Maiden- I know I should be focusing on updating my other stuff, but my mind runs like 90 miles a minute nowadays! And during it's race around today, I was struck with inspiration by a DeviantArt collection. It depicted an older gaang, fighting a newly freed Azula and Zhou. However, this fic takes place about fifteen years after the defeat of Ozai and includes mine and my sister's Ocs. Many of you might recognize them as the Legendary Charmers from our joint fics as 3OfAKind. But in case you're new to them, here's a brief description.
Eria (Ear-A)- Originally from the Northern Water Tribe, Eria is a very powerful water bender. Chosen by the spirits as a 'charmer', Eria is able to blood bend without the aid of a full moon. She was born the same time period as Aang and acts as a guide to the avatar as well as a trainer. She, along with the other charmers, stays biologically young by drinking the water from the Spirit Oasis. Eria lost her younger brother to the fire nation during one of their first raids, so she became a bitter and cold person. She takes no mercy on those who prey on the weak or break the rules for no reason.
Hiita (Heat-A)- Born to a rich diplomat from the Fire Nation, Hiita grew up sheltered and locked away. But upon discovering Vagabons, Hiita decided she'd travel the world to see what she'd been missing out on. She became a master fire bender at age 12, but her parents discouraged her from ever using her power. She can manipulate the body temperature of any living organism, even going so far as to kill her opponet from the inside out.
Whynn (When)- A prodigy child of the air nomads, Whynn earned her tattoos at age 10. She was chosen by the spirits to become the Air Charmer when she taught herself how to control sound waves before she hit her teenage years. When the destruction of the air nomads began, she was sent away by the elders to protect her heritage. Guru Pa Tik found her some years later when she was 16, offering her solace at the Eastern Temple.
Aussa (Aw-Sa)- A hippie by nature, earth bender by birth. Aussa always seemed to have a special connection with the earth, earning her the nickname 'Mother Nature'. Eventually learning to bend plants by the soil they're planted in. Animals flocked to her for her gental and motherly aura. After seeing the malicious destruction of the Earth Kingdom under the reign of Azulan, Aussa fled from her home, deciding to live off the land she encountered.
Yori (Your-E)- Twin sister to Whynn, Yori is what the bending nations call a 'mut'. Her father was a fire bender while her mother, an air nomad. Yori seemed to inherit both bending traits of her parents. Upon her dual bending discoveries, her mother and adoptive father seemed to disown her. Yori went in search of a hybrid master, finally coming to find a kind earth/fire bending woman who couldn't speak. Upon the time of war, this mystical woman cast a sleep spell on Yori to preserve her until the Avatar returned. Knowing Yori would be needed to save the world.
Chapter 1- Vanishing Act
Water, Earth, Fire, Air
116 years have passed since the avatar, master of all four elements, mysteriously disappeared. He was found by a brother and sister pair named Sokka and Katara of the Southern Water tribe. The trio then embarked on a long and treacherous journey to defeat the fire lord and restore balance to the world. Along the way, they befriended a feisty earth bender named Toph Beifong and even the fire lord's own son, prince Zuko. When their mission was finally a success, the world began a new era of peace and love, under Zuko's rule. But where there is peace, there's always someone ready to threaten it...
The heavy clunk of metal on wood sounded through the entire dungeon. The only sound to rattle the air in almost twenty four hours. The door to the lower part of the Fire Lord's palace opened when the sound ceased. In walked a young woman, appearing to graze her forties, but the air about her suggested she was much older. She wore a red wrap top, brown cotton pants with the fire nation insignia around the cuffs, brown leather gloves with red silk around the wrists and metal soled boots. Auburn locks brushed across her sun kissed cheeks while her amber eyes zeroed in on the middle cell. She held a small tray of food in her left hand, using her right to unlock the iron gate.
"Ya know if it were up to me, you'd starve." the woman spat towards the figure inhabiting the cell. "But your brother insists we keep you alive."
"Little Zu-Zu..." a velvety voice called out. "Always looking out for his little sister."
"You're lucky he has a heart...unlike you."
"So spiteful, Hiita." Azula scolded lightly. "It's not lady-like, you know."
"Like I give one damn!" the fire charmer shrieked, breathing flames. "Rot in hell, retch."
Hiita turned on her heel and left Azula, still cuffed to the wall, just like she found her. A malicious smile spread across Azula's ivory face the second Hiita slammed the door. Her hands cackled with electricity from inside the metal cuffs, successfully melting them. She might've suffered some second degree burns, but the former fire princess was free!
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Katara breathed in the salty sea air from her kitchen window. She smiled and hummed softly as she stirred a broth with her bending. The chattering of flying lemurs, and the laughter of three children and one avatar being the background vocals. A loud cry of "Mommy!" broke the melodious atmosphere. A little boy no older than seven came running through the kitchen, clinging to his mother's leg.
"What's the matter, Bumi?" Katara asked, picking the toddler up.
"Kya water bended at me!" the master water bender took note of her son's wet hair and shirt. She giggled softly and bent the excess moisture into the sink. Katara kissed her son's cheek causing him to scowl and rub at his cheek. Katara merely chuckled before lowering the boy to the floor.
"Something smells wonderful." Aang greeted. His ten year old daughter slung across his shoulders and a five year old Tenzin wrapped around his leg. The avatar bent a small portion of the soup out of the pot and into his mouth.
"Hey! Wait until everyone gets here before you go eating up everything."
"What can I say?" Aang chuckled, leaning over to kiss his wife. "I just love your cooking."
"I swear. You and my brother eat like starving moose lions."
"But I'm the cuter one right?" Aang asked cheekily. Katara giggled and rubbed her husband's bald head just as the telephone rang. The air bender created two small puffs of wind to carry his children to the floor, and flitted over to the device that was mounted on the far wall.
"Avatar Aang here." he spoke into the receiver. His smile and cheery demeanor soon vanished, replaced with a deep set scowl and worry. "Don't worry, we'll find her. Round up the gaang and meet me on the island."
"Who was that?" Katara asked, hearing her husband slam the phone down.
"Hiita." Aang breathed. "Azula's escaped."
No sooner had the words left his mouth, thunder rumbled in the distance. Even the weather was gearing up for one hell of a fight.
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"What the hell is so damn important that you had to drag me away from a training session!" Toph all but growled towards the fire charmer. Hiita had a firm grip on the chief of police's arm, tugging her down the streets of Republic City towards the city hall.
"I'll tell you when we're all together so I don't have to repeat myself!" Hiita hissed, her light jog turning into a full run. The blind woman behind her doing all she could to keep up. The two tumbled through the city hall's doors to be met with Sokka, Eria, Whynn, Aussa and Yori.
"What is this about Hiita?" Eria asked, her arms folded sternly across her chest. Oceanic eyes boring into Hiita's amber.
"Azula's escaped." the fire charmer braced herself for the onslaught of one metal bender, three element charmers, Fire Lady and mayor.
"And how did she escape, Hitta?" Eria asked, her oceanic eyes like ice, glaring at the fire charmer. "You're the head of security at the palace. So if Azula escaped, it's your fault!"
"It is NOT my fault, ice queen!" Hiita screamed, her fingertips glowing with tiny flames. "I was only down there long enough to give her her lunch! She melted the damned shackles!"
"How?" Yori asked, putting her hand on Eria's shoulder to keep her from lashing out again. "Those shackles are supposed to disable fire bending."
"How the hell should I know!" Hiita scoffed, folding her arms defensively.
"She probably bent lightning into the cuffs." Toph replied smoothly. "The metal used to make anti bending cuffs aren't sturdy enough to withstand lightning. Only fire."
"Now we know how she did it." Whynn began. "What we need to find out now is where she went and how we can get her back where she belongs. In the loony bin!"
The air charmer's enthusiasm was cut short when she noticed Aussa gravitating towards the door. The small earth charmer ignored her friends' cries of question and placed her hands on the ground. Her chi flowed from her fingertips to every living thing around her.
"She hasn't gotten far." Aussa spoke softly, her emerald eyes turning towards the group gathered at the entrance to city hall. "Probably just outside city limits."
"And there's our reinforcements now!" Sokka cried, pointing towards the large gust of wind appearing over the building tops. Aang slowly descended from his perch, his brow furrowed together in worry and angst.
"We need to detain Azula as soon as possible." The avatar spoke. "Sokka, you stay here and lock the city down. No one gets in or out. Toph, Hiita, Whynn, and Eria, you girls come with me."
"What about us?" Yori asked, gesturing to her and Aussa.
"I need you to guard my family." Aang spoke, his gray eyes softening. "I won't allow Azula to harm them."
"You can count on us, twinkle toes." Yori smirked. Aang grimaced at his old nickname, but forced himself to smile.
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Yori sighed as she paced around the open parlor of Aang's home. Aussa watched the redhead retrace the same path over a few more times, before stopping the girl, her bending pinning her in place.
"Yori, he's fine," Aussa said, knowing the girl she called sister was agitated and worries for her husband who was on his way to join Aang." Symber is in playing with Tenzin, Bumi, Kya, and Lin; your family is safe."
"Hard to believe that when my bat shit sister in law is on a rampage," Yori sighed. Aussa let the girls feet go and she moved to sit next to Aussa. Yori studied the earth charmer's posture. Completely relaxed, void of any and all stress or cares. She was the voice of reason and nature, so it came as no surprise that Aussa was a chosen bender. Aussa smiled into the sunlight, closing her emerald eyes and letting the subtle winds blow through her earthy brown hair. As if right on cue, the kids came running into the room, all heading for the red head Fire Lady.
"Mummy, can you tell us about yours and daddy's wedding?" Symber asked, her amber eyes staring innocently into her mother's lilac. She moved onto her mothers lap and the other kids scooted around her and Aussa, knowing "Aunt" Yori told the best stories. Yori smiled, knowing it would be nice to have a distraction.
"It was a magical day, kiddos." Yori started, her eyes sparkling with memories.
"More like a side show." Aussa giggled, remembering the day all too well. In a fit of jealousy and rage, Mai, Zuko's ex girlfriend, tried to assassinate Yori. If it weren't for Toph's extraordinary senses, Mai would've succeeded.
Katara watched from afar, glad to have some help with five kids. It was hard enough with her own three, but add in Symber and Lin, and her household was utter chaos. She left the two powerful women alone with the children to retell their most famous story. The master waterbender walked outside to tend to the lemurs and bison, knowing the group of airbending animals should be expecting their dinner. Just as she'd made it to the stables, Katara felt a cloth being wrapped around her mouth, preventing her from screaming. She tried to summon her bending, but her hands had been cuffed behind her back.
"Long time no see, huh peasent?" came a velvety voice. Katara's blood ran cold, knowing the owner of the voice all too well. "You're coming with me, princess. It's about time I enact my revenge on you and Zu Zu for locking me up for all these years. And don't worry about your family. I'll leave them alone, as long as they stay out of my way."
Katara wasn't one to give in to demands so easily. She used her feet and legs to bend water from the air and try to form a blade to slash at the former fire princess. But Azula was expecting such actions. Using her fire bending to evaporate the water and quickly jab a few places on the waterbender's body to block her chi.
"I should've told you before. Ty Lee showed me a few tricks before she betrayed me."