So, I completely forgot about writing this fanfiction. Yeah, but I thankfully remembered as Christmas break started! Anyways, I don't know whether to call this a preview or part 1 but I might as well call it that anyways. I don't think I want to make this too long for some reason.

Yeah so I hope you enjoy reading this, even if its shorter then most of my other updates.

I present the beginning of Chapter 3: The Firebender.

Chapter 3 Part 1: The Firebender

The Fire Nation, a past imperialistic and industrious nation, was once regarded as the most powerful in the world. Their cities proudly displayed their wealth, with clean streets, exquisite buildings, and the smallest percentage of homeless out of all four nations. The ingenuity and fierce determination of its people allowed the Fire Nation to surpass limits thought to be impossible, creating near indestructible metals, building skyscrapers and, even once during its timeline, create an entire island from a thought to be dormant volcano.

It was in the islands of the Fire Nation that resided one of the most luscious, beautiful places in the world: its capital, Da Huao Soa. Built in the crater of a volcano long collapsed, the volcanic ash rich in nutrients allowed the most exotic plants to be born. Strange how something as destructive as a volcano could give life as well.

Yet, it was not only the plants that flourished. Vast, extravagant masterpieces were constructed, all symmetrical to the design of the city. Everything was positioned perfectly, as if a higher being had conducted the planning and building itself. In the center of it all lay the Imperial Palace. Renowned for its design and wealth, the Imperial Palace was perhaps the most extravagant building ever built. Every hallway was lined in the purest of gold and no expenses were kept when constructing it. It was an architectural wonder, with three towers connecting to form a tripod and a colossal tower in the center. Lined in the Fire Nation colors of red and gold, it reeked of pride and nationality. Here, under the shadow of the greatest palace in the world, the citizens of the Fire Nation could look proudly at what they had accomplished.

In terms of wealth and economic power, the Fire Nation had not changed too much. In terms of status and standing however, the Fire Nation was viewed as the lowest of the four nations. Ever since their defeat five hundred years ago in what was called, the Sovereign War, the other nations had established a colder attitude towards the firebenders. Although it was not shown openly, the people of the air, water, and earth scorned the firebenders with incriminating eyes. They had been invaded, oppressed, and massacred during the Sovereignty. It was only natural. Yet, even after all this time, the memory never faded. The rest of the world remained wary of the imperialistic nature of the Fire Nation.

Nevertheless, the Fire Nation had strived on, trying to maintain better relations by first establishing the Elemental Gathering Pact. They had been the ones to request peace, under the will of the new Fire Lord Zuko, and were willing to show humility for retribution. However, could their actions be forgiven? They had committed genocide, extinguishing almost the entire Air Nomad culture – if it were not for the careful planning of Saint Gyatso – and reduced the entire Southern Water Tribe into a measly village of huts. The Fire Nation had led raids against the towns of the Earth Kingdom and completely conquered its capital through political corruption. Grudgingly, the Elemental Pact was signed.

Peace had been restored and it seemed as if times were looking for the better. Fire Lord Zuko had ordered all factories to change from making war materials to making other items necessary for life. The produce from these factories went to the other nations, especially the airs, and as such, the nations were rebuilt, harmony in tact. In essence, it was like the dream of the late Fire Lord Sozen, originally to share the wealth of the Fire Nation with the others.

Five hundred years passed like this, with each new Fire Lord striving for peace and harmony. Factories continued to produce only home materials, instead of manufacturing swords and armor as it had. The products were distributed around the globe until the Southern Water Tribe was rebuilt and the Air Temples shimmered in the clouds, as they once did. The new Fire Lord Zenen proved to be no different than his predecessors, at least, in the beginning. He was kind and caring, always amongst the crowds conversing with his people. He spent more time outside of his palace than in it. He was truly a man of his people.

During recent times, Zenen had not been seen outside his palace for almost a year. He remained locked up in his luscious palace, never showing his being as he had before. There was no explanation as to why the Fire Lord had done so. Rumors drifted through the crowds as to whether he was still alive; perhaps he was killed and the government had kept the secret, for whatever reasons. Stories of his death or of conspiracy became wide-spread throughout the entirety of the Fire Nation and yet, the Palace doors refused to open for any questioner. What remained behind those Royal doors was known to only nobility and officials.

And then, two weeks ago, the most startling proclamation had been announced. A military decree, it announced:

"All firebenders are to report to the nearest military station. All those that do not will be taken in with force necessary."

Various names had been given to it as no one official name was proclaimed. The Draft some called it while others offered to call it The Return. To all those that had been shocked and outraged at such a decree though, the proclamation was regarded as "The Beginning of the End."

And so, even through the greatest amount of protest, firebenders were taken into the military to be trained in the art of war once more. In the first few days of the decree, no firebender came willingly. Their once love for their nation, their burning patriotism had now turned into a flame of hatred. Why would the Fire Nation militarize again? Didn't Fire Lord Zenen promote peace? Where was Zenen, their Fire Lord, the Flame of Protection, the Sovereign of the islands of the Ring of Fire and the capital Da Huao Sao?

Their approval turned to contempt and the masses questioned outright the intentions of their government. It was then that catastrophe struck.

Although the Fire Nation's army had dwindled in size, the remaining part of the army were the most ruthless and powerful individuals. They were the ones that still crazed for war, imperialistic nature running through their bloods. Hotheads the lot of them, they called themselves the Pure Ones, the ones that remained true to the Fire Nation. The soldiers still in the army were bloodthirsty and at any chance, they would strike. They got their chance.

With the majority of the population refusing to give up their men that were capable of practicing the art of firebending, the government ordered the usage of force to draw them in. The Pure Ones pillaged their own nation, ruthlessly burning homes and chasing down individuals who could firebend. The masses then asked themselves: What had their nation come to, attacking its own nation? The example set, many more came grudgingly, not because they wanted too but out of fear that their family would be in danger and their homes destroyed. Those who wanted to avoid this fate of the army life at all costs fled. Few were able to leave the islands of the Ring of Fire and most were captured by the Pure Ones. Immigration and emigration became illegal, preventing transport out of the islands. The Fire Nation had become an erupted volcano, chaos brewing everywhere, fire spewing around every corner.

Of course, to Mizu, none of it really mattered. An orphan in the streets, her basis for life was surviving anyways so it wasn't as if anything had really changed. Worldly and long-term events had no impact on her way of life. All that mattered was getting enough food and money to be able to survive the day and night. Her life consisted of now, not then or later.

She wasn't worried about whether or not the Pure Ones – she sneered in contempt; they were as pure as the next pigoxen – would take her in as a firebender. Throughout her life, she had had to be sneaky enough to get away with stealing food necessary for her survival. All she had to do was not firebend in the town. She figured it would be safe to do so in the bamboo woods, where she put up her shelter. No one in their right mind would follow an orphan into the woods at night.

Mizu sat on a mound of straw, leaning against the wall of a small building. It was the building of a blacksmith, obvious from the clangs of metal on metal reverberating from its interior. This was one of the few places Mizu could just hang out. Most other owners drove her away, fearing the orphan would drive away customers and give it a bad reputation. The blacksmith though, was friendly to Mizu. He never drove her away and gave her daily meals whenever she came. She knew this was a kind gesture but she made sure not take advantage of his hospitality. She only came to him once a week.

Looking through one of the windows, she saw him placing a thin piece of black metal in an oven of sorts, heating it up till it was orange-white. Then he would take a great hammer, probably about fifteen pounds she guessed, and hammer the metal. After a time, he would put in water, cool it, and look at it only then to start the process again, using quick thrusts with a fan to conduct a fire hot enough to heat the metal once more.

Watching this cycle, Mizu wondered what the blacksmith would be like as a foster father. She then shook her head. It would probably end up badly like the others. Orphans were rare in the Fire Nation. Its economy was the greatest in the world and there was little poverty anywhere. Mizu however, seemed to be an exception. She was told that she had been found in the streets of the capital one day, a baby left to fend for itself in the world. Immediately, she had been taken in by a family and raised until eight. However, her personality seemed to always conflict with them. She was hotheaded and short-tempered, the stereotype of all firebenders. She found that her foster parents were contempt and so, she left. She traveled to city to city, wandering the Ring of Fire, adopting new foster parents each time. And each time, she found them inadequate and left them. It wasn't as if she wasn't grateful. She was very respectful to her foster parents. No, rather, she felt as if they weren't what she was meant for. She felt she should have served a higher purpose, that she should be something greater.

"And now look at me, a fifteen year old with no home and no family to go to. I could be sleeping in a bed right now, if it weren't for my stupid belief and hot-headedness!"

But she knew that she could never settle down with any of them. It was upon coming to this town, Ritzu, which she had decided to quit trying to find a foster family. It would just end up with the same results anyway and she didn't want to ruin the feelings of another family and have the hassle of traveling to another town.

Sighing, Mizu got up and dusted herself off. The sun was beginning to set and she would have to go before it got dark. She couldn't afford to get caught out in the night. Being in the pitch dark in the streets would require her to firebend for light and the Pure Ones were most active at night, trying to catch anyone that would try to firebend their way into the night. They had caught a man yesterday night by doing this.

Walking at a steady, but not hurried pace, Mizu found herself standing at the outcropping of the bamboo woods. Thick, luscious, green plants sprouted up from the ground, seemingly endless in its entirety. Bamboo was a curious plant. It was strong, supple, and grew as fast as an airbender could escape from one of their playful tricks. An entire forest could change in a single week at the rate bamboo grew. For Mizu to consistently be able to find her shelter, she would have to mark a path otherwise she would never find it.

A broken twig here and an overturned rock there; these were the signs for the path to her "home," if it could be called that. She was taking a risk making the path like this but surely no one in town was a skillful tracker or would even take the time to find such an obscure place.

It was dark once she reached her shelter. She had placed it far enough so that there was little chance of anyone stumbling upon it. She liked her privacy, among other things, like having it far enough so the Pure Ones wouldn't find her. It was a hut really, just a few bamboo shafts strapped together on top of a formation of three boulders with a leaf covering on top. Its only purpose was to keep out the rain. The temperature was nothing to worry about in the Fire Nation. It was always warm and the ground was as well from the passage of volcanic lava far underneath. If need be, Mizu could always make a fire. A little bed of tropical leaves was placed under the roof for at least a little comfort. This was her home.

Sighing, she lay down on the soft ground outside of her hut and viewed the stars above. Even though they were so far away, it was as if she could feel the fires pulsing and erupting from the suns. Their heat and being reached out to her, calling on her talent of firebending. There Mizu lay viewing the stars, thinking that her destiny should have been something more before falling fast asleep.

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So... Mizu... That name actually happens to be Japanese for water and as you know... she's a firebender. But I really liked the name and I couldn't think of another good one. T.T

Yeah so, I'd just like to wish everyone who's reading this an early merry christmas and happy new year! Next part should come soon I hope... I'm on break so I'll have lots of time to write.