"Are you sure about this?"
Four coat hooded toddlers stood in a circle around the base of what lies beneath the snow. About a minute ago the four siblings were playing tag when they suddenly stopped by the fall of black soot. Immediately they knew what this meant. Their hearts shook with sheer terror as well as trembling as they considered what destruction the sea ravens might wreak upon all they held dear. But there's still hope; and that hope was slumbering beneath them.
"There's no other way," the leader began to speak, his voice firm and determined. "He's our only hope for saving our tribe."
The boy to the left, glances at the leader. "You do realize that if we do this." He shook his head with uncertainty. "There's no going back."
"What other choice do we have?" Came the response. "The sea ravens are drawing close and everyone will be killed by the time we get there. You saw what they did to our father, do you really want them to do the same to our mom, our uncle?"
Silence erodes through the air. None of them said anything or could think of any better plan for that matter. What he said was true after all.
"You guys still remember the ritual?"
The lead child was swelled with relief when the three nodded. He nodded in return and breathed in conclusion. "Okay… let's begin."
Kya was sleeping soundly. Hearing the sound of the wind billowing, it was so peaceful. Until she was awakened to the feel of someone's pudgy finger repeatedly poking her cheek. She opened her eyes slowly, squinting slightly trying to make sense of what was happening. The first thing she sees is two strands of loopy hair and blue eyes. Immediately knowing who it was, she grabbed hold of her hand, seizing her poking.
Katara's blue orbs flicked to hers as she placed her hand down quietly giggling.
"Hi, mom." She whispered, smiling from ear to ear. Kya looked at her for a while, then smiled slightly while she propped herself up on one arm.
"Hey sweetheart," she said groggily. "Why, are you poking mommy?"
Katara climbed off the bed. "It's morning mommy and I wanted to be the first to wake you before him." Katara said, glancing at the still sleeping father.
As if on cue, Sokka comes through the tent both him and Katara giggling to themselves as they climb on top of the bed nudging their father to wake up out of dreamland.
Sokka hollered. "Dad. Come on dad, wake up!"
They began shuffling him more while rocking him back and forth causing him to awake with a chuckle.
"Okay, okay I'm up, I'm up." said Hadoka groggily, nodding his head in acknowledgement.
Katara and Sokka hopped out of the bed, trotting out the tent. Hadoka brought his hand over his mouth, yawning out the hours of work from night-shift then turned to meet Kya's eyes flickering to his.
Kya smiled warmly, leaning close to her lover. "Morning love." said Kya, closing her eyes whilst kissing him softly. Hadoka kissed back with a chuckle.
"Morning," Hadoka replied. "You know, if Katara and Sokka hadn't come in, we could've had a bit of one-on-one time."
"Maybe, but save that when we're actually alone, dear."
Kya threw her legs over to the edge of the bed before she sat upon it with her feet planted firmly to the furry mat. After the couple fixed up their bed back in place she sat cross legged, grabbed a handle of a mirror and tiredly looked at herself in her reflection. Her hair was messy, and bags hung under her eyes. She cupped a handful of cold water from a bucket and repeatedly splashed her face with it progressively returning her sense of smell.
Fully awake she fixed her hair up by wrapping it up to a waist ponytail while small bangs hung close to her cheeks. Once she slid into her coat she slightly turned her head to Hadoka's direction.
"So, are you heading out again?" Kya slides her right hand in a thick dark blue mitten then slides her left in the other. Hadoka nodded, sliding his arm through the long sleeve of his coat.
"Yeah," Hadoka replied. "We're running low on food and winter is right around the corner. I don't wanna have my guys out there risking their lives freezing their buts off in another blizzard like last year. You remember?"
Kya nodded. "Yes, dear," she slides the heel of her foot inside of her boot. "I have not forgotten."
"Well, I'm off."
The two shared another kiss before turning and walking out of the tent. She shoved her hand under her pillow pulling out a makeshift book, a bit tattered but still usable nonetheless. Opening it up she stared at an empty page whilst grabbing a brush from where she pulled out said book—thus begins writing down her entry.
When I was a little girl, my mother used to tell me stories about the old days: a time of peace when the Avatar kept balance between the Water Tribes, Earth Kingdom, Fire Nation and Air Nomads. But that all changed when the Fire Nation attacked. Only the Avatar mastered all four elements; only he could stop the ruthless firebenders. But when the world needed him most, he vanished.
On this day a hundred years later, the Fire Nation is nearing victory in the war. No one, not even myself knows what may or may not happen. All I could do now is keep the faith and stay strong for my people, my husband, and my dear children. Some people believe that the Avatar was never reborn into the Air Nomads and that the cycle is broken, but me? I haven't lost hope. I still believe that, somehow, the Avatar will return to save the world.
And if not the Avatar… who will—
"I see you're the only inhabitant here, yes?"
A raspy unfamiliar voice snapped Kya from deep space causing her to drop the book and crack her head to the entrance. Standing menacingly at the entrance stood a middle aged man clad in armor.
He bore a breast plate consisting of two plates over the chest and two plates over the back held together by shoulder straps and cords around the waist, he wore a faceless charcoal crown adorned with red marveled flames that narrowed and curved away from the face. Both his hands were clothed with long crimson fingerless gloves and added spiked braces from the arms-to the legs.
Kya didn't need to think twice on who was standing before her.
"Who are you?" Aya asked bewilderingly, eyeing the fire general.
"My name is General Yon Rha the second, I'm here in search of the last water-bender." The man known as General Yon introduced himself gazing down at her with disdain.
"Mom!"
Kya's heart leapt to her throat as her eyes darted to Katara entering the tent. She watched her eyes go from her—glancing up meeting the generals. Fear instantly flowed through the little girl's eyes and Kya could see it.
She felt panic swell inside her when she saw the fire general slowly raise his hand. By instinct she raised her hand in protest. "Just let her go and I'll give you the information you want." She pleaded, her tone calm and composed despite the situation.
The fire general turned to Katara. "You heard your mother. Get out of here!"
Katara frowned to the floor. "Mom, I'm scared."
"Go find your dad sweetie, I'll handle this." Aya told her, smiling warmly at her. Doing what she was told Katara turned and ran out of the tent leaving two alone.
Yon Rha turned back to Kya. "Now tell me, who is it? Who's the water-bender?" The man narrowed his eyes at her with venomous contempt. His profound patience slowly wavering.
Unaffected by his stern look Kya remained calm glancing up at him with undisguised contempt.
"There are no water benders here. The Fire Nation took them all away a long time ago."
Does she think he's a fool? "You're lying, my source says there's one water-bender left in the southern water tribe, we're not leaving until we find the water-bender!"
A sense of hope and a feeling of despair welled up in Kya's heart: a glimpse of her beloved Hadoka, her Katara, Soka, her Nini, and everyone in the water-tribe all flooded into her mind. She knows what's coming but her will has not wavered.
"If I tell you, do you promise to leave the rest of the village alone?" She requested, hoping that said request will uplift the weight from all she loved.
The man nodded, accepting her request.
"It's me," Kya flatly lied, "take me as your prisoner."
The fire general smiled sinisterly at her, much to her discomfort and worry.
"I'm afraid I'm not taking prisoners today…"
Right hand tightly bawled up to a fist as fire engulfed around it dancing and licking around his wrist. Her eyes widened as she watched said fire slowly growing big in each millisecond. Just as she feared, this… this was the end. Kya forced herself to her feet, if this was her end, she was determined to meet it with dignity. She found herself glad that none of her children were here, and that Hadoka were out in the battlefield. The fire was growing hotter now, Kya wondered if it would be painful to die? She closed her eyes, she didn't want to see it coming. Suddenly she heard a groan causing her to snap her eyes open.
She blinked, finding the fire bender in pain whilst being lifted off the floor. But the air-lifted man was not what made Kya pause. It was not the cause of the slight gasp that was climbing halfway up her throat. She saw them in an instant. And once she did Kya didn't know whether to feel at ease or frightened.
Standing behind the fire-bender stood a tall figure clad in grim armor…
Kya wasn't sure what to make of them. it couldn't be a fire navy soldier. Or maybe it is? Aya wondered as she continued to stare at this mysterious man with a mix of curiosity and pure fear. But their suit didn't match the ones the general was wearing, so who are they? Their face was obscured with a tinted visor, and was clothed in armor from head to toe. The suit they wore was battered and worn. His arms were as big as his thighs much to her shock and the chilling thought of being crushed by them. They also had a dark green metallic cannon planted on their left shoulder, swerling its head scanning for any other targets nearby.
She almost had a panic attack when she looked into his burning, persisting, raging eyes filled with overwhelming anger. Though he wasn't looking at her directly, Kya knew that he knew she was there.
Yon Rha let out a yelp as he was thrown out of the tent with such speed and force. Hitting face first into the snow with a grunt. He let out a groan as he slowly lifted himself up off the snow. He rubbed his head turning to his right and glared at his attacker.
"How dare you," Yon Rha snarled, bawling his fist, and engulfed by flames. He charged, drawing his fist back, preparing himself for his own attack. Unfortunately, his confidence dwindled short when the armored man caught it with effortless ease.
Kya exited out of the tent watching the scene before her, not noticing the arrival of both Katara and Hadoka together.
As the fire general struggled to pry himself free, the armored figure raised his elbow right over his arm. Kya, Hadoka, Katara, and Rha's pupils shrink as they watch his arm angle up with the sun above him.
The chilling sound of bone cracking echoed in a single wave causing everyone to stop in their tracks turning to the direction of the source. Every soldier, man, woman, and child gasped as the fire general stumbled to his knees. Silence filled the air lasting almost in an eternity. His right arm was twisted and throbbing, Yon Rha's eyes watered, his expression contorted and twisted before he let out a crucifying scream.
But the armored man didn't stop there. . .
Yon Rha groaned as the armored man kicked him to the snow filled floor, left arm reared back while flames sparked to life around his clenched fist, and threw a swing as an answer to his assault. But his answer was short lived when the armored man caught his wrist before the fire general could blink. Pain exploded from his wrist—to his arm as he watched the figure effortlessly snapped said wrist like a twig causing the general to let out another crucifying scream shaking the hearts of all those around him.
"General Yon Rha!" General Rha heard one of his men cry. "Get away from him!"
With a spring the fire soldier charged towards him. He let out a battle cry and swung his flaming fist hard at the armored figure's face.
With speed faster than lighting itself, the figure jumped up tightly grabbing around the poor soldier's leg, hurling him into the ground. The fire soldier had time to scream, before the armored man punched his fist clean through his head with practiced ease. Gore dripped and oozed from the gaping hole. Looking up, he saw ten raiding soldiers lined up and through deliberation and reflex all ten of them shot a hot torrent of flames through their fists engulfing their target.
They increase the power of their flames ensuring that there'll be nothing left of him. They kept this up for a minute before jerking their fist back gazing at the flames. While one soldier went to check on their leader, the rest watched the flames dance, swirling in different angles. When it faded along with the smoke their pupils shrunk to the size of pinpricks as they all felt their hearts stop at the sight before them.
The armored figure rose out of the ashes. Unscathed, and no sign of any burnt on his armor save for tiny flames licking around said armor. But that's not what made the fear growing from within the soldiers or their heart's rapidly beating through their rib cages. The armored knight was glaring at them but his expression deepened in a way that no mortal should ever be capable of expressing. Any intent of bargained, negotiation, or an atom seed of mercy couldn't be found in the expression on his face.
With that powerful glare he stalked towards the speechless soldiers, drew back a fist and air punched straight at them. All the men including Yon Rha were sent flying into the air while causing tents and makeshift houses to rattle and shake by the force of the wind.
The soldiers screamed, Yon Rha screamed due to the pain of both his broken limbs, even the people of the watertribe screamed by the sheer force. Yon Rha and his men were sent flying so fast and hard they had no opportunity to straighten themselves out and regain control before all ten men and the general landed in a snow shaped spire.
Once the wind cleared Kya saw just in time to see one fire soldier sprinting full pelt towards the armored power house. He didn't let out a sound of battle. He swung his flaming fist hard at the side of the armored figure's neck. The armored man's hand snapped up at the last second, and he turned, catching the soldier's hand in his, narrowing his eyes up at him.
Kya's eyes widened. Such speed! She barely saw it coming, she saw the soldier's eyes widen in shock at how easily the man blocked him, and jerked him down towards him causing the soldier to yelp not even given time to react when he saw the armored man's knee rush up catching him by the gut. Making him bend over gasping in pain. But he didn't give him time to recover as he bowled over the fire soldier with a bone shattering kick to his right hip, sending him flying in the air.
This… This is unbelievable, Kya thought, the Fire nation is the most terrifying nation in the world, and yet, this man is waving them off one-by-one like mere flies. It's inconceivable.
With all honesty, Kya was terrified at what she was seeing, this is true, but not as much as she was in awe. Never had she ever in her life seen a display of such skill and overwhelming power. Power that no one on earth, not even the Avatar themselves can ever hope to match. The soldiers that had been so terrifying a moment ago, now seemed like worker ants before an unstoppable, and unyielding dinosaur. This man was not just powerful, no, he is the incarnation of power and death itself.
Katara felt fear too. However, it didn't hold a candle to the sheer wonder she felt at this display of speed, and immense strength, married together in a beautiful dance of extermination. This man had no equal, he knew no fear, and as crazy as it sounds even to herself… he's the hero who saved her mother. The thought crossed her mind if he was a savior from heaven, a guardian angel perhaps that vowed to protect any soul that is deserving of saving.
Hadoka, who had been quiet since the onslaught, didn't know what to feel. Perhaps relief that this man was protecting them? Awe at seeing a mere mortal with a level of physical might that defied limits of an average human being? Grateful that he saved his wife's life. Terror at the sight of a man who's a one man army as well as an impenetrable, and unbreakable wall. As he watched he was left more horrified by the callous manner in which he took life without care or thought. Witnessing the annihilation he was bringing, Hadoka couldn't help but wonder. Is he… is he even human?
Sokka stood close to Katara's side as his lips trembled, more afraid than he had ever been before. Such unimaginable violence, such fury, such power and brutality. All these qualities from just one against many. Surely this was no hero, he was a monster in the form of a man, an unholy being from the darkest depths of the spirit world! As he watched him fight he felt sheer terror at the thought that this man, had been in close proximity to his mother. He trembled as he considered what destruction such a being might wreak upon all he held dear.
Kya watched the armored man jump backwards avoiding a shot of flame from a raid soldier. He reached for his back pulling out a weird metallic instrument aiming it at its target, pelting him with every shot piercing through his armor into his flesh until said shot exploded leaving him to pieces.
Another one came at him from behind but wasn't quick enough to strike him, the armored man reflexively rolled his body and beamed his boot to the fire soldier's jaw-line, sending him flying past Kya. Kya, Hadoka, Katara, and Sokka yelped in unison and held close due to how fast the soldier's body flew past them followed by a shockwave of wind.
The strange weapon he carried vanished in a flash, and was replaced with another intimidating object. The best way Kya could describe it was… a crossbow? He slowly aims it at five of his targets then once it has charged to its fullest he takes the shot, firing off a broad horizontal line of energy slicing the five of them in two.
In midair, he anticipated this by using the mobility of his boot thrusters, double jumping for an extra safe landing. With a heavy thud, he lands hard on a raid soldier's torso. In a blur, he reached down and grabbed him by the throat. His throat contracted. Kya clasped her gloved hand to her mouth in horror as she watched the helpless soldier gasping for air until he snapped it effortlessly like a twig, and his head went limp, leaving its comrades stunned. He tossed the lifeless body away, turning to face the eleven remaining raid soldiers. All eleven of them crouch in a battle stance much to the armored man's bewilderment and disappointment.
Such fools, he thought, have they not learned yet?
He slowly starts his way towards them while reaching up to his back.
"Stop!"
Halting at mid reach both the armored man and the raven soldiers turned to their right. The injured soldier trotted up to his comrades with the unconscious general on his back followed by ten other injured raiders.
"Don't you see, you fools? It's pointless!" He turned to his right, glaring at the still frozen raid soldiers. "All troops, retreat, retreat!"
Everyone watched the remaining raiders high tailing back into their cruisers. The armored man started his way to the edge of shore watching the three ships sailing farther and farther from view before disappearing behind the fog.
Everyone stood frozen, waiting until they could no longer see the three ships anymore, before letting out a long collective sigh. But ease was short lived however when they were confronted with a new issue. Kya, and her family gathered with the other villagers, all of them staring at the armored titan's back. He stood staring off to the horizon and had not moved even after the raiders left. Seconds ticked by like an eternity, why is he standing there?
Kya nodded, filled with assurance of the situation. "Okay," she breathed, trotting slowly forward before turning to her husband and children, raising one hand at them. "It's okay, it's alright. I'll be back"
"Mom!" Katara called in a worried tone.
Sokka chimed. "Mom, don't go!"
Hadoka's eyes narrowed aggravated at his wife's reckless approach. "Kya, Kya! Come back here, we don't know if it's safe!" When Kya didn't respond, he repeated himself a bit louder. When a response still wasn't forthcoming, he cursed under his breath and began lagging after her not before turning to his children. "Stay here."
Kya continued venturing towards him while her mind screamed at her to go back but their warnings went death ears. 'Who is this man?' was the question bouncing around her head again and again and again. She needed answers.
Kya reached to his side, glancing up at him. Not sure how to approach this or what to say. She opened her mouth, about ready to say something but quickly shuts it when the armored man snapped his head at her. He held its gaze with hers, studying her with an intensity she hadn't felt before. It felt harsh, less refined. But like smoke before a flame, the look softened, the animosity fading away.
But Kya could see it in his eyes. The fire persisted; burning, hot and angry. She also could see in his stance as he straightened, both of his bawled fist falling to as near relaxed free opened hands. His body rolled around fully facing her. Her eyes darted to his hand reaching for the pouch on his utility belt, with a click he opened it up pulling out an emerald filled glass capsule in his grasp. Without warning he took her hand in his and placed said capsule on her palm.
Kya blinked in bewilderment. "What is this?" Kya asked, genuinely confused while looking down at the capsule. "What's it for? Is it some impor—wha-hey!"
in a large, open clearing in the village, dust and wind began to pick up. Snowmen and snow-castles collapsed, brushes and objects on tables being swooped away, pulled towards some anomaly that was taking place.
People begin to take notice of what is happening in the empty clearing. Looks of worry spread across the populus, as this wind grows more ominous.
Blue particles begin to spark out and fly around in this contained windstorm, before a small blue ball appears in the road. Shining bright for just a flash, the ball dulls to an almost black shade of color, as it rapidly expands in size. The wind surrounding has grown so intense that some ponies begin to gasp in shock and fear, ears being assaulted by the loud noise.
The ball has transformed into a large, deep blue circle. Standing almost as tall as one of the icicle buildings in this village, the circular anomaly spins ever so slowly, small blue sparks fly out and dance around it.
Kya blinked, noticing the armored man marching towards the portal. "Hey, wait! I still have questions," she immediately trots after him. "Where did you come from, and who exactly are you!"
Her calls went death ears. He was about two steps close to the portal.
"Please wait sir!"
His form disappeared once he entered while the portal enveloped and disintegrated out of existence. Kya stood in silence, more confused and her mind flooded with more questions as to what just happened.
A/N: WHEW! Welp, there you have it, chapter one ladies and gentlemen. Gotta admit, it took me a while to write this due to procrastination and distractions that I have no one but myself to blame. There's still more to come so hope to see you all in the next chapter!