Chapter Nine: The Prophecy

Disclaimer: Sniff. Despite my many evil plots, direct control of Avatar evades me still. But one day…

Water. Earth. Fire. Air. Long ago the Four Nations lived in peace and harmony, with the Avatar to govern them. All was well in the world, and the people were happy.

But a group of dissenters, gathered from all nations, sought to disrupt this balance. They wished to overthrow the Avatar, and become the new rulers in his place. However, they knew it would not be enough simply to kill him. They would need a way to overpower him, and crush his soul. A plan was drawn forth, to create a creature stronger than the Avatar himself. Using dark magicks long since forgotten, they began crafting a being to serve their purposes.

On the longest night of the year, they set into motion their plan. Four benders, one from each nation, were taken Viera Tiera Inseli, where their blood was spilled upon the soil. From that tainted earth arose a behemoth, massive beyond reason, filled with hate and crested with power.

The group of usurpers could not control it, for no one could. It broke free of its bonds, and began to terrorize the Four Nations.

Word reached the Avatar of the people's plight. As was his duty, he set out to end the horror that plagued the world. Within days he caught up with the creature that had been dubbed Omighta Anima. The two forces clashed, but they were so equally matched that one could not defeat the other. Omighta Anima, seeing that he had met his equal, fled from the battle. The creature went into hiding on the island of his origin, and there he stayed in secret.

The Avatar increased his efforts to find him, and finally he discovered the lair of the beast. However, unbeknownst to the Avatar, Omighta Anima had been honing his skills, and was now stronger than before.

It was only a brief battle before the Avatar was overtaken. There, upon the shores of Viera Tiera Inseli, Avatar Shaliki was struck down, and the world cried out in despair. Now, they would be completely unprotected against the fearsome beast.

The next years passed away in darkness, with the world living in fear. No word of a new Avatar had come, and the people began to lose hope.

But the cycle continued, and hidden away in the wild, a new Avatar trained. In his 20th year, he set out to push back the evil that clouded his world. Once again, Omighta Anima and the Avatar faced off against one another. But this time, the new Avatar knew he couldn't defeat Omighta Anima. Instead, he sought to split him.

Summoning forth the Avatar spirit, he rent the soul of Omighta Anima back into four parts. Each solidified into a different beast. From Earth came the Ground Cleaver, strong-willed and loyal; from Fire the Bird of Flame, loving and fierce; Air became the Flying Bison, bold and brash, and Water turned into the Water Lung, destructive and just. And yet more cane forth; smaller creatures, each formed from Omighta's spirit.

Then, the Avatar took the remnant of the mightiest of the Beasts, the most evil and despicable part, and buried it deep in the soul of the Earth, where it could be reached by no man. Thus was the end of Omighta Anima.

"Wow," said Sokka, taken back.

"Is that all?" asked Katara, stroking the fur on Momo's head.

"Well, there's a bunch of pictures," Aang said. He flipped through the book, looking at all the ink-drawn portraits of Omighta Anima. "Wait, no. There's some more at the back."

Clearing his throat, Aang read on-

Prophesied is this, from the greatest of the world's seers: an eon from now, when the world is thrown out of balance, Omighta Anima shall rise again. Blood shall be spilled upon his buried soul, blood from the descendants of the Great Four. The blood shall renew him, and he will be restored to his former terrible glory. Only if the Avatar and the seeds of Omighta's first soul join together can there be hope for the world. But if they remain divided, then Omighta Anima shall bring forth the Apocalypse, and hope shall be for naught. This is the promise I give unto you all. And so shall it be.

Silence fell upon the group. All they could do was stare at the book in disbelief.

"But- the Four Beasts…and…could Leizuy be trying to wake up that Omighty dude?" Sokka asked.

"We can't know for sure," Katara replied, "but I have a bad feeling that the answer is yes."

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go stop the jerk!" cried Sokka, putting on his war-face.

"Sokka," Katara sighed at her brother, "don't over-react. I mean, we don't even know how to get there."

"Yeah we do," said Aang, a smile spreading across his face. He looked happy despite the terrible knews, "There's a map in the back of the book."

The three looked at each other. Without another word, they shot out the door.

Author's note: Yeah, not my best work. But it is going to get better, I promise! Oh, and as for the rivalry between Momo and Talon, I have something…very cool planned for them. You'll just have to read to find out!