I have grown tired of seeing the same stories, with different settings. So this is my personal, twisted, and dark take on this Fandom. I hope this adds a little bit of spice to some of your plates.
I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender
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"Look at what has become of you. You - who was once praised as a guardian of peace and justice, now rendered to nothing but and old and deceitful memory of hope until now - now the mere mention of your name will fade through one's brain like a passing thought."
"You are wrong. My time among the living realm has brought me more clarity than you had ever obtained. I may be but a spiritual form of who I was, but even I have achieved a power that would take others thousands of years to fulfill."
A faint chuckle escaped his lips. "I'm sure you've already suspected, but I have come here to kill you." The two Avatars, predecessor and successor paced themselves around the fire place as their eyes remained locked onto one another. "But perhaps leaving you here, allowing yourself to smolder yourself in your squalor is a much more suitable demise for a foolish old man."
"You define yourself by your power, along with the ability to conquer, and to posses! You are mistaken if you think I will perish by your hands, for it is you have truly lost your path in this world that you were destined to protect."
"Oh?" His eyebrows twitched in annoyance and aggravation. "Then tell me, what do YOU have?!" With venom leaking from his voice, he blew a swift breeze of air with his hand silencing the once burning flame for eternity. "You are mistaken my old friend, you are nothing. Nothing but a rat in this desert you have created." Regaining his composure the two resumed circling each other. "Tell me Roku, why have you come to a place like this? Oh - it can't be simply to hide." He stopped once again, curiously watching the previous Avatar. "No, you have some sort of purpose here, don't you?" He raised his left hand staring into the back of his palms that presented the blue arrow he received when living with the Air Nomads. "Perhaps you are - protecting something?" And then he felt it, an energy source that felt vaguely familiar to his own, yet the basic philosophy made this seem unlikely. "No, protecting someone."
Roku glared at the young Avatar that stood before him and got into a fighting stance.
"Hit a nerve, did I?" He smirked sadistically
To think that even after death, Roku would once again be fighting not only to preserve his very spiritual essence, but to protect the only living being that would actually stand a chance against the man who was once chosen to bring balance to this world; against Avatar Aang.
Chapter 1: The Beginnings of and End
(Takes place in the Fire Nation instead of Ba Sing Se)
The young Avatar stared calmly into the night sky as he recalled the struggles he's endured. It was almost like a dream, because for the first time in over a century, the world could finally sleep in peace. No threat was in the way of such harmony any longer, and with that everyone could finally look forward to the next sunrise that would soon be approaching.
A presence enlightened his senses causing his heart to beat rapidly in joyful anticipation. Oh he knew who it was, for he could always recognized her anywhere. She slowly approached from behind and leaned on the railing just inches beside him. No words were spoken between the two. Nothing but the whistling of the wind that bound their souls to one another. She stood next to him - and he next to her. Just as how it was meant to be. The two turned to each other under the shining blue moonlight, staring into each others eye's as they longed for the love and affection they both dearly held. Leaning into each other, the two hesitated and fell into a hug, but this didn't stop them from enjoying the warmth of their bodies pressed against their skins.
Through that embrace, Katara reflected through this short but meaningful journey they both shared in order to bring balance to the world. This war had forced them to grow and mature faster than what they had ever wished for. Now... here they stand, still children - yet, simultaneously fully grown adults, they could only revel in the mutual attraction they held for one another. They pulled away, now staring into each others eyes a second time. The love seeping through them was fragrant; And as the world became slower and slower around them, so has their faces as they leaned in to give each other a gentle, yet passion filled kiss.
"This was it." Aang could only think.
Everything he was fighting for, all the pain and suffering he's endured up to now, it all lead up to this moment. It was all for her. Nothing could make him feel any happier in this world than what they were doing now. Nothing. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he brought her closer as their kiss slowly became more heated. They pulled away after a few seconds, slightly out of breath and a little nauseous at having this pent up affection release in one sudden kiss; But it still wasn't enough - it was never enough. His hands slid from her upper back until it rested upon her rear. Katara tensed, yet giggled on his forward and honest attempt. Despite finding humor in this, she encouraged the act. For she as well was suddenly overwhelmed by a mood to experience something new - and erotic. So without another moments notice, she allowed Aang to lead her somewhere more secluded where they would be able to explore each other more thoroughly without interruption.
The suns morning glow rose brightly over the Fire Nation as the world was once more blessed with its warmth - And in a particular room, the sun glowed onto the face of the young Avatar which annoyingly awoke him from his slumber. The young man sat up from his bed, and suddenly he felt the uncomfortable sensation of something missing. Something... empty. Katara wasn't there.
"Hm, that's strange?" He thought.
Getting out of his bed, he dressed himself in his traditional robes as an Airbender, all while searching for the woman he loved. He stepped out of his chambers and was immediately greeted by Appa, his flying companion and friend for eternity. Appa let out a low growl and licked his face.
"Hehe, good morning to you too Appa." He laughed before patting his head. Momo made himself known as it peaked its head out over Appa's large head. "You too Momo." Aang added as soon as he saw his smaller furry friend. "Hey, have you two seen Katara by any chance? She wasn't with me last night after we... well I think you know." He let out a sheepish smile while rubbing his head a little embarrassed.
Appa gave another low growl and shook his head.
"No idea too huh buddy?" He sighed.
Momo jumped onto his arm and began crawling up to his shoulder. After sitting on top it, he began to lick his own arm to clean himself.
"Well that's okay, I'm sure she'll turn up." He scratched Momo's ear, to which the lemur nuzzled into.
"Mmm, morning already?" Toph rubbed her eyes.
She made herself known to those who were awake, her hair was slightly messy while still in her morning attire. She looked like a mess, yet her appearance still made her seem rather cute.
"Hey, Toph." Aang greeted with a smile.
"Oh, twinkle toes." She returned. "Good to see I'm not the only one that's up this early in the morning."
"Likewise, So how did you sleep?"
"Like I slept on a rock?" She groaned before stretching her back, feeling and hearing a few pops as she did so. "Ah, that's better." A satisfying moan escaped her lightly dry lips
"That's quite funny to hear, coming from you." He crossed his arms with a smirk.
"Oh hardy har-har. Just cause I'm an Earth Bender doesn't mean i'm suppose to naturally be comfortable in any terrain the Earth provides." She rolled her eyes. "Get a grip."
Aang chuckled and decided to let it go before he did or said something that'll cause her to inflict damage onto his body. "Anyways, I'm pretty sure you're clueless as well - seeing as how you just woke up, but I was wondering if you perhaps knew where Katara went. She sort of disappeared on me last night."
"Katara?" She raised an eyebrow. "Umm..." She went into deep thought trying to recall recent memories.
"I... do remember something." She scratched her head. "Last night, when I got up to go grab some water, I remember feeling her step out of your chambers. She seemed cautious and in a hurry. After that, I felt her meet up with Z... wait a second." She faced towards Aang. "Why was she in your room last night twinkle toes?" She accused. "Just what were you two doing monkeying around in there."
"Hehe." Aang nervously laughed before gently scooted his way out of there. After a quick yet silent get away, he left Toph alone with Appa who hummed.
"Yeah, your caretakers is weird Appa." Toph agreed.
Yet despite her assumption, she couldn't help but feel a painful dread of overwhelming jealousy. Being overlooked by the young Air Bender over Katara, it saddened her when she overheard the masked yet obvious confession for one another. She overheard what they said last night; and what they were doing last night. She tried to block out the noise, but her hurting heart wouldn't allow her. She just wished things could've ended up different than how it was now; Wishing that maybe - maybe Aang would one day open his eyes and see her as someone more than what he currently saw in Katara. But nonetheless, that hope continued to remain unfulfilled
The Fire Nation was as lively as ever. While the recent excitement of Prince Zuko being deemed as the new Fire Lord of the Nation has yet to dwindle from their spirit, one particular Avatar seemed to be searching in the most unlikely places for his water princess.
"Where could she be?" He thought.
Momo was alongside Aang as he evaded Toph. The lemur flew next to him, accompanying him on his small quest.
"You see anything Momo?" Aang asked. He was met with silence. "Thought so." He sighed.
The Fire Lords palace was ahead, and with nowhere else to look he decided to pay the new Fire Lord a visit and see how he was doing. Landing in front of the doors of the palace, the guards greeted him with kindness as they allowed him in. Aang thanked them with a smile and a small bow before making his way inside.
"Zuko?" He called for, curious as to where one of his most recent friends has disappeared to.
A large doorway was open causing it to illuminate the suns warmth into the palace; And for some odd reason it filled him with enough curiosity to investigate. As he approached the opened door, he peaked with one eye as he studied its layout. As he observed, his eyes fell onto what looked like Katara - no, it is Katara. She gazed out from the palace balcony, her chin resting against her palm as a dreamy look was plastered on her face. Aang's smile grew at this sight. How remarkably beautiful she looked. Opening his lips, he attempted to call the name of the woman he loved.
"Ka-"
His throat ceased instantly as he saw Zuko approached Katara from behind. He watched curiously for a second, and then became slightly worried once the Fire Lord embraced her from behind in a loving manner that made him feel emotionally betrayed. He chose to disregard that feeling, as this may have been a friendly gesture they've grown accustomed to during his absence for a short period of time - But the next thing he saw tore him apart inside.
Slightly parting from his embrace, Zuko and Katara turned to face one anohter before entwining their hands lovingly. The way they stared into their eyes, it held a deep resemblance as to how Katara looked at him the night prior. Still refusing to believe of any possible romantic feeling between the two, his hope was soon squashed as he witnessed the two leaned in to deliver a passionate kiss. The look within Katara's eyes, it held the same amount of love she gave him, but their was something else within them. Something more deep and personal, and that was pain. A familiar sense of pain and loss that the two were able to relate and bond together with. It hurt to no end seeing the girl he loved kiss Zuko with same, if not then more love then she had given him. The two's arms secured around their figures in a way Katara never held onto him - and only then he came to understand that he had truly lost her. The amount of happiness that he and Katara displayed to one another last night - was just an illusion. So then why, why did she kiss him? If it wasn't to return the emotions she absolutely knew he had - then what for?
Momo softly purred while leaning against his neck. The Lemur was able to sense the despair within him, and it saddened him greatly.
Aang found his fist shake beside him as he was filled rage and betrayal towards the woman he gave his heart to. His eye's flickered into a glow for a few seconds, his control over the Avatar State suddenly became rabid within him. His right foot slightly shifted forward as to confront these two for their betraying act, but with some sort of miracle - he held his tongue. He should've seen this coming. After all - polar opposites attract, do they not? Katara found something in Zuko that she didn't see in him. That is why he failed. Even with all of the power the universe had to offer, he couldn't win her - he couldn't love her - he couldn't even understand her. That was what Zuko was able to accomplish. They had a similar pain and understanding that he could never fully grasped ahold of - The permanent lost of a mother.
How he was a fool to think that he, the Avatar; Guardian of the World, the Bridge between the living and spirit realms - could love? He now undersantds why the Guru Pathik told him to let go of all that ties him to this world during his training to tap into the Avatar State willingly; And that was because such emotions would only come back to haunt him.
"I'm such a fool." He whispered, tears threatening to spill from his eyes that reverted back to its normal color. Using his glider to soar through the sky, it took him all of his will to not look back at the woman who held his heart.
Katara felt an urge to look up in the sky. Her eyes rested upon what she thought was Aang flying on his glider. There was an overwhelming desire to chase him and to grab a hold of him and to not let go. Her hand outstretched slightly as if she trying to capture him within her palm. As she did this, she was unaware of Zuko repeatedly calling her name.
"Katara!"
"What? Who?" She blinked and looked at Zuko. "Wha-"
"You blacked out for a second there." He smiled lovingly. "As I was saying earlier, what you would like for breakfast?"
She blinked confusingly at his question. Neither her thoughts or stomach was close to the thought of craving food. Instead, she looked out in the distance trying to see if she could spot the flying person that she thought was Aang. "I'm... I'm not hungry." She finally answered.
"Are you sure?"
She waited a few seconds, still scanning the skies. After deeming it as a hallucination, she closed her eyes and nodded lightly. "Yeah..." She confirmed.
"I'm sure."
Aang landed back in front of the courtyard that lead to his chambers and quickly paced himself inside. Tears flowed down his cheeks as he did his best to hold what was left of his dying heart together. To think that after all he's went through. The fights that nearly took his life, and the one that actually did; that even after all of that he'd be emotionally defeated by this girl who won his heart.
"It's not like I did it all for her." He angrily thought as he started packing his belongings. "Everything I ever did, even if I did screw things up at times, they were always for her. So why?" His thoughts were filled with the images of her beautiful face that he cherished more than anything in the world to when they kissed just the night prior. "Why?!" His thoughts screamed louder. The once cherished memories of the Water Bender now being replaced by the image of Katara and Zuko embracing one another as their lips collided. "Why?!" Grabbing the first the he reached, he threw the object to the other side of the room smashing the window. His anger still rabid, he grabbed his staff and was about to throw it as well, but stopped soon after and looked at it.
Every major decision he's ever had to make, he was known as the Avatar. Bounded to a sole duty to protect and serve the living from chaos and despair. Twirling the staff around his fingers he caught it with two hands and snapped it between his legs before discarding it's severed remains on the floor. He was conflicted, confused, but most of all - he felt betrayed. A void had formed inside his soul, and he found himself longing for something to fill this emptiness that had consumed part of him. But how?
He just wanted to be happy, that's all he's ever wanted. True - undeniable - happiness. Grabbing what was his, he stepped outside once more and began to leave; thankful that no one was around to stop him. A low and saddened groan was heard.
Except him.
"Appa..." Aang sighed as he turned around to face the one creature he could ever truly call a friend. "You can't come with me. They need you hear, more than I do."
Appa continued to persist as he made his way up to Aang and nudged him a few times. The Sky Bison called for his friend, trying to direct him to climb on his back so they could soar across the sky and leave together. Appa knew when Aang wanted to go, and he was loyal to him to the end. Wherever this world took him, he would always follow. To his dying breath if he had to.
"Appa..." Aang sighed. "Look buddy, I..."
Appa stomped on the ground and roared in his face causing the young nomad to tense up. He showed that there was no room for debate, he would be coming whether he liked it or not.
"Ugh, fine." He sighed before climbing on his back. "Yip, yip!" He said, and then he was off.
The two animals and one human sailed through the sky, completely unknown to the rest of the gang of their departure. That day he flew away from it all, away from every thing he's ever come to know. It was the Avatars duty to maintain balance in this world, and there was no way he'd be able to do so with the conflict he held inside him. He wanted to be happy for Katara and Zuko, he really did. They deserved each other, more than what he could possibly admit - But he couldn't get this one twisted feeling out of him, no matter how hard he tried...
Revenge.
The Avatar flew away from the Fire Nation that morning in pieces. And unbeknownst to all in the world - The darkest days that the world had yet to witness has just been set into motion.
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End of Chapter 1
Let me know what you guys think, I'm planning to put so much effort into this story and I hope this topic would somewhat spark a new category in this ATLA fandom rather than the typical Zutara/Kataang/Taang/ or whatever kind of overly used topic out there. Questions, comments, concerns/bitches, moans, and complaints are all welcome. Thank you guys for taking the time to read this, and I'll see you all in the next chapter.
Ciao!
TheLivingMyth
