Fire and Air
On Ji x Aang
I do not own Avatar: the Last rights go toMichael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. This was my first story I ever published on FanFiction. The original idea was not to have this thing be a ten plus year work in progress that gets updated whenever I feel like doing it. I am easily distracted, sorry. I should make an actual schedule for this and kept it. I am very sorry for those who wait for updates, I don't think everything is fully plugged it in my brain.
Chapter 1 Kuzon
One person can change your entire life in an instant. It doesn't even have to be a person. All it needs is one random encounter and your life can have a completely different outcome. It really is crazy but absolutely true. For me it was a boy named Kuzon. He was a classmate for a brief time at my elementary school. Kuzon was an interesting guy, as he had his own way of doing things. I am forgetting something important I think, oh right I haven't introduced myself. I am On Ji, a minor character who got involved by accident into the greatest adventure, beyond my wildest imagination.
I was born in the Fire Nation, a chain of volcanic islands on the western edge of the world. Located right on the equator, the weather is always warm, sunny and humid. We have fantastic beaches, the worlds largest supply of gold, and iron. The Fire Nation is supposedly the greatest nation on the planet. The other two nations would kill me for saying that because the Fire Nation was involved in a century long war with the other two nations, the Water Tribe and the Earth Kingdom. The version of the story I was taught in school was this: The Fire Nation was so successful, advanced and cultured that it was our duty to spread that across the globe. The harsh reality that I learned from meeting citizens from the other nations: the Fire Nation Military was spreading Fire Nation culture through violent and bloody conquest of every other nation on the planet. There are four elements and originally four matching nations: Water, Earth, Fire and Air. The opening shot of the war was using the power of the Great Comet, later renamed Sozin's Comet, to exterminate the Air Nomads, and killing the Avatar, master of all four elements, who was a threat to my nation. So that's all the background info. Well the abridged version.
Today was just another average day at school, nothing interesting happening here. Just as I started to zone out, the classroom door blasted open and two Home Guard soldiers pushed a boy into the room. He looked very average, short brown hair, medium height, wearing the black and red fire nation school uniform. Then suddenly the average appearance stopped, bright grey eyes and the belt worn like a headband in contrast to everybody else in the room.
When asked why he was wearing the belt over his forehead, he said that his name was Kuzon and he had an injury or something he wanted covered. Well that wasn't dramatic or anything, the school rumour mill will be very active. He definitely was an interesting subject. First, he was from the Colonies; Second, his happy optimistic outlook; Third nothing about Kuzon made sense.
For instance, he claimed that he was from the Fire Nation Colonies along the western Earth Kingdom coast. When asked which one he gave a number. A number, Fire Nation Colonies are named not numbered. Another thing in music class, he started dancing while playing the tsungi horn, nobody dances like that in the Fire Nation or the Colonies last time I checked. Then he stated that the Air Nation had no army and were peaceful monks or something in history class. The only way to know that however was to go to the Air Temples in person and no one can reach them. Actually there are several ways into one, they don't tell the general public.
"¿By the way, I never introduced myself have I?" I asked him as we stood outside after school.
He turns around giving me a cheerful smile. "No you didn't, but who cares as you can do that now."
"Ok on that note then, I am On Ji."
"I'm Kuzon. Nice to meet ya On Ji."
I smile brightly, "¿So what are the Colonies like? I've never been outside the Fire Nation. Ok I have never left this island. But I do want to travel the world." Yes I know it is unlikely. Hey, a girl can fantasize. Maybe I'll join the Navy so I can see the world. The Navy, unlike the Army, is not restricted to females.
Kuzon grins grey eyes sparkling, "Oh it's different than here I can tell you that. And if you really want to travel, then go for it. And what do you mean only men can serve in the Army. That doesn't make any sense. Logically speaking, ¿don't you want every available person for military service?"
I wanted to continue our conversation but we were interrupted by the school bully, Hide. The arrogant jerk stormed over and warned Kuzon to stay away from me as I was according to Hide, "off limits". Kuzon gave Hide a cold, questioning glance. Then Hide just attacks Kuzon. I'm just standing there right next to Kuzon who is dodging everything Hide throws at him without breaking a sweat. It was unbelievable watching Kuzon move like move flowed into the next in an intricate dance, like a leaf in the wind. After Kuzon had Hide tripping over himself without doing absolutely anything, I asked him how he did that. Kuzon said that it just came natural to him and then he held my hand and said he'll tell me later. I walked home with my face as red as the outfit I wore. When I came home my parentsasked about school and I just said that nothing interesting had happened as usual.
The next day at school, Kuzon told me and my friends that he was going to throw a dance party in one of the caves on the island. It sounded fun and I spent the rest of the day wondering how I was supposed to go to a dance party but not knowing how to dance. However some quick notes on Fire Nation culture, we are a volcanic island chain with a very centralized government and population, very militaristic and we don't freely express ourselves outside controlled military stuff or festivals. Those cultural festivals are fun but can get extremely wild, as it's a big release valve for us. Also as a culture we don't dance, as it is forbidden. I wanted to go to the party as it does sound fun. First I had to leave my house undetected. For this I had to do the one logical thing: sneak out. After I heard my parents go to bed, I opened my bedroom window a little letting in the cool night air and slid down the roof onto the side path that went around the house. Then climb the low wall and then after all that, finally go the dance party. A little over intensive I know, but as my mom is very overprotective of me and Dad just passively goes along with it, I took no chances. Plus it was really fun playing ninja.
When I got to the cave, it looked really cool with streamers and music and about half the school present. Kuzon showed us some apparently classical Fire Nation dances I have never heard of and then after that he danced with me. ¡Yes that's right, me! When he finished showing us one called the "The Phoenix Flight", he landed right in front of me. My friends pushed me forward and Kuzon grabbed my hand and lead me out onto the dance floor. It was an amazing experience as I moved around taping my feet to the beat as we went along. Kuzon told me I was a very good dancer and I immediately flushed bright red. I didn't have a clue what I was doing. I was getting a little annoyed that I always turned red whenever Kuzon spoke to me. He then goes and dances with a tall, tanned, blue-eyed girl and they really rocked it. They were totally in sync, moving like water in this complex routine. I am NOT jealous. Kuzon is a very good dancer, much more fluid than the militaristic marches we are taught in school.
However, I should have known that it would not last forever as soon Hide and his minions along with the Headmaster appeared into the cave. Everybody panicked scattering like mice as we realized we were caught in the act of an illegal dance party. Kuzon just simply ran deeper into the cave. I sprinted after him. The moment I got to him huffing and puffing, I saw a rock wall rise up behind me sealing us off from the rest of the cave with a low rumble. So Kuzon is an earthbender, not a firebender like I was. I'm sure there's a good explanation. Well he is a Colonial.
I was absolutely shocked when Kuzon walked out onto the beach and jumped onto a giant mound of white fur. He motioned me to get onto the flying bison with a few other people all looking around my age. "¿Wait, get onto what?" I asked confused. When he said to climb the flat beaver tail of an actual flying bison, I started laughing but got on anyway. At this point why not, ¿when am I ever gonna get another chance like this? I take Kuzon's advice from yesterday: just go. "Wow a real flying bison, I had no idea they still existed. My biology teacher says they were just legends. Ha shows what she knows." Ok that's not entirely accurate. More like a century of lies from the Central Government.
I heard him yell, "¡Appa, yip yip! You're going to love this." And we were flying, yes flying over the beach and the Fire Nation. From the air the view was absolutely breathtaking. My town looked so small from up here. I can see the beach and the whole island. I immediately asked him what was going on and he just turned around and winked at me. "You are probably going to ask how this is possible but I'm not going to tell you, I'm going to show you. You asked me why I always wore a headband. And this is why." Kuzon said dramatically. Taking off his famous headband, I was just staring at the blue arrow on his head in absolute shock. I was not looking at Kuzon from the colonies; I was looking at Kuzon the Airbender and Avatar.
¡The Avatar! ¡Eek! I back away very fast from Kuzon in total fear. In the Fire Nation, we learned that the Avatar was this all-powerful being who would destroy the Fire Nation and kill us all without mercy. The Fire Lord is viewed as an all-knowing god and the Avatar is seen as this scary monster. If the legends are true then the Avatar State is worth fearing. I back into a firebending stance to defend myself. I am probably gonna die, fine then I will die with honor. One of the other travelers suddenly launches a boomerang at me and I shoot a fire stream at him and then darkness…
I open my eyes and I hear voices, "…Ha knew we shouldn't trust her. She's Fire Nation. ¿Why did you even bring her on board? She's a massive liability. You idiots realize we are on a top secret mission of absolute importance." A boy with deep blue eyes, short black hair, and bronze skin is arguing with Kuzon over me for some reason. However I tune them out only hearing snippets like: trust, Fire Nation, evil, spy, friendship, connection... It seems that the blue-eyed boy doesn't like the Fire Nation or me for some reason.
Angry at being ignored and talked about like I'm not here, "Hey I can hear you nitwits, may I actually speak for myself." Turning to the boy with blue eyes I ask, "¿What's your problem with me, why don't you like me, hmm?"
"Your Fire Nation, that's all you need to know." The bitter way he said Fire Nation implied that he wasn't from here or the Colonies and that for some reason he hated anyone from the Fire Nation or Firebenders.
"By the way, ¿where are we flying to anyway? I would like to know for curiosity sake. I have been dragged into this mess on your advice Kuzon, if that your real name." I asked him.
"Yea Twinkle Toes, ¿where're we going? And hey you picked up a new friend." said a girl with pale jade eyes. When I asked her name, she turned to me and introduced herself as Toph. Not looking anywhere in particular, Toph then told me who the other two were, a brother and sister named Sokka and Katara. Oh, she is who Kuzon or Aang or whatever his real name pulled those crazy moves with. The group went silent when I asked where in the Fire Nation they were from. Sokka turned to me saying as he sharpened his boomerang, "I don't trust you, so I'm not gonna tell you anything you murderess." Rude. I wondered why he called me that. I got the answer a few days later, and wow what an eye opening moment that was.
We continued to travel the island archipelago of the Fire Nation. It was an adventure of a lifetime, as I had never left my small outer island before. I have had dreams of travelling the world and visiting Ember Island and Yu Dao and all those other places I had only read about in school. Time for the greatest adventure of my life.
Authors note: It's been 10 years (eek!) since I started this project that has been on and off for years. That ends right now, as I recently started re-watching the series and wow, I forgot how awesome this show is. Plus with Netflix dropping the live action version, and it was amazing. I haven't been this excited in years. I think it is time I restarted this project. Also today is Febrary 21 2025 the 20thAnniversary! Oh and I'm importing the upside down puncuations from Spanish.