Introduction
Hello. Welcome to 'Separate Times, New Lives'.
Just as a warning for those who have yet to begin reading this story, I would like to inform you of some details before I officially start the story. I, as the writer, feel that having this knowledge would help benefit in understanding the story and the world I have created beforehand.
Alternate Universe:
- As stated in the summary, I once again stress that this story is a massive alternative universe. However, there are still echoes of the original canon. While I will be going through canon events, the perspectives and events that occurred would vary vastly.
The Stories of the Spirits:
- Though there are things based off the knowledge of the Spirits from what we have seen from Avatar: The Last Airbender, the Comics, and Avatar: The Legend of Korra, I try to fill in the gaps provided. Spirits have largely remained a mystery, and I have taken liberty in filling information in. As the Legend of Korra continues, my assumptions may or may not be proven wrong. However, should they be proven wrong, I will not go back in correcting what I have already written.
Time Travel:
- Although only briefly mentioned in the summary, this is in fact a time travel story. Though there is a twist, and things have been bent out of whack due to the alternate events that have happened within the story. I hope you understand what has truly happened as the story progresses.
Out of Character:
- I suppose this may or may not be expected in an alternative universe, but there will be many times when a character will be out of character when compared to the canon. There are reasons, and please realize that every character I portray has had a different story behind their actions.
Romance:
- I'm not a very good writer when it comes to romance. This is mainly a GEN story, and though there may be some nice moments, pairings are definitely not the main focus here.
- Just a warning to those ahead of time, I have never been a fan of Zutara. I'm sorry to the readers who would have like such a pairing. I could never see them click between those two despite the hugs, capture, drama and conversations they had in the show. I also apologize to any other pairing readers might ship besides the canon, I cannot please everyone, after all.
Thank you for your time in reading this ahead of time.
I believe we should get on with the story. Shall we? Let's start with a much longer summary. The space this website gives us just does not cut it.
Fire. Air. Water. Earth.
My history teachers once taught me of the old days, a time when unruly savages lived throughout the world while the Avatar maintained the balance between the Water Tribe, Earth Kingdom, Fire Nation, and Air Nomads. But everything changed when my great-grandfather, Fire Lord Sozin, began a revolution to unite the world under one magnificent ruler. Only the Avatar, master of all four elements, could halt our nation's quest. But when my great-grandfather decided to duel him during Sozin's Comet, the Avatar had vanished.
A hundred years had passed and the Fire Nation was nearing victory. War councils were typically held to continue the Nation's conquest. Though, an incident three years ago branded and banished me for speaking out of turn, which lead to the impossible task: to find and capture the Avatar - the very one who had been missing for nearly a century. Given an unknown crew and with only my Uncle by my side, I had set off on my journey. I never questioned my father's actions, but I should have known better. Some people believed that the Avatar was never reborn into the Air Nomads, and that the cycle was broken; nevertheless, I didn't - couldn't - lose hope because the Avatar was the only way to return home. I knew, somehow, that the Avatar would return to stop my father and my people.
And he did return, discovered by the son and daughter of the Southern Water Tribe Chief, Sokka and Katara. I had chased Avatar Aang, an airbender who escaped the genocide of the Air Nomads a hundred years prior, only to realize the horrors and misery my people had brought upon the world during the war. And yet I was blind and arrogant. I had a chance to help correct the mistakes of my nation's past, but I had thrown it away in favor of what I believed to be my father's love.
And so began our demise. A strange curse indicated by a special mark on the body began to spread throughout all nations, infectious and corrupting. Insanity and massacre soon enveloped the land, becoming a common day occurrence. Hate was a disease, contagious and deadly. It was only through irony that I managed to survive.
But now, we have a chance to change everything. To defeat the darkness and chaos that reigned over us. But will we be enough? Will the world play out the course set by fate? Everything may collapse into an eternal loop. But this time, we'll be here to stop it. Take care to watch your back for there are shadows lurking in the light.
Be prepared.
He no longer resides in the Tree.
[Word Count: 451]
[Edit: Beta-ed by theheroineinprogress as of 01-06-2014]
[Edit: Beta-ed by Miyauchi-san as of 01-08-2014]
Criticism is welcome. Proceed to the next chapter. My gratitude goes to my betas, theheroineinprogress and Miyauchi-san. Thank you for your hard work.
- Kenna Cat