The Last Firebender

Book I: Waves

Chapter I: An Avatar Wakes Up in a World of War

Somewhere outside the Southern Water Tribe

19 AG

Katara and her brother Sokka were busy on one of their weekly fishing trips.

The two siblings needed to ensure that the village would have enough food for the coming winter. Sokka then stabbed his spear into the water and managed to catch a big one. He then pulled the fish off his spear and spun it around with his fingers. "Ah that is a big one! Perfect!"

Katara shook her head at him, chuckling. What a dork!

Sokka then eyed his sister with a confrontational look in his eyes. "What?" "You are such a dork! You see a big fish and your eyes just light up like lanterns! It's adorable!"

Sokka then felt his left eyebrow twitch. "I am not adorable! I am an honorable warrior of the Southern Water Tribe! I am brave and strong! I am-" He would have continued but he was interrupted when the fish he caught flopped its way back into the ocean. He quickly tried to scramble to catch it, but he lost his footing and fell flat on his face.

Katara couldn't hold in her laughter anymore. She immediately burst out laughing.

Sokka slowly picked himself off the ground and grumbled to himself. So embarrassing. He then glowered at Katara and let out a sarcastic whip. "Thanks for the help sis! It isn't like I didn't need a hand."

Katara gave her brother a small smile and snickered to herself. Oh stop being a baby! You had it handled!" Despite her protests, she extended at hand out to the young warrior.

Sokka begrudgingly took it and dusted himself off.

At that moment, a bright blue beam of light then shot out from the sky and struck a nearby iceberg in the cliff.

Katara and Aang gazed at it in awe. "That large beam of light came out of nowhere."

Sokka scrunched his eyes and nodded. "Yeah. I don't like this. We should see what is going on."

Katara gave him a nod.

The two siblings quickly made their way to the cliff. That was when they saw Kuzon in the distance. The teen had managed to stand himself up. His eyes were glowing white. His shaggy hair was swaying back and forth in front of his face. The air around him whipped around violently.

Katara and Sokka had to cover their eyes to keep from being affected by the wind.

Kuzon then began to slowly rise from the ground. The water of the oceans rose up to the skies as if commanded by the boy himself.

The ground under their feet started to crack and crumble.

The two siblings had to hold on to each other in order to steady themselves.

Two fireballs appeared in his hands and began revolving around his figure.

Katara's eyes widened. "It's the Avatar! Look at his eyes! He's bending the elements!"

Sokka focused his eyes on the boy. His eyes are glowing. I remember the stories Gran Gran would tell us. The Avatar was the one being who could control all the elements! Soon, the glow in Kuzon's eyes disappeared. The waves from the water soon fell back into the ocean. The air then began to die down. The flames stopped revolving around him and sizzled out. The earth beneath him stopped rumbling.

Aang had managed to awaken himself. He shouted over the dying winds. "Kuzon! Can you hear me? You need to regain control!"

The boy then started falling.

Aang scrunched his eyebrows. He's going to die from that fall! I have to catch him! He twirled his staff for a bit and used his bending to create a mini-hurricane from under Kuzon.

The hurricane then allowed for Kuzon to be sent gently on the ground.

Ling was still unconscious.

Aang then let out a sigh of relief. Thank the spirits I managed to catch him!

Appa then opened his eyes and let out a giant roar. Aang looked his way. "Appa I'm so glad you are ok! He wrapped his arms around the bison's face and felt a sincere smile come to his face. Tears started rolling down his face. "I thought I had lost you when we were shot down!"

The bison let out a low groan of understanding. He then licked his best friend with his massive tongue. This resulted in Aang getting bison saliva all over him.

Aang let out a hearty laugh. He gently ruffled the air bison's fur. "Good to see you too buddy."

Kuzon then woke up in a cold sweat. Mother! Where is she? The last time I saw her was when we got shot down. I saw her drowning form in the ocean. He quickly got to his feet and spotted his mother. "Mother!"

Ling was unconscious and laying on the ground. Her long hair had fallen in a tangled mess that obscured part of her face. Despite suffering from hibernation, Kuzon managed to power through the chills and walked towards her. He then fell to his knees and collapsed beside her. He crawled himself over to her and turned her face to his.

The raven-haired woman looked at him with the warmest smile she could muster. "Kuzon..my son.."

Kuzon was an emotional wreck at this point. There were tears in his eyes. "I'm right here mom! I'm not going anywhere!"

Ling then weakly raised a hand to caress her son's face. "You have made me so proud." She then began to cough erratically. "I don't have much time left before I pass on. I can feel my body growing weaker."

Kuzon furiously shook his head at her. "Please don't say things like that! Don't go! Don't leave me alone! I don't have anyone else left!"

She then smiled at him reassuringly. "You won't be alone my son!" We may disappear from this world in our physical form when we pass, but we remain in our spiritual forms always. We will always be with you!" She then wiped a tear from his cheek. Kuzon was trying to desperately keep his composure. No! She then slipped off the ruby gold ring Lin had given her years ago and placed it in his hand. "One day you will find the one you love. When you do, I have a request for you."

Kuzon stammered out. "W-What is it?"

The woman then gave her son the warmest smile she could. "I want you to give her this ring. When your father and I got married, he gave me this ring to symbolize our commitment and love to one another. He also taught me a phrase." She then whispered in his ear. "O eternal flame! Never let either of us burn out alone!" Ling then looked her son directly in the eyes. "You must promise me you will teach that to your future wife someday. Will you grant your mother her final request?"

Kuzon gave his mother a determined nod. "I will. I swear that on our name."

Ling gave him a smiling nod. There's my sweet boy! Aang was now at Ling's side. She turned to him. "Aang I have one last request."

Aang looked upon Ling with saddened eyes. "Of course! Anything you need ma'am." "I need you to watch over my son for me. Please protect him with your life. The world needs him in order to maintain balance in this world. That is my final request." Aang gave the woman a determined nod. "I will do my best ma'am. I swear that."

Ling gave the airbender a nod. She then rested her head on the ground. "Then I can finally rest." She slowly closed her eyes as her life finally left her body.

The well behind Kuzon's emotions finally broke down completely. Tears rushed out of his eyes and his words broke down into incoherent sobs and cries. "No! Mother!"

Aang glanced at his longtime friend with a sympathetic look in his eyes.

Kuzon then hugged her close to him, desperate to deny the reality of her death.

The airbender rested a hand on Kuzon's shoulder. "Kuzon. I'm so sorry."The airbender rested a hand on Kuzon's.

Kuzon didn't speak. He was too overwhelmed with grief and sorrow to answer. "

Katara and Sokka had been watching the two from afar.

Katara focused her gaze on the two boys. "We have to go help them!"

Sokka shook his head and grabbed at her sleeve. "No. We can't just involve ourselves in whatever they have going on. You saw how powerful that kid was. He could hurt us! He could hurt you! I can't take that chance! We have a village to get back to. They'll just have to find a way to survive on their own out here." He then began to walk back, but Katara turned him around and looked him directly in the eyes. There was a look of absolute rage on her face. "That boy just lost his mother. He is also the Avatar. You saw how he commanded the elements. The world needs him alive."

Sokka let out a frustrated grunt. "How do we know this isn't all some ruse by those ashmakers to infiltrate our home and kill us. They could all be spies for what we know!"

Katara growled in frustration "What the spirit are you talking about? The other boy is in Air Nomad clothing. He is a nomad. He won't hurt us!" She let out a final huff and proceeded to make her way towards Kuzon and Aang.

Sokka shouted after her. "Where in the hell do you think you are going?"

Katara looked back at her brother with a glare in her eyes. "I'm going to help. You can just head back home by yourself!"

Sokka then threw up his hands in frustration. She is so damn infuriating sometimes. But I can't just abandon her. I promised Dad I would protect her no matter what. He then let out a groan in frustration and started marching up with her. She focused her gaze on him. "What are you doing? I thought you weren't going to help."

Sokka then let out a heavy sigh "I'm wary of these people. I won't deny that. But I trust your judgement. You are my sister and I refuse to leave you behind out here."

The waterbender gave her brother a small smile. Perhaps he isn't such a blockhead after all. "Thank you Sokka!" The two then walked towards Aang and Kuzon.

Aang looked at them with a defensive look in his eyes.

Kuzon noticed the presence of the two Water Tribesmen.

He got up off his feet and glared at them. The combination of the firebender's newfound grief and rage had overtaken him. "Who are you? Are you here to finish the job? I will kill you if I have to."

Katara put her hands up in defense. "Please stay calm. My name is Katara. I'm from the Southern Water Tribe."

Kuzon raised an eyebrow at the young waterbender. "Katara of the Southern Water Tribe?" How did we end up in the Southern Water Tribe? This doesn't seem right. He then relaxed his shoulders. "Where am I? What year is it?"

Katara flashed the firebender a small smile. "The year is 19 AG. You are in the Southern Water Tribe. Our village isn't too far from here."

Kuzon gasped. "19 AG? That..can't be right. I can't believe it." He then turned to Aang. The airbender sighed in frustration. "If it is 19 AG. Then that means we've been asleep for a century, Kuzon."

Kuzon fell to his knees. "No...That can't be true. I..I was supposed to train to stop the Fire Lord. I was supposed to…" He then felt himself burst into tears. Aang looked upon his longtime friend with sorrow in his eyes. Kuzon. I'm sorry. I should have tried harder to keep us safe. He hugged him.

Katara felt as if her heart was going to break. She may not be the Avatar but she knew the pain and loss one felt when one lost a parent. A new emotion found its way into her heart. Love. She then sighed nervously and began slowly approaching the two of them. "Listen. I know you both don't know me. But you are going to freeze to death out here. My brother and I have a village where we can house you for the night. I'm begging you to come with us."

Kuzon just glared at her. The sudden loss of his mother and the new revelations that Aang had told him made him somewhat paranoid to trust new people. "Absolutely not! How do I know this isn't a trick by Sozin! How do I know you two aren't agents of the Fire Lord? How do I know you aren't here to kill me?"

Sokka groaned in frustration. "Hey! Idiot! For your information, Fire Lord Sozin is dead! Fire Lord Ozai is the Fire Lord now!"

Kuzon's eyes widened in horror. "Sozin..is dead?" He then fell silent. He was trembling all over.

Katara glared at her brother. "Sokka! Can't you see he is in shock? Lay off!"

Sokka just grumbled to himself.

Katara shook her head disappointingly. "I'm sorry. My brother isn't one for having a bedside manner." She then gazed at both of them pleadingly. "Please! I'm begging you! We mean you no harm! We can heal your mother's injuries!"

Aang then stepped in and put a hand on Kuzon's shoulder. "Kuzon. Please. We're both soaking wet. We will die out here if we don't accept help."

Kuzon met his eyes and grunted. Aang has a point. I need to get my mother some medical help ASAP. He then relented. "Fine."

Katara let out a sigh of relief. She gave him a gracious smile. "Thank you! I promise you won't regret trusting us!" Kuzon just nodded.

The Royal Flame- somewhere near the Southern Water Tribe

19 AG

The helmsman was out on the deck. He was the first one who had spotted the large blue beam of energy using his binoculars. He then called out to the Prince below. "Prince Zuko! I've spotted some massive beam of light not too far away from here! It might be the Avatar!"

Prince Zuko then appeared out from the canopy and slowly walked towards the man. He was dressed in his royal robe. There was a golden flame crown atop his head. His hair was neatly tied into a traditional royal topknot. He then put a hand on his shoulder and roughly squeezed it. "This better be the real deal! I have spent far too long in these peasant waters!" Seriously how can the snow peasants desire to live in such a frigid hellhole. I'm freezing out here!

The helmsman stammered out. "I-I assure you your highness! I'm not seeing a ghost!"

Zuko gave the man an understanding nod. "Alright then! Set course for that beam! Tell the men below to prepare themselves for battle."

The helmsman gave the man an all too eager nod. "Yes sir!" He then stared up at the sun. It reflected off of his burn scar and his golden irises. "Finally my destiny is at hand! I will be home soon!"

Azula then walked in behind him. She put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "That you will Zuzu! I'm so proud of you!"

Then a yawn interrupted the two of them. "Good morning Prince Zuko and Princess Azula! I trust you slept well!"

Prince Zuko let out a heavy sigh. I know that voice anywhere. He turned around to face his uncle and saluted the former general. "I did Uncle."

Iroh beamed at his nephew and niece and held up two cups of tea. "Then perhaps you'd both like a cup of jasmine tea."

Not wanting to be rude, Zuko took the cup from his uncle's hands. He took a small sip. It's amazing. Just as Uncle always makes it. Uncle's tea is the only thing that has kept me sane these past months.

Azula took a sip of hers and sighed happily. "You always make the best tea Uncle."

Iroh gave her a happy nod. "Thank you!" He then piped up, "So what is all the commotion about?"

Zuko turned away from his father figure and spoke in a cold tone, "We have found the Avatar Uncle. I will finally have my honor back."

Iroh then let out a sad sigh. "I see then." He is still blinded by his anger. "Prince Zuko I ask only that you ask yourself whether this is truly what you want. Do you really believe that killing and capturing the Avatar will restore your honor? Is your privilege and status really worth losing part of yourself? This is not the life your mother envisioned for you."

Azula then cut in. "Uncle..with all respect...don't you think that is a decision Zuko has the right to make that decision for himself!"

Zuko let out a frustrated grunt. His fists started to smoke from all the anger he was holding in. "Of course it is! Killing or capturing the Avatar is the only way to restore my honor!" He then got in the old general's face and snarled, "You wouldn't understand! You had the Earth Kingdom at your mercy during the Siege and just gave it all up! What would you know about honor?" He then stormed off.

Azula just nodded her approval.

Iroh felt a teardrop from his eye. My dear nephew. I do understand. I went down your path as a young man once. And it cost me my only son Lu Ten. I was so blinded by glory and honor that I lost the one person that was most precious to me in the whole world. I don't want to see you go on my path. I want to help set you off on your own. The man took another sip of his tea and sighed sadly to himself.