Authors note: First of all I would like to offer my thanks to all those that read this story whether they have reviewed or not. Now onto the disclaimer….
Disclaimer: I do not own ATLA if I did my OC would be a real character and I would be Rich. I do however own my OC Quan. If you wish to use him in a story of your own contact me first.
As his feet hit the ground Quan began to run. It didn't matter where he ended up he just needed to escape from this place. He needed to find a place he could be alone to think things over. He kept running until he tripped on a tree root. He hit the ground hard and the pain caught up to him. All of his wounds became unbearably painful, his mind could not handle it and he fell into dark void of unconsciousness.
"Hahaha, too slow Quan." The little girl giggled. As she ran from the elder boy. " Mai Lee slow down." The elder boy shouted. The five year old ran across a white line and turned to laugh at the boy trailing behind. " Beat you again Quan." The girl giggled again. "You sure did. You've gotten a lot faster since the last time we raced." He said with pride. He always held back and let her win, it just made her so happy.
Everything faded away and reformed into a different memory. Quan and a collection of monks were watching several children, Mai Lee included, demonstrating their air bending prowess. They had mastered the first three air bending disciplines and they were showing off everything they had learned. Quan was filled with pride at that moment. Mai Lee would be a great air bender when she was older, maybe even greater than him. The demonstrations ended and the children were dismissed. Mei Lee ran straight to Quan, giggling all the way. " Quan, did you see me? Was I good?" A finger to her lips silenced the child and Quan smiled down at the girl before him. "I saw you alright and no you weren't good…" The girl looked hurt but her face lit up after the elder boy said, " you were amazing. I'm so proud of you my little air bender." The girl hugged the older boy, " You're the best big brother ever!"
Everything faded again but what reformed was not a happy memory, it was a nightmare. Fire was everywhere, ash fell from the sky like rain and the only thing he could hear was screaming. He found her small body splayed out on the floor and his heart shattered into tiny shards. His legs failed him and he fell to his knees and he wept for he had failed her, he had broken his promise. "I'll always be there when you need me." He had sworn this to her and he had failed.
It was raining when he awoke and he could faintly hear someone shouting his name.
He opened his eyes and was met by a startling sight an impossibility. Before him stood avatar Roku. "Young air bender." His voice was filled with guilt. " You have suffered much at the hands of this war and yet your heart remains so pure. This war is my fault. I should have seen it coming and prevented it. Now Aang has inherited the consequences of my mistakes, he must restore balance to the world but he can not do it alone. I ask you to stand by his side and help him save the world." Roku waited patiently for the answer to his request. Quan rose painfully to his feet, "I failed my people, my sister. I will not fail again. I swear on my honour that I shall stand by Aang's side and help him fulfil his destiny." He then bowed in respect before turning around and heading back the way he had come. Behind him Roku smiled grimly.
He arrived back at the village and was met by destruction. The building were on fire and female warriors were battling against men clad in red battle armour. Aang was pinned to the ground by a fire bender with a large burn scar covering most of one side of his face. " Hey ponytail guy!" Zuko turned his head, searching for the person that dared to mock his fearsome ponytail. His eyes fell upon a boy clad in burnt orange robes. He was covered in bandages to, but the most eye catching thing about this boy was the blue and orange arrow tattoo. Zuko's eyes widened in shock, "It can't be. All of the air nomads were destroyed." "You missed one!" As the words left his mouth Quan shot two simultaneous air blasts from closed fists. They struck Zuko and sent him flying into a group of his own fire benders. Quan offered Aang his hand which he eagerly accepted. Aang looked into his friends eyes and saw a mischievous glint. Quan was back.
I'm going to cut the chapter off there. If you want to know what happens next you'll have to leave a review J . Remember a single review ensures that this story lives on…for another chapter at least.
