A/N: So Aergradior, not gonna happen for a while. Right now, I'm thinking Katara growing up in the Fire Nation works out better. Because who hasn't imagined Fire Nation!Katara before?
Disclaimer and special props: I own absolutely nothing. Avatar: The Last Airbender and all of it's characters are property of Mike and Bryan. This original creation is dedicated to them for being epic, and to Avacado Love for the inspiration behind this fanfiction, Another Brother (in my Favorites). And now, on with the show.
Book 0: Steam
Chapter 1: The Last Waterbender
Yon Rah did not like his new post. Sure, a promotion to the leader of the Southern Raiders seemed excellent on paper. High pay, position of power, high respect, it couldn't be better. Oh wait, yes it could. It could be anywayere but the South Pole! Honestly, a man can only take so much freezing cold, endless ice, and lack of civilization. He thought it was going to be cushy and relaxing. There were no benders in the South Pole anymore. Being appointed to the Southern Raiders was basically the High Admiral's way of saying "nice work, here's a paid vacation." But noooo, Fire Lord Azulon was convinced that a child was being born tonight, and that she (he was adamtant that it would be a girl) would be a Waterbender. Honestly, why the old man didn't just admit his senility and allow Prince Iroh to take over, he would never understand. After all, not only were the odds that a child was being born in this particular village were rather slim, not to mention there was no guarantee that she would even be a bender (okay, a full moon in the winter is a pretty good indicator, but still.) The mission was a waste of time. Not that he would ever say that.
He stood at the ship's bow, staring the the white landmass stretching the horizon. At the very edge of the "landmass", a small but cozy village stood. They were drifting rather than driving through the waters, well aware that this mission was not meant to be a bloody one. Azulon was a harsh leader, but he was not cruel. A small raid like this would end with little blood on either side.
Even from that distance, the leader of the Southern Raiders could see the townspeople scurrying about. Ushering their women and children inside, the men forming outside the walls with spears brandished. The ship steadily coasted closer, until they finally slowed to a halt at the very edge. Neither side moved. The proud men of the Water Tribe, their barbaric face paint and wolf armor against the mighty Fire Navy, steel armor gleaming in the moonlight. Yon Rah's eyes met those of the frontmost warrior. He coughed slightly, clearing his throat.
"Lower your spears, peasants. We are not here to fight you." No one moved. Yon Rah's eyes narrowed. "Are you deaf? I said, lower your weapons. If you don't, then I may very well take it as provocation and have a reasonable excuse to burn your village to the ground." The leader grimaced slightly in anger, and slowly brought his spear down, still on edge. The others mimicked.
"If you aren't here to fight, then why are you here? There are no more Waterbenders for you to kidnap." The leader called. Yon Rah smirked.
"I'm honestly not sure. The Fire Lord has given orders. He is certain that a young girl is being born tonight, potentially a Waterbender. Tell me, is he right?" The one at the front visibly paled, even in the moonlight. Yon Rah's smirk grew. "I will take that as a yes. I'm bringing several of my men down. I warn you, the full Raider's fleet is within calling distance. Any funny business, and we'll melt this part of the Pole off the map.
Men poured out of the ship to the icy landmass below. The contents of the one ship alone outnumbered the men of the South two to one, and there were in fact several more ships just past an iceberg less than a quarter of a mile away. Yon Rah lead the party, approaching the one he had identified as leader.
"I am Yon Rah, newly appointed leader of the Southern Raiders." He introduced himself. He would follow his instructions to the letter, and that included being perfectly cordial. Sometimes he questioned Azulon's ambitions, but he would do as he was told.
"Hakoda. I'm the chief of this Tribe. And I'm sorry to tell you that you've wasted your time. The only woman having a child tonight is my wife. There hasn't been a bender in either of our families for generations." The Raider's leader shook his head.
"I thought as much. It seemed like a fool's errand. But you see, Chief Hakoda, I have my orders. If your child is a girl, I will have to take her to the Capital City." Hakoda's face immediately became enraged." But, I am not a cruel man, and neither is Azulon. He is a fair man, and I am sure that she will not be a bender. We will test her, and if she isn't I will personally return her to you. If she is, I was told to give you my personally gaurantee she will be treated well." The Chief's face did not change. "Or I can take her by force, most likely destroying your quaint little village and everyone in it. Your choice." Now Hakoda's face softened, his eyes filled with both hate and sadness. For a moment Yon Rah felt a stab of pity. Then it went away.
"Don't do it Hakoda!" One of the other warriors called out. "You know we would all gladly die for you, and your family." A few Raiders stepped forward, but Yon Rah halted them with a wave of his hand. He could see the kind of person that Hakoda was.
"I know Bato. And that's why I have to."
Yon Rah and his procession followed Hakoda to a hut, marked with a cross above the door to signify a place of healing. A faint cry could be heard from inside. The child had already been born. Hakoda stood back, unable to watch, as the mighty Raider ducked under the blanket that served as a door. Inside, Yon Rah found two women. One, wrinkled with time and probably older than the war itself, stood in the corner, fear in her eyes but firm dissapproval in her stance. The other lay on a fur-lined bed, terrified but also doing her best not to show it (she was doing a terrible job but he had to give her credit for trying).
"I apologize, Madam, but I'm afraid I will have to take your child." He said as calmly as if he was asking to borrow a cup of sugar.
"WHAT!?" That was about the reaction that Yon Rah expected. "What makes you think for even a second that I'd give you my baby?" The processing conversation was much like the one with Hakoda, just with more yelling on her part. Finally, the old woman interrupted.
"Kya, you must think. They will get her either way. At least if we give her to them, she will have a home to someday come back to." The woman, Kya, closed her eyes for a second in thought, and then spoke.
"Alright Kanna. I'll do as you suggest... but I'm going to tell you right now. " This was directed at Yon Rah. "If I don't get her back, Waterbender or not, I will come for her, and then, I will kill you." The leader of the Raiders grinned slightly.
"I would expect no less from a mother." He stepped forward, and Kya reluctantly placed the little girl in his hands. She looked up, confused why her mother had given her to this stranger, and her bright blue eyes met his stern and cold amber ones. He looked back at Kya, disconcerted by those big eyes. "I give you my word, in three years we will test her for bending abilities, and if she has none we will return her to you. So, do I know what to call her or shall I give her a Fire Nation name?"
"Don't joke with me, you monster. And her name is Katara."
A/N: Yeah, I like to see Azulon as different from his genocidal father/son/granddaughter. Zuko's "nice guy genes" can't have just come from Ursa. So I made him sociopathic and paranoid, but with at least some moral fiber. Not going to be burning an entire continent to the ground any time soon at least. And apologies for the short first chapter, I'm really kind of just setting things up.
How did Azulon know of Katara's birth? What will become of Katara? How will the rest of the Royal Family react? Find out next time, in Chapter 2: The Prophet
And now, an important message from Khajmer's sponsors (okay, not really, but this is important to read). Go to my profile and click on the link to the Aang-'aint-white Livejournal. Follow the instructions there and help to oust the four actors already chosen for Aang, Katara, Sokka, and Zuko. Keep the Asian and Inuit influence in our favorite metaseries, save our show/movie, and fight for our freedom!!!!!!! (Okay, maybe not so much the last bit).