...Well...here I am, making a new ATLA story…
...(Sigh)...
I'm so sorry, I just couldn't help myself.
But just so you all know, this will not, I repeat, NOT be continued after this first chapter for a while. I have too many stories I need to do, and I just...want to get this out of the way. Besides, I don't even have a good plan for it yet, and this is likely the prologue, so you get a tease of what this is...in fact, I'll let you know what this story will entail. It's kind of crossed over by another franchise...but at the same time, it's something completely original. I don't want to reveal it yet, but the title may give you a clue...and I'll most definitely drop a hint for you all in this chapter/prologue.
So with that said, let's get this thing started.
DISCLAIMER: ATLA is owned by Nick...
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DEAD SPIRITS
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It was nighttime in the South Pole...
A village in the Southern Water Tribe was about to go into their residences for the night. Villagers were piling into their igloos and families were calling their children to come home.
There was one family though, who was missing a child.
"Sokka? Where's your sister?" Hakoda asked his five-year-old son.
"Katara's over at the gate staring at the stars again," Sokka said to his father.
"Again?" Hakoda sighed, shaking his head. "Oh, that girl. This is the third time this week."
The wife and mother, Kya, came up to her husband and placed a hand on his shoulder, reassuring him, "I'll go get her this time, Love."
Hakoda looked at his wife with an affectionate smile. However, he asked, "I mean, are you sure? She could be sitting on the gate, and I wouldn't want you and her to fall off."
"Oh please, Love, I'll be fine. I'm pretty capable," Kya told him with a smile.
"Well...okay," Hakoda says, "But honestly, I don't know what has gotten into Katara. Maybe she'll open up to you a bit more."
"Katara is weird sometimes," Sokka says with a shrug.
"Now, Sokka, Dear, your sister is just curious," Kya told him.
"Still, it's just stars. They're just up there to light up the night sky!"
Kya shook her head, "I'll be back, okay, Sokka-Dear? And I'll be back, alright, Love?" she said to her husband.
"Sure thing, my Darling," Hakoda said with a nod and a sweet smile.
Kya then walked and went over to the barrier gate and climbed the ladder to be on top of the gate path. As soon as she was on the gate's walkway, she walked ahead to find her daughter.
Soon, she found her, standing near the edge of the gate's fenced-in barrier as she looked up at the night sky.
Smiling at now finding her little one, she went to the four-year-old Katara and said to her softly. "It's beautiful, isn't it?"
Jumping in surprise, Katara turned to see her mother coming up at her. "Momma!"
"Hello there, Sweetie," Kya said tenderly as she came up to her and knelt in front of her. "It's time to go inside. You can't just stare up at the night sky all night. You need your sleep."
Katara frowned, "But it's so pretty! All those stars! It makes me wonder sometimes..." She faltered there as she looked up at the night sky again.
"What makes you wonder about the stars?" Kya asked her, looking up at the sky as well.
"...Nothing..." Katara mumbled as she lowered her head.
Kya looked at her daughter with a blink and a frown, "Sweetie, you said the stars make you wonder. I want to hear what you think about the stars."
"...I don't want to say it," Katara mumbled with a frown.
"Katara, you can tell me. You've been on top of the gate looking at them at night three times now. Your father is getting worried and your brother thinks you're being 'weird'."
"I don't care what Sokka thinks," Katara muttered with a pout.
Chuckling, Kya wrapped her arms around her little daughter and brought her close. "But you care what we think, do you?"
"...I...I don't want to say it. You'll think it's weird," Katara said, her face expressing shame.
Kya looked at her daughter in surprise, "Sweetie, I would never think you're weird. Not even your father. And no matter what your brother says, he doesn't think so either."
"..." Katara stayed silent.
"Katara, I would love to hear what you think of the stars. The stars are life's most interesting mysteries. They were created for a reason. But I would love to hear what you think of them."
"...You won't laugh?" Katara asked her mother.
"Sweetie, you're my daughter, of course I won't laugh at what you think."
"..." Katara looked up at the night sky again, "...Our elders say that the stars light up our night sky so we can see...I was just wondering...are the stars people?"
"People?" Kya looked at her daughter, intrigued by the question.
"...I just thought they were people lighting our way," Katara muttered, her head lowered again, now embarrassed.
Kya just smiled, "Oh Sweetie, don't feel ashamed about that. We don't know everything about the stars, so...that could be a possibility."
Katara looked at her mother in shock, "Really?"
"Well, we have Tui and La as our Moon Spirit, and other Spirits that watch over our world...maybe whoever created all the Spirits made these stars as guardians of the night."
"Guardians of the night?" Katara asked, interested.
Smiling at her interest, Kya said, "Maybe. We're still trying to learn about our World, even the Spirit World, so again, that's a possibility."
"..." Katara smiled at her mother, "Thank you Momma. For listening."
"Of course, Sweetie. I'm your mother, and I want to hear what you think. No matter how it is. And who knows? The stars could be people. They could be, like I said, our guardians to light up the night sky when we lose our way in the night."
Katara grinned widely and looked up at the stars again, "They look like a lot of people. A lot of guardians."
Kya chuckled as she looked up at the sky, "They certainly are," she turned her attention to her daughter, "Just know, you can tell me anything, including your father. Even your brother, no matter how he reacts to it. He loves you too, you know?"
"I know...thank you for not laughing, Momma," Katara said as she turned her attention to her mother.
"Of course, Katara," Kya smiled tenderly.
Katara smiled back, "Can we look at the stars a little bit more?"
Chuckling, Kya said, "Well, we'll look up at them for a few minutes. But you need your rest, Sweetie."
"Okay! And I'll go to bed once we're done!" Katara nodded with a smile.
"That's a good girl," Kya said as she smiled sweetly. She looked up at the stars again and they stared up at the night sky for a while...
A minute passed...
...It was then, that Kya had an idea.
Kya, glancing at her daughter, looked up at the sky and started to sing a melody...
Twinkle, twinkle, little star...how I wonder what you are…
Up above the world so high, like a diamond in the sky. Twinkle, twinkle, little star...how I wonder what you are...
When the blazing sun is set...and the snow is melted wet... Then you show your little light...twinkle, twinkle, all the night. Twinkle, twinkle, little star...how I wonder what you are...
Then the traveler in the dark, thanks you for their tiny spark. How could he see where to go, if you did not twinkle so? Twinkle, twinkle, little star...how I wonder what you are...
As your bright and tiny spark, lights the traveler in the dark, though I wonder what you are...
Twinkle, twinkle, little star...
How I wonder...
...What...you...are...
...Katara was asleep in her mother's arms.
Kya smiled in warmth at her daughter and picked her up to bring her back home. She carefully went down the ladder, with Katara being carried as she walked back to their residence.
Kya and Hakoda slept well that night...
And so did Sokka...and Katara...
...The stars are definitely out tonight...shining in the darkness...
Okay! Try to guess what franchise inspired me to make this! ;) But again, I won't continue this until I finish at least ONE story!
Thank you all for reading! I love to hear what you think! Give me a review, and hey, maybe a fave and a follow!
Until next time, keep on rocking everybody! :)
-TSP