So my friend convinced me to write more of these types of snippets. This won't be a continuation of the previous one-shot (hence the change in story title and summary); instead, I'm going to be writing lots of one-shots about various Avatars that might have existed in the huge gap of time we know nothing about.
As you may have noticed in the first part, the Nations will not be as we know them from Aang or Korra's time. The Air Nation are not peaceful, spiritual pacifists who live in temples. Similarly, the other nations will be different. I don't have a completely solid idea of what Fire and Water will be like, but you'll get a look at how Earth is in this chapter. There are definitely similarities to the Earth Kingdom we know, but hopefully the differences are noticeable.
Here we go!
Disclaimer: I obviously do not own the rights to Avatar the Last Airbender or Legend of Korra.
Within the Earth Domains, there existed a small town, often overlooked due to existing on the outskirts of any lord's territory. What many did not notice is that despite seeming unimportant and having no lord's protection, it never suffered from bandit attacks nor any other disturbance.
Of all the buildings within the town, one otherwise ordinary building was the cause of this unnatural 'immunity' the town seemed to possess.
It was a meeting place. Specifically, the meeting place of the Lords' Ambassadors, where the politics of the Earth Domains played out every month.
"My Lord cares not what you may think your grain is worth. Either you will accept our offered price, or we shall find a different place to obtain our supplies."
Among a room of well-dressed people, one man glared at another, face red with anger. "If your Lord believes that our grain is so highly priced, then we weep for your people, as they will surely go hungry this year!"
A woman interrupted them both. "Gentlemen, please. Is it not possible for your two domains to compromise upon a price? We would not wish ill will upon any domain, regardless of what side of a trade they are on." Murmurs of agreement flooded the room at this statement.
Such arguments were common among the discussions that occurred throughout the day. For this was a meeting of the Lords' Ambassadors, the most trusted retainers of the various Lords who ruled over the Earth Domains. Each month, they would travel to the nondescript building in the overlooked town in order to make deals and trade information.
However, the same normal appearance that allowed the building and town to go unnoticed could be used by others.
Upon their arrival, the Ambassadors and their escorts had not bothered to pay attention to any of the town's residents. They were all well provided for, a bought silence in order to ensure the privacy of the meeting, and the bodyguards expected trouble on the road, not at the destination.
Unfortunately for the Ambassadors, their lack of attention meant that not a single person took note of a hooded stranger watching each new arrival. It also meant that when the unknown figure took up a watch from the house across the street from the meeting building, the bodyguards only took note that a person had entered a house. Not a suspicious activity in and of itself, and the stranger took care not to be observed watching the building.
As the afternoon sun slowly sank towards the horizon, all of the people involved learned to regret their failure.
The first indication the Ambassadors had that something was amiss was an aborted shout from outside.
"What in the world…?" The man closest to the door frowned.
"Is there something amiss?" Another Ambassador asked.
He frowned. "I am not sure… I thought I heard something, but it is gone now."
His fellow waved off his worry. "Oh, it's surely nothing. After all, our guards are outside-"
The doors shattered, disintegrating into a fine powder.
As the Ambassadors choked on the dust suddenly filling the room, a lone figure entered the room. When they regained their breath, the various men and women in the room stared in shock at the person who would dare to intrude so violently.
One decided to confront the stranger. "W-Who do you think you are? This is a private meeting!"
The figure turned their hooded head towards the speaker. Hands reached up and unclasped the cloak, allowing it and the hood to slide off of their body to the ground.
Among the gasps and various exclamations of surprise, the revealed woman responded.
"I am Ila, your Avatar. And I think that I am the one who will cease these useless arguments."
If the removal of her cloak had caused whispers, Ila's announcement of her intentions caused yells of disbelief, furious arguments, and a general cacophony of voices that made any one person impossible to listen to.
Her face a blank mask, Ila raised a single arm in front of her, hand angled towards the floor. With an almost negligent motion, she flicked it upward.
With a chorus of rasping roars, stone freed itself from the floor and slammed into the Ambassadors, pinning each and every one of diplomats to the ceiling.
"Silence." Her command was unnecessary, as the feat of earthbending had silenced the majority of the room, and driven the breath from the rest.
Ila raised her head to look at them, her waist-length braid of ebony hair shifting as she did. With icy words, she began to speak to them.
"For too long have the Earth Domains squabbled, every Lord fighting for recognition and power. For too long have all of the Lords stood separate, weakening each other as they attempt to raise themselves up. I will no longer tolerate this petty existence. The Earth Domains have been weak, allowing the rest of the world to thrive and challenge us for dominance. Earth is a foundation, rooted in stone and unyielding. But the foolish Lords have weakened us, eroding at the base of our power until we teeter on a point, needing only a small push from another to topple over and shatter."
As she spoke, each opening to the outside world slowly closed, stone blocking off the light of the sun. By the end of her last sentence, there was no light in the room. The Ambassadors trembled from their entrapment, filled with fear.
And suddenly, a single light was created. Ila held a ball of flame in front of her, illuminating her face. But the flickering light cast shadows upon her face, causing her otherwise placid and beautiful face to become a terrifying mask of twisted determination and ambition.
"I am Ila, the Avatar of Earth. And under my rule, the Earth Domains shall be no more. We will become more than we are, and once again show the world why Earth is strong.
"I am Ila, and I am the new queen of the Earth Kingdom. And together, we shall become the rulers of all who live upon this world."
And so goes the creation of the Earth Kingdom.
Obviously this isn't canon, but I liked the idea of an Avatar being downright evil. Does the Avatar have the advice of past Avatars to go off of? Yes. Is the Avatar supposed to be the bridge between worlds? Yes.
But Aang and Korra have both shown us that you don't have to follow the advice the previous Avatars give you, you don't HAVE to do what others expect you to, and you can be your own person.
Ila just happens to want to conquer the world, and see the people of Earth be the dominant people of the world.
Terrifying, how an Avatar could so easily become the ruler of a nation? Technically Ila isn't the queen YET – she would still have to go do her intimidation routine with each of the Lords. But having the Ambassadors under her thumb is a pretty good start, and all she needs to do know is go around to each domain and basically use her power to say, "I rule you now."
Anyway, review if you like the story!