he could.

"I see you are adjusting nicely." Avatar Yasuo approved of him going by a more common name in this dimension.

It was the tone one used with strangers.
When uncomfortable.

"It'd be a lot easier if I knew all the details." Benjiro tried to persuade for an explanation.

"Just as impatient for answers as ever I see. Very well. Come with me." The elder avatar walked straight through the water to the other side, practically disappearing into the fog.

Benjiro was shocked that he was actually going to offer him an explanation, and was quick to follow; not wanting to miss this.

"I suppose by now you have noticed several differences between our world and yours." He began as he continued to walk, not even turning around.

'Well, duh! We have Starbucks, cell phones, and TV. You guys have the power to start shooting fire or throw rock and water with you mind. Kind of hard to miss!'

"I suppose you could say that." Benjiro admitted in a subtle tone.

"That's a generous way to say it. Even I know that there are too many differences to be counted." Avatar Yasuo smirked, whether he knew his thoughts, Benjiro couldn't tell.

"But there are some similarities, I mean, a lot of the people here remind me of some of my friends back at home." Benjiro pointed out, knowing that for the short time he's been here, almost everyone he's met here has been kind to him.

Then he paused.

Not that he's met too many people.

'Home.'

Why was it starting to sound so far?

He'd only been here for a couple of days; like a camp or something.

But how long was he expected to remain here? His mind never really understood the fact that it could take a long time.

Months.

Years?

It would start sinking in soon.

"I suppose. That is something I want you to remember in the future." The elder avatar advised.

Benjiro stopped, looking at him suspiciously, but Yasou didn't even face him.

He just continued walking.

"What do you mean?" He asked, not moving until he received an answer.

The avatar stopped, and only turned his head a little, so he could look at him eye to eye.

"That's something that we'll have to discuss at another time." Was the answer, but Benjiro could tell by his response that this was something he needed to hear of outside of the spirit world.

There was a momentary silence; Benjiro shifted in an uncomfortable motion.

"So what is it you can tell me?" He asked; trying to not be too assertive, he was still waiting for his clarification.

"Ah yes. Well, there is a large portion that I'm forbidden to speak of… but I can tell you your main goal that you must achieve while you're here." Avatar Yasuo voice was mysterious; the hint of a secret was larger than obvious.

'Who forbids an old man from something?' But then again; Yasuo wasn't so old.

Late thirties, early forties at most.

Benjiro found himself wondering what caused such an early death.

"Right now, the world is in a war very similar to one that happened three hundred years ago, however various details are creating a much more difficult scenario." The previous avatar said; only confusing Benjiro.

"Huh?" Benjiro scratched the back of his neck, not getting it.

'If it's like one thing….only kinda harder…can't they just use whatever method they used before to stop it?' It would be an easy fix right?

Bring out the old hand book.

But then again, his knowledge of war was minimal.

Perhaps it wasn't so structured.

"Well, you see, the Fire Nation is attempting to gain overall control of world, but it's a little more complicated than before." Yasuo was unsure of how to put it.

How much of it he agreed to leave out, it wouldn't make sense with what he had.

"Why?" Ashton asked.

"You see, after the hundred year war three hundred years ago, all of the nations began to blend together. The Earth Kingdom would allow the Fire Nation and Water Tribe to set up several settlements within their land; so it's like the Earth Kingdom had its own little Fire Nation or Water Tribe colonies. Same with all the others, they'd let the other nations practically claim part of their land in exchange for areas of the other's. A...solution to trading with others without excessive tax issues. Even the Air Temples, once they were restored, had certain sections for other nations to join in." It seemed like a bad thing that everyone was getting along.

Benjiro was about to point this out when it clicked.

"So with the Fire Nation at war, all the settlements in that nation are on its side. So basically, it's not just firebenders that are the problem, it's everyone. You can't tell who the enemy is because benders of all types are for and against the war..." He nodded his head understandingly.

Yasuo was pleased he caught on; then sighed.

"With everyone unsure of who to trust, there has been such a rise suspicions. Anyone from the Fire Nation can practically wander into any other part of the world, and they wouldn't even be recognized as an enemy. It's causing the world to grow into Chaos."

"You need me to stop this war?" Ashton got to the point.

"Well it is the main duty of the avatar to keep balance of the world." Yasuo didn't deny.

Benjiro smirked, wondering how it would work, considering he didn't even know a single move in even airbending.

"But there is another catch." The elder avatar added.

Ashton looked shock, wondering what more there could be other than trying to protect a stranger's world.

"You must learn your bending from specific people, otherwise, your final battle will be alone." He added soberly.

"Final battle?" His voice was a squeak, too scared to ask.

Even if he was the avatar, he was only fourteen. And he never had to deal with fights at his old home. It was all so peaceful. Sure he had people who'd get mad at him and all, but fist fights weren't so common. He'd never held a sword before; much less used one. Never threatened someone with their life.

Yasuo gave him a look, and Benjiro could tell that was in the subject that he couldn't speak of, which only made Benjiro worry more.

"Who are must be my masters?" He used the phrase masters since he often hear people refer to their trainers as such.

"That's just it. You're masters must be the masters. Or the prodigies. Either will do." He was under the false impression that the avatar knew this much.

A blank stare.

"The Masters and Prodigies?"

"Yes. I suppose there isn't too much I can say about them either." The avatar gave another disappointed exhalation.

'This explanation doesn't seem to be doing very well at answering questions so much as making new ones.' Ashton blew on his hair.

"Well what can you tell me?" He wouldn't be surprised if the answer was going to be nothing.

"The masters and prodigies are probably the only benders you'll meet from your world. They were each born and raised there, and each of them was brought to this world about a year ago. There are eight in total. A master and a prodigy of each element." Yasuo said, giving somewhat of just an overview.

"What makes them different from everyone here?" Ashton didn't see why he needed people from his world to teach him.

If they only had a year's training they'd be weaker right?

"Prodigies are, as is stated, prodigies. They can grow to the strongest state a normal bender can, set the limits as to what a person can become. Masters…are a bit different. They are strongest, without question. They have unmatchable energy with unique traits and can fight an avatar on equal grounds when in Avatar state. That is, when they gain control, of course."

This made Benjiro speculate a little about the masters. If they aren't always in control, doesn't that make them dangerous?

"Where do I find them?" He asked, wanting to get a general idea.

Avatar Yasuo gave an 'I don't know' shrug.

"Well what do they look like?" He tried another way, seeing that it would be easier if he had somewhat of an idea of their appearance.

"Not sure."

'Gee. That's helpful.'

Let's just go run around the world asking everyone!

NOOOOO problems in THAT plan!

"Any advice on how to find them." He was slightly annoyed of the avatar's lack of knowledge, but did his best to hide it.

"The masters and prodigies were brought here in order to train for the final battle, how or where their current location is probably not even known to the previous masters and prodigies." Avatar Yasuo sighed.

"The previous masters and prodigies? Are they like the avatar? Are they reincarnated?" Ashton asked, leaning a bit in to make sure he gets the facts right.

Suddenly, he felt weak. His knees buckled with trembling hands; vision blurring as they weld up with tears. Giving way, he collapsed to the floor; he clenched his heart, feeling it had to be giving out.

'Wh-what's going on?' He tried to say but found it difficult to even think of it in his mind.

He gasped for air; his eyesight seemed to be going blind on him. It felt as though a thousand knives were stabbing him in the chest and head, his limbs underwent the pain of being on fire. Down his spine, he felt the chills of frostbite, his torso felt crushed.

Almost every deadly experience a warrior might feel before their death, it all came down on Benjiro.

His body quivered without him having any control, he felt the agony of a lightning strike; his neck must have been wet with blood, that smell flooding his nose.

"It looks like your spirit still cannot handle being in the spirit world for very long. I'm afraid we'll have to part here." Yasuo reached down and touched Benjiro on the forehead.

Closing his eyes was the only thing he could manage. His heart clobbered against his chest. His breath was nearly nothing but a whisper of wind.

Useless.

A moment later; all the anguish had left him. His heart slowed, his breathing returning to normal. He shot his eyes open, and was now facing the lowered sun, on the same grassy hill as before.

Looking straight felt difficult at first. Almost everything seemed to just be spinning around him; his dizziness beat any ride he'd ever been on.

Only trying to move his leg, he lost his balance and dropped to the prairie, not attempting to try again until the count of ten.

'I-I-I don't get it. What happened back there?' He questioned himself, but of course, no answer came.

Sighing, he turned his head only slightly, just enough to look at the colors filling the sky. The wind pushed his hair in synch with each green blade beneath him.

'Why wouldn't he give me any answers? And he said that I would have to remember everyone's kindness here. What's that supposed to mean?' He had a hunch.

Shaking his head, he convinced himself that was a ridiculous idea. There was no way the previous avatar would ever set him up like that.

Right?

'I probably just need sleep. I suppose that since I never got too many answers, looking for these prodigies and masters will be a pain. Most likely, I won't get anywhere for months. But that doesn't mean I should take my time. I should hurry and finish this as quickly as I can.' Benjiro thought, part of him wanted to get out of this strange land.

He was a teenager with only two years of boy scouts memory on how to survive.

This wasn't going to be easy.