A/N: I don't own the characters except my OCs. All other characters belong to Nick/Avatar Studios.

1 BE (Before Empire)

Fire Nation Capital, Fire Nation

Timing was such a funny thing. It was both expected and unexpected, constant in its rhythm, yet never truly the same. It was fascinating, really, how quickly things could escalate when one doesn't anticipate it. One minute you could be going on about your life, living normally, maintaining a routine and being, well, you. Then, the very next minute, you could be about to embark on an assault that would be unprecedented for years to come.

Fire Lord Sozin, the ruler of the Fire Nation, was in the middle of such a time. Since ascending the throne over forty years ago, he has come to see more and more just how important influence and power was. Power was something he had a lot of, and his nation was thriving, his people were happy, and it was a time of prosperity. But was that enough?

Looking out into the dark sky on his private balcony overlooking the gorgeous countryside, he felt recently that, perhaps, it wasn't enough. It may never be enough. But I still want to try. I want the entire world to see and share in the greatness of the Fire Nation.

He had been patient, surprisingly so, in waiting on to ensure that this vision of global wealth and success was realized. He wasn't stupid - no, he couldn't be, otherwise how would he have led his country for as long as he has? He knew that he couldn't just go ahead and blaze through the other nations and provinces. Yes, he has long since infiltrated weaker spots, namely within the Earth Kingdom, and has worked his way in building strong alliances that would allow for further control and establishing more Fire Nation colonies. This has, of course, ruffled more than a few feathers. There were whispers, rumblings of a war which he dismissed as easily as they had come.

Why couldn't people see that global unity was actually a good thing? Everyone would be better off; trades would be better, education would improve, cohabitation would be simpler, and the richness of the culture and traditions that the Fire Nation had to offer would be readily available to everyone. No, this wasn't a war, or at least it didn't have to pan out that way.

So why is it that they are determined to resist? Why does it need to come to this?

He frowned, his hands clasped behind his back as he continued to admire the quiet night. Things would be so much easier if everyone could see what he saw, and would be willing to cooperate. While in theory he could stage it in a way where people won't antagonistic or view him as such, he knew well enough that there were certain obstacles that he needed to overcome first.

And one such obstacle had been overcome, and not in the way he expected.

His long time friend, ally, and the current Avatar, Roku, was deathly ill. No one knew for sure what the cause was- his age perhaps? But that made little sense seeing that Sozin himself was the same age as the elderly Avatar and he had no complications thus far. But then again, he wasn't the Avatar, the one person that was expected to maintain peace and balance amongst all persons of all nations. Surely that type of responsibility would surely get to anyone, and it very well could be the stresses of such a calling were weighing down on his old friend.

He hadn't seen Roku in years, and their last meeting had been less than pleasant. They didn't see...eye to eye on the matter on expanding Fire Nation territory. Which, in hindsight, the aged firelord could understand in some way. But what he couldn't understand was why Roku, a born Fire Nation citizen and someone he's known since they were children, could be so... unrelenting in joining in his quest. At the very least he could have served as a sort of facilitator to ensure more peaceful resolutions than ones currently existing, but he outright refused to do this, claiming that the four nations needed to stay separate for the sake of balance.

Their confrontation had been fierce, tense, and for a split second, the firelord was certain that the Avatar would have killed him. But he didn't. Instead, he warned him about his attempts on the virtue of their past friendship, but promised he wouldn't hold back if such a thing happened again. Sozin had been reeling from the encounter ever since, bristling in simmering rage and hurt at this betrayal. He knew that he could just get rid of Roku, but seeing how popular and loved he was by the people, he knew doing so would risk an insurrection and unrest. That, and the fact that keeping him alive proved to be more useful than having him dead. Even though he was clearly staunch on his position and would not hesitate to protect what he felt was right, Roku was, in a weird way, insurance for the Fire Nation, in the sense that currently no one would think to attack them as long as he was alive. After all, he is the Avatar, and based on what he had said way back then, he would deal with allies and enemies alike when necessary; attacking his birth nation would surely be seen as an affront.

Regardless, if his current condition was anything to go by, it appeared that that favor wouldn't last for much longer. As bittersweet as it was, it did provide Sozin with an opening. He couldn't safely kill Roku without retaliation, but if he died on his own, then there'd be no one to contest him. "And once Roku's dead, I can finally move my plan along." His overall plan was rather simple, but the execution of it would take time. And force. With his military and the backing of his allies, the expansions should go by without much hinderance. But there was another matter. When Roku eventually passes, the Avatar would be reborn - he knew this fact quite well, as did everyone. He also knew they'd be born as an airbender, following the natural cycle of the mystical being.

And that was a big problem. He couldn't risk the new Avatar coming along and foiling his plans. Since Roku's condition has been worsening, Sozin has amped up preparations for what he knew would be a massive invasion to prevent the future Avatar's meddling. Lately the Air Nomads, who are known to never be in one place for too long, with their temples scattered across the four points of the globe, have been gathering together more. He knew some of their customs and what these gatherings were meant to entail. But - and he didn't know if it was just because he was paying so much attention - it seemed like these festivals or whatever they were, were occurring on a more frequent basis.

Strange as it were, he decided he couldn't dwell too much on that; what mattered now was developing a strategy to ensure that an airbender Avatar would be no threat to him, even it that meant launching a full scale genocidal attack. Once he was able to pinpoint a time following Roku's death where the majority of air nomads would be in one place, he'll strike. As it stood, the air nomads were more primitive in terms of weaponry and defense systems. They had their temples up in mountainous regions around the world, most of which were well hidden. But they couldn't hide forever. He'd find them, along with the new Avatar, and squash any prospect of retribution.

Sighing, the firelord suddenly felt tired. The night was quiet, still, and he felt oddly calm in this setting. "Soon, the world will experience an era like never before," he mused to himself. He stepped away to go back indoors, the night wind starting to chill him through his light tunic. But just as he took a few steps, he heard an odd sound. He stopped and turned around, only to see nothing. Then, he heard it again, but this time in another direction beside him. He quickly spun around, his eyes scanning the area. "Who's there?" he called out. Silence.

Shaking his head, he made his way back inside. As he walked down the empty corridor, a gush of wind hit him behind the neck. This time, he spun around poised to attack, a ball of fire already forming in his hand.

"Come out! Whoever you are!" He stayed in position, carefully looking around for a possible intruder. A minute went by, and with nothing happening, he convinced himself that it was his imagination.

He allowed the flame to die out in his hand before continuing on. As soon as he turned around, he was startled to see someone standing there. It was a man, dressed in an orange hooded robe that completely covered his body, his face obscured by the shadows. He wore a medallion around his neck, but the designs weren't like any he was accustomed to seeing; it was clearly Air Nomadic in nature based on the designs, but something about the colouring was off. He was just standing there, not moving, not saying anything. Sozin, getting over his initial surprise, angrily demanded to know who he was. "How did you get in here? How dare you sneak up on me?" The man still didn't say a word, and for a brief, foolish moment, the firelord thought that he was some sort of statue that had somehow appeared in his quarters without him noticing.

That is, until he finally did speak. "Firelord Sozin. I know what you're doing." Sozin was taken aback by this statement, the mysterious intruder's flat but deep annunciation sending pinpricks of terror through him. "What? Who are you? And what is the meaning of this?" There was another pause, pregnant and eerie. The stranger spoke again, this time his tone eerily calm. "I know what you plan to do. I know what your goal is. You won't be able to get rid of us." Confusion turned to rage as this man had the audacity to insult him this way. "I don't know who you think you are, but I have already won. This war is almost over, and fire will be the portion of many, starting with you!"

He shot a fiery blast at the intruder, who swiftly dodged it before blasting a powerful air ball at him. Sozin was hit, and was sent flying back, but managed to regain his footing and shoot two consecutive fire blasts at him. The man managed to dodge the first one, gracefully dissipating the second one with a swipe of his foot. Then, he sent an arch towards the firelord, who barely managed to sidestep it just in time. Sozin was becoming angrier, and failed to notice that none of the guards seemed to be hearing the commotion. The airbender leapt into the air, executing a clean flip as he continued his onslaught. No matter how hard he tried, it seemed like he couldn't hit the elusive intruder, who glided and floated around him effortlessly. He ended up behind the enraged firelord, and before Sozin could even react, he sent him flying with a powerful blast that had him hitting the wall square on.

The marble floor beneath him cracked as the airbender's gusts send debris flying. Tapestries were scorched, and the air was heavy with smoke and heat.

Dazed, Sozin rubbed his head and groaned. Recovering from the hit, he was furious. "How dare you!? You will be the first of your kind to taste my wrath! None of you will spared for this!" Placing his hands in front of him, he used his rage to fuel him and create a large wall of pure fire, sending it towards the airbender. To his shock, the airbender countered this with an attack of his own, splicing the fire wall with an equally strong air strike. Flames licked at the ornate draperies, and shadows danced along the walls like ghouls seeking whom they may devour.

Sozin was left utterly baffled by this turn of events. "What kind if air nomad are you!?" He had never encountered one that held such raw power and control before, brushing off his attacks as though they were mere nuisances. Was this some sort of outlier? A rogue? Some sort of spirit even?

Panting, Sozin gritted his teeth and geared up to unleash a torrent of attacks, not caring about the destruction of his property. However, just as he was about to do this, he suddenly felt like the air around him was constricting. He got to his knees, grasping his throat as more of the air in his lungs seemed to escape him. He couldn't breathe, couldn't make a sound other than to choke and gag.

The airbender stood there, his hands in front of him. "I didn't want to have to do this. But you pose too much of a threat to the world. You want to end an entire culture, a people who have done nothing to you, all for your personal gain." Sozin's eyes bulged in his head, tears pricking his eyes and clouding his vision as he knelt there, struggling for air. No...it can't end this way...I am Sozin...I am the Firelord...I am- His thoughts fragmented as the air around thinned, painfully slow, the very life being pulled out of him. He struggled to get up as the figure loomed closer, the medallion on his chest gleaming faintly in the firelight.

"Your crimes against humanity can't go unpunished," the mysterious figure continued, his voice calm but unyielding. "We have been merciful for too long, but actions have proven you untrustworthy. The winds carry whispers of justice, Firelord Sozin. You sought to silence us, but it is you who will be silenced." He made a slow, gentle upward motion with his hand, and, at that moment, the firelord collapsed on to the floor, his breath taken from him forever.

The airbender stood there a moment, his face still shrouded in mystery as he gazed at the corpse at his feet. Then, as silently as he had appeared, he quickly vanished again like a wisp of smoke, as though he had never been there to begin with. The next morning, Firelord Sozin was found dead in his quarters. People assumed it was a heart attack, for no one could even begin to imagine the true horror of what had unfolded. And what was about to unfold all over the world. While the Fire Nation mourned the loss of its great leader, they were blind to the winds that whispered of retribution for the crimes committed by their people.

Just three days later, Avatar Roku passed peacefully in his sleep. Now most of the world mourned him, as he was truly a great Avatar for all and had many remarkable accomplishments under his belt. But with his death came the clouds.

However, as these two high profile deaths shook the world to its core, something was brewing underneath. Storm clouds were approaching, ominous and heavy. Some of the more superstitious types believed that the deaths of the Firelord and Avatar happening so close together was a bad omen. Across the world the skies darkened, the air seemed heavier, colder, haunting. Things just seemed so wrong, so off. A storm was approaching, one that would rock the very foundations of all four nations, and the world was about to witness a change unlike anything ever known to mankind.

A/N: Hi! I completely forgot I had this account lol. I used to be kind of active on here and found a couple of (unfinished) fanfics that I wrote on here. Lately I've been getting back into ATLA since it was and still is one of my favourite shows. I've always had this sort of idea where the airbenders are the aggressors but never had the time or inspiration to write on it. So, here I am, living out one of my wildest dreams lol. I don't know how many chapters this would have, but I'm gonna say now that I'll probably be inconsistent with uploading. Sorry about that! But I'm going to push to finish this one, no matter how long it takes, and I hope you guys enjoy it!