Prologue
In the beginning, they were two spirits.
One of light and order.
The other of darkness and chaos.
Raava and Vaatu.
Looked into eternal combat.
Never a winner, only a short victory over the other.
No one, not even themselves, could imagine to exist in harmony together.
Then one day two humans touched the spirit's very essence.
A young man named Wan earned Raava's trust and loyalty, while a young woman named Qi saw more than evil in Vaatu, showing him kindness and compassion.
The Spirits fused with their chosen human, creating the first Avatar and Daimon.
Wan and Qi worked all their life to restore balance in the world.
They were Yin and Yang personified.
When one pulled, the other pushed.
When one walked, the other followed.
When one lost their way, the other found them.
It was so simple to fall in love with each other.
The love born between Wan and Qi changed also the ancient spirits in them.
Something which seemed so impossible had come true.
No longer enemies, but allies, even friends.
In every lifetime after Wan and Qi, the Avatar and the Daimon were always the opposite of each other and often also lovers.
Each Avatar and Daimon together tried to bring balance between the Four Nations and the Spirit World.
It was their eternal quest, but they didn't have to walk this way alone.
Because their other half would always be with them…
Frowning Aang looked at his mentor and guardian Monk Gyatso.
"What is it Aang?", the elder man asked his young charge. "I know you aren't happy with being the Avatar, but I hoped that you would feel better to know that there is another one like you. Someone who will understand you."
Aang just frowned deeper, crossing his arms.
"I don't like that I already have a supposed Soul Mate…It seems like I don't have any control anymore over my life…It sucks being the Avatar."
Gyatso tutted him gently, rubbing affectionately his bald head with the blue arrow.
"Oh my young pupil, it may be true that nearly all Avatars and Daimons were a couple, but there were a few who were just friends and completely happy with other people. You can decide if you like young Daimon Hua this way. Meet her and become her friend, more the Elders doesn't want from you."
The young Avatar nearly snorted at this.
Yeah, right.
If it would go after the Elders he and the Daimon would be wed now.
At twelve years!
His childhood couldn't end sooner for the Air Nomad elders.
He felt like crying.
He just wanted to play with his friends and goof off with Gyatso.
Was that too much?
Why did he have to be the Avatar?
"So her name is Hua, huh?", he mumbled loudly enough, so his mentor could hear him. "Flower for an Earth Kingdom girl seems fitting. She is an Earthbender right?"
"Right, the Daimon Cyle is the opposite of the Avatar's. Together you two will learn the four elements to become a fully realized Avatar and Daimon."
The boy signed loudly and slouched down in his seat.
"I don't think I will like someone who is my opposite, I mean, she probably doesn't like to make jokes or play pranks."
"Don't be so sure Aang.", said Gyatso amused. "You know opposites attract, but having things in common is good too. Just give her a chance, alright?"
In the Lower Ring of Ba Sing Se, the newly informed Daimon Hua hugs her mother, father and little brother tightly.
She wants to cry, to scream, to beg.
She wants to stay home.
She doesn't want to be the Daimon.
All her life she and her family had struggled to make a living in Ba Sing Se.
Hua had used her Earthbending from a young age in any way to earn money for her family.
And now she would be stripped from them, brought before the Avatar of this era, and expected to work with him (even to fall in love with him!) and also to learn all the elements and somehow bring balance and peace to this world.
No, she doesn't want to, but she knows it's good for her family.
If in Ba Sing Se the Daimon or Avatar is born and comes from the Lower Rings their family then gets raised into the Upper Rings and becomes a noble family.
Something an Earth King some hundred years ago decided to make the city look good in the eyes of the other nations.
No peasant from Ba Sing Se should be a Daimon or Avatar.
Yes, her family wouldn't be anymore, hungry, cold or sick. They would be getting taken care of.
Only Hua had to pay with her freedom, with the power to decide her own faith.
It was unfair.
Why her?
She only ever wished for a simple good life.
She wasn't greedy.
So why her?
Why her?
She kisses her brother's forehead, promising him to write as much as she can.
Somehow deep down Hua feels like this is the last time she will be with her family…
Water.
Earth.
Fire.
Air.
My grandmother used to tell me stories about the old days: a time of peace when the Avatar and the Daimon kept the balance between the Water Tribes, Earth Kingdom, Fire Nation and Air Nomads.
But that all changed when the Fire Nation attacked.
Only the Avatar and the Daimon mastered all four elements; only they could stop the ruthless firebenders.
But when the world needed them most, they vanished.
A hundred years have passed, and the Fire Nation is nearing victory in the war.
Two years ago, my father and the men of my tribe journeyed to the Earth Kingdom to help fight against the Fire Nation, leaving me and my brother to look after our tribe.
Some people believe that the Avatar was never reborn into the Air Nomads and that the Daimon was never reborn into the Earth Kingdom and the cycles are broken, but I haven't lost hope.
I still believe that, somehow, the Avatar and the Daimon will return to save the world.