A long time ago, Avatar Kalkin disappeared without a trace, and with the absence of any successor, the world was gradually thrown into chaos. Governments became unbalanced, spiritual and natural disasters spread, and war sprang everywhere.

In the face of this unprecedented crisis, Fire Lord Kuni declared that he would assemble a party to search for this Avatar, but the Earth Kingdom feared this as a prelude to more aggressive actions, and moved to subdue this threat. Amidst the chaos, two young women managed to escape, and with their allies, embarked on a long journey that would hopefully lead them to the new Avatar, the only one who could restore order to the world…

AVATAR

The Celestial Sailors

BOOK ONE: CHAOS

20: Hail to the Queen

Mamoru couldn't believe his luck. He had barely emerged from the prison when he was stopped by an officer who clearly took his job too seriously: he prodded Mamoru with questions about his name, rank, and station (once with a bony finger), and wasn't satisfied with the answers, for he drew a sword on the intruder. Mamoru defeated him easily enough, and disposed of him in the very cell he had once occupied, but shortly after returning to his search, he got lost twice and stumbled into a room with three lieutenants taking a break. None of them were pleased by his lack of discipline (apparently he was supposed to be on the fourth floor), and reprimanded him viciously. They even contemplated throwing him back in jail, so Mamoru had to resort to violence and subterfuge again.

He knew, or at least hoped, that the scholars would be on the second floor somewhere, and debated whether he should ask someone for directions. While it might be suspicious for a corporal to not know where the library was, or to even be looking for it in the first place, Mamoru wondered if he could get away with the old "I've been transferred" or "I'm new here" excuse. Two petty officers on patrol seemed like a good place to test his theory, but after being exposed—again—and having to defend himself—again—Mamoru was beginning to suspect that some higher power simply didn't want him to succeed. But that would be silly, right?

Well, he tried one more time and found another soldier on break. This one was at least decent enough not to ask any questions, but his directions were awful. Mamoru got lost again, almost ran into a patrol of sixteen benders, had to hide himself in another room, and had to fight for his life one more time as he stumbled into a bathroom just as a major was exiting. He was nearly beside himself with disbelief when, of all things, a black cat emerged from an open door and crossed his path.

"That settles it," he sighed. "Today just isn't my day." The cat let out a little cry as she looked up at him, but remained firmly planted on the floor. Mamoru smiled in spite of the ill omen, wondering how in the world such a rare creature had gotten here. He noticed an odd white mark on her forehead, and out of curiosity, extended a hand in friendship. The cat issued a friendly meow and approached boldly, purring as he stroked her head.

"I don't suppose you know where the library is, do you?" he said. The cat's ears danced and she darted off into a hallway. Mamoru laughed as he followed her—after all, why not? His luck had to change sometime, right? He stopped as he saw the cat crouched before a large door; it didn't make a move until he carefully opened the door, and slipped through the first chance she got. Mamoru was greeted by the fragrant scent of hawthorn, the warmth of soft lanterns flickering, and most welcoming of all, books and scrolls and records from one end of the room to the other. He crept inside, momentarily forgetting about his little guide as he explored the room. If this wasn't the library, then it was a good place to start.

Not knowing where to start looking, or if he was even in the right place, Mamoru searched for someone who could help him. The room was almost completely abandoned, though, except for three people: a man, a woman, and a boy. He noticed that the boy was playing with his little guide, and decided to approach them. The man was busily writing something (a stack of papers already piling beside him), while the woman was reading quietly. She noticed the man first and jerked back in surprise.

"Oh! Oh my goodness, um..." The boy noticed Mamoru as well, and shirked back in fear. Even the man sat up in shock once he realized they had company. Mamoru raised his hand in apology.

"Forgive me, I didn't mean to alarm you. Do you know if this is the library?"

"Yes," the woman whispered, still fearful. Mamoru relaxed.

"Are you familiar with the royal scholars? I have some business with them."

"We don't know anything about that," the man replied cautiously. "Now, if you don't mind, could you please leave us in peace?" Mamoru didn't understand their behavior until he realized that these people might not be citizens or servants, but trespassers—and he was still wearing the uniform of an Earth Kingdom corporal. He laughed quietly and threw off the sash that designated his rank.

"Sorry, I forgot I still had this on. I'm a trespasser too, of sorts. I was transferred here from General Kunzite's prison, and was recently released from my cell. I'm just using this uniform as a disguise, though it hasn't worked in my favor at all. My name is Mamoru Chiba, and I'm the Captain of King Motoki's Tellurians."

"Tellurians?" the man exclaimed. He adjusted his glasses and walked closer. "You don't say! How is his highness doing these days?"

"Badly, I'm afraid. He was only recently recovered from an attack on his life. I came here in the hopes of confronting Queen Beryl. Is that cat yours?"

"Hmm?" The man turned around; the boy squeezed the cat tightly as she issued another meow. "Why, yes," he said, adjusting his glasses proudly. "Her name is Luna."

"Then I owe Luna my thanks. She's the one who brought me here." He smiled at the boy and bowed; he relaxed a little and let the cat go. She immediately curled around Mamoru's legs, purring contently. The wife approached him as he knelt down to rub the cat's head.

"Captain Chiba, could you please tell us all you know about what's going on in the outside world? We've been imprisoned here ever since the attack on the Fire Lord's tournament." Mamoru took a deep breath as his countenance darkened. Where to begin?

"Dear," the man said to the woman, "before he says anything, we should introduce ourselves. I think we can trust him. My name is Kenji Tsukino, and I'm a traveling reporter. This is my wife, Ikuko, and our son, Shingo. Luna you already know."

"Tsukino?!" he balked. "Are you related to Usagi Tsukino?!" Kenji and Ikuko jerked back in surprise, and confirmed that she was their daughter. They immediately demanded to know how Mamoru knew her—and more importantly, if she was safe. Mamoru's face darkened. So this was the family that Usagi had been looking for! What a cruel twist of fate for him! He didn't have the heart to tell them the truth, so he simply told them that as far as he knew, she was well. He then told them everything they wanted to know, and trusted them with every secret. Kenji was beside himself with wonder as Mamoru finished, and promised to help him look for the royal documents. Mamoru, for his part, vowed to watch over and protect Usagi's family. It was the very least he could do in her memory.

"There is one thing that's curious about all this," Ikuko mused. "You said you were freed by General Nephrite, correct? But you also mentioned that a peculiar lady with long hair gave you that ring."

"That's right, my lady. She placed this at my cell, pointed to the left..." That last detail had seemed odd to him for the longest time. Had the lady meant for him to walk down a left passage, or enter through a left door, or look to the left of...something? The more he thought about it, the more he wondered...and then by chance he looked up, his attention drawn to a wall with a single portrait of Queen Beryl hanging on it. Meanwhile, Ikuko was still puzzling over something.

"Darling, do you think the woman who helped Captain Chiba is the same one that let us out of our jail?"

"Hmm, it's certainly a possi...bili...ty..." Kenji trailed off as he noticed Mamoru examining the wall. There was a conspicuous bare spot to the left of Beryl's portrait, almost as if something else had hung there, and had been removed. Mamoru meticulously felt all along the wall until he came across a tiny hole. He put his finger to the hole and found that he could draw it out; it was in fact the handle of a small hatch. Inside the hatch was an iron box, closed tight with hinges. Mamoru removed it and laid it on an empty table, scarcely daring to breathe. On the side of the box, there was a small depression in the shape of a circle, with a rose etched into it. With his hand trembling, Mamoru pressed the signet of the ring the lady had given him into the circle, and found it to be a perfect fit. The hinges came off; he paused. Then, carefully, he opened the box.

…...

Usagi was greatly intimidated by the woman staring her down from across the room, but there was still a job to do, even if she was the only one who could do it. She took a bold step forward and straightened her posture, remembering that this was a Queen she was speaking to.

"My name is Usagi Tsukino, your highness, and I have come a long way to—"

"Get out of here at once, or I'll have my guard throw you out!" Beryl dismissed her with a wave and resumed packing. Usagi had come too far to be deterred now.

"I've come a long way to bring some issues to your attention, your highness! My friends and I have had some serious problems with several of your Generals, and King Motoki's life was put in da—"

"Didn't I order you to leave, girl?" Beryl snapped. She checked herself at the mention of Motoki, and slowly drew herself away from her activities to study her intruder in full. Slight, petite, adolescent, with a bizarre hairstyle and the uncouth, unmistakable air of a homeless drifter... "How did you come to acquaint yourself with Motoki? Speak!"

"I was a guest at his court," Usagi replied firmly, refusing to back down or give in to Beryl's awful scrutiny. Beryl took note of this, and had to admire the girl's fortitude. Not many could address their Queen in such a manner, especially on their first encounter.

"Truly? There must be more to you than I'm seeing, girl, for you to earn Motoki's invitation—or else his penchant for integrating with commoners had clouded his judgment." Usagi frowned and grit her teeth, but didn't reply. This was only the second monarch she had met in her life, but the difference between the two was astonishing. Motoki had been warm, friendly, and humble; Beryl was powerful, beautiful, but cold and terrible. Beryl gauged her reaction and said, "You mentioned having issues with My Generals. Tell Me of their deeds."

Usagi relaxed a little but didn't let her guard down. She wanted to blast Beryl and her entire regime, but knew that would get her nowhere, except into deeper trouble. She spoke of the wrongful imprisonment of her friends by Kunzite, and of Zoicite's attack on the Northern Water Tribe. She then accused Zoicite of attempted assassination, and asked if Beryl knew anything about the attack on the Fire Lord's tournament. Beryl was aloof as she listened to everything, and dismissed it all with a gesture.

"I can assure you, girl, that whatever misdeeds Zoicite has committed, he did so without My leave, and has since paid for them with his life."

"You mean he's dead?" she whispered in horror. Beryl remained stoic.

"Quite so. Justice has been done, wouldn't you say?" Usagi froze. She hadn't liked Zoicite in the slightest, and had wanted to see some form of reprimand brought down on him, but...death?

"Um...I...I suppose... But what about the tournament, your highness?"

"I do not believe I owe you any further explanation, girl. I am the law in this country and I will act in accordance to what I believe is its best interest. If Kuni should raise up arms against Me, what recourse is left but defense?"

"But he didn't!" she exclaimed, taking a step forward. "He just wanted to find the Avatar!"

"How dare you address Me in that manner!" Beryl snapped, nearly toppling Usagi with her voice. "Do not speak of things you have no knowledge of, girl! Kalkin is alive; he's always been alive! This so-called Avatar hunt is nothing more than a ruse, a means of invading My country during what Kuni perceives as a moment of weakness! Now get out of here before I throw you out Myself!"

Usagi trembled. She might have believed Beryl and even obeyed her, had she not seen and experienced so much to the contrary. Rei had been there, had been a part of it, and she believed in Rei. Minako had captured them in doubt and suspicion, and ended up befriending them. Whatever relationship Makoto had with Motoki, she trusted him implicitly, and Usagi trusted Makoto. Ami had given up a comfortable, familiar lifestyle for them and their beliefs, and had enriched the team with her compassion and quiet dignity. And then there was Mamoru. Usagi didn't even need to think about what he had put on the line, or how he must feel. It was too dear to her, too precious.

What right did Beryl have to say that none of that mattered? That it was all wrong?

In that moment, Usagi decided to take the ultimate leap of faith. Her trust in her friends—her love, as Rei put it—was strong enough to uphold it. Their belief would become hers.

"I will not," she announced firmly, "because I am the Avatar."

Beryl looked at Usagi as though she had uttered the greatest blasphemy in all of history.

She then remembered what Jaedite told her: "There's a new Avatar in the world...and they're coming for you. They might already be knocking at your gate, and you wouldn't even know it."

A rage beyond description overcame Beryl, and she lashed out at Usagi, striking her hard with her staff. The Queen attacked savagely, growling and cursing unintelligibly as her staff came down on Usagi's body, hitting her ribs, shoulder, and arm. Usagi tumbled away before her bones could shatter, struggling to stand. Beryl pressed the assault, though, swinging wildly; Usagi took refuge behind one of the pillars as Beryl struck, cracking the stone with her blow. Beryl glared at her as she backed off, pulling a hidden stiletto from her dress.

"How dare you utter such blasphemy, you filth?! You are nothing—less than nothing! The blood of the Avatars surges through My veins! It is the very life of this city! What are you but a spoiled, flimsy, whining, insignificant girl? You're not fit to scrub the toilets of My lowest sentry! If you were to die today, no one in the entire world would even notice!" She lunged again, her eyes livid with fury; Usagi jerked out of the way at the last second, swiping clumsily. Beryl caught her arm and pulled Usagi in, burying her fist in the girl's stomach. She then tossed her away, sending her crashing into the wall, where she fell into a trembling heap on the floor. The stiletto glistened as she approached.

"Don't think for a moment that I'll hesitate to kill you, girl. I've slaughtered more people than you could count: warrior and bender alike, highborn and lowborn, woman and man. 'If there is so much as a pebble obstructing My path, I must remove it or crush it under My heel.'" She slashed; Usagi forced herself out of the way and stood to her feet. A thin line of blood was etched across her abdomen, not fatal but painful all the same. Her legs wobbly, Usagi's eyes darkened as she touched her wound and sucked the blood off her finger.

"Nice quote," she spat. "Did you steal it from a fortune cookie? My little brother hits harder than you!" Usagi was prepared for Beryl's charge this time, jerking back and away to avoid a slash and a blow. Beryl's staff whipped; Usagi bent down, kicking low, causing the queen to backpedal. Beryl's fury was uncontrollable, and she forgot her discipline, unbalancing herself with the stiletto slicing in one hand and the staff awkwardly flailing in the other. Usagi jerked back again and again, sometimes only inches away, the bruises in her body pulsing and throbbing in protest. She squatted as Beryl swung wide, striking another pillar with so much force that the repercussion stunned her. Seeing her chance, Usagi swung an uppercut directly into Beryl's jaw, knocking her back. Ignoring the sharp pain in her ribs, Usagi pressed her attack, landing an indirect blow to the nose. Thanks to Jaedite's earlier strike, the pain jolted through Beryl's head and caused her to yelp; cartilage broke and blood issued out. She let go of her staff and nursed her wound, eyes hot with indignation.

"You are nothing!" she screeched. "Nothing, do you hear Me?! NOTHING!"

"Oh yeah?" Usagi retorted. "Well I'm still kicking your butt. What does that make you?" Beryl screamed and lunged at her with the stiletto; Usagi caught her by the wrists and buckled as the Queen's full fury was pressed down against her. Beryl's strength was titanic, fueled by zealous ferocity and years of pitiless combat. Usagi's indomitable spirit was formidable on its own, but as the blade incrementally edged closer to her chest, she knew she'd need something more—so she clamped her teeth down on Beryl's arm and bit as hard as she could. Beryl's screams caused the walls to tremble; she slashed at Usagi and stumbled back, livid with pain and frustration. Usagi wiped the crimson trail off her cheek, glaring at her foe.

"I guess that's all you're capable of, huh? Violence, killing, throwing your weight around, hot air... You have no kindness, no compassion, no love at all. You're no Queen—you're just a weak woman who's empty on the inside." Bloodied, bruised, and gasping for breath, Beryl certainly didn't command the striking presence she once had. All this trouble and torment from one stupid girl! How was it possible? Entire nations had fallen before her, Generals trembled at the mere mention of her name, Kings had bowed at her feet...

Was this nameless, faceless nobody really the Avatar?

Beryl wanted to dismiss it as heresy, but now, as she stood bruised and unkempt before the undaunted girl, she began to wonder—and with the seed firmly planted, it would grow and overcome her thoughts. It couldn't be—no—it was impossible! Kalkin was alive, and this girl was worthless! A cipher! A germ, a speck, a lowly piece of dirt! So then, how...

Beryl retrieved her staff and attacked again, the weeds in her mind overtaking her sanity. Usagi caught the staff; both women struggled: one gripped with fear and desperation, the other by some kind of supernatural power that Beryl couldn't comprehend. How was this possible?

"Who are you?" she demanded, as the room began to tremble. The strength that had pulled the Earth Kingdom out of its flux was now failing her; the rage built inside her was made invalid. The room quaked, the ceiling tiles giving way, golden candles flickering, the rippling fountain spewing everywhere. The Tears of Apsu adorning Beryl's coronet and throne cracked and shattered as the staff was wrested from her hands.

The pig-tailed girl hovered before her, eyes glowing pure white.

"I told you before, Beryl," she announced in a voice far more commanding than the Queen's: "I'm the Avatar!" She broke the staff against her knee, threw the pieces away, and gestured to the two closest pillars. Large chunks were broken off and flung at Beryl, nearly killing her. Her body bounced roughly across the floor and ended up at her throne; the Avatar gestured again, lifting the marble chair into the air. Beryl shrieked and crawled away as it shattered against the ground; the candles burst to life, issuing spears of flame to engulf the Queen. Beryl howled as she tried to put the fire out, careening to her fountain. The Avatar jerked her arm, calling out a spray of water to douse the fire and bring Beryl prostrate to the floor. Before the Queen could even twitch, a gust of wind picked her up and slammed her against the far wall, broken and defeated.

The Avatar hovered towards her foe, ready to deliver a final verdict. Beryl somehow clawed her way back to her feet, leaning heavily against the wall.

"It's over, Beryl," the Avatar called. Beaten, burned, and bloodied though she was, the Queen still had her pride, and refused to back down.

"Fool! Even if you are the Avatar, you are not the Queen of Ba Sing Se! You do not know this palace as well as I do!" With the last of her strength, she pushed against the wall, opening a secret panel that issued her out to the other side. The Avatar easily ripped the stone wall apart, but Beryl was already gone; a small hole in the ground was all that remained.

"You can't run from me, Beryl," the Avatar announced. She called out fire, water, and wind to form a great drill, and pushed the earth away as she burrowed after the retreating queen.

…...

Although the secret escape tunnel had been built into the throne room two generations earlier, Beryl was the first to ever use it, and she never had any need to until now. The revolving panel deposited her into an open chute that snaked its way down to the first floor. Sliding one's way to safety was hardly dignified, but it was definitely the fastest way to leave. Beryl rode down and was dropped off into a small, dark storage room. There was still some food, water, and wine laying about, so she grabbed whatever she could carry—adding a bread knife to her inventory—and hobbled out. Nothing concerned Beryl at that moment save her own survival: not the Avatar, the failure of the Tears of Apsu, the state of her kingdom or people, or how she would return and rebuild, or even if she could return. Even the constant trembling and shaking that rocked the palace was of no concern to her—after all, she was still queen, and even if the crowning jewel of her kingdom should crumble, the land would be forever, and she could be patient. Everything would slowly come back into place if she could just get out of the palace and find a safe haven...

"BERYL!" The Queen was so focused on limping away that she hadn't noticed the person standing on the opposite end of the hallway. As the palace rumbled louder, she whirled around and saw Kunzite standing there, and her face lit up at the first good tidings she had seen. She gasped and stumbled towards him.

"Kunzite...Kunzite, thank goodness you're here! I must flee this place at once. Will you be so kind as t—"

"Why did you kill Zoicite?!" he thundered, catching her off guard. Beryl's smile of relief slowly disappeared, and her legendary ire was stoked in its place.

"How dare you address Me in that manner?! Know your place in My pres—" Beryl was cut off as steely fingers wrapped around her neck.

"WHY DID YOU KILL ZOICITE, BERYL?! ANSWER ME!"

Kunzite's strength was unimaginable; Beryl's vision blurred as she felt the life draining from her. She pawed at his hands helplessly before reaching through her meager possessions for the one thing that could save her. Kunzite winced as she plunged the bread knife into his chest up to the handle, and he let go. Beryl coughed and choked, trying to maintain dignity even on the verge of death.

"Because I do not abide incompetence, foolishness, or treason!" The palace quaked violently as she turned and limped away from him, but the biggest shake of all unbalanced her, and sent her reeling. One of the walls collapsed as something burst through, and for a moment, Beryl feared that the Avatar had caught up to her. But no, it was something far worse: one of her own Thunderhorns had broken loose, and was rampaging through the palace—in fact, the very one she had ridden during her coronation ceremony. It paused to take note of its surroundings, and let out a deafening roar as it beheld its former master. For the first time in her life, Beryl knew the fullness of sheer, helpless terror, and took a step back. From behind, she felt powerful arms enveloping her.

"Oh no, my queen," she heard Kunzite gasp harshly, "you will not escape this! Let us embrace death together. Zoicite, I'm coming for you!" Beryl let out a howl as the Thunderhorn charged at her, struggling to free herself from Kunzite's grasp. Somehow she managed to push him away, but it was too late. The True Queen of the World had appeared before her, and would descend upon her in all her inexorable glory.

The end of "Hail to the Queen"

Next time: "The Avatar is Revealed"