Chapter 1 – The Story of the First Avatar

Once, many years ago, not long before the time of the first Avatar, there was five friends, their names were: Mizu, Chi, Kaji, Hosu and Ki. Each of the five friends had dedicated their entire life to mastering their element and together had sworn to protect the world and its people.

Mizu, mistress of water, was kind and impartial too all life, the greatest healer to ever live. Chi, commander of earth, was strong and steadfast in his beliefs, the bravest man to ever walk. Kaji, lord of fire, was chivalrous and true of heart, never was a man more daring. Hosu, master of air, was pure and wise beyond years, wit to last through ages. Then finally there was Ki, channel to the spirits, bearer of many burdens and unwavering in her friendships.

Although each friend had their own beliefs and morals, this tore them apart, and each fled to their own nation.

The five friends had not seen each other for many years when a great terror stuck the world, a demon spirit by the name of Kurai. He destroyed anything in his way and any man who dared look him in the eye would meet their demise. No one knew what he wanted of why he came, but everyone knew there were only five people in the entire world that could face him, and even then they could not do it alone. Each Guardian had been defending their own Nation, but at the pleas of the people, they set aside their differences and gathered to the island where Kurai had laid his nest. So, once again, the five friends stood together in the face of destruction.

As if they were nothing more than irritating spider-ants, Kurai swept Mizu, Chi, Kaji and Hosu aside, crushing the life out of them. Then, he turned to Ki "What can you do?" he asked "You cannot bend any element, you are not even worth killing." Laughing, he turned from her. Ki could feel the rage building up inside her, the pure power of her spirit taking over her. Then light burst from her, a great, blinding light, purifying the entire world of the demons Kurai had set about it, when, through her fury, she heard the familiar voices of her friends.

"To inspire a fair mind, I give you the will of Water." Said the kind voice of Mizu

"To motivate a steadfast belief, I give you the strength of Earth." Said the powerful voice of Chi

"To stimulate a true heart, I give you the life of Fire." Said the brave voice of Kaji

"To rouse a wise soul, I give you the breath of Wind." Said the wise voice of Hosu

Chakras of Blue, Green, Red and Yellow rushed from the bodies of the fallen Guardians, and joined their friend in final battle. The power of her friends sacrificed to her, Ki rose into the air, and looked Kurai in the eye.

"What are you?" Kurai roared, trembling in fear at the sight of this unknown power.

"My name is Ki, and I am the Avatar!" she called, her voice ringing through the entire world. And the demon was no more.

Katara lay down the scroll and looked round the circle. Toph was the first to speak.

"Well... that was interesting."

"Yeah," agreed Sokka "I'd never thought about how the Avatar had started."

Everyone looked at Aang expectantly, he was sat with his arms and legs folded, looking deep into the campfire. Katara asked him what he thought. "I don't know..." he muttered "It seems that whoever wrote this was bias towards the Avatar, because they spend the beginning of the story going on about how powerful these five friends are, and then they say that only those five together could destroy the demon, but then they say how the four that could bend the elements were swept aside so easily? I don't get it. Plus, the only bit that really makes much sense to me is when the four friends give their power to Kai, which seems the only part that's true."

"What makes you think that?" asked Sokka,

Katara rolled her eyes "It was one of his past lives Sokka, he would get some kind of sense to whether it was true or not."

"It wasn't just my past life, it was my first." Aang corrected quietly. They sat in silence, watching the fire crackle gently. Much later, and unable to sleep, Aang sat in a meditative position and closed his eyes.

"Aang..." called a soft voice. "Aang..."

Groggily, Aang opened his eyes and looked around; he was surrounded by a patchy mist, sat on a boulder in the middle of a lake. He got up and turned on the spot, he couldn't see who the voice belonged to; it seemed to be coming from all around him. "Who's there?"

"Aang..." the voice called again. Slowly, the mist ahead of him parted and thinned, soon, a figure became visible. "Aang," their voice wasn't so distant

Gradually, the mist faded around them and he could see them properly. A long purple hooded cloak, veil, red face-paint "W-who are you?" he stammered

"I have many names, but I believe the one you will recognise is... Mizu, Mistress of Water" as she said her name, the feeling of her presence seemed to intensify and Aang felt suddenly calmed.

Aang gasped "From the story! You were one of the five friends!"

"I was, and still am. So you are familiar with the story?"

He rubbed the back of his head "Soft of," he said "The version I heard seemed a bit distorted."

Mizu sighed, a small smile on her lips "I did not expect the correct telling of the story to last. Although, to recognise that it is not correct, you are truly Warrior Ki's reincarnation." Aang blushed and she smiled at him again, it was like having your mother tell you how proud of you she was. Suddenly Mizu had a very serious face "I appeared to you today Aang, to tell you that, this generation, all five friends have been reincarnated." Aang was about to speak, but Mizu held up her hand to silence him "I have spoken with my friends, and, the last time such an event occurred, the world was in great danger, just as it was all those years ago in your first life."

"But that must mean-" Aang interrupted, Mizu held up her hand to silence him again.

"The stars say you will cross paths with my own reincarnation in the near future, which was why I was chosen to appear to you. Lord Kaji's reincarnation is lost, but he will find his way. Master Hosu's reincarnation... such a story is too complicated for the short time we have. And finally, Commander Chi is appearing to their reincarnation as we speak, as they are already with you."

"You mean Toph?" exclaimed Aang, shocked

"Have you ever met an Earthbender more powerful?" she asked rhetorically, suddenly her form began to fade "Forgive those who repent" she said sternly, "and Keep your friends close Aang," she called as her voice and form became more distant and the mist became thicker "They are your salvation..."

Hana looked up and down the street, there were only a few people browsing the stalls and eventually she decided on a spot just opposite a small market stall that sold jewellery. She lay out the collection bowl in front of her, then took her Biwa* off her back, lay it on the ground beside her, along with her satchel, and pulled out her Shakuhachi flute and began to play. Her eyes were closed and she let herself feel the music as her fingers made their way smoothly across each fissure, sounding out the perfect notes of Tsuki no koibito, a lengthy and gentle piece. As usual, the soft, but strong sound of the flute turned heads, making people fall silent mid-conversation, and just stand there, listening. Although, gradually, as the music washed over them and relaxed them, they began to go back to their conversations, though in hushed tones, as if afraid of disturbing the sound.

One of the people who had been purchasing something from the stall opposite stepped forward, and placed a few coins in the bowl, careful not to make them clink together at the bottom. Grateful to see who had spared their change, she opened her eyes and looked up into the face of a young man, with ocean blue eyes, not a pair that belonged in the fire nation. He seemed equally surprised at her eyes, but before he could say anything, she inclined her head in thanks and went back to her song. The group he was with stayed to listen for longer than the average passerby, but as the song drew on and the people began to go about their business again, they carried on their way.

~S.A.K.~

Unable to draw his eyes properly away, Sokka kept glancing back at the girl playing her flute, as did Aang, although for quite different reasons. Aang had told his friends about his encounter with The Painted Lady, or rather, Mistress Mizu and what she had told him, just as Toph had told them about what Commander Chi had told her. He couldn't help but think that that girl, somehow, her presence was similar to Mizu's, calming and soothing, or maybe it was just the music?

Sokka, on the other hand, could scarcely draw his eyes away from her. She was stunningly beautiful, and, it seemed, without even trying. There was a glow about her, something familiar. The farther he walked, and the more Katara had to drag him, the stronger the tug on his heart became, and that song... it was like the call of a long lost lover. If it hadn't been for the combined efforts of Katara, Toph and Aang to drag him away, he wouldn't have been able to resist its pull.

Finished for the day, Hana put her Flute back in her bag and picked up her Biwa, replacing it on her back, the strap coming round her front, before making her way back to the beach. By the time she reached the beach, the sun had very nearly set over the horizon, staining the sky a deep purple-red colour. Hana sighed, dumping her bag and Biwa on the ground, then shaking her hair free of the Fire-Nation styled top not. The sea breeze caressed her skin, whipping her hair out gently behind her. She greeted the smell of sea salt openly, raising her hands level with her hips, almost desperate to feel the smooth flexibility of water moving to her will, but she couldn't, not here in the Fire Nation.

Sokka trudged his way back to the cave, having been unable to find that girl, he'd asked the stall owner where she'd gone and he said he didn't know, he'd just turned his back for a second and she was gone. There was no way he was going to give up hope though, he would go back to the market tomorrow, in a hope that she would be there. With one final sigh, he looked out onto the beach-

There was a girl, in a cropped red halter neck, darker red skirts with dark, fitted three-quarter slacks underneath and delicate red pumps. It was her; it was definitely her, no doubt about it. Without a second thought, he jumped down onto the beach and ran to her, stopping when he was just a few feet behind her. As if she hadn't heard him approach, she continued to hold her slender arms aloft, her long hair rippling in the wind. Everything about her seemed to have a kind of unearthly glow, it was captivating.

"Um..." was all he could manage, dumb-struck for words.

In one swift moment, she clasped her hands behind her back and span to face him, smiling in a relaxed, innate way, as if it was the most natural thing in the world to her "You're the boy from the market." She observed instantly. All he could do was nod. Her smile faded into a look of curiosity and thoughtfulness, tilting her head slightly, observing him wordlessly. Unconscientiously, she reached out a hand and touched his cheek. Sokka seemed to forget to breathe for a moment as a cool, relaxing sensation spread over his body, at the same time something seemed to awaken within him and he wanted to reach out and hold her close, never letting go.

Biwa - a kind of Japanese lute
(Lute: a stringed instrument that looks a bit like a guitar)