Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Avatar: The Last Airbender, nor do I own any part of Legend of Korra.
I do not make any money from my writing here; I just want to share my ideas and my writings.
The "new characters" I have created have come completely from my own ideas; any resemblance to other characters created by other authors is purely coincidence.
"As the children of the previous Avatar, the Order of the White Lotus asked my sister and I to inform the Avatar of his status since he, like Avatar Aang, remains unaware of his true potential. His name is Hattamen, and is nothing like my mother" said Sasim. "He is the son of a poor Earth Kingdom family. His mother is an earthbender and his father was a non-bender."
"Was?" asked Metaang.
"Yes, 'was'. Sadly, Hattamen's father passed away many years ago."
"The poor child," said Metaang sadly.
"The boy was raised by his mother and worked hard for everything he has. He may only be sixteen, but this boy matured beyond his years" continued Sasim.
"Enough of his past, how did he take the news, Sasim?" asked Tarrson impatiently.
"He wasn't excited, believe me. When Zulin and I arrived at his home, his mother – Haisha – led us in and served us tea while we waited for the boy to come home from work. When he arrived, he greeted us exhaustedly. We let him shower and eat some food before we gave him the life changing news. When we told him he was the Avatar he became silent. We told him about how Avatar Korra and the Order of the White Lotus had made plans to train the next Avatar in the old pro-bending arena in Republic City. He didn't seem happy about it. We told him he had four months until we moved him."
"Sasim, now let's get to the actual reason you're here" said Meelo with a grin.
"I guess we should," agreed the firebender. "The Order of the White Lotus also assigned me the task of finding the four masters to teach the Avatar."
"I thought all the masters of each element decided who would train the Avatar in their respective element" interrupted Tarrson.
"No, Tarrson. That is not how it's done." replied Sasim. He pulled a scroll out of the message-bag on his raven-eagle and read: "The Master Earthbender that will instruct Hattamen will be Cappa of Ba Sing Se. The Master Firebender instructing Hattamen will be Heilin, son of Sasim. The Master Waterbender that will instruct Hattamen will be Tenna, daughter of Zulin. Finally, the reason we gathered here, the Master Airbender that will instruct Hattamen will be Tarrson, son of Rohan. This is my decision, and the Order of the White Lotus approves of it." He rolled the scroll and put it back in its bag. "Training begins at the start of next week, Tarrson. I expect your arrival a few days earlier than that. You can bring an assistant if you so desire. I'll be seeing you soon" said Sasim as he stood up. "I bid you all a good evening," he added as he left the room, raven-eagle flying close behind.
The room was silent for a while after Sasim's departure. Meelo moved Pokey Jr. to his lap and rubbed him while he silently observed his son and nephew. Tarrson leaned forward in his chair, one arm supporting his head, lost in thought. Metaang, however, sat back in his chair, staring in shock and anger at his cousin.
"Enough of this," said Meelo breaking the silence. He repositioned the flying-lemur causing him to fly away in annoyance. "Would one of you react?!"
"Congratulations, Tarrson" Metaang said with a strong undertone of anger. He then stood up and left the room with Pokey Jr. flying behind.
Tarrson put both hands on his head and fell back into his chair, forcibly sighing. "Uncle," started Tarrson.
"I know" said Meelo. "Tarrson, you have to remember that my son is a proud man. He does not enjoy, uhm – well, other people doing better than him."
"I did not mean to tarnish his pride, Uncle" said Tarrson.
"Of course you didn't!" exclaimed Meelo, standing. "Tarrson, what have you spent your life training for?"
"Well …" mumbled Tarrson.
"Do not mumble to me!" snapped the aged Air Master. "What is and has been your life's dream?"
"All right, all right, Uncle" laughed Tarrson. "I have always dreamed I would be the Air Master to train the Avatar in the art of airbending."
"And who was chosen by the Order?" prodded Meelo.
"Sasim chose me," said Tarrson. "The Order of the White Lotus chose Air Master Tarrson, son of Rohan, to train the new Avatar," a smiling Tarrson said with power and confidence returning to his voice.
"See, Tarrson? Don't diminish your successes for others to make up for their own failures."
"Thank-you, Uncle" said Tarrson standing up. "I'll take what you said to heart. You know, you are a lot wiser than my father, Aunt Jinora, and Aunt Ikki claim," he added with his characteristic smirk.
"Any time my nephew" replied Meelo with a smile. "I might not be the serious man my father was, but I did listen to what he said. Good-evening, Tarrson. I'm off to calm my son then get some rest." Meelo walked over to the door and turned the direction Metaang stormed off in.
"Good-evening, Uncle" Tarrson called after him.
Tarrson found himself wandering around the Air Temple lost in thought. He had spent his life mastering his airbending, determined to train the next Avatar. He had traveled all around the world, studying different bending styles and learning how to apply them to his airbending. He had forfeited a calm, settled life for one of constant traveling and training. Now, all his hard work and dedication had made him the chosen instructor. He continued wandering around the Temple.
A sudden squeak off to Tarrson's right pulled him out of his thoughts and back to reality. Another squeak was made off to his right, but this time he recognized it as a flying-lemur sound. He investigated the source of the sound and discovered a pair of flying-lemurs arguing over a piece of fruit in the nearby bushes. Tarrson, now curious of his location, thought he recognized the entrance to the training grounds. He walked over to what resembled an old arch and studied it. The arch was old, and unlike the rest of the temple, had no sign of restoration. The wood on the legs of the arch was dry and cracking, but an ornately carved design could be made out. Tarrson traced the design with his hand, trying to figure out what it was. A splinter of wood lodged itself in his hand, but he kept tracing the carvings.
"It is an old style of depicting air currents," said a voice behind him. Tarrson jumped a little and turned the direction of the voice.
"Oh my Spirits," whispered Tarrson softly in surprise.
Standing in front of the Air Master stood a man dressed in air nomad attire complete with mastery tattoos, faintly glowing blue. Tarrson had never met this person before, but knew who it was immediately. "Avatar Aang!" exclaimed Tarrson in awe.
"Hello, Tarrson," answered Aang's spirit. "I don't have much time, so I'll be quick. I have a few things to tell you if you have the time?"
"Of course! Anything you need, Avatar Aang" replied Tarrson with a slight bow.
"Walk with me. And stop with the formalities! We're family, Tarrson!" said Aang putting an arm on Tarrson's shoulders.
Aang's spirit led Tarrson towards a forgotten part of the Air Temple. The two sat across from each other on collapsed wooden columns, long ago part of a mediation and prayer court.
"What is so important that you appeared before me, Avatar?" asked Tarrson, as informally as he dared.
"I desperately wish it was as simple as me wanting to meet my descendants," said Aang with a sigh. "Instead I come to deliver a warning."
"I must say I don't like the sound of this" stated Tarrson. "What's wrong?"
"Years ago, when Avatar Korra defeated Vaatu during the Harmonic Convergence, she left open the portals to the spirit world. As you know, the portals allow spirits and mortals to pass effortlessly from world to world. However, there are realms of the spirit world that mortals cannot go, such as the realm where the past Avatars dwell. There exist other similar realms that are inhabited by dark spirits – spirits evil by nature. They may not be quite as dark as Vaatu, but should still be feared and left alone by all.
Tarrson, there have been spirits who have seen a mortal coming and going from the spirit world who just disappears and reappears hours later. Korra, Roku, and I have tried to investigate separately, it's hard for us to leave our realm, and impossible for more than one of us to leave at a time. We are not positive, but we fear this mortal – a girl – is meeting with these dark spirits."
"You mean to tell me that there are more inherently evil spirits than just Vaatu? And that these spirits are plotting with a mortal?" asked Tarrson.
"That is what we fear" answered Aang. "Tarrson, a very serious problem may be emerging that could threaten both the spirit and mortal worlds, and all related realms."
