Book 1
The True Avatar
Prologue Easy to Manipulate
Unalaq was feeling very pleased with himself. He had scored a major victory for his group The Red Lotus by becoming the leader of the Southern and Northern Water Tribes. The position was supposed to have gone to his older brother Tonraq but thanks to him, that was never going to happen. Besides his brother was always weak anyway. Though Tonraq had the skills and intellect to be a great leader, he didn't have the drive and killer instinct Unalaq had to get the job done. At least, that's what Unalaq kept telling himself to justify his actions.
But there was another more pressing problem facing Unalaq. Avatar Aang had just died. And The Red Lotus wanted to prove how unnecessary the Avatar was by having a fake Avatar selected. And their idea was to have Unalaq have one of his kids pose as the new Avatar. The reasoning behind that was the new Avatar was going to be a water bender. And if the were Unalaq's their group, The Red Lotus could control how this new era of Industrial Revolution turned out, behind-the-scenes.
Unfortunately a wrench was thrown into their plan. One year before Avatar Aang's death Unalaq's wife Malina, gave birth to their fraternal twins Eska and Desna. And because of complications during the birth, Malina would not be able to produce another child. So Unalaq would have to come up with an excellent backup plan, because if you failed The Red Lotus, the consequences were quite dire.
To make matters even worse, his brother Tonaq had married a Southern Water Tribe girl named Senna. And Tonaq was living the modest life that truthfully he had always wanted. He had never wanted to be in chrage.
The thing that worried Unalaq the most was that the same year Avatar Aang passed away, actually on the same day Tonaq's wife Senna gave birth to a beautiful baby girl they named 'Korra'. And in his letter to Unalaq, Tonaq said that the Mid-wife couldn't help remarking that their baby borne a striking resemblance to the great water-bending Master Katara.
But Tonaq also wrote saying that both he and Senna didn't think much about what the Mid-wife had said. After all, a lot of water tribe people looked liked one another.Still instead of bringing joy at the news of becoming an Uncle, Unalaq was becoming even more terrified. This was because most people held the belief that no matter what the gender, the next avatar would bear a strong resemblance to the one who the Avatar loved most in their previous life. Of course, if his niece proved to be a non bender in the future than no matter who she resembled, it would be a moot point.
It was just a little after this that Unalaq recieved two important messages that would change his life. One was from the leader of The Red Lotus. It was short and to the point. And it read like this:
"If you don't figure out a way to produce a fake Avatar we can control, I'm afraid we'll have to terminate your relationship with The Red Lotus and put someone else in charge of the Southern and Northern Water Tribes who can. And it won't be anyone from your family!"
This made Unalaq's blood boil! After everything he had done to ensure that The Red Lotus would have political connections thanks to his control over the Southern and Northern Water Tribes! But the thing that The Red Lotus wanted the most was control of the Avatar. And if not that, then at least someone they could pass off as the Avatar.
Unalaq thought about trying to get custody of his niece. His brother and sister-in-law did not live in the best conditions. Though Tonraq tried his best, it was hard getting by a lot of the time. But if his niece proved to be a non bender, weak water bender, or just wasn't accepted as the Avatar for being a girl, then he would be stuck with another brat he didn't want to have anything to do with.
Then he remembered the other note he had received. from someone from the Fire Nation now living in the Southern Water Tribe. It read like this:
"I know of your past deeds. I also know about the present problem you are dealing with. And I believe that I have the best solution for it. I'm waiting in your parlor.-Weida de"
Unalaq was feeling uneasy about having dealings with someone from the Fire Nation. Even though the infamous 100 year had been over for some time, a lot of what the Fire Nation did to the Southern and Nothern Water Tribes was still engrained into their children hearts. Basically the jest of the main lesson was 'Don't trust a person of the Fire Nation, unless you want to get burned.' And Unalaq had always believed in that saying, but with The Red Lotus breathing down his neck he decided to take a chance.
Once inside the parlor Unalaq greeted Weida de cordially enough. But he also asked him to hurry up and get to the point of his visit as he had many problems that needed his attention being the Water Tribes chieftain.
"Like finding a water tribe kid you can eventually pass off as the new Avatar?" Weida de asked in a whisper although they were quite alone. Unalaq's wife Malina was nursing their children and the servants Unalaq employed were busy during their chores. Too afraid of their employer having experienced his quick temper in the past. They learned never to interrupt any business he had after that.
"So what if I am?" Unalaq shot back. "What could you do that would help me?"
"Three things. 1) Find you that child you need 2)help convince The White Lotus he's truly the Avatar 3)take care of the problem of your brother's family in the Southern Water Tribe."
Unalaq's interest was peaked.Especially since as long as his brother lived there could be a challenge to his position as chieftain of the tribes. He asked Weida de what he had in mind. And what he expected to get out of their deal.
"I already have a kid picked out. Water Tribe orphan whose parents died in a boating accident. He was born the same day Aang died, just like your niece. Say that you want to adopt the kid because you feel bad about the way his parents died, not only will you be getting your own avatar, but you will make yourself look better in the public's eyes. As for the Avatar test I know almost everything that there is to know regarding the Avatar. I'll teach him what he needs to know. One last thing; when the kid is pronounced the Avatar the whole world should know it. That way anyone else trying to claim to be the Avatar, even if they are, won't be believed. Because the public will already have it's avatar. all i for in return is on place on your Council and half of any gifts the kid may receive."
As Unalaq was opening his mouth to protest this, Weida de added, "By the way, the kid's name is 'Qianxun de.' I am positive that the public's going to love that. And as for your brother's family, don't worry I have associates who can handle that without anything being traced back to you. And you'll continue being chieftain as well as being known as the father of the Avatar.
Unalaq still didn't trust Weida de, but he agreed. Because then at least, The Red Lotus wouldn't be on his case. His wife was actually happy that they adopted Qianxun de. It also helped take sting slightly off when she heard her brother-in-law and his family were killed by raiders. There was also a member on her husband's Council, but for all that, she couldn't understand what gave her that uneasy.
A/n Don't worry Korra's not dead I'll explain what in the next chapter. But it won't be graphic. I've been reading the Kyoshi novels and it made me what have happened if the wrong avatar was chosen in Korra's time. please read and review constructive criticism is appreciated. stay safe everyone. By the way Weida de is Chinese for great and Qianxun de is humble.