This has been in my head for awhile. I know I haven't worked on my other stories allot but hey, I'm a busy person now I can't help it :( Also, I have only watched the first season of Korra so I don't know if this story will or has already contradicted that story line. Anyways, this takes place long after Korra has passed away. So we're going to have a new avatar (which you guys will find out soon enough). Anyways, enjoy guiiise~
Air. Water. Earth. Fire.
Long ago, the four elements were used to maintain balance between the world. And balance between man and spirit.
With peace restored to the world, all four nations were able to live as one.
Thus, the world entered into a prolonged era of peace, stripping the Avatar of his duty.
And because of that...the avatar cycle ended...
And the Avatar disappeared...
The Lost Avatar
Book One
Autumn
Chapter one
The Mysterious Maiden
Ba Sing Se. A vast city full of life, and wealth. For many generations the walls have stood tall and protected the lives that lived within the walls. The city is also famous for having the best tea franchise in the world, the Jasmine Dragon-but that wasn't this girl's reason for coming to the big city alone. Well, her main reason. Her reasons were much more complicated than that.
"Have you seen the avatar?" The man looked at her as if she had two heads and laughed.
"Ahahahaha, you seriously believe in that? The avatar is a myth. A fairy tale parents would tell their kids at night."
"So you haven't seen the avatar?" The man laughed harder than he did seconds ago.
"Alright, I guess I'll humor you for a few minuets. Tell me, do you know what the avatar looks like?"
The girl shook her head "No, but thats why I'm looking. Its important that I find him...or her."
"You don't even know the gender?" At this point, he was basically calling her stupid. Its obvious to her that shes wasting her time.
"Thank you for your time." The girl bowed her head in respect to the man and left.
"Hey! Aren't you going to finish your tea?" She shook her head again.
Such a disappointment. She thought. Even the quality of the tea was lacking. It tasted like processed chemicals that came out of a factory...The girl sighed, realizing she was at another dead end. Stay focused. You have to fulfill your duty and find the avatar...but where? Where are you avatar?
"Bending again?! Cheng you know you can't earth bend without a licence!" The boy with jet black hair sighed as his clumsy, astute friend was lecturing him again "If the cops catch you again you could end up doing community service again! Or worse-the slammers! Please for your sake don't bend!"
"Its not like I meant to. I just, you know lost my temper a bit. That is all." Cheng sighs as he lays his feet onto the desk "Geez, you're just as bad as Bingwen-"
"Thats another thing, you can't just go ahead and call elders by there first names! Its completely disrespectful!"
"I don't see why your making such a big fuzz about it, its not like he's your pop."
Shirong sighed as he adjusted his glasses.
I swear, hes going to have wrinkles by the time he hits twenty. Cheng thought to himself. Ignoring the rest of Shirong's lecture, he ends up listening into another conversation that caught his attention.
"...Yeah! She came by my dad's shop this morning asking if we had seen the avatar."
The other girl grunted while staring at her cell phone lazily "I swear, people will do anything for attention these days."
"I think I saw her too! On the way to school. Was she wearing some weird, hippie clothing?" a third girl asked.
"Uh-huh! Yeah that is the one!"
"I think that is nomad clothing. Like the ones the people in the air temples wear."
"Figures, those people are weird."
"You guys don't seriously believe the avatar is real," Cheng said in disbelief "Seriously, its physically impossible to learn all of the elements."
The girl with the cell phone looks up "No kidding, considering all of the laws and restrictions the government has on bending."
"Well can you blame them?" the third girl asks "One wrong move and someone could get hurt."
"I feel bad for the fire benders. They have the most intense jobs like working with explosives."
Seeing Cheng jumped into the conversation Shirong decides to add in his input "Well there are some evidence that does prove the existence of the avatar. Have you heard the story of the last air bender?"
"Wasn't he an avatar who restored peace to the world?" Cheng said.
Shirong nodded "Yeah. He also helped repopulate the number of air benders. When you think about the number of people today who are water benders, earth benders, fire benders and air benders there is a noticeable population gap with the air benders. Although this could only be just a coincidence. Nothing can be guaranteed without solid evidence."
"Well obviously there are going to be less air benders since they have a smaller country as compared to the earth kingdom," the first girl stated.
"H-hey! Watch it!" Shirong gasps while being shoved.
Opening his eyes Cheng sees the last person in Ba Sing Se he wanted to see. Junjie.
"Well look who it is, if it isn't wittle Cheng-Cheng," laughed Junjie "Oh, hey ladies."
"H-hi Junjie," stuttered one of the girls.
"Hey Junjie!" winked the other one.
Ignoring the girls fan-girling over the jerk, Cheng was mentally cursing Bingwen for giving him that nickname "I told you not to call me that,"
"Oh look, wittle Cheng-Cheng is getting angry," Junjie's friend Mengyao chanted.
Getting up from his chair, Cheng looks the brute in the eye "Junjie what do you want?"
"Rumor has it that you were caught bending last night." Cheng froze as his glare hardened.
Junjie smirked at his reaction "You know what happens to people who bend without a license."
"Are you accusing me of illegally bending?"
Junjie waves his hands in front of him dramatically "Oh no, no. I'm just looking out for you. Tell you what, I'll keep my mouth shut if you do my homework for a month-Oh and Mengyao's too."
"Well you can forget it," Cheng snapped "I'm not doing anything for you idiots."
"If I recall you have one more strike left before being sent to the slammers," without warning Cheng is grabbed by the collar and forced to look at Junjie "You wouldn't want to leave your old man alone would you?"
"Don't bring my father into this!"
"Don't let him get to you Cheng!" Shirong begged his friend.
Cheng continued to glare at Junjie. No matter what, he would never submit to Junjie. He would never forgive himself if he did "I don't care if you are the principal's son. Nobody insults my father!"
"What, is that bag of bones that important to you?"
Cheng brings his fist back "Aaarrgh-!"
"Cheng no!" Before he could lay a fist on Junjie hes pinned back by Shirong "Cheng please. You can't do this!"
Junjie's face turned sour "Eight o' clock. Ba Sing Se Catacombs. We'll settle things there." As soon as Cheng nodded his head the deal was made.
Poor people as far as the eye can see. Dozens, thousands of refugees. Many poor and malnourished who have been forced down here because of the government. It was a dark dim area where their only light course was the glow the rocks and stone gave off along with the lit torches. The place gave off a dark, depressing vibe along with the screams of infants and wheezing of the sick.
It made the girl feel a bit uncomfortable as she strolled through the hazardous, shady place.
"Please," begged a poor woman as she held out her hands "I need to feed my baby."
The girl continued walking, without even giving a single glance at the lady and other beggars that trailed behind her. She knew if she stopped to give one person her attention she would have to help the rest.
As she headed into the pub she got even more stares from the people inside as well as those from the outside.
"Its not everyday an outsider comes here. How can I help you?" asks the bartender as he lays an empty glass onto the table.
With the bitter after taste from the tea she had earlier she refuses the glass "I'm looking for the avatar," she simply replied.
"The avatar?" he repeated "I didn't think people still believed in him."
"I'm looking for him," she stared "Its a little difficult though, since I have no clues to go on."
"I've heard some stories. Most which are fictional, but if you really want to know more you're better off going to see Bingwen. He knows all the good stories."
"Really? Where can I find him?" For the first time in forever she started to get excited. This could be her first lead.
"He lives on the above on the surface. Last I heard, he was living in some temple."
"A temple huh..." she paused and mentally traced her tracks. She began to wonder, did she walk past any temples today?
"Its right on the outskirts of the upper class homes, if that helps you. You should come across a street that is aligned with paper lanterns and it'll be right there."
"Okay, thank you so much sir!"
"Oh-! Before you go I should warn you, whatever you do don't use your bending."
"Huh? Why?" she suddenly became curious why he would say that with such a serious tone.
"Bending has become illegal here in the city without the proper training and credentials. You can't just bend like you used to in the old days. If they catch anyone especially an outsider like you they'll throw you in the slammer."
"But why are they so strict on bending though?"
"The government deems it as too dangerous for people to do freely. Considering all of the wars and problems its caused in the past. Thats why the people have been relying on technology lately. Well, the upper class folks that is. Us poor folks stick to the basic stuff since none of us can afford any of those fancy materials like cell phones or televisions. However, the government doesn't seem to care that the bending law is having a bad effect on us. The healers down here keep dropping like flys since they've become too scared of getting caught working under the tables. And because of that many people have become sick and I've lost allot of business."
"Thats...terrible." Even though she wasn't a bender, she found the whole situation to be ugly and awful.
"It sure is," he sighed "All we can do is hope that the government will listen to our plees."
"Yeah," she agreed as she left a tip on the counter "Thank you again sir."
"Anytime kid."
"Cheng, you can't do this!" Shirong cried "Junjie is only trying to provoke you!"
"Shh be quiet! Do you want the whole neighborhood to hear you?"
"I'm only looking out for you, Cheng this is serious. Its obvious what Junjie is trying to do, hes going to force you to earth bend!"
Cheng paused "...I know,"
"Then why-"
"Because nobody makes fun of Bingwen. I won't stand here and let him get away with that...The old man did allot for me. He took me in when my parents died, he treated me like I was his own son. The least I could do is stand up for him."
"..." Finally Shirong gave in "Alright, fine. But just promise me you won't earth bend okay?"
Cheng turned around and sighed at the worry-wart "Quit worrying, now come on. Its almost eight." The timid teen nodded his head as he followed his friend out of the house "Its a good thing, the old man is out right no-"
As he opened the door, he was shocked to find his guardian Bingwen at the door holding a bag or groceries "Cheng? Where are you going? Its getting late," he said in a concerned tone.
"B-bingwen! I uh, forgot my homework at school. I was just about to head out and go back for it."
"Homework, eh?" The look on Bingwen's face said it all. He wasn't buying it one bit "Well alright. Just be careful okay? There have been crazy people lurking out at night recently."
"R-right. I'll be right back!" Grabbing Shirong's wrist he sprints out the door and heads straight for the catacombs of Ba Sing Se.
"I can't believe he let you leave," Shirong said.
Cheng sighed in relief "Yeah." Although he was thankful for Bingwen allowing him to go he knew that Bingwen could see right through him and that the lie was killing him. He would have to apologize for that later.
"Ugh, it smells down here," Cheng complained.
"Well what do you expect? This is where all of the refugees and poor people live."
Walking through the streets, the two venture further into the underground city. Past the sick and old civilians.
"Please," a child cried, holding his hands out. Cheng stopped and looked at the small boy who looked no older than six "I..I'm hungry." Without a second thought, Cheng dug into his pocket and reached out a couple copper pieces.
"Here kid," The boy's face lit up immediately.
"Thank you sir!" he said before running off to his family.
"What?" Cheng asked, catching his friend Shirong stare at him with an odd glare.
"Huh? Oh, nothing." Shirong quickly said.
"Whatever, come on. Lets hurry up."The two ventured deeper, until they eventually found Junjie and Mengyao waiting on top of what looked like an old, abandoned bending arena.
"Hey I remember watching bending battles as a kid. Oh those were the days," Shirong sighed with a nostalgic tone.
"Its about time you nerds showed up," Junjie smirked.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. I'll make this short," Cheng replied. Talking a step back, Shirong and Mengyao sit on the sidelines while Cheng and Junjie stand across each other on the arena.
While cracking his neck Junjie says "Fine by me. Besides I have a date in an hour and I can't afford to mess up my flawless features."
"F-flawless features?" Cheng stuttered while resisting the urge to laugh.
Junjie glared at Cheng "Nobody disrespects Junjie and gets away with it."
"Yeah Junjie! Kick em where the sun don't shine!" Mengyao chanted.
"Huh? Oh-uh, go Cheng! You can do it!" Shirong cheered. The adrenaline was rising. Cheng could feel his heat beat accelerate. He knew he had to win.
3...2...1
"Hello?" the girl called out as she knocked on the door.
I hope this is the right place.
Hearing the door unlock she almost jumped in surprise. Once the door opened an old man stepped out and greeted her.
"How can I help you this late at night?" he asked.
"I'm looking for the avatar," she stated "I was told you might know about him."
The man lightly chuckled "The avatar, eh? Come, why don't I make you a cup of tea. We'll talk inside." Accepting the elder's offer she removes her shoes and follows him behind.
"Tell me, why are you so interesting in finding the avatar?" he asked her.
"Its my mission," she said quickly.
"A mission? I see...sounds important. You do realize there hasn't been any sight of an avatar in over one hundred years correct? He has become a bedtime story for children now." He then hands her a cup of warm tea.
"I know he is real. Please, its important to my mission that I find him...or her."
"What will you do after you find the avatar?" he asks after taking a sip of his tea.
The girl paused and looked into her drink "I..." Before she could come up with an excuse the ground began to shake, causing her to spill her tea. The paintings and furniture on the room began to lightly shake a bit, and then...it came to a stop.
"I'm so sorry-!" before she could finish,her vision was suddenly engulfed in a bright light. Peeking her eyes opened she saw one of the paintings of the avatar began to glow, She knew then, she had finally found her first lead.
The old man was surprised. It was nothing he had ever seen in his many years of life.
"H-hes here...The Avatar!" The girl dashed out of the house without a second thought.
"Wait! Young lady!" his pleas were spoken too late realizing she was already gone.
Immediately Junjie charged straight at Cheng like a bull. Throwing a punch at him, Cheng steps to the side and dodges it. He tried to counter it with another punch but misses by a couple inches. Throwing is fist back Junjie hits Cheng, causing him to go flying back.
"I can see that bag of bones didn't teach you how to fight," smirked Junjie. Cheng lost it, at that moment. He pounced back up and charged at Junjie "What a disgrace."
"Cheng no!" Shirong called out, realizing what was about to happen. Junjie stood there smirking, as if he had won the battle.
But what he didn't expect to happen next shocked everyone "What the-?!"
Cheng jumped onto Junjie as he pounded him with boulders of earth. One after another, there was no end to the pain Junjie was feeling.
"Junjie!" Mengyao yelled as he ran onto the arena.
...Is that really Cheng? Shirong thought as he watched his friend lose his temper on the arena. No, Cheng would never kill anyone. Even Junjie.
"Cheng...Cheng stop!" Shirong cried, following behind Mengayo.
For a desperate escape Junjie began to attempt to squirm his way out of Cheng's attack range, but he couldn't seem to catch a break. His body was getting beat up at a ridiculous rate.
"G-get away from me! I said go!" without waning, Junjie lashes out tries to fire bend but his efforts are futile "Mengyao help!"
"I'm coming Jun...jie..." Mengyao freezes, looking at the catastrophic scene. Waves of rock and stone were surrounding Cheng like a tornado.
At Cheng's mercy, Junjie is left to stare at the stalagmite hovering over him.
"Cheng stop!" Shirong pleaded "You're going to kill him!" Suddenly, a brush of wind passed Shirong. Before being able to mentally process what happened he saw a number of men in uniform surround Cheng and swiftly bring him down. Working together as a team they trap his whole body in a metal suit, preventing him from moving.
"You are under arrest!" one of the men shouted as he pinned a gun to Cheng's head.
"A-arrest?" Shirong questioned if he heard that right. Arrest? As in, they're taking Cheng away? "N-no. No!"