Wow, I can't believe I'm about to do this. After reading an abundance of Avatar and Zutara fan fic online I decided to try my hand at some of my own. I've never ever posted something I've written for the'public' to read so I'm kinda nervous. (Also slightly anxious about the fact that it's as of now unfinished, however I've written more than I've typed) So please don't be too harsh, although constructive criticism is greatly appreciate; it'll only make me a better writer. I guess my attitude right now is that I'm writing this for my own enjoyment and if anyone else gets an iota of pleasure out of this, so much the better.
Disclaimer: If I owned Avatar that…would…be…awesome.
With that said, please read the whole first chapter, don't give up after the first few paragraphs. Also the first 5 chapters or so might 'drag' a bit. Just setting up the story, I don't know if you'll think them boring or not. And so without further ado...
The war was over. The fire nation had won. Their tyrannical power hold was complete and hope had died with the defeat and capture of the Avatar. The all powerful spirit which now resided in the dejected and shackled body of a 12 year old boy stood stretched between chains attached to two great pillars, centered on a raised square directly outside the Fire Nation Palace . Azula and Lord Ozai stood upon the platform, and were surrounded below by nobles and peasants alike; all were there to witness the public proclamation of the defeat and dishonor of the Avatar.
Drugged and stripped of his bending, Aang hung his head and lay limply, letting the chains support his weight. He didn't even seem to be aware of the presence of his friends; Toph, Sokka, and Katara restrained, chained and guarded were directly to the left and in clear view of Aang and the dais to forcibly witness the spectacle. For their "crimes" they would be imprisoned, sold on the slave market, or placed in a work camp. Between her two immobile guards Toph stood, her head hanging and face covered by her hair. She could not feel with clarity what was happening up on the platform, and perhaps that suited her. But it is a terrible thing to be enclosed in darkness with an impending unknown horror closing in. Her hands and feet bound and encased by leather, Toph felt powerless to help one whom she loved. Sokka stood between his two captors glaring venom into the unseeing eye slits of their masks.
"Let me go you murdering filth!" Katara cried, her eyes wetting with tears of desperation and sorrow. "Scum! Vile, foul, putrid, bastaaar…." Katara's struggles were put to an end by Ozai's sinister rasping voice.
"Sons and daughters of Fire! The most powerful exalted element!" He looked eyes gleeming, around the assembled mass.
"My children, today is a glorious day! We have finally captured the Avatar! The Earth Kingdom and Water Tribes have fallen, courtesy of my superior skills and your prodigy; Princess Azula!" Almost as an afterthought he added, "As well as Prince Zuko."
Cheers went up from the crowds as Katara's eyes welled up and glittered with unshed tears.
With an unsettling smile, Ozai continued, "The all powerful element of fire will finally get the glory and rightful place we deserve!" Again more roars from the crowd.
"As you know we cannot kill the Avatar, for his spirit will be reborn. By the time he dies of old age we will have complete control and the next Avatar will be weeded out and taken before his coming of age. You are here today to witness the public disgrace and…." He paused maliciously, "disfigurement of those who oppose us! As well as their accomplices," he finished, carelessly waving a hand in the direction of Toph, Sokka, and Katara.
The crowd jeered and booed and Sokka looked resolutely away while Katara glared back at them in hatred and disgust.
"And now for the main event," Lord Ozai continued, smirking evilly.
As he advanced upon the broken and imprisoned boy he lit a hand of flickering blue flame. Azula watched gleefully, a maniacal glint in her eye. Katara's struggles increased, Toph continued to hang her head, and Sokka merely looked away as a tear trickled down his cheek.
"Aaaaaannnggg! Aang! No, please!" she sobbed, clawing, kicking, and biting to free herself from the guards holding her, and save Aang. Her silent faceless guards struggled to restrain her for a few moments before Katara managed to break free and run onto the dais. But as suddenly as Ozai turned to look at her she realized that it was no longer Fire Lord Ozai but Prince Zuko. He was carrying a handful of blue flames and advancing on Aang with a grim face.
"I'm sorry," she heard him whisper.
Katara could only watch in horror as Aang began to scream.
"Aang!" she cried brokenly. "AAAAAaaaaaaaannnnnnnnggggg!!"
"Katara! Katara!"
She sat up with a gasp and looked into the face she had been dreaming of moments before, twisting in agony.
"Wuzzagoinon?" came Sokka's sleepy voice from across camp. He sat up still asleep, clutching his boomerang in one hand, and seal jerky in the other. "Katara you get captured?"
Katara put a shaking hand to her face. It was OK. Everyone was fine. Just a dream. Just a nightmare.
"You were screaming my name in your sleep," Aang's anxious voice sounded again. "Are you okay?"
Katara let out a breath. "Yes Aang," she said looking up into his face. "I'm okay, just a nightmare."
"Must've been some nightmare," Toph piped up. "Your heart is going a million miles an hour."
"Really guys I'm OK," Katara reassured, now much calmer that reality had returned. "Let's just get back to sleep."
"Sure you don't want to talk about it?" Aang asked trying to offer her an understanding smile.
"No really," she answered offering him a slight smile of her own. "Let's just all go back to sleep."
"Okey dokey then." Sokka passed out promptly still holding his boomerang and dropping the seal jerky, which Momo scrambled to pick up.
Toph giggled before disappearing behind the walls of her earthen tent leaving Aang and Katara alone together.
"Well…goodnight then Katara."
"Goodnight Aang."
Just as a side note this is probably a working title until I can come up with something better.