Avatar, The Legend of the Four Masters
Book 1 Air
Chapter 1 Finders, Keepers
A man walked by almost falling into her table. She gave him a horrible look while sipping a cup of tea. He wasn't the only drunk around, she disliked that kind of places but the hope of the world rested in that sticky and stinky place.
Nashida was very patient but spending her 25th birthday waiting for someone to appear in some little pub, in some little city in some little island, just because she heard some rumors wasn't her idea of a good time.
Another drunk man stumbled into her spot, she was sick of it, and just when the thought of leaving crossed her mind, she froze completely. A presence, some chills. A girl with dark and perfect skin entered the place.
She wore some feathers in a bandana that kept away some heavy curls from her face. Her blue skirt was long and her white top very short. A ton of necklaces hanged from her neck just as many bracelets from her wrists. But that wasn't the weirdest thing about her. One of her eyes was icy blue; the other one was red as lava.
That girl walked making way to the bar, ordered a drink and started talking in a very low voice with the bartender, then made her way to the exit.
Nashida paid in a second and followed her very closely. She turned in some alley, and walked inside a house.
Complete silence. For a few minutes she heard not even a whisper, until some worrying sounds stormed. It sounded like swords, then like bullets, and then it all went silent again. Nashida waited with her guard on. A guy walked outside in a funny way.
–¿Bloodbending? – Muttered Nashida while watching. The girl came walking very calmed behind him, she rested her hand over his head, seemed to be very concentrated on it. Then the guy's look changed completely, just as he was someone else. In his eyes there was confusion and a bit of innocence. He was now able to move his body again. He laughed and then ran away.
The girl with the feathers stayed there with her eyes close. Nashida kept looking until she spoke.
–¿Who are you?
Nashida's heart pounded like never in her life and then her body moved against her will to expose her. It was weird, she was never a victim of bloodbending before, and to be honest she expected it to be very painful. It wasn't.
–I'm going to ask again– the girl with the feathers said.
–I'm Nashida, I've been following you
–I know, why?
Nashida didn't answer this time, she was thinking her next words since the girl was very powerful and a bit creepy.
Since the death of the last avatar, the world fell into darkness. She still had some blurred memories; she was very little when it happened.
Avatar Jun, from the fire nation, had almost like a gift. Even if all the Avatars had a connection with the spirit world, Avatar Jun's was strongest. She could enter and leave spirit world in seconds just by closing her eyes. The constant contact with past spirits brought wisdom, which she shared with everyone. An exceptional balance to the world was a side effect of that wisdom. The limits between nations were erased, the kings and queens, the emperors, the monks that ruled, got together and worked like a team. But that peace and unity also triggered the thirst of the evil spirit, Khaos, who escaped through the avatar Jun's heart into the world. And despite her mastery of the 4th elements, Khaos defeated her while she was in avatar state.
Khaos, invisible to everyone else then started possessing the bodies of the living to create wars, feuds and pain. It started with the rulers of the world; the throne was then occupied by distrust and fear.
People lost hope… but not her, and she was not the only one. They called themselves "Avatar Finders" girls, boys, women and men who looked for the new avatar despite what the legend said. They would never give up.
Lately there were many avatar finders missing around the world, that's why they didn't move in groups anymore, and a good reason of why they didn't announced easily who they were.
In the middle of her thought, the girl bended Nashida's body to a bit torturing position.
–I don't have all day!
–¡I believe you could be the Avatar and my job is to find you!
The bloodbending stopped, a smile was drawn in the girl's face, but then she started laughing.
–No, seriously, why are you here?
–I'm serious – said Nashida
–It can't be – the girl said – The last Avatar, Avatar Jun's first element was fire, what do you think I am? You are looking for someone in the air temples.
–We thought so too, Necie. Yes, I know your name. The truth is that we tested secretly each airbender, but no one has the characteristics of the Avatar. No one passed our tests.
–So, you couldn't find an airbender in the temples… they are nomads…
–You don't understand…
–Yeah, I'm still lost in the part where you think I'm the avatar.
–It's a theory… since Avatar Jun died in avatar state, we think the avatar cycle was altered.
–It makes no sense.
–You have to be kidding me, right? Look, there's no reason for us to pretend, you are also a firebender, and a story about you was all over Ba Sing Se.
–Look, that story is a fake ok? One, I don't remember that happening since I was very young. And two, I've tried. Really, for some years I really thought I could be the Avatar, but unfortunately my firebending is not real. Nobody is considering that maybe an explosion occurred that day in Ba Sing Se. Some of the antique gas pipes around the city still work, and many of them have exploded around this years… besides, the avatar is gone. Why can't you accept it like everyone else?
–I will never accept the idea of surrender … we are looking for the littlest chance to change the world. There are some terrible things going on and the worst is yet to come. I'm begging you. Give me a month to prove my point, I have a strong feeling about this!
–A month? I can't grant you a month! I can't leave my Island! The people need me. You have no idea of the situation around.
–Yes I do! There's much crime around, fugitives and runaways come to this island everyday. And not everyone is good. But if you can keep them safe with your normal bending, just imagine what you would be able to do if you became the avatar. Not just that, the world since the death of Avatar Jun… well you probably know how bad things are. We really need someone to bring balance to the world once again.
–What if you are wrong? What if I'm not the Avatar?
–There is a very big possibility; I'm not going to lie to you. There are others that we located under same suspicion of being the avatar.
–Why don't you go and fetch them?
–That's what I was going to say. If you come with me, if you are not the Avatar, then you'll meet THE Avatar, and he or she could help making your island a better place. We need all the help possible.
Necie seemed to think deeply about it but then a strong noise came just between the two of them.
–It's the witch! Get her!
Four men were in front of them with guns and before Nashida could even open her mouth, Necie froze one of them, but when she turned around, the other two guys have already captured Nashida.
–What's going on? – She asked while a gun was pointed to her head
–I'll tell you what's going on, your friend here is a witch, a servant of Khaos! She has been erasing my men's minds!
–Can you really do that?! – asked Nashida very impressed but she needed no answer since she saw it. After Necie use bloodbending to avoid the guy in the hut to keep firing at her, she touched his head and his face changed completely.
–She is not even my friend – said Necie
–Oh, then you won't mind us taking her; I bet she will make a fancy present for Lord Fum
–Let her go.
The criminal smiled.
–Trade places with her. Pho, tie her up.
Pho, the other man, approached Necie with a rope.
–I'm sorry– said Nashida
–No, don't worry; this is my fight– said Necie
–I wasn't apologizing to you, it was to him – said Nashida with a smile towards her captor – I'm sorry for the burns, apply plenty of aloe.
–What?
Nashida got covered in flames, the guy screamed in pain, Pho ran towards her but then in a blow, the ropes on Necie's hands were reduced to ashes. Necie then moved her hands, from the earth some water gathered in her hands and in a quick move both Pho and the other guy froze together from the waist down.
–Very impressive– said Necie
–Thanks.
–Now, what to do with you? – Asked Necie to the criminals– I could erase your minds, I could mess your brain so bad that you'll end up thinking you are little bunnies for the rest of your lives.
–Please! No!
–I will let you go. You'll get to Lord Fum and tell him that I'll watch him closely and that I will end his control of the Island. Also I'm putting a curse on you, if you ever set foot here, your heads will explode.
And then she started whispering things, then released them. They ran so fast one of them lost his shoe.
–You can't possibly do that. – Said Nashida
–No, but they don't know that – said Necie with a smile. –And I need to buy some time since I'm going to find the Avatar. Then I'll come back and deal with Lord Fum.