Just wanted to start off by saying that I have been reading ALTA fanfiction for the longest time so I thought, hey why can't I right something. I have had this idea for the longest time but as you will probably figure out when you read this, I don't have exactly the best writing skills so constructive criticism would be great on how to make this story better. I would just like to say that I won't continue this story if my readers don't review that they want me to. I think my first chapter turned out okay but tell me what you think.
As a disclaimer: sadly, I don't own anything from Avatar the Last Airbender. (Wish I did, but I don't)
Fire was everywhere, the front lines were being broken through, and it seemed as though all was lost for the last remaining Air Temple. They would have to retreat, but to where? As Aang found himself troubled by all these unanswered questions, he thought back to the moment that changed his life from being a normal airbending monk, to the almighty Avatar.
"Aang, the council of elders wants to have a word with you" said monk Giatso.
Aang was beginning to become confused as to why the elders wanted to see him almost every week. He mused that it must have been because he had just turned 16. But then again, he hadn't remembered any other 16 year old having to sit through all of these knowledge and strategy tests. This would come by the time you turned 20 because by then, you would be required to join the Airkingdom military.
You see, the Air Nomads had always been a peaceful and non-violent people. That is until one of the elders had a vision while meditating that a war was to soon be upon them. Almost immediately after monk Tetzu had the vision, he pushed for a vote to begin the construction of a secret army, an army only the Air nomads would be aware of. This decision was a hard one to make, but none the less it was a unanimous yes as monk Tetzu was never questioned.
At the time, Aang, as was all of the children his age, were confused as to why the army had no official leader to oversee everything as the other nations had. Avatar Roku had died many years ago, so Aang much like everyone else believed that the Avatar was reincarnated into the Air nomads, thus the council was waiting until he appeared to choose a leader. The discussion that Aang would soon have with Tetzu and the other council members would be much deeper than he previously had expected.
"Aang, please come in" calmly stated the only female council member whose name was Pia.
As Aang walked in, he soon became very nervous under the five pairs of eyes that were all now turned on him.
As he sat, Pia began the conversation: "As all the council members now understand, you have turned 16 yes?"
"I turned 16 less than one month ago" proudly stated Aang. (This was also the time where Aang was given his airbender tattoos)
Soon after he pronounced that he had turned 16, a silence ensued. "Aang, could you tell me what these are in front of you?" Laid out in front of him were some very old looking toys that Aang immediately found familiar.
"These were my favorite toys when I was little" he said as he quickly picked up his favorite spinning top and examined it as if he was reliving a moment in his childhood.
He soon snapped out of the daze when Tetzu began to speak for the first time during the meeting. "These are all relics from the past Avatar and you chose them from among thousands of toys."
"I chose them because they looked fun" said Aang, still completely unaware as to where the council members were going with this.
"No" said Tetzu. "You chose them because they were familiar to you."
"I don't understand." said a now very confused Aang.
"What Tetzu is trying to say Aang, is that you are the Avatar" calmly stated Pia.
At first Aang was completely blown back, but soon he began to laugh. "You guys are hilarious, me, the Avatar?"
"I know it is hard to accept, but there is a war coming. We fear that it will come to our doorstep, we need you Aang to lead our army, to guide our people."
"No. you guys must have been mistaken, I am not the Avatar, I can't lead an army" said a now almost hysterical Aang. Soon after they had calmed the newly realized Avatar down, they began to discuss his future. They soon decided that Aang would begin his military and leadership training here at his home, the Western Air Temple. After he understood his new position as the general of the Air Kingdom army, he would begin to master the elements so that he might become the Avatar he was expected to be.
As Aang left the meeting, he thought that things couldn't get any worse for him. But sadly, just a few hundred miles away from the temple, Fire Lord Sozin was already beginning to plan his invasion and destruction of the Air nomads completely.