I have several chapters complete, however I will not release them until I am a little farther ahead. I will not release them all at once as I originally planned. Our story is in the aftermath of the Hundred-Year War told from 3rd Person, as in the series. Only difference is Aang was born 2 years earlier than he actually was in the show, making him 14 (well actually 114). Reading, you will follow most everyone's stories including; Zuko and Mai, Soka and Sukki, Azula, and of course, Aang and Katara. Even though Aang effectively defeated the Phoenix King he still has much to learn, create, cherish, contend with, and finish. Many characters we know and love will face new challenges, some will find away to solve them and come out stronger, some may solve them but at great expense, and others still may loose the battle. New characters will be found, some mortal, some not. Read along as you follow the turmoil, love, and sacrifice that comes with it all. Any RESPECTFUL reviews, PM's, and ideas are very welcome!
Additionally I give valid credit to anyone who I took an idea from.
I will post the second chapter soon, within a week.
Please review and spread the word ;)
Chapter 1: A New Beginning
Aang sat quietly in the corner of the Jasmine dragon awaiting a messenger to alert him of the upcoming meeting. He opened his eyes as he felt Katara walk up to him, "Hello handsome." She greeted him warmly. He smiled and wordlessly motioned her to join him, she accepted quickly. "Are you ready for the meeting?" she asked him.
Aang peeked at Katara then resumed his peaceful meditation, "I don't see why not. I defeated the Firelord, how hard could it be?"
Katara giggled, "Well you never know until you try."
Before she could continue an Earth Kingdom guard walked up to the couple, "Sir, ma'am." He bowed to each respectfully, "The meeting will begin shortly, if you will follow me…" He turned and walked out to the street. Aang and Katara stood, but did not follow him.
Aang raised his hand, "No need, sir. We'll fly over." He said, motioning to Appa.
The guard bowed slightly, "Very well, Avatar." then walked out to the street.
Katara, Suki, and Sokka followed Aang onto Appa's back, "Where were you two?" Aang asked.
Suki and Sokka looked at each other, "We were helping Iroh in the back." Sokka answered shortly.
Aang looked at Sokka with a raised brow, "Well normally I would believe you but I know for a fact that he is already at the palace…" Aang trailed off calling his bluff. Sokka said nothing, the others laughed as they rose from the ground with a gentle slap against the ground by Appa's tail. Aang guided Appa over the walls to the Earth Kingdom palace, landing gently in the center of the horse shoe shaped palace.
Aang gracefully walked off wearing his orange Monk makeup with his signature Air Bender wooden necklace draped around his neck. Katara followed quickly behind him as did Suki and Sokka.
The group walked into the palace together. One of the guards instructed him that the meeting was in the war room, the same where they had finished the original plans to attack the Fire Nation during the solar eclipse. The two guards that escorted them broke off as the group entered the room.
It had been changed since the last time they had visited. There was a large, sweeping circle stone stand with comfortable seating against the open pillars while the large table and map remained in place. King Kuei did not sit at the throne in the center of the circle; instead he sat in the seat immediately to the left. All the leaders of the Ancient Order of the White Lotus sat in the right corner.
"Avatar Aang!" Earth Kind Kuei called out, "I am very glad to see you again! Please…" he motioned to the throne chair in the center, "take my seat." Aang greeted him and thanked him before abridging to the request and took the throne seat. Katara followed him and stood against the side of the engraved stone to the left of Aang.
Sokka took the seat next to Katara with Suki following close behind, mimicking Katara. Just as Sokka sat down Zuko walked in with several of his guards and Mai at his side. Aang happily greeted his friends as Chief Hakoda and Chief Arnook walked in together, talking quietly. Several scribes of the three nations streamed in shortly after the two Water Nation chiefs and took a seat against the side wall waiting quietly for the meeting to start.
Aang glanced around looking at all the chairs and faces to make sure everyone was present as the last general took his seat. The White Lotus leaders all sat at the right end waiting patiently, the Earth King was gladly distracted by Bosco, and Zuko was talking with Hakota and Arnook. He took a deep breath, "Very well, now that we are all here." He paused as everyone quieted down, "I am pleased to call the first annual Meeting of the Nations!" The room thundered lightly with the sound of clapping. Aang let them finish before continuing, "Welcome to all the great leaders of the three nations." He motioned to the Earth King, Zuko, and the two Water Nation Chiefs. "and to the many great hero's who helped the demise of the Phoenix King." Another round of applause rose from the room.
Sokka coughed, obviously jokingly, "Looser-lord." under his breath. Aang heard him and looked at him with a smirk. A small swift motion of his wrist gave Sokka a joking push of air back into his seat.
Aang continued, "The first order of business…" he trailed off giving the floor to the Earth King.
Kuei stood, "is, of course, to decide the best way to run these meetings."
"I believe that it would only be fair for these annual meetings to rotate hosts, between the nations." Zuko chimed in. Everyone in the room nodded in agreement. He faced Aang, "And once you have decided your permanent home, we will include you in the rotation." Aang nodded again.
"Shall we host the meeting the first week of each new year?" one of the Earth Kings generals asked. Aang looked at him, but he did not recognize him.
"I would agree with that," Aang concurred, "and we can call additional meetings should the need arise."
"Very well, I see that we all agree with rotations and times. Now for the next subject, reconstruction." King Kuei continued, "As far as the Earth Kingdom is concerned we only have minor damage to repair. The great walls of Ba Sing Se will be repaired shortly and all the Dai Li agents have been detained. Additionally I will be sending small squads of troops across the nation to help my people rebuilding their towns and lives." Kuei sat down as he finished, he motioned to Hakota to pick up.
Hakota spoke very clearly, as he usually did with military matters, "The Southern Water Tribe has recovered much faster than initially thought. We have had the help from many of the Northern Tribes water benders. The South Pole will be a thriving fortress again as it was before the war. It will take time no doubt, but it will be great once more."
Chief Arnook continued off of Hakota, "The Northern Tribe has repaired the damage from the massive invasion by the fire nation." He paused, "A number of our benders and healers have migrated to the south to help with reconstruction as Chief Hakota had mentioned. Many told me they did not plan on returning." Aang looked over at him, he seemed to take it more as a personal note. "Their moving should greatly help the Southern Tribe rebuild its numbers and its benders." He finished with a faint smile. Aang saw this again, he knew that there was something bothering him.
Zuko stood quietly and walked down to the war table, "For the time I have sent orders to all troops to return to home to the Fire Nation immediately. I doubt many people want to see Fire Nation troops after the war, even if they are helping." He looked at King Kuei and continued, "I will be removing many of the demeaning and harmful laws that were established by my father. School lessons and structure will be restored to peaceful teachings that will instill global communication, sharing, and history into the students. I do not want any…" he paused to think of a good way to describe it, "bad air…" he looked at Aang with a slight grin, "with my people. That is why I am reforming so much and returning my troops as well. Additionally I will be visiting each of the colonies to be sure they are heeding my order and returning to the fatherland. If any of you have any issues with my men, send me a hawk right away and I will silence their disobedience." He said carefully. His tone was careful so as not to sound punishing.
"When will you leave to inspect the colonies?" King Kuei asked sensibly.
"On my way back home, in about 4 days." He answered.
"What will be of Roku's temple?" Aang asked inquiringly.
"It is being rebuilt as we speak." Zuko answered promptly and happily. "The imperial buildings are being repaired also. After my duel with Azula things could use some touchups." He said jokingly.
Iroh laughed in the right corner of the circle, and King Bumi's ever so noticeable snorting rang through the room. Katara turned to face the Earth King, "What will be done with the Dai Li?" she asked trying not to show too much concern, "They are still likely to be loyal to Azula." The earth kindom general who spoke earlier sat up at Katara's question. He opened his mouth to retort katara for speaking, but was met with a deadly stare from Aang. He sat down quietly shying away.
Kuei spoke first, "Yes they may be. For now they will be under strict guard in solitary confinement."
"How are they being kept? Not in stone or metal cages I hope?" Toph asked suggestively. "We can't risk them escaping."
"They are in wooden cells reinforced with metal. No metal or earth is visible from inside the cells. They cannot bend anything." Kuei gladly reported their security. Toph grunted in agreement.
The room was silent for a moment, but only a moment. "Avatar Aang, what are your personal plans for the next few months?" Bumi asked, breaking the silence.
Aang looked up from thought, "Over the next few weeks I will be cutting possible loose ends to try to limit any form of rebellion or insurgency." He paused, "Afterwards I want to visit the air temples and restore them to their previous glory. However if I am needed elsewhere I will oblige." He finished.
Bumi puzzled again, "Are you going to look for any other air benders?"
Aang was dreading this question, "I don't know, maybe in a few months after I have settled down a little. Until then I ask you all to spread the word that I am willing to resort to energy bending if nothing is heard of my people."
Many heads turned to Aang at his mention of energy bending, but Master Piandao inquired first, "Yes I heard rumors of this. Would you care to explain this to us?"
Aang sighed, "Two days before the Sozins Comet I met a giant Lion Turtle. I explained to him I couldn't bring myself to kill Ozzai. He taught me about how our ancestors long long ago, before even the Avatar, did not bend the elements. They bent the energy within." Many eyes widened again. "I used his teachings to remove Ozai's bending. It was not easy because it took a lot of energy and a pure soul. I almost lost until I was reminded of something." He unknowingly glanced at Katara, she blushed lightly.
He trailed off. Hakota picked up, "That took a great deal of strength. I would imagine that you don't want to resort to that again?"
Aang shrugged, "It depends on whom and for what purpose. If I were to give air bending abilities to someone I would only do so if they strictly agreed to life the life of an Air Nomad."
Several of the major leaders in the room nodded in understanding. King Kuei stood, "If there are no more issues to discuss then I move to end the first Meeting of Nations."
Aang waited a moment for anyone to speak up with another point, nothing came. "Very well." He was anxious to leave, "Send a hawk if any issues arise, until next year." Aand sighed quietly, knowing he still had a few issues to discuss with various leaders in private.
As the rest of the congregation filed out of the room, several leaders and the Gaang stayed behind. "If I could speak with you all I have one or two more things I would like to discuss." The four national leaders circled infront of Aang, while the rest of the Gaang loosely filled in behind Aang and the leaders. "Firelord Zuko, what are the prison arrangements of Ozai and Azula?"
"Azula is being held in a cooler at the boiling rock until we find a better accommodation to hold her. As for my father he is still held in the Imperial Prison." Zuko answered.
Aang thought for a moment, "I have had a dream of Azula escaping several times this week. I wish it not to be a vision."
The other bowed their heads lightly, knowing what he meant. "What do you suggest be done?" Chief Hakota asked.
"With agreement from all of you I believe the best way is to remove her bending." Aang answered.
Everyone agreed promptly. Katara spoke up, "There still may be soldiers loyal to her and Ozai though… What could we do to prevent that?"
"Hybrid guards, so that she is not guarded solely by Fire Nation soldiers." Zuko though aloud.
Kuei spoke up for the first time, "I think that works well also. However that doesn't solve where she should be kept or what to do with Ozai…" he trailed off looking for an answer.
Sokka had an idea, "What if we made one in the ocean? That way she could not speak with other prisoners and to demoralize her."
"I know my sister. She will not be demoralized so easily and she cannot be reformed to good." He answered warningly.
"Very well. I don't feel that we need to worry as much about Ozai, he has seemed too fallen into a depression. As long as he isn't moved and kept in solitary with as little contact as possible I think that we only need worry about Azula." Aang finished the subject.
"When will you take her bending?" Zuko asked, trying to work out a schedule.
"As soon as I can. I may leave with you and do it then." Aang answered.
"If you leave with us then I will go to the Boiling Rock first so that you may see to it that she is incapacitated of her bending and secured in a separate prison." Zuko finished.
"Is that all you wished to speak to us about." Chief Arnook asked.
Aang nodded and sighed as they walked away. He turned his attention to Katara; she pulled him in, "You handled that well." She comforted him.
He grunted, "Didn't feel like it, least not at first. Not until that general said anything, that's when I broke that barrier I guess."
She shrugged uncomfortably, "Yeah…"
"Is something wrong?" he asked gently.
"I don't know, it just seemed weird." She rubbed her arm awkwardly. "I'm not used to anything like that I guess."
He pulled her in, cradling her, "It's okay Katara." She looked up at him and he locked their lips together. Just then he noticed that Zuko had not moved, he stood waiting for Aang. Regretfully he broke the kiss, and walked over to Zuko.
Zuko stood a little awkwardly, "Listen…" he started not really knowing how to ask either question, "I know that you will be traveling a lot over the next few months…" he trailed off again.
Aang knew what he was going to ask, "I will. Don't worry, we'll find her Zuko. She's out there somewhere." Aang assured him with a big smile.
Aang started to turn away when Zuko stopped him, "I wasn't done with you." his temper flaring ever so slightly. "I asked Mai to marry me today, were planning on the end of next month."
Aangs face lit up, "That's great news!"
Zuko looked at him, he still hadn't finished, "Aang, I want you to be my best man."
He stopped flailing with happiness for a moment, "Really?" he asked hopefully and very cheerfully.
Zuko nodded with a laugh, "Yes really, I wouldn't want anyone else." Aang was ecstatic, Zuko watched him with a grin as he bounced around telling the rest of the Gaang. "What a nutcase" he muttered to himself with a smile before walking out trying to avoid the congratulations from everyone.
I noticed a small issue in the story that I had originally edited out, but I fixed the issue so it tis realigned. The addition is when Katara asked about the Dai Li. ;)
