"Hope is born when all is forlorn."
– John Tolkien
Interlude: The Long Night
Night has fallen upon the world.
In a cage hanging inside a Fire Nation prison, a young girl suffers in silence.
Too weak to even speak, too hurt to believe anymore.
Misery and unbearable heat are the only things she knows.
In the brig of a patrol boat, the Avatar, only a mere child himself, curls into a ball despite his chains and weeps.
He cries over the deaths of masters he has revered, of teachers who were his parents in all but name, of friends who had been the only brothers and sisters that he had ever known in his short life.
All of them lost to the cruelty of tyrants and to the passing of time.
Tears are shed for every name lost to the wind.
On the upper levels of the boat, an old uncle finishes counting up his blessings, and starts to reflect on his losses.
He has led a good life, but he often just stood by while cruel and merciless actions were carried out by his nation towards unfortunate and undeserving victims.
He has tried to be merciful and compassionate, a light in the darkness of unending war, but that never made up for the atrocities he and his people committed. No amount of remorse will ever be enough while his country continues to carry out horrendous crimes against humanity.
And finally, he has tried his best to improve himself, to seek out enlightenment, and to pass his wisdom onto others.
But his nation refuses to heed his words. His own family refuses to listen.
All except for one.
And the old uncle promises himself that he will never stop being the voice of peace until his dying day.
He will never give up on his nephew.
And he will not stand by and watch anymore as the world burns to ashes around him.
In a tent pitched up on the icy grounds of the Southern Water Tribe, an old woman holds her grandson close as he sleeps.
His head lies close to her heart, just as it had when she held his newborn body in her arms, long ago.
That boy is the only remnant she has of her son, who is off somewhere, fighting in the war. The war which has cost everyone dearly.
Her husband.
Her daughter-in-law.
Her granddaughter…
She has lost a lot of family to this war.
And right now, this boy is all she has left.
But destiny has called him, and his fate has been decided.
Like the resurrected Avatar, her grandson now has a duty to the world.
And soon, she will have to let him go.
But even in the deepest black of night, there are those who dream of dawn.
On a small, isolated island in the South Sea, a brave band of warriors live and train together, awaiting the day that they will be called off to fight in the war against the Fire Nation.
Their bonds have been tested through blood and death, but ultimately have proven to be unbreakable.
They know each other like sisters.
Every strength. Every weakness.
Every talent. And every shortcoming.
So intimate is their knowledge of one another, that it would be an understatement to merely call them a team.
They're a family. One more family out of thousands that the Fire Nation has hurt in the past.
But one day, they will set out to avenge the brethren that they've lost.
They are more than ready.
Somewhere off the shores of the Earth Kingdom, on a battered but enduring sailboat, a chieftain leads his men in the defense of their allies.
He has not seen home in two years.
But aside from contributing to the war effort, there is a deeper purpose behind his voyage.
His tribe may have given up hope, but deep down he still believes that his youngest child – his only daughter – is somewhere out there. Alive.
And long ago, he made a vow – he is going to find her.
And bring her home.
On the deck of a Fire Nation boat, a young prince sails towards home, his mission complete.
His heart is filled with hope for the first time in three years.
But in the back of his mind, he can't suppress the doubt, can't put down the thought that he's made a huge mistake.
In the city of Gaoling, a blind young earthbender continues to hone her skill in a secret, underground fighting ring.
She was raised in wealth, sheltered and withdrawn. Never meant to live her life to the fullest. Never destined to do anything more than live an obedient and placid existence.
But she promised herself that one day, she would break free from these gilded confines. That one day, she would fight in the war, and truly make a difference in the world.
Somewhere along the edges of the South Pole, in the early hours of the morning, a young boy gathers what little belongings he has, and places them in a sack inside his canoe.
The rest of his small tribe is there to see him off, his grandmother watching with tears in her eyes as the ocean takes him away.
His mission is certain to be hopeless. But his resolve will not be broken.
The world waits in darkness as he paddles out further to sea, using the stars as his guide.
He will not see home again for a very long time.
Sorry for the long wait.
Life just got hectic for the past few weeks, but I'm back!
PUBLISHED ON = 25 / 03 / 2019
