Avatar: The Last Airbender
The Fire Dancer
By: Tellemicus Sundance
Chapter 1: A Legend's Beginning
Since it was still very early in the morning, no one was up to see the arrival of a young, very short brown-haired boy clothed only in a soaked red cloak, light tan pants, sporting numerous bandages over his torso and left shoulder, and with some very unique blue arrow tattoos over his arms and legs. Letting out a small sigh of relief that he'd made it this far unnoticed, the boy eased himself into the cool tropical water and proceeded to swim the rest of the way to shore.
Leaving the piece of driftwood that he'd been fortunate enough to find and turned into a makeshift surfboard behind, the boy hurriedly rushed up off the beach and up the rocky cliffs. Glancing around warily as Aang peeked over the edge, he let out a sigh of relief. He'd somehow hit the jackpot.
In front of him was a common Fire Nation steam-vent drying service. It was an ancient custom among Fire Nation residents to wash their clothes at night and leave them out to dry over one of the many steam-vents that were scattered throughout volcano island chains. It was one of the Nation's pride and joys in the days before the war, steam-dried clothing were always much more comfortable to wear and was considered a rare privilege shared amongst the other nations.
I need new clothes and a disguise anyway, Aang thought moodily as his drenched cloak sent a fierce shiver down his spine when a small wind kicked in. He hated the thought of stealing, but in this case he knew he had no other choice. Rising quickly and dashing into the steam, he looked over the clothing available and grabbed what looked the most appealing to him.
Dressing quickly, he smiled broadly as he surveyed his new black and red-lined suit. It looked rather formal, aside from the red headband that was tied over his forehead to hide the point of his blue arrow tattoo. Combined with the long sleeves and high collar, his most distinguishing features as the last Airbender were effectively hidden from sight. His identity as the Avatar was safely concealed.
Smiling confidently, he strolled into the nearby town looking for anything that he needed, be it supplies or directions.
—WATER—EARTH—FIRE—AIR—
"Katara, calm down!" Sokka whispered exasperated for the umpteenth time that morning.
Once they'd realized that Aang had run off by himself and made some plans with their father about the invasion, he, his sister, and Toph had set out with Appa and Momo to search for the missing Airbender. The search had so far been very fruitless and even disheartening. They'd been searching the outer most volcano islands when Sokka had spotted something peculiar, when they'd landed they realized that what Sokka had seen was the smoldering remains of Aang's glider in a cooling puddle of lava. If it were an omen, it seemed like a pretty bleak one.
But it was still a clue that they weren't too far away from the boy. They'd been searching for hours since, with Katara steadily growing more and more worried. This of course caused the chain-reaction of getting all of them edgy, even with each other.
"How can you be so calm, Sokka?" Katara demanded, very loudly in Sokka's opinion, from where she was still waterbending a thick mist of moisture around Appa as they continued to slowly fly high over yet another uninhabited volcano. "Aang's run off and we haven't been able to find him yet! What if the Fire Nation captured him? He's still injured, so he couldn't possibly be able to fight back very well!"
They were all good points, Sokka quietly admitted to himself. But letting himself worry over them would only encourage his sister's fears to further escalate.
"Sugar, I think you're forgetting something," Toph growled irritably from where she was clinging to Appa's settle with her usual death grip. "Twinkle-toes isn't an idiot! He's not going to do anything to get himself into trouble."
"Toph's right, Katara," Sokka interjected quickly before Katara could properly retort. "Aang's smart. He knows that he's going into enemy territory, alone. The last thing he'd do is want to stick out. He's probably hiding out in a cave or something. And I'll bet my life that he's nowhere near any Fire Nation town and causing any commotion that could get him noticed."
Snorting slightly despite somehow feeling a bit relieved, Katara quietly said, "Yeah, and we all know just how good your instincts are, don't we?"
"Hey!" Sokka cried, sounding as insulted as he felt. "Remember, it was me who saved those villagers from drowning!"
"Yeah," Katara agreed easily. "And it was also you who was flying us in the wrong direction when we left afterwards, remember?"
Sokka didn't reply, feeling that he should at least try to keep what was left of his dignity.
—WATER—EARTH—FIRE—AIR—
Ms. Kwan was in the midst of giving her usual history lesson when the doors of her classroom were unexpectedly opened and a pair of guards thrust in a short haired boy dressed in the school uniform. While Kwan had taught many children in her life, never had she seen boy like this one before. Unlike many students, there was a certain air of unrelenting cheerfulness surrounding him. He wasn't cowed by the fierce appearance that she put on during school hours, but he was respectful in his own ways.
Even though she'd not spoken directly to him when he'd entered the room, the boy had immediately smiled slightly before gently tapping his head as he made a 'cute' reply. She was fast to discover something extremely disturbing for her. The boy's etiquette, mannerisms, stance, and even his attitude were all terrible. She had always taught her students to abide by certain standards, much like she had been taught as a child. Plus, the boy had the audacity to wear a bandana indoors like some sort of rebellious teenaged slob. Even if he was raised in the Colonies, this was unacceptable!
Kuzon, as he called himself, found amusement when she insulted him by offering to call him 'Mannerless-Colony-Slob' as his name. He claimed to wear the bandana as a means of hiding an embarrassing scar, and he was almost totally ignorant of even the most basic of Fire Nation customs and courtesies. Kwan was almost convinced that Kuzon was going to be as terrible a student as his initial appearances implied.
However, hidden under the surface, there was a greatly gifted mind. She had realized this when she had continued the lesson. He was oddly knowledgeable about the world, he questioned her on quite a number of subjects, and he was always willing to share his point of view with the class. Despite her initial assumptions, he was something different. Something she had never seen before. It would be interesting to see what he aspired to become in the future years, undoubtedly he would have a dramatic influence on their great nation's future as a world power.
She watched now with interest as the boy interacted with On Ji, the heir of one of the more prominent families on the island. The girl was normally very quiet and reserved, even by Fire Nation standards. On Ji must've been very eager to greet Kuzon for her to have approached him, alone.
On Ji was arguably shy and quiet because of her 'boyfriend,' or rather her fiancée, was extremely possessive. He didn't let her talk to hardly anyone, hang out with anyone, or anything unless she had his expressed permission. The fact that Hide was a considered a Firebending prodigy and thus the top student at the academy prevented Kwan from having a talk with his parents concerning his behavior. The boy may have had aspirations to become a high-ranking Fire Nation officer, perhaps even making becoming one of the Fire Lord's top generals, and the Headmaster's full support but that didn't allow him to have this type of behavior.
As expected, it didn't take long for Hide to arrive, give Kuzon a warning, and walked off with his arm over On Ji's small shoulders. What surprised Ms. Kwan was that Hide didn't even try to tussle the new boy around at all, which he usually did to the other students without even a second thought. There was definitely something different about that boy and his seemingly obsessive happiness. She just knew it.
Kuzon likely had a great destiny ahead of him. Ms Kwan could only hope that she would be able to see what that destiny was.
—WATER—EARTH—FIRE—AIR—
ORIGINAL IDEAS
Chapter 1
Aang wakes up on the Fire Nation ship. After getting brought up to speed and escaping from another FN ship, Aang contemplates what he has to do now. He decides that he won't put his friends at risk anymore, that he'll defeat the Lord Ozai by himself. While everyone is ashore getting supplies, he sneaks away to journey to the Fire Nation by himself.
Finding Aang missing, Katara, Sokka, Toph, and Appa rush after him. But they never find him.
Chapter 2
Waking up on a Fire Nation island, Aang decides that he must leave behind his ruined glider to better conceal his identity. He then surfs to the next island where he is forced to steal some clothes to better fit in. He enrolls briefly in a school to learn some of the Fire Nation's basic customs and history. But when he gets into trouble for throwing a dance party and the principal wants to meet his parents, Aang flees the town.
Katara and the others arrive in the town and they too steal some clothes. After a bit of exploration and searching, they learn that a strange boy from the colonies had arrived and caused a bit of trouble before disappearing. They quickly realize that this boy was Aang in disguise. They try to follow his trail, but no one seems to know where he went or how he left the island. Undeterred, the gang flies to the next island to search for Aang.
Chapter 3
After arriving on his fourth island, Aang finally finds a small Firebending dojo. Though he tries to enroll, the masters want to meet his parents and to discuss his enrollment fee. Since he has neither money nor parents, Aang is forced to leave. Realizing that he needed money, Aang was quick to find the gambling parlors on the island. Using his various bending skills, he was quickly able to win a considerable amount of money. Afterwards, he snuck back to the dojo and watched the masters instruct a group of kids in the basics of Firebending. Back at his campsite, Aang does his best to mimic them.
Even though they are desperately trying to find Aang, Katara could not resist helping a small fishing village get rid of a Fire Nation army factory. Though it was difficult without Aang's help, they were still able to manage it.
Chapter 4
After extensive practicing on his own, as well borrowing some forms from his other bending styles, Aang is able to create a bastardized version of Firebending. It came in handy when the town he was currently staying in began posting wanted posters of him since they believed that he was somehow cheating in the games he was playing. The army came to escort him to jail, but he resisted, claiming that he hadn't been cheating. The soldiers quickly get hostile and start to fight him. Using his Firebending style, Aang was able to completely catch the soldiers by surprise. They had never encountered a Firebending form like his before. The people who were watching the fight swore that the boy seemed to be dancing as he fought. The name stuck since they didn't know his real name: the Fire Dancer.
While Sokka was learning swordsmanship from his master, Katara and Toph were busy snooping through town. They heard stories of a strange boy called the Fire Dancer and they soon realized that they were slowly catching up to Aang.
Chapter 5
While Avatar Roku is showing Aang his past, Toph and Sokka go on a gambling spree. After trying to pull a scam and nearly getting captured for it, Sokka decides that they have to meet up with the invasion force despite not finding Aang. He also points out that Aang probably knows when the eclipse is and is heading for the capital as well. The others reluctantly agree, but they start doing some intensive personal training just in case Aang doesn't show up.
Journeying from one island to the next, Aang is joined by several followers since he helped them out of tight situations. They tell him about their suspicions of the Fire Lord hiding in his new secret armada during the eclipse. Aang realizes that his friends would be caught off-guard if they decided to continue with the invasion. He rushes to the capital in hopes of playing interference in case something does go wrong.
Chapter 6
Aang leaves his new companions behind, telling them that he needed to perform a task alone at the capital. He realizes that their suspicions were correct when he charges into Ozai's empty throne room. When the invasion plan fails with the Fire Nation's new airship armada, Aang steps in and holds off the Fire Nation long enough for his friends to escape. Afterwards, he goes into hiding with help from his new companions.
Zuko follows Appa with intentions of teaching Aang how to Firebend. But when he finally catches up to them, he is shocked to learn that Aang is no longer traveling with them. Despite their misgivings towards him, Zuko swears to help find Aang so he can teach him, vowing on his honor that he would give up his life if they suspected him of betraying them again. Katara is especially suspicious of him, thus keeps an extra close eye on him.
Chapter 7
After the failed invasion, Ozai issues a high-priority search of the entire Fire Nation for anyone even remotely resembling the Avatar. When news reaches him about a strange boy with a very unique Firebending style, he demands an audience with the boy. News of Ozai's summon travels quickly through the Fire Nation and people curious about the Fire Dancer come flocking to the capital in hopes of meeting the boy. When Aang hears of the summons, he decides that he won't accept the invitation. He suspects it's a trap, but he also believes that he needs to perfect his Firebending. He puts himself through rigorous training to increase his endurance and aptitude for using his new style.
When they hear of the summons for the Fire Dancer, the gang decides to sneak back into the capital. Using Zuko's intimate knowledge with the capital's layout and his money, they are able to secure a motel room while in disguise.
Chapter 8
Ozai meets the supposed Fire Dancer in the Royal Palace. He finds that the boy does possess a surprisingly high amount of talent and skill for Firebending but he's not impressed. Azula challenges the boy to a duel to test his Firebending skills against a master. Though he uses an advanced but lesser known form, the boy is still using Firebending. Recognizing the forbidden Firebending form, Ozai declares the Fire Dancer to be a fake and has him arrested. Though disappointed that yet another imposter of him came forward and ruined his image, Aang leaves to find the ancient training grounds of the Sun Warriors after hearing about the fake Dancer supposedly using their Firebending form.
Relieved that Aang hadn't been foolish enough to accept the Fire Lord's summons, the gang decides to leave for a new hiding place. After hearing the rumors of the fake Dancer using Sun Warrior Firebending, Zuko gets suspicious that Aang might've heard the rumors and left to find their ruins to learn something. Though being rebutted by the others at first, Zuko did have Toph's support and she was able to sway the others into following up on his idea.
Chapter 9
Aang and his group arrive at the ancient Sun Warrior temple. After getting trapped in the sunstone chamber, they are required to be tested by the Masters to determine if they'd be allowed to live. With Aang and another of his group helping, they are deemed worthy of learning the secret of Firebending and allowed to leave after vowing to keep the society secret.
A week after Aang's visit, the old gang arrived. Though awkward and unsure, Zuko also passed the ritual of the Masters when they were captured as well. As they were leaving, the Sun Warriors informed them of Aang's earlier visit and advised Zuko to hurry up and teach him the proper forms of Firebending before his improvised ones became second-nature to the Avatar.
Chapter 10