Episode 1-Tozan
One fateful night, in the outskirts of the South Pole a small camp was set up. There a child of 4 years old wearing a gray fur coat with dark brown hair and green eyes was laughing and running around, seemingly playing a game of tag all by himself. Watching the child were two man, one with loose gray clothes and shaved head and another with long brown hair and watertribe clothes. They were Zaheer and Unalaq.
"It seems your son still plays with his imaginary friends." Unalaq commented.
"Yes. Except they are not imaginary."
"I know."
While it may have looked like the kid was by himself, he was actually playing with beings that very few people in the world could perceive: spirits. Specifically, some that looked like furry bunnies with dragonfly wings instead of ears and a giant green tiger with no stripes and antlers.
"Tozan's connection to the spirits is stronger than anyone I've ever met before. Even you Zaheer. And at such a young age too."
"I know. And I couldn't be more proud."
"… Have you talked to P'Li about what must be done?"
"Yes, and she agrees. What we are about to do will change the world… But should we fail the child will only grow stronger with time. We are going to need our own champion then." Zahher said with a determined expression.
Just then a very tall woman with a ponytail, Fire Nation clothes and an eye tattoo on her forehead walked to the child, Tozan. It was his mother, P'Li.
"Tozan, time to go to bed." P'Li said.
"But mooom!" He pouted with pleading eyes.
"No buts mister." She retorted gesturing for him to follow her which he reluctantly did, waving goodbye to his spirit friends as he went.
In the tent, P'Li had just finished tucking Tozan in. She watched her son's face with a longing look, knowing it was possible that this would be last time they'd ever see each other. She knows she shouldn't but she had to say something to her boy.
"Tozan… Your father and I are about to do something really important today. World defining important."
"Cool." Tozan replied, not really understanding the gravity of the situation.
"Whatever happens, it will change our lives forever and I just want you to know how much I love you."
"I love you too mommy." He said with the purest of smiles.
Hearing that P'Li gave him a big bear-hug, then wished him good night and got out of the tent. Waiting for her outside were Zaheer, Unalaq and two new arrivals. A man with long hair and mustache wearing Earth Kingdom clothes and a woman with no arms wearing water tribe clothes. Those were Ghazham and Ming-Hua.
"It's time." Ghazham said.
"Don't forget, we are doing this for him. So he can grow up in a free world." Zaheer said, gently putting his hand on P'Li's cheek.
"I know." She replied, steeling her resolve to do what had to be done.
"If you are not back before the moon reaches the horizon I am initiating plan B" Unalaq warned.
"I know." Zaheer acknowledged. "Let's go."
With the exception of Unalaq they all headed east, in the direction of the Southern Water Tribe. Where the new Avatar was.
Some hours later Unalaq was outside observing the moon's position. It had just reached the horizon and they weren't back and to be honest, Unalaq was glad. He wanted this to be their main plan not the backup but Zaheer's love for the boy blinded him, which was why he let the opposition know of a possible attack. Grinning, he made his way to Tozan's tent and shook the boy awake.
"Tozan, wake up."
"Ugh… What is it?" Tozan asked, rubbing his eyes.
"You know how there are times you can see your little friends and other times you can't?"
"Yeah, it's really weird."
"You see that's because of something called spirit energy. Some places have really high spirit energy and others don't. And the place we are right now is one of the ones with highest concentration of it in the world. That's why you could see your friends the whole time we are here."
"Wow, awesome." Tozan said, now fully awake.
"You know what is even more awesome. The spirit energy here is so high we could go to their world and you can play with them there."
"Really!? I always wanted to do that but Greeny said I couldn't."
"Well you can. You just have to do as I say."
"Okay!"
Unalaq then lighted some incense and instructed Tozan to sit in a meditation position. He did the same and placed the child's hands on his.
"Now close your eyes." Tozan did as told. "Concentrate only on the sound of my voice. Ignore the noises from the outside world. Let go of your physical body and go into your spiritual one. Concentrate. Let go of your earthly tethers."
And Tozan did, he entered a deep meditative state, completely tuning out the outside world. In the past most airbenders had to go through years of meditation and spiritual studying to enter this state but Tozan was too naturally gifted, it was the reason he was chosen after all. He then heard Unalaq's voice again.
"Now open your eyes."
He did and gasped in surprised. He realized they weren't in the tent anymore, they weren't even in the South Pole anymore. They were in an enormous green forest with flora Tozan the likes of which Tozan had never seen before, granted he was only 4 but still very impressive.
"Tozan, welcome to the spirit world."
"Wow!"
"Your friends told me they would meet us up ahead. Follow me."
"Okay!" Tozan said with enthusiasm, not noticing the sinister smile Unalaq was making.
They walked for about ten minutes before Tozan started noticing the land was becoming more and more barren. He started wondering why when Unalaq spoke to him again.
"Your parents ever told you about the Avatar Tozan?"
"Sometimes I hear them talking about it, but I don't really know what an Avatar is."
"Well the Avatar is the champion of light and balance. Chosen by the ancient spirit Raava a long time ago to maintain the world in order, reincarnation after reincarnation."
"They sound cool." Tozan said, making Unalaq wince at the commentary.
"… Maybe. But you see for every yin there is a yang. Just as light can't exist without darkness, order can't exist without chaos. And that's where he comes in." Unalaq said as he parted some vegetation out of the way.
Looking ahead Tozan saw a clearing with a completely barren laid. The only vegetation being a giant tree with a hole in it that contained what looked like a giant black kite with red patterns on it.
"Come along, he has been wanting to meet you for a long time." Unalaq said, taking Tozan's hand and pushing him closer to the tree.
Tozan was having a really bad feeling about this whole situation, especially because his friends weren't there like Unalaq said, and every step he took closer to that thing in the tree it just got worse and worse. But Unalaq was bigger and stronger than him so he had no choice but be pushed along.
Finally they were in front of the dark spirit and Tozan couldn't utter a sound in the presence of this being that seemed to exude darkness and malice. He did notice, however that there was some kind of transparent shield in the tree's entrance, probably what kept the thing from leaving.
"Lord Vaatu, I present to you our chosen." Unalaq said with reverence, gesturing at Tozan.
"Him? You said he was young but I never imagined so young." The spirit said, with a voice that could make a soul tremble in fear. "This better work, for your sake."
"It will my lord. The Harmonic Convergence is close enough that your prison is already weakened and the fact that the boy could come here at such a young should already prove his potential."
"True. It's been a long time since I saw a human so spiritually intuned. And… oh that's interesting. I can detect some airbending potential hidden in his fire chi… Very well, let us begin." Vaatu said, the tip of his tail touching the barrier.
"I don't want to be here anymore! I want to go home!" Tozan yelled, trying to run away but Unalaq's hold on his arm was very strong.
"Be quiet! You should feel honored to be his vessel!" Unalaq yelled forcing Tozan's hand to touch the same spot Vattu's tail was.
Vatuu then started transferring his essence to Tozan's spirit. Usually this process would be impossible but the weakening of the prison together with the boy's unique connection to the spirit realm provided the right circumstances. Tozan felt as Vatuu fused with his spirit body and it hurt like nothing he ever felt before.
"AHHHH! STOP! IT HURTS! MOMMY! DADDY! HEEELLLP!" Tozan screamed at the top of his lungs.
"Stop resisting! It will only hurt more if you do!" Unalaq warned.
"Yes! Yes! I will finally be freed!" Vattu said in delight.
Almost half of his essence entered the boy, his shrinking size being the proof. Just a few more seconds and he would have full control of Tozan's body and be free to wreck havoc in the world once again.
Just as he was having these "happy" thoughts though a swarm of dragonfly bunnies attacked Unalaq, making him lose his hold on Tozan who then fell to the ground.
"Get off me!" Unalaq yelled as he tried swapping the spirits away.
"NO! I WAS SO CLOSE!" Vatuu yelled in frustration.
After some time Unalaq managed to make the dragonfly bunnies fall back, only to see a giant green tiger with antlers licking Tozan's face.
"Greenie?" Tozan said with a weak voice.
Greenie looked at his friend with worry and then glared at Unalaq, the one responsible, with a feral look. Unalaq was cornered, here in his spirit form he couldn't use bending so the giant spirit animal would tear most likely tear his spirit body apart, which could possibly leave him comatose or worse.
Greenie leaped at him, but just as the giant fangs were about to tear his face off Unalaq cut the connection to the spirits world, transporting him and Tozan back to their physical bodies.
In the tent Tozan had just got his bearings and noticed Unalaq was still a little out of it. He saw a chance to escape and took it. He got up and got out of the tent only to be greeted by a storm but he kept running with unsteady steps. Just when he was nearing the camp limits, a strong hand grabbed his arm.
"Where do you think you are going?" Unalaq asked.
"LET ME GO!" Tozan yelled, trying desperately to break free.
"Now listen here you little brat! We are going back to lord Vatuu, you are going to be his Avatar and you will feel honored!" Unalaq said, pulling Tozan back to camp.
Tozan was terrified. He didn't want to go back to that place, he was scared, more scared than he ever felt in his entire life but also angry at Unalaq for making him go through all this. Most benders awaken their powers in extreme situations or in moments of really strong emotional reaction and in Tozan's case it was both.
"I SAID LET GO!" Tozan yelled, his eyes seemingly glowing red for a moment.
He then thrust his hand forward and a fireball came out of it, way bigger and stronger than anyone bending for the first time could possibly produce not to mention a toddler. It hit Unalaq right in the chest, burning some of his clothes and knocking him out in the process.
Tozan looked at his hand in confusion but only for a moment, before running like his life depended on it. He didn't know where he was going and would most likely become lost in the frozen tundra but at that moment for him anywhere was better than this place.
Some time later in the borders of the Southern Water Tribe the storm had let up and a 4 year old girl with tanned skin, blue eyes, dark hair and a water tribe coat was trying to build a snowman with waterbending, she wasn't very successful.
"This is so unfair Nagaa! Last night they moved me out of my house out of the blue, then there were all those explosions and when I asked daddy what it was about he all 'Korra don't worry, it's adult stuff.'. I AM NOT JUST SOME LITTLE KID! I AM THE AVATAR!"
Korra vented her frustrations to her companion Naaga, the polarbear-dog pup. Naaga for her part did the one thing she knew would cheer up her master and licked her face.
"Ahaha! Thanks girl, you always know the right thing to say." Korra patted Naaga and continued to work on her snowman.
Shortly after Naaga picked a new scent in the area and started to sniff it out, grabbing Korra's attention again and making her drop the pile of snow she was bending.
"What is it girl?"
She followed the direction Naaga was sniffing at and soon noticed a shadow approaching them in the morning mist. Korra then took a fighting stance and Naaga a pouncing position, exposing her fangs and growling.
"Who is there!? I am warning you, I am the most powerful being in the universe and I have a polarbear-dog who hasn't had breakfast yet!" Korra said, trying to sound threatening, which coming from toddler sounded more funny than anything else.
The shadow kept approaching, making Korra more tense. When it finally came out of the mist the shadow revealed itself to be just little boy, trembling with cold and bending a little fire on his hands, most likely in an effort to keep warm. Korra then relaxed and gave the boy a confusing look.
"What are you doing?"
"Help…" The boy responded in a whisper before falling face first on the snow.
"Whoa!" Korra exclaimed as she ran towards the boy, Naaga following closely behind her. As she got a good look at him he noticed he was extremely pale, likely from the cold. She asked if he was okay but the boy didn't answer. Not knowing what else to do Korra took him in her shoulders and put his unconscious body on Naaga's rear.
"Let's go girl!" She said as she mounted her pet and they ran back to her tribe. Korra knew just the person to help the boy. It was a very old woman but she was also the best healer in the world and her waterbending teacher: Katara.
In a simple home of the tribe an elderly woman was having tea in the living room with another woman that seemed to be in her early 40's, her brown hair already turning gray in some areas. Those were Katara and her daughter Kya.
"I heard the battle last night was quite fierce." Katara commented.
"Tell me about it. Those guys were something. I don't even want to think about what would have happened if it wasn't for that tip. Though I still find the circumstances we received it suspicious."
"Like your father would say 'Do not look a gift ostrich horse in the mouth'."
"Very bad impression of him, mom."
They both started to giggle when suddenly hear someone repeatedly banging the front door and shouting for someone to open. They both looked surprised as they recognized Korra's voice.
"She sounds tense."
"She probably just wants to bug us about what was going on last night again. Don't worry mom I will deal with her."
Kya then got up and answered the door. She noticed the worried look on Korra and turned her head to see Naaga, with something on her back. Her eyes widened in shock when she realized it was another kid at Korra's age.
"He needs help." Korra said with pleading eyes.
Kya then took the child in her arms and ran to the guest room, putting the child down on the bed. Katara appeared behind her on the room, wanting to know what was going on but when she saw the child it all her curiosity disappeared and she went into caretaker mode. She approached the boy and started searching for injuries.
"He has a fever. Kya we need warm water, some rags and blankets."
"Yes mom."
As Kya went to get the things, Katara noticed Korra and Nagaa peaking their heads from the door. The little girl appeared to be very concerned.
"Will he be okay?"
"He will be fine, little Avatar. I promise." Katara said with a reassuring smile, managing to ease Korra's mind a little bit.
A few hours later, Tozan finally woke up. He opened his eyes to find a strange ceiling and realized he was in a house. It was strange, he didn't remember even entering a house. Getting up, he scanned the room he was in and noticed a strange girl staring wide eyed at him from the door.
"Katara, Kya! He is awake!" The girl yelled as she ran out the door.
A few seconds later, the little girl came back with an elderly woman, a middle-aged one and a polar bear-dog pup. The elder one put a hand on his forehead.
"The fever seems to have gone down. Are you okay young man?"
"I am fine … Who are you people? Where am I?"
"My name is Katara, this is my daughter Kya and the little one is Korra. You are in mine and Kya's house."
"I am the one who saved your butt!" Korra said, pointing at herself with a cheeky smile.
"What do you mean?"
"I brought you here in Naaga, my polar bear dog, after you fell asleep standing."
"WHAT?! I did?"
"Yeah. It looked like you had been walking in the snow for a long time. Don't you remember?"
"I-I…" Tozan stammered, pulling on his hair as he tried to remember.
Kya, sensing the kid was getting tense, put a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"Do you know your name?" She asked.
"T-Tozan. It's Tozan"
"That's a really nice name." She said, with a soft smile trying to calm him down.
"Thanks." He responded, less tense.
"What is the last thing you remember Tozan?"
"I-I was at a camp with my parents and some of their friends. They said we had to come to the South Pole because they had to do something important, a job I guess. My mommy put me in bed, kissed me good night, I fell asleep … Then I woke up here."
Everyone stayed silent, processing what Tozan had just told them. They stayed like that until they heard a rumbling sound. They all looked at Tozan, who had in his head down and face red in embarrassment. Kya thought the sight was rather cute.
"Are you hungry?" Kya asked, to which he shyly nodded.
"I can make you a plate. Do you like seafood?" Katara asked, making him nod again but this time with excitement. It seemed he really liked seafood.
"I am hungry too!" Korra chimed in.
"Okay, I can make two plates."
Tozan and Korra were at the dinner table eating the plates Katara made them, both sharing some with Naaga. The older women were watching them from afar.
"So, what do you think mom?" Kya asked.
"His camp might have been attacked by the same people that came after Korra. He could have ran away and the trauma made him block his memories of the event."
"Makes sense." She said, and they both stayed silent for a while before Kya asked the awkward question. "So … What do we do about him."
"What do you mean? He is staying here until we can find his parents."
"Mom, you will be too busy training Korra. Who is gonna take care of him?"
Katara then looks at Kya with a mischievous smile.
"What, me!? You are kidding right mom!? I don't know how to take care of a kid! Why don't we ask Tezin? He always said he wanted children."
"He is busy enough as is in Republic City. Besides if his parents are still in the Pole isn't it better that he stays here? Am I sure his parents are also looking for him."
"You have a point but…"
"Look Kya, I know this will be a new experience but remember when you saw him? You didn't even asked questions, you just took him in your arms and made sure he was safe and comfortable. Those are motherly instincts. Besides, you won't be alone." Katara said, putting a hand on her daughters shoulders.
Kya then looked at Tozan's direction and when he noticed, he just made a big smile and waved at her. The sight was enough to make her heart melt.
"Okay, let's give this a go." She said.
The search for Tozan's parents went on for days. The days then became weeks, the weeks became months and before they knew it, a whole year passed when they finally gave up the search. If Kya was being honest, and she knew this probably made her an awful person, but she was kind of relieved they never found anything. By the end of first month she was already completely attached to Tozan, she viewed him as her son and after a while Tozan also started to call her mom.
During this period for some reason his spirit friends stopped visiting but it was okay, he found a new best friend in Korra. They were inseparable, always playing together and with Korra always dragging Tozan into trouble which he always had to get them out of, he didn't mind though, it was fun hanging with Korra.
And so the years went by with Tozan living happily his new family, not knowing of the dark presence still inside of him or that he was destined to change the world forever.
Hey guys! I am just gonna say rihgt off the bat that this fanfic was inspired by another one called "The Avatar's Red Lotus" so there are gonna be some similarities but its not gonna be a copy and past and the author gave me permission to publish it. If you are wondering why the spirits stopped approaching Tozan… well its because the part of vaatu living inside of him kinda of scares them away, if that makes. Also remember what Vaatu said that he had potencial in both fire and air because it will be importante later.