AN: Replies to guest reviews:

Atom king - Thanks for the review. As for your questions, all I can say is I would like to keep away from any pairings as much as I can (I've already seen enough nonsense in the Avatar fandom because of them).

Aztec 13 - I'm glad you're liking the story and the differences it takes from the actual Avatar cartoon. While I have made notes, I can't say anything concrete yet to confirm any of your questions. Like I've said, it really depends on whether or not these chapters are well-received (and a bunch of other things too, like time).

With that, here is chapter 3 of Bending the Legend, the last of these "pilot chapters." Enjoy!

For a long time, Kopaka had known nothing but sleep. His dreams were dark ones, filled with shrouded beings and lands under skies of blue, green, and yellow. After so long, those dreams were over, and the scattered elements of his being were rejoined. At last, he was awake. At last, he was whole…

… and very confused.

First, it had been the pale landscape, so different from what he saw in his dreams. Just as different were the inhabitants, who were simple and peaceful. They held no answers to who or what Kopaka was. After that, there had been the dark boat and beam of light. Originally intending to check on the light alone, Kopaka instead learned the two from before had followed him. Now, he found himself riding on his shield again on a mission to rescue the male, 'Sohka.'

Another burst of ice, channeled through the white sword, propelled the two forward. "Gah!" yelped the female, 'Kataara,' while holding onto Kopaka.

Ignoring the strange warmth against his side, Kopaka focused forward. His mask let him see pathways not seen before-patterns of heat-even through the rock-or ice, to be precise. With it, his vision zoomed on the hulking mass in the water. He had barely spotted it before, and now it seemed to clear, with dark trails leading the way. Something like that would help with the rescue… if it would cooperate.

Kopaka slowed to a stop on the edge of a nearby glacier and was glad of 'Kataara' letting go to step on the ice. Her mask, if it could be called that, morphed into a clear expression of surprise upon seeing the beast. "What?" she uttered, one word Kopaka understood.

The beast's massive horned head sent water around, and it growled. If it spoke any words, Kopaka didn't understand as he stepped on the ice. He caught on the meaning, though. This creature warned him and 'Kataara' to stay back. It wouldn't would, though-

Again, the beast growled, showing off its massive teeth. Kopaka stepped in front of 'Kataara' with his sword and shield held in a defensive posture. She remained there briefly before she stepped forward with a curious glance. "I think… it's injured," came from 'Kataara.'

Kopaka would have questioned her if he hadn't seen it. Burnt marks on the white fur, black as the smoke rising from them. Now, Kopaka realized the creature could not hurt them. It had been hurt by fire.

Fire. Was it done by some weapon? Or could someone else wield the element like how he wielded ice? That was a concerning thought.

The concern 'Kataara' had was different. She stepped forward, her squishy hands held in front as more strange words left her mouth soothingly. "It's okay, It's okay…"

The growl lowered slightly when 'Kataaara' approached. "Hold on,' she paused before touching the beast then waved her hands back and forth at the water, her expression strained with concentration. "I think… I can make this work…"

The beast's moan was drowned by the the cold wave falling on it. Both of Kopaka's eyes blinked behind his mask, and 'Kataara' shot a sheepish look along with, "Oh, sorry!"

Kopaka relaxed his posture. The creature wouldn't attack, he now knew as its burnt marks were doused. 'Kataara' rested a gentle hand on giant snout, a bit unsure and immensely understanding. "You were hurt by those Fire Nation soldiers, weren't you?" she said, and the beast moaned in response, as if it understood the words.

Kopaka didn't, but he stepped in the conversation. "Fire Nation. That," left his mask as he pointed his sword at the black smoke in the distance.

The beast growled in the direction of the smoke. It knew what Kopaka meant. It understood 'Kataara' better as she continued, "My brother is captured. Can you help us?"

The glacier shifted, and the grateful beast turned, exposing its wide saddle to the two. "Well, come on!" 'Kataara' said, hopping onto the beast's head.

Kopaka, following behind, he leaped onto the saddle. As the beast swim, he almost smiled. As much as it was his plan, Kopaka was ready to protect himself to convince this creature. Instead of his might, it took kindness from 'Kataara' to have it join them in their rescue. 'It may work after all.'

The thought warmed a part of Kopaka's cold exterior as he and 'Kataara' departed on the back of the hairy beast.

Aang's teeth chattered as he tried to keep himself warm. It felt like hours went by, and he was wishing that strange Firebender would come back, especially with the prison's climate. Even though it was a Fire Nation ship, the wall, his bindings, and even the air were unforgivingly cold. "H-hey! Anyone there!" he called out to the door. "It's f-f-freezing!"

"I don't think they're going to listen…"

Aang shot a glance to Sokka, who had been quiet for the past couple of minutes. Shivering yet again, Aang replied, "I had to try."

Sokka shrugged from his own corner. "Not a bad attempt. Useless, but not bad."

It had been a little subdued compared to the first impression Aang had been given. He could barely see anything in his cell's lighting, let alone the face of a some Firebender in a hood. As Aang was deep in his thoughts, the other boy's voice cut through them.

"I've been wondering…" Aang turned to Sokka, who now eyed him curiously, "... how did you even do that? With the wind?"

"You've never heard of Airbending?" Seeing Sokka's blank stare, Aang lowered his raised eyebrows. "Uh, I'll take that as no. Well, it's basically how I control air currents."

"So, you're the only one who can do it?"

"Well, there's a whole bunch of Air Nomads." Aang's eyebrows perked up. "Oh, and there's Appa!"

"Appa?"

"My flying bison."

Sokka's face frowned. "Uh-huh… and where is this 'flying bison?'" he asked, making air quotes with his free hands.

"Well, not with me. He's around… I think." Aang shot a glance to the door the back to Sokka. "You were just outside, right? You should have seen him. Big? Furry? Has a pair of horns and an arrow on his head?"

Sokka rose an eyebrow. "I think I would remember something like that…"

"Don't worry. He'll be here soon. Once he gets here, it's just one call of 'yip-yip' and he'll be soaring! Trust me!" Aang flashed a grin to sell his story.

If Sokka believed it, he didn't show it as he turned to the door. "Let's hope so. We need to get out of here soon or we're stuck for good.."

While he didn't understand it all, Aang had to agree with that. "Well, if you get rid of these binding, I can do it," he offer, earning a disbelieving look from Sokka.

"Oh really? You can beat all the guards and get us out of here?" Glancing to the door, Sokka scooted over to Aang, his sarcasm cracking. "How?"

"Airbending. I can jump real high with it and I even fly us out of here if I had my glider."

As Aang made a mental note to ask where that was, Sokka threw up his hands in that over-the-top manner. "You know what, sure," he said to no one in particular. "I've seen enough weird stuff in one day I'd believe anything! Even in the Avatar! What's the big deal in adding a flying kid to the list?"

"Heh, heh… yeah…" Aang chuckled nervously, his eyes shifting in the dark as he really hoped Sokka couldn't see them.

The cell-no, the ship!-suddenly shook. Aang bumped his noggin against Sokka's. "Oof! Sorry!" the Airbender apologized and wished his hands were freed to rub his aching forehead. "What was that?"

"I think we've stopped," Sokka replied, massaging his own head. "What could have-"

A deep bellow answered him and shook the cell. Sokka's eyes stared all around him, except at Aang, as he asked, "What. Was. That?!"

Aang, recognizing the roar, smiled. "Appa!"

Zuko barged into his ship's bridge with a glare in his good eye. "Helmsman, what is going on?!" he demanded. "Why did the ship just shake?"

Unsure himself, the man in red turned away from the control wheel. "I don't know, Prince Zuko," he replied. "I think we must have hit an glacier."

The scowling Zuko went to the window, staring only at the bright blue and white outside from the inside of his black and red bridge. "There's something out there…" he murmured to himself. "Where…?"

Then, Zuko heard a familiar bellow, and he went on alert.

"Sound the alarm! Everyone, ready for combat!" Zuko shouted and rushed onto the open platform just outside.

After the cold air brushed against his face, Zuko saw it the minute he reached the platform's railing. The white monster from before swam up the ship's port side, its horns ramming at the hull. Groaning metal drowned the prince's sounds of surprise while he regained his footing, but the shaken ship didn't obscure his sight from catching two figures. Friends of his latest prisoner, who leaped off the monster onto the ship's lower deck.

"Stop them!" Zuko shouted to the soldiers below.

As soon as he shouted his order, the white figure aimed his sword. A burst of white ice encased the three soldiers in seconds, to Zuko's surprise. A Waterbender?

Whatever this figure was, he pointed his sword at Zuko. Another white burst came and engulfed the prince's body before he could do anything. He didn't even have time to scream as the burst froze over his mouth, just barely touching the upper lip. Hands, feet, and the rest of his body barely twitched in an icy outgrowth that trapped him to the railing.

The growling prince stopped, his eyes catching the two intruders sneak below deck. Zuko's muffled voice roared against the ice gagging him. Anger boiled and wisped out of his nostrils. He focused on it, trying to keep a steady rhythm of inhalations and exhalations.

"Power in firebending comes from the breath. Not the muscles," his uncle once said. "The breath becomes energy in the body. The energy extends past your limbs and becomes fire."

And using soft and steady breaths, Zuko extended his heat throughout his body and onto the ice. He hoped to melt it in time before the two fools got near his prize.

"Hal-GYAH!" yelled a Fire Nation guard, who was cut off by a great surge of ice.

Katara followed Kopaka past the guard frozen to the wall. "Do you know where Sokka is?" she called.

Kopaka said nothing. He crouched and ran through the dim halls, his mask seeing his surroundings better-maybe even through them. His sword rose in front of his shield, freezing another unsuspecting guard who popped out of a passing door. By the time the ice covered him, a ringing bell drowned his scream.

Katara went on alert by the time she and Kopaka reached the door at the end of the hall. "Hurry!" the former exclaimed, her eyes darting around for anymore guards while the latter went to freezing at the door.

A loud WHAM whirled Katara to the swinging door, Kopaka's blocky footprint embedded into the now shattered lock. As the door opened inward, out stepped a Water Tribe teen who looked confused and surprised as Katara happily and tightly hugged him. "Sokka!" she cried out.

"Katara, a little too tight!" Sokka wheezed before he parted from his sister. "What are you doing here? How did you even find-"

"Long story. We have to get you out and…" Katara trailed off when she noticed the bald boy standing behind her brother. "... Um, hello."

"Hi," the boy returned with a cheerful smile, despite his hands were tied to his back.

Sokka cut in and answered Katara's unspoken question. "Katara, Aang. Aang, Katara…" He paused to note the white swordsman. "Oh and Kopaka."

Aang craned his head up. "Uh, hey?" he said, not sure what to make of Kopaka.

Equally confused, but of the boy, Katara turned to Sokka. "What was he doing-"

"Long story. You have a way out?" Sokka said.

At that, Kopaka ran back the way they came. "Come on!" Katara yelled and ran behind.

"Wait," Aang called, "I got to get-"

"Later!" Sokka grabbed Aang's shoulder, earning a "Waaaaait!" from the younger boy as he was dragged behind his rescuers.

The run quickly led the four out onto the ship's deck, where the cold air greeted them with a number of guards frozen in blocks of ice. Aang almost gasped. "What happened?"

Sokka turned to Katara. "You didn't do this, did you?"

Guilt flashed across her face. "Uh, no… he did," Katara pointed at Kopaka, now behind Aang and cutting his bonds loose.

A freed Aang's astonishment brightened when he looked past the icy warrior. "Appa!" he cried and left a cloud of dust while running at the familiar horned, furry, bison sailing by the ship.

Katara blinked curiously after him. "He's a bit…"

"Try be in the same room as him," Sokka dryly commented to her and a cold Kopaka. "Come on, let's get going before-"

A loud fwoosh of fire cut in front of Aang and through Sokka's speech. "Woah!" cried Aang when he backed the flames and stood near the rim of the ship.

Sokka whirled to where the flames came from. "Oh no," he whispered with dread.

Next to him, a curious Katara and Kopaka turned their heads to a cloaked figure exiting the ship's tower. With a burning sword in hand, the figure's slanted eyes burned a fiery yellow under his hood. "You're not going anywhere," he said surely and swung again.

Kopaka placed himself in front of Katara and Sokka, his shield raised against a bolt of fiery energy. When the attack collided, Kopaka grunted against it and skidded back into the two siblings. "Hey!" Katara yelled as she and Sokka unknowingly fell under a rogue wisp of flame.

Kopaka lowered his smoking shield and eyed his enemy. The figure in front stared back at Kopaka, as if finally noticing him, and said, "You… You're like…"

A strong gust of wind hit the figure. His back clanging against the ship's tower drowned his cry of "Ugh!" His hooded head angrily whirled to his left, where the boy stood on the ship's rim. "It's me you want, right? Well, here I am!" Aang called, waving his hands out wide.

Kopaka attacked the distracted enemy with a frozen beam from his sword. The figure rolled away from the burst now freezing the door, and he came back up with another fiery bolt at Kopaka, then a stronger one at Aang. Both dodged, the latter already leaping over the attack.

No, not leaped. He soared into the air, over the attack, twisting his body until he gracefully descended in front of the fallen Katara and Sokka. "Hey, are you two alright?" he asked, then he blinked at the gaping faces. "What?"

"How did you do that?" Katara gasped. "Are you an Airbender?"

Aang smiled. "Yep!"

"But I thought they were extinct-"

Another icy attack and Kopaka's grunting stopped any questions. Sokka, scrambling to his feet, screeched. "Later! We got to-YEOW!" Sokka stopped and ducked under another rogue flame, hands clasped on his head.

"Go!" Kopaka shouted off to the side, stealing Sokka's thunder.

"No arguing from me!" Katara agreed and followed Aang towards the bison, Sokka scrambling behind.

Aang leaped off the edge of ship, then Katara. Sokka stopped, staring down at the giant bison named Appa, the same bison his sister landed on. "Sokka, come on!"

Sokka hesitantly glanced to the two combatants, then back at the bison. "I can't believe I'm doing this," he muttered before he leaped, screaming all the way down until his hind landed on the saddle.

At the front, Aang grabbed and whipped the reigns. "Appa, yip-yip!"

A roar and a rumble shook the waters, as a giant tail left tiny waves in its wake. The ship shuddered to one side, and Kopaka and the cloaked swordsman stopped to regain their foot. Then, the two were amazed to see the bison now known as Appa fly straight up into the air.

Staring at the water five feet below, an astonished Katara cried across from a gaping Sokka, "I-I can't believe it! We're actually flying!"

"Yeah, he does! You didn't know that?" Aang smiled over to Katara, who shook her head.

Sokka had no time to comment himself. "Uh guys," his eyes widened, "incoming!"

All heads saw the ship's tower. There, at the top, a teenager in dark armor leaped from a melted block of ice. He screamed like a wild animal, his arms flailing in front until they grabbed Appa's saddle. The bison tilted to one side, roaring over the children's surprised screams.

Said children backed away, watching the teenager rear his ponytail over the saddle's edge. Scarred left side facing the trio, the teenager growled. "You're not getting away, Avatar!"

"Avatar?" echoed a surprised Katara.

Sokka's widened eyes whirled to the bald kid. "You?"

"Uh, who me?" Aang sheepishly said with an unconvincing shrug and smile.

His expression went away as everyone moved, barely avoiding a flaming ball from the newest passenger on Appa.

Below, on the deck of the shaking ship, Kopaka's ice burst melted before his eyes. In spite of it, Kopaka noted his enemy hadn't gone on the offense yet, something he would use to his advantage. Feigning left, he fired, and his blast froze over the ends of the stranger's cloak.

"Stop! What do you think you're doing?!" the stranger growled, almost annoyed.

Kopaka, barely understanding a word, went right and fired again. This time, his ice blast struck not the figure, but an orb of red energy suddenly surrounding him. The energy shield vanished, the ice with it, and the irritated stranger tore off his partially frozen cloak. "I said stop!" he shouted in a strange tongue.

It wasn't strange to Kopaka, who stopped and stared. It was like looking into a mirror, yet not. The metallic body was an exact copy of his own, save for the bright, burning red color instead of white. Fiery eyes stared through the helmetlike mask as the figure moved his metal mouth and spoke in Kopaka's language again. "Finally. You can understand me."

"It doesn't change anything," Kopaka met his enemy with a chilled tone.

The fiery figure, true to his element, huffed. "Listen," he said, "we don't have to fight. There are more important things to worry about. Stand down, and-"

Kopaka, unconvinced, held his sword up and fired another icy blast.

The red energy shield blinked around the figure, blocking Kopaka's assault. "I'm telling you to stand down," he said again, dispelling his shield. "You don't want to face my fire."

"And I'm telling you to let us go," Kopaka retorted.

"I can't do that."

Can't? An interesting word choice. "So, you listen your own master?" Kopaka said, the coldness hiding the taunting tone.

He almost smiled seeing his enemy's temper blaze with his sword. "I am my own master. I am Tahu! The master of fire!"

Heat tickled Kopaka's back while he rolled away from a fiery torrent. Coming back up, he sprinted across the deck and fired more ice. The figure calling himself Tahu swung his hot sword, easily shattering the attack, and brought it around to attack, giving Kopaka an opening to ram his shoulder into Tahu. Feet scratching on the deck, Tahu rebounded with a wild slash.

After the sword struck his white shield, Kopaka retaliated with a stab all the while channeling his power. The freezing blade skidded off Tahu's, white mist spreading out from the pale edge. Then, the white mist coalesced into a white beam. Kopaka turned his blade, intending to swing the beam into Tahu.

Tahu stubbornly refused to break away, and the beam remained still. Upon his command, his sword glowed. Then, was lit aflame!

Kopaka, taken aback, struggled against the column of fire. He heaved up both blades, sending both elemental beams into the air. Tahu, pressing back, unleashed more flame into his blast, and it slowly melted Kopaka's own icy beam away, piece by piece.

A beastly roar and youngish screams almost drew Kopaka's mask upward. He didn't have to move to see the flying beast, which should have been gone by now, circle around. The beast was distracted by the stowaway firing at 'Kataara' and the others, and it veered closely to the crossed elemental streams.

Kopaka slammed his shield into the other fighter. "Hrgh!" Tahu grunted against the blow, as the power in his sword, and Kopaka's, died down.

The motion split apart the two powerful columns of fire and ice. Kopaka, not stopping, lunged to get in close, swiping at the left shoulder, then chest, then right arm. Tahu blocked them all with wild swings, too busy to summon his energy shield.

That was what Kopaka wanted. He kept up with assault, briefly pulling back for a stab. Once, twice, thrice, Tahu barely dodged around the attacks. His movements were restricted, moving his feet only a tiny bit to the side before Kopaka's blade blocked his way out. Planting his legs, Tahu caught the slash with his sword and shield in his free hand.

"Don't think you've won!" Tahu growled, and Kopaka expected this hot-headed warrior to lose right then and there.

What Kopaka didn't expect for Tahu's mask to shimmer with power and morph. The new mask staring at him was different, retaining only is red color. Kopaka barely saw Tahu's eyes blaze through an u-shaped visor before it, and Tahu himself, flew. Kopaka's cold gaze followed Tahu, watching him use his new mask to glide safely on the cold winds. Kopaka's telescopes extended to take in the new mask's streamlined shape in place of the old helmetlike mask. That new mask would have to knocked off if he was to win.

Especially as Tahu flew to the tower and leaped towards the flying beast, towards Kopaka's associates.

Shield on his back and sword tip at the deck, Kopaka launched himself on a powerful icy beam. When it died, he threw himself into the flying Tahu. He grabbed Tahu's arm, pulling him down slightly. "No!" Tahu roared as he tried to hold himself and Kopaka up.

Kopaka ignored any screams, from either Tahu or his surprised companions flying behind him. He went for the mask, sword in his free hand to strike it off his enemy's face. His enemy objected, though. "Get. Off!" Tahu shouted.

Then, the body of the so-called 'master of fire' burned.

The sudden eruption of fire threw Kopaka off Tahu. His trajectory arced onto the rim of the ship's spiked bow with a loud RING as he bounced off it. Kopaka could do nothing but splash into the softer yet bitter waters, unable to hear the cry from above.

"NO!" Katara shouted seeing Kopaka sink into the water.

A fireball from the stowaway gave Katara no time to worry. She fell back in time to avoid it and watch the Firebender haul himself halfway onto the saddle. "Avatar!" the Firebender shouted over the winds, his hands burning. "You are coming with me!"

The boy standing on Appa's head danced aside another fireball that first passed by Sokka, who collapsed on the saddle. "Woah!" Katara heard her brother yell, lucky enough to not be burnt.

Wind whipping her hair loopies over her face, Katara rushed at the Firebender with all her might. She grabbed the burning boy's wrists but quickly regretted it when he was overpowering her, shouting, "Get off me, peasant!"

Sokka, seeing the scuffle, was quick to his feet. "Hey! Get away from my sister!" he shouted and lunged himself at the Firebender.

However, said Firebender pushed Katara into him, and the two siblings were thrown to the side. They would have been knocked off the saddle, if Appa hadn't swerved to the other side. "Wo-Woaaaah!" called Aang, barely able to balance on foot on Appa and open for the Firebender to instead rush at him.

The minute Katara got her bearings, it was when she caught a glimpse of the Firebending holding onto Aang and falling off Appa. "No!" Katara yelled and lunged to grab Aang's hand.

Aang was sadly out of her reach. He fell, the Firebender with him, until the red blur that knocked Kopaka caught them both. The blur glided through the air, carrying the additional weight of two benders onto the Fire Nation ship before landing himself. The flying metal man turned and glared up at a shocked Katara who saw a red mask reminiscent of Kopaka's.

Sokka got to her side and called, "Katara, we gotta go!"

"But what about Kopaka?" she asked him.

"No time! We can't stay here any longer!" Sokka said and was proven true when a fireball flew from the ship.

Keeping her head low, Katara eyed the ship full of now-unfrozen Firebenders shooting at them. With a look of determination, Katara rose on her legs, much to Sokka's surprise. "What are you doing?!"

The answer Sokka received was Katara moving her hands back and forth. The tide around the ship fell under her sway, and the waves grew stronger with each movement. "Push and pull," Katara reminded herself, as waves splashed against the ship's hull.

Her efforts paid off. The waters, pushing in her direction, sent a metallic white figure floating towards her direction and away from the Fire Nation ship. A second later, Sokka shouted, "I see him!"

"Grab the reins!" Katara called back.

Sokka, crawling his way onto Appa's head, did. "Let's hope this works," he said to himself and whipped the reins. "Yip-yip!"

A moaning Appa flew downward, floating slightly above the waters. Katara kept up her Waterbending technique to drag Kopaka after them while they all flew further away and in the opposite direction of the Fire Nation ship. Not long afterwards, when there had been the cold air and no fire shooting at them, Sokka had said, "I think they stopped."

Appa agreed with Sokka by settling in the water. Katara stopped Waterbending and went for Kopaka floating up the giant bison. She grabbed at his free arm, gritting her teeth at her failed attempts to pull up Kopaka. Sokka came over to grab the other arm, careful to not cut himself on the blade Kopaka stubbornly held onto. Together, brother and sister brought him resting on Appa, safe and sound.

Only Kopaka, though. No Aang.

No Avatar.

As much as Katara sighed in relief, her eyes drifted to the dark ship sailing into the night. She couldn't look away nor stop the dread from dropping into her stomach. Beside her was a concerned Sokka. "Katara…?"

She looked at Sokka. "We have to go back. We have rescue him."

"Katara, listen-" Sokka objected, but Katara cut him off.

"Sokka, they have the Avatar! He's the only chance the world has! It's the only chance dad can-!"

"Katara!" Sokka shouted. "Do you know what just happened? We lost! We go after that ship now, the same thing will happen, if not worse! We can't go!"

Katara had no retort. Sokka was right. With all those soldiers and Firebenders, including that strange one, they wouldn't stand a chance. There had to be something, anything-

"-At least, not now," Sokka added, and Katara eyed him surprised. "Personally, I don't think that kid's really the Avatar, but the Fire Nation thinks so. Who knows what will happen if they bring him back to the Fire Nation."

Katara smiled. "Sokka-"

"Buuut!" Sokka held up a hand. "If we're going to do this, then we do it right."

Kopaka rose into the conversation, almost fully lucid. "Easy!" Katara said, helping him to sit up.

"Ship," Kopaka said coldly.

"Gone," she explained to him then to Sokka, "I guess we'll have to wait until he's ready. Not to mention there was that red guy-"

"All the more reason we bring him along," Sokka reasoned, placing a hand on Kopaka's shoulder. "We follow that ship and get him out when they least expect it. With your Waterbending, and Kopaka's magic ice, they won't know what hit them!"

"Hrm," came from Kopaka, his telescopic mask glaring at the hand on shoulder.

Sokka immediately drew it away. "Sorry."

Smiling, Katara looked to the horizon lit with faintest glow of twilight. Sokka and Kopaka joined her, staring at the black trail left in the dimly lit sky. Even Appa joined in and roared what Katara was thinking:

'It's not over. Not by a long shot.'

Elsewhere…

Among a circle of small stones, white light pulsed from the heart of one. It cascaded onto the sandy ground, joining its brethren of purple, green, yellow, blue, and red. White, the last to emerge, caught the attention of the cloaked figure sitting over the circle of tiny stones.

"Hmm…" he mused, "so the last Toa has awakened…"

His glowing eyes rose to the sky. "After so long, it has finally begun," he said, his worn voice no louder than a whisper. "But now, I wonder… will they find each other? When they do, will they be united in their duty? And will they be ready to face their destiny, oh Great Spirit?"

Sadly, there was no answer to any of his questions, so the figure put them aside and collected the six stones. After securing them inside his coat, he stood to renew his journey across the desert. Something about his very being shimmered for a brief second…

… Then, he was gone. All that was left were two empty prints in the sands and six new stars shining in the night sky.

AN: And that is the last of the "pilot chapters" for Bending the Legend. I do hope you like it, and I would appreciate any reviews to let me know what your thoughts are on the story. Again, if this story is well-received, then I will continue it after a hiatus (how long that will take, I have no idea). If not, then this story will be discontinued and/or left for adoption. I'll see if I can put up a poll on my profile page soon, if anyone would like to vote on it. Until the next notice, take care.

Raika out.