Disclaimer: All credits to the writing of Avatar: The Last Airbender belong to Bryan Konietzko, Michael Dante DiMartino, Aaron Ehasz, and John O' Bryan.
Part One: An Old Legend Restored
"You have light and peace inside of you. If you let it out, you can change the world around you." -Iroh
Chapter One: Kuzon is the Avatar?!
Luxury, education, and fame. According to the world, I had everything . . . But despite this, I still felt something was missing in my life. It bothered me ever since I turned thirteen. It was always cold and yearning, deep within me.
My father and mother were never home often enough for me to want to confide in them. My only real friends were the servants and guards in my family's manor.
Books could not satisfy my yearning. Not even my self-proclaimed boyfriend, Hide, could figure out how I felt.
Then one day, everything changed when he stumbled into my life. It was the strangest, but the most exciting thing to happen in a long time.
Kuzon, a boy from the Fire Nation Colonies. His awkward and foreign demeanor brought an unforeseeable atmosphere of joy and fun to my dull life. Everyone at school was naturally drawn to his genuine smile and contagious enthusiasm.
In just three days, he had left a great impression on me. Suddenly, school became something to really look forward to. Any chance I had, I would approach him and just talk with him.
All in just three days.
Then one night, it never crossed my mind it would be the last time I would see Kuzon for a very long time. When he returned, everything changed.
Flamey-O's
"Wow, Kuzon. That was really good!" I said, commenting on his dance with the other girl I never saw before.
The party that started off really awkward became a great environment once everyone started dancing on their own. Even though this was something new to us, it just felt great. And it's all thanks to Kuzon.
"Haha~ I couldn't have done it without you. You helped get this dance party going. Thank you for helping me."
My cheeks heated up at the show of gratitude. "It was nothing. Thank you for choosing me to help~" I said, smiling and looking away.
After that, we didn't say much more. We just watched everyone having a good time. Shoji was even beginning to get into a rhythm with the music that was playing. Nothing but smiles and laughter. Even the dim lighting from the candles laid out around the cave helped provide a great atmosphere.
"Kuzon?"
"Yeah?"
"Thank you."
He blinked, confused. "For what?"
I giggled. "For all of this!" I motioned to the party. "This is the most fun I've had in a long time."
". . . Is it really that dull in the Fire Nation?" He asked.
I nodded, frowning. "It almost makes me wish that I could leave . . ."
Not that I could. My parents are always away and I hardly ever see them. I don't know what they do, but I bet they get to travel all the time. If I had the chance, I would love to start my travels by just seeing what lies beyond the ocean horizon to the south and east of the city. Of course . . . we're at war with the other nations, though. The Fire Lord restricted any form of travel outside the nation. Apparently there are enemy spies always lurking around.
"You don't like it here?" He asked.
I shook my head. "I like my home, but I just want to see more of the world. After being in the same place for a long time, wouldn't you want to leave and see something new?"
He nodded in agreement and smiled. "Yeah, you're right about that. Well, I'm gonna go back to dancing. Want to join me?" He offered with an extended hand.
Shyly, I took his hand and he led me to the dance floor. Time seemed to have gone by so fast. Sometime along the way, we got separated. But then everything came to a standstill when everyone's gazes shifted towards the entrance of the cave.
The headmaster! And the guards!
"He's the one we want!" The headmaster pointed to Kuzon. "The boy with the headband!"
"Uh oh!" Kuzon exclaimed before darting into the the crowd of students, guards charging after him.
As everything went to chaos, a hand landed on my shoulder. Shoji was behind me.
"On Ji. I have a plan. Follow my lead." He said, untying his sash around his waist and tying it into a headband.
I knew exactly what he had in mind after that and followed his lead. The plan worked really well as the guards stumbled, trying to find Kuzon. After a while, they had given up the search inside the cave and assumed he had already escaped. The guards went out to search the immediate area while the headmaster had us all gathered. We prepared for the worst.
As we received a very harsh reprimand and a long lecture about obedience to the laws and regulations of the school, I looked around for Kuzon. But I couldn't find him. I shrugged the thought away, thinking I would see him later.
But as it turns out, I never saw him again. The last person to see him was Shoji, who said that he had left through the back of the cave when it suddenly closed up behind Kuzon. When asked how that was possible, he thought that the cave could have just caved in.
But Kuzon was suddenly gone. Nowhere to be found.
A Few Months Later . . .
He really was gone. Days soon became weeks. And weeks became months. Even the school and the soldiers had given up looking for him.
And in all honesty, nothing was the same ever since he disappeared. School returned back to normal, but to me it felt even worse. As if something that was worth pursuing was suddenly ripped away. I could see it in everyone's expression at school.
How could he just leave without telling anyone?
This was only a small part of the thoughts that continued to plague my mind ever since Kuzon left. Always bothering me. Scratching at me. It was hard to focus on schoolwork. And once again, there was no one I could talk to about how I felt. I tried talking to Hide, but he didn't want anything to do with Kuzon. That made me angry enough for me to finally let him go. I didn't want anything to do with that egotistical idiot anymore.
I didn't want to trouble the manor servants about how I felt, so I kept my distance from them. But this constant need for answers frustrated me to no end and I didn't know why people outside of the manor kept their distance from me. Hide only used me as an ego booster . . . Kuzon was the only one who treated me like normal person . . .
The sun was starting to set, casting an orange and pink glow across the sky. But walking back home alone was a nice change from hearing Hide talk all the time about his life. It doesn't take a scholar to realize he was lying about most of what he was saying were his accomplishments.
Being alone allowed me to appreciate and enjoy the scenery of my father's land. The manor was on top of a hill overlooking a vast field of wheat. Harvest season was coming around the corner, so the wheat created a pleasant golden glow across the property, especially with the sun setting.
But even this pleasant scenery couldn't stop me from thinking of Kuzon . . .
Why did he leave-
"Look ooouuut!"
I looked up and the next thing I knew, I was slammed into the ground. My head was ringing from the hard impact and there was something heavy on me. After a moment of groaning, I slowly sat up to look at what hit me.
A boy?
He groaned, startling me. "That was not a good idea . . . Zuko is going to kill me when he finds out."
Zuko?
Then, just when he realized he was on top of me, he jolted and shot back up on his feet like he was possessed. "I'm so sorry! I couldn't control my flying- agh!" He groaned, placing his hand on his waist.
Frozen in place, my eyes opened wide at who I was seeing. The short brown hair. The uniform. The headband.
In the next moment, my body moved on its own and I shot up from the ground, embracing the boy. "Kuzon! It's you!"
"Ow! Ow! Ow!"
I gasped, stepping back. It was then that I saw the dark red dampness on his clothes near his waist.
"You're bleeding!" I said, immediately trying to help him. "I have to get you back to my home. My family's physician can help-"
"No, it's okay-"
"You're not okay!" I said, taking one of his arms and helping him walk. "My home isn't far from here."
He opened his mouth to try and say more, but gave up. He must have seen my determination and didn't want to put up a fight.
Kuzon! I can't believe it's him!
I looked at his expression and saw that he looked close to fainting. I shook my head. Questions and answers can wait. But he's back!
Guest Chambers . . .
"He will be alright, milady." Ishi said. "He will need to rest. Any stress on the affected area could reopen the wound."
"Thank you. You may continue with your duties now."
He bowed slightly, acknowledging my dismissal and left us alone in the guest chambers. I always thought the family physician was strange.
Kuzon was still unconscious for a while. I didn't want to leave his side. But I still couldn't believe it! He's back! . . . But why was he gone for such a long time? And where was he?
I was left to my thoughts for a long time. The sun had already set beyond the horizon, leaving the manor to be dimly lit with lanterns. Only the corridors were lit by torches, providing enough light in case a thief tried to use the shadows to hide. At least that's what mother told me when I complained about the smell.
That was when he started to move.
"Kuzon?" I whispered, perking up.
He moaned and groaned, his movements starting to become more frantic and spastic.
Is he dreaming? He has to be.
"No . . . don't . . . " He muttered. Then all of a sudden. "NO! KATARA!" He shouted, jolting up from laying on the bed.
I screamed and jumped back, almost falling out of my chair.
"Milady! What's wrong?!" A guard dashed into the guest chambers. It was Jin, the youngest guard in our home.
We were all frozen, unsure of what to do or make of the situation. But after a moment, I shook my head at Jin with a small smile.
"Everything is fine. Our guest just had a nightmare."
Jin looked at Kuzon for a moment with skepticism, but after a moment, he nodded and left us alone.
"Where- Where am I?" Kuzon asked, looking around.
"It's okay. You're safe here-" I caught my breath the moment he looked at me. My cheeks started to heat up in embarrassment. Why was I acting like this?
I guess I was still filthy from when he crashed into me. I still had dirt caught in my hair and smeared on my school uniform. Not that anyone would notice in the dim lighting. But still . . .
"On Ji? . . ." He utters after giving me a long look.
I perked up instantly.
He remembers me! Even after all this time!
"You- You remember me?"
"Well, of course!" He grinned. That act alone brought back how I felt when I last saw him. That weird, but good feeling inside my chest. "How could I ever forget my first friend in school?"
"I was your first friend?"
"Well, yeah! You helped me learn the proper hand gesture for bowing in class. And you were the first person to talk to me after school had ended on my first day."
"I still remember your dancing while you were playing the tsungi horn." I giggled.
"Yeah, that was fun."
After that, it was quiet. I didn't really know what to say to him, but I was just so glad to see him. That was when I remembered what he screamed earlier.
"Were you having a nightmare?" I asked.
"Oh . . . that. Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."
"No, it's okay."
"I was just . . . I guess you could say something bad happened some time ago and I can't get it out of my head."
"Oh . . . Do you . . . want to talk about it?" I noticed the scar on his forehead, like a layer of his forehead had been scratched off.
He shook his head. His eyes glazed over and I knew I shouldn't pry any further. It was time to change the subject.
"By the way, where have you been all this time?" I asked. "You disappeared the night you hosted the dance party. Ever since, no one knew where you were."
He chuckled nervously. "Well~ . . . That's a really long story."
I straightened my posture and folded my arms. "Well, I've got plenty of time to listen." I smirked.
He gulped.
"Then perhaps dinner would serve as a welcome treat while the young lady listens to your story." Nanny Ai walked in with a cart with two covered dishes.
"That would be great!" Kuzon said.
My stomach groaning meant that I couldn't deny the food even though I wanted to hear what he had to say. Nanny's subtle wink suggested that she heard it, too. Plus, after seeing her lift the covers off of our would-be meal, I definitely could not refuse the rare opportunity.
"The chef felt that you weren't getting enough balance in your diet, milady. Your father and mother order meat all the time. So the chef went and purchased some fresh crops with his own money and prepared an exquisite salad meal for you tonight. And this young man is lucky that there was enough left over for a second dish." She winked at Kuzon.
"Thank you for your hospitality!" He shouted, clapping his hands together and bowing his head enthusiastically.
Nanny raised her eyebrow at me when I giggled. But shrugged to herself soon after, setting things up for us to eat our meals.
The whole time Kuzon told his story, I couldn't take my attention off of him. Admittedly, I was a little jealous. He had been traveling with his friends, the friends I assumed were the people I never saw before in the cave party. They visited places that I could only see from books. I also had no idea Kuzon could fire bend. He showed my by creating a small, cute fireball on his hand. This made me even more jealous, since I've only ever dreamed of being able to fire bend like my father. He also encountered magical creatures on his adventures, which he was able to describe in such great detail. I was able to see it clearly in my mind.
"Alright, I think that's enough story-time for today. It's almost your bed time, milady." Nanny said. "And your pouting is not going to make me change my mind." She said, placing her hands on her hips.
"Aw~" I giggled.
Defeated, I helped Nanny gather all of the dinner items, despite her light protests. Then we left Kuzon alone in the guest chambers.
"I haven't seen you this happy in long time, On Ji."
She only ever addressed me by name whenever we were alone. I told her she could always address me by name, but she would just shrug and smile, saying that my parents wouldn't be happy with her.
"Nor have I heard you laugh in a long time." She added.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"You've been very quiet and distant for a while now. Every time I've tended to you, you always seemed sad. I didn't want to pry, thinking you just weren't getting along with your parents. I figured my prying would just make you upset with me."
"Oh, Nanny. I could never be upset with you."
"Now that's a lie if I ever heard one!" She laughed. "When you were little, you were always upset at me! Especially when I tried to feed you, help you study, help you learn how to play the erhu-"
"Okay~" I rolled my eyes. "I get it."
She chuckled. "But ever since that boy woke up, you've been nothing but smiles and giggles." She smirked. "I personally think he's a much better boy to have around than the mischievous Hide you used to drag around."
My cheeks heated up instantly. "Just- Just what are you implying?!"
She laughed. "Oh nothing~ Let's just get you cleaned up, sweetie."
After getting cleaned up and ready for bed, I recorded in my journal the day's events. I also made sure to write about the stories Kuzon told me. Writing his stories made me even more excited to see him again the next morning. I wasn't able to sleep because of it.
The Next Morning . . .
"Whaaaat?!"
"Please, calm down, milady-"
"Where did he go? How could he just get up and leave? He's hurt!" I asked Jin, frantic.
"We don't know, milady. We didn't see him leave the guest chambers. He must have sneaked out in the middle of the night-"
"What's with all the noise?!"
Jin and Kai, the other guard, jumped in surprise and stood at attention. My father had come to see what was happening.
"Father! Kuzon is gone! We have to find him! He's-"
"Kuzon?"
"Kuzon! Our guest yesterday! He's hurt and I had Ishi-"
"Why was I not informed of a guest on my property?" He demanded, looking at Jin and Kai.
"You were not present while the guest was here, Colonel!" Jin answered back.
He shook his head, sighing and massaging his temples. "Well, I suppose our guest is no longer our responsibility if he is no longer on my property."
"What?!" I shouted. "But, father! Kuzon is hurt! We-"
"That's enough, On Ji! He growled. "You are to leave for school at once. Do not trouble yourself with this Kuzon any longer. Focus on your education."
"But-"
"Need I repeat myself?"
I froze, a strong shiver traveling up my spine. He was giving me that look. At that moment, all I wanted to do was curl up into a ball and hide whenever father gave me that look. Even Jin and Kai were frozen in fear.
But I managed to regain some control of myself, looking at the ground and walking by them with haste. I didn't want to see those eyes of his. Every time he gives me that look, I swear that there is darkness closing in around me, ready to swallow me whole.
It wasn't until I exited the gates that the scary feeling slowly went away. With a sigh of relief, all the tension disappeared as well. The noise of the city also helped to distract me as soon as I got there. In order to get to school, I had to walk through the bustling market section of the city. Owners were always at their stalls, trying to get the attention of people walking by to purchase their goods. Ranging from crops to flocks of animals, and rare treasures to glittering gems.
It was in the market that I caught sight of someone wearing a red headband. Then my thoughts jumped back to Kuzon again and my worries returned.
When I find him, he better have a good explanation for running off! . . . Again!
Well, I didn't have to wait long. As soon as I made it into the central plaza of the city, it was apparent that something big was happening. And there he was, running down a steep road and trying to escape from soldiers.
Kuzon! Why are soldiers chasing him?! Are they still mad at him for throwing a secret dance party? But that was a long time ago!
My thoughts were cut short when someone screamed.
"Look out! The wagon is loose!"
I looked to my right and saw the mentioned wagon rolling down another steep road- towards me!
By the time I realized the danger, it was too close for me to quickly move out of the way.
Then suddenly, the ground in front of me rose up and blocked the wagon from hitting me. A loud crash resulted and crops flew everywhere.
"Oh no! My cabbages!" An older man exclaimed, looking at the wreckage of the wagon.
Then Kuzon was next to me all of a sudden.
"Hold on!" He said, sweeping me off my feet and into his arms.
Things were happening too quickly for me to process what was happening. Now a wall of water came out of a well and pushed the soldiers away, stunning them. Then Kuzon and I were suddenly moving really fast uphill. He was standing on top of a ball of air.
Before I knew it, we were both alone in a secluded place, hidden behind buildings I never saw before. An overhead cloth shielded us from the morning sun.
"Okay . . . I think we lost them." He said, putting me down.
"Wha-? Kuzon-? How did you-? What just happened?"
He frowned, looking away. "On Ji . . . There's something I need to tell you."
My head was still spinning in confusion and shock when he told me three words that would forever change my life.
"I'm the Avatar."
Author's Note: Hi everyone! I'm new to this FanFiction website, but I've been visiting it a lot recently and checking out other writers' stories. I'm excited to share my ideas with all of you, now. This story is a work in progress, I'm planning on trying to update it weekly. My goal is three books for On Ji because she needs some love. :)
I like my stories to be dialogue-driven, so I'm not that experienced with the right amount of exposition. If you have any ideas for how I can improve my writing, please let me know through either Private Messaging or through writing a review.
Thank you for taking the time to read.
Update 9-11-2017: I noticed that there wasn't enough exposition to clearly show what On Ji's home is like. So I added a little more exposition to help you visualize On Ji's home and her route to school to help set the scene.