Avatar, The Last Airbender: The Guardian
Jul 11, 2010 13:07:51 GMT -8
Post by sunstar on Jul 11, 2010 13:07:51 GMT -8
here is the first part of my story. enjoy!
“Why do we have to cross the ocean here? Wouldn’t it be better to cross at Narrow Point?” Sokka complained.
“It will take too long, and it is where Fire Nation expects us to cross.” Aang turned in his seat to face Sokka, “We could cross anyway, and become Fire Lord Ozai’s next targets for target practice.”
Katara sighed. The boys had been going back and forth since waking up this morning. This was actually normal for Aang and Sokka. They were always arguing over something. At the same time, Katara enjoyed listening to her older brother and the Avatar sparing with words.
That’s right. Aang was the last of the Air Nomads, and he was the Avatar. Katara and Sokka had been out fishing when they found Aang trapped within an iceberg in the Avatar State along with Appa, his beloved flying Bison. Appa was carrying them across the ocean. They were headed to the north pole so that Aang and Katara could learn water bending. Katara was the only water bender from the southern water tribe, which is where Sokka and Katara lived.
Aang was actually 100 years older then Katara and Sokka. He looked and acted like a twelve year old boy. While being trapped in the ice, the Avatar State had kept him in an ageless slumber for 100 years. During that time, Fire Nation declared war upon the world. They knew the next Avatar was going to be an Air Nomad. They committed genocide, wiping out all known Air Nomads. Aang was deep in his 100 year coma within the iceberg so they missed him. They had nearly done the same to the southern water tribe, and were close to forcing the Earth Kingdom to surrender. Aang was currently racing against time to master the other elements so that he could put a stop to Fire Nation.
The sky was clear and deep blue. The water was nearly the same color. It was calm, and peaceful not to mention the wind. Wait, the wind?
“Aang, are you playing with the air again?” Katara asked, “Will you please cut that out?”
“Oh sure, the moment it gets windy, blame the Airbender.” Aang quipped, smiling, “Sorry, it’s not me, Katara.”
Appa groaned, fighting the wind.
“When did it get so windy?” Sokka was dashing about, grabbing bags and tying things down, “Aang, can’t you do anything?”
“I can’t bend wind!” Aang was now fighting to get Appa up over the squall.
“Hurricane!” Katara wailed.
“We’ll be out soon! Come on, Appa! Higher!” Aang urged the big bison up higher.
“Ack! There goes a bag!” Sokka tried desperately to grab the bag, which held Momo, their flying lemur, who was sleeping. Momo woke up with a shrill squeal. Sokka caught the bag.
A huge gust of wind knocked Appa sideways, causing Sokka to lose his balance and topple over the side of Appa’s saddle. Katara screamed. Aang forced Appa into a steep dive, looking for Sokka. He suddenly leapt off of Appa and dove for Sokka using his glider. As soon as their hands touched, Aang shot upwards. Katara kept Appa circling. Aang appeared, dragging Sokka after him as he raced toward her.
The wind screamed as the rain began to fall. Thunder and lightening warred over the sky. Aang reached Appa and was bringing Sokka up to the saddle when they were ripped apart in the wind. Sokka found himself falling again. Aang was nowhere in sight. He could only watch as Appa grew smaller and smaller.
Aang found himself being battered by the wind from all directions. Fear flooded him. Sokka was falling, Appa struggling against the wind, they were in grave danger. The familiar warmth of the Avatar State came over him. Sokka found himself landing softly on the ground. A large gust of wind propelled Appa up and out of the clouds. Katara looked for Aang and Sokka, but she didn’t see them.
Aang’s Avatar State left him on the ground. He collapsed in pure exhaustion. Sokka on the other hand, found himself in a small forest that provided him shelter from the storm. There was no sign of Aang or Katara. All Katara could do was circle Appa above the storm and wait for it to pass.
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Flames leapt up from her fingertips easily. Firebending was so easy for her. The flames were replaced by water, then air, and finally earth. She quickly stopped, glancing around guiltily. Hopefully, no one saw that. Her name was Hikari, and she wore the traditional outfit of a Firebender. She sighed. Last thing she needed was for someone to ask if she was the Avatar, again. The last Avatar had been a young Airbender. What was his name again? Aang? Hikari shook her head, and tripped over a stick. She would have ignored it if she had not seen the hand clinging to the stick. Slowly, she rose and studied the hand. It was attached to a wrist, and an arm… Wait. There was a body attached to the arm. Her eyes went wide as she recognized the Airbender. She saw the tattoos and realized that the Airbender was young, about 11 to 13 years. Could it be? Cautiously, she reached out to the hand clinging to the stick. It was warm. Then, the hand twitched, followed by a low groan. Hikari jumped backwards.
“Airbenders are terrified of Fire Nation, and he is probably the last one. it would be too odd to find a Waterbender here, so Earth Kingdom it is. I just hope he doesn’t ask to many questions.” Before Hikari could change, Aang woke up, and screamed. Hikari sighed.
“Would you calm down?” She asked.
“Why? You are the enemy!” Aang screamed, scrambling to his feet.
“If you would shut up and listen for five minutes, that would be nice. I know, I’m a Firebender, and yes, I’m from Fire Nation. I am not the enemy. Would you get back here?” Hikari rushed off after Aang, who didn’t get far as he was still weakened from being in the Avatar State.
“You need to rest, Avatar.” Hikari growled, “Don’t make me tie you down.”
“Ava-wait, no, I’m not the Avatar!” Aang said quickly.
“You are the Avatar. I’ve been taught to recognize the Ava- Would you stay put? I’ve been taught to recognize the Avatar because of what I am, and it is not just a Firebender!” Hikari glared at Aang, “I am the Guardian!”
“I’m not th- Guardian? What’s that?” Aang asked.
“You mean you don’t know? What did those Airbending monks teach you at that temple? The Guardian is the one who serves the Avatar and protects the land. I am also the last element before your current one.” Hikari stared in shock at Aang, “My great grandmother served your last reincarnation, Ruko, which brings me to the next question. Where have you been these last 100 years? Do you know what trouble you caused us Guardians? We had to pass ourselves off as you just to maintain the peace!”
“I was in an iceberg!” Aang cried out.
“I’m supposed to believe that?” Hikari asked.
“Hey! You did such a great job keeping the peace that Fire Nation is at war with the world!”
“That wasn’t my fault! Fire Nation planned this for a long time! They waited for you to die and then proceeded to wipe out the Air Nomads! They wanted you to die and stay that way! We guardians managed to find and protect you from Fire Nation by sending you to the Southern Air Temple!”
“That worked out so well that Fire Nation attacked it too!”
“My grandmother was there, Avatar!”
“Why didn’t she stop them then?”
“She tried! She passed herself off as you and let them take her! How was she supposed to know they would kill all Air Nomads in the temple? She escaped and hid inside Fire Nation, checking prisoners each day searching for you!”
“Why didn’t she search the icebergs for me?”
“There are no icebergs around Fire Nation! Think about it!”
Hikari’s head snapped up suddenly, startling Aang. Next thing he knew, he was being yanked to the ground.
“What was mrrf!” He found her hands covering his mouth.
“Shh! Not a word!” she hissed in his ear.
Aang stayed still. Footsteps pounded the ground as a voice screamed orders in a strange tongue. Suddenly, the air went hot as fire flew overhead. Aang squeezed his eyes shut. He prayed the Fire Bender wouldn’t see him or Hikari.
Hikari cursed mentally. Shadow Tribe didn’t venture this close to Fire Nation, ever. Shadow Tribe had an innate fear of Fire Nation, and avoided this area of their territory like the plague. Why would they come in this far? She dared a look. The Shadow tribesman looked skinny, but those of Shadow Tribe were always gaunt looking. Plus, they lived in the choicest range of their territory. Second of all, why was there a Fire Bender with the tribesman, and why were they speaking the ancient tongue? The two men moved on fifteen minutes later. Hikari stayed down for five minutes more. Only then she let Aang up.
“What was that for?” Aang growled.
“That was very unusual. Shadow Tribe fears Fire Nation. Why are they working together?” Hikari ignored him, “This isn’t good.”
“Would you mind cluing me in?” Aang screamed.
“Oh sorry, Aang. I forgot. Those air bending monks never taught you anything important. That gaunt looking guy was Shadow Tribe, and the red and black guy was a Fire Bender. They were looking for us.” Hikari replied, “Shadow Tribe fears Fire Nation, and they are an infection on our world. I am responsible for healing that infection. Got it?”
“Wouldn’t that fall to me, the Avatar, to heal that infection?” Aang asked.
“The Avatar has no business fighting Shadow Tribe.” Hikari went bitter, “It was how you died. You fought them, but they infected you badly. We couldn’t save you. It is why we guardians fight Shadow Tribe.” She decided to tell him as little as she could. What happened to Ruko would not happen to Aang. It could not happen, no mater what.
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The storm cleared up quickly, but Sokka wasn’t thrilled. He was starving. The bag Momo was sleeping in held nothing food wise. Momo was currently perched on his shoulder, whistling and chattering away. Sokka was doing the walking, and he wasn’t thrilled about that ether.
“Of all things to get stuck with, I get stuck with you.” Sokka complained. Momo stopped chattering, and gave him a quizzical look, “Unless you want to be dinner, I’d suggest you find food. What’s with the look? I don’t know what’s edible! Except you, that is.” Momo cocked its head, and suddenly leapt up into the trees. “And now you abandon me. Just my luck.”
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Katara kept Appa circling above the storm clouds. The storm passed quickly. She had a clear view to the water below, not to mention an island. Wait, an island? How far off course were they? Katara decided to wait until she got Sokka and Aang back to figure that one out. Aang was great with maps. Some people believed that Air Benders were born with an innate ability to read maps. Aang was no exception. Early in their journey, Aang let Sokka handle navigation and quickly learned that Sokka and maps don’t mix. It took Aang three days to get them back on track. Katara recalled leaning over his shoulder to see the map. Aang had then taught her how to read the map. An Air Benders map was not the same as the ones Katara or Sokka would use. For one thing, Aang’s map was very accurate, and extremely detailed. Also, it showed the path of what Aang had called the Air Belt. this was a path of air that rushed just above the clouds. Traveling the Air Belt, one could cross the world in a matter of days.
“Why do we have to cross the ocean here? Wouldn’t it be better to cross at Narrow Point?” Sokka complained.
“It will take too long, and it is where Fire Nation expects us to cross.” Aang turned in his seat to face Sokka, “We could cross anyway, and become Fire Lord Ozai’s next targets for target practice.”
Katara sighed. The boys had been going back and forth since waking up this morning. This was actually normal for Aang and Sokka. They were always arguing over something. At the same time, Katara enjoyed listening to her older brother and the Avatar sparing with words.
That’s right. Aang was the last of the Air Nomads, and he was the Avatar. Katara and Sokka had been out fishing when they found Aang trapped within an iceberg in the Avatar State along with Appa, his beloved flying Bison. Appa was carrying them across the ocean. They were headed to the north pole so that Aang and Katara could learn water bending. Katara was the only water bender from the southern water tribe, which is where Sokka and Katara lived.
Aang was actually 100 years older then Katara and Sokka. He looked and acted like a twelve year old boy. While being trapped in the ice, the Avatar State had kept him in an ageless slumber for 100 years. During that time, Fire Nation declared war upon the world. They knew the next Avatar was going to be an Air Nomad. They committed genocide, wiping out all known Air Nomads. Aang was deep in his 100 year coma within the iceberg so they missed him. They had nearly done the same to the southern water tribe, and were close to forcing the Earth Kingdom to surrender. Aang was currently racing against time to master the other elements so that he could put a stop to Fire Nation.
The sky was clear and deep blue. The water was nearly the same color. It was calm, and peaceful not to mention the wind. Wait, the wind?
“Aang, are you playing with the air again?” Katara asked, “Will you please cut that out?”
“Oh sure, the moment it gets windy, blame the Airbender.” Aang quipped, smiling, “Sorry, it’s not me, Katara.”
Appa groaned, fighting the wind.
“When did it get so windy?” Sokka was dashing about, grabbing bags and tying things down, “Aang, can’t you do anything?”
“I can’t bend wind!” Aang was now fighting to get Appa up over the squall.
“Hurricane!” Katara wailed.
“We’ll be out soon! Come on, Appa! Higher!” Aang urged the big bison up higher.
“Ack! There goes a bag!” Sokka tried desperately to grab the bag, which held Momo, their flying lemur, who was sleeping. Momo woke up with a shrill squeal. Sokka caught the bag.
A huge gust of wind knocked Appa sideways, causing Sokka to lose his balance and topple over the side of Appa’s saddle. Katara screamed. Aang forced Appa into a steep dive, looking for Sokka. He suddenly leapt off of Appa and dove for Sokka using his glider. As soon as their hands touched, Aang shot upwards. Katara kept Appa circling. Aang appeared, dragging Sokka after him as he raced toward her.
The wind screamed as the rain began to fall. Thunder and lightening warred over the sky. Aang reached Appa and was bringing Sokka up to the saddle when they were ripped apart in the wind. Sokka found himself falling again. Aang was nowhere in sight. He could only watch as Appa grew smaller and smaller.
Aang found himself being battered by the wind from all directions. Fear flooded him. Sokka was falling, Appa struggling against the wind, they were in grave danger. The familiar warmth of the Avatar State came over him. Sokka found himself landing softly on the ground. A large gust of wind propelled Appa up and out of the clouds. Katara looked for Aang and Sokka, but she didn’t see them.
Aang’s Avatar State left him on the ground. He collapsed in pure exhaustion. Sokka on the other hand, found himself in a small forest that provided him shelter from the storm. There was no sign of Aang or Katara. All Katara could do was circle Appa above the storm and wait for it to pass.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flames leapt up from her fingertips easily. Firebending was so easy for her. The flames were replaced by water, then air, and finally earth. She quickly stopped, glancing around guiltily. Hopefully, no one saw that. Her name was Hikari, and she wore the traditional outfit of a Firebender. She sighed. Last thing she needed was for someone to ask if she was the Avatar, again. The last Avatar had been a young Airbender. What was his name again? Aang? Hikari shook her head, and tripped over a stick. She would have ignored it if she had not seen the hand clinging to the stick. Slowly, she rose and studied the hand. It was attached to a wrist, and an arm… Wait. There was a body attached to the arm. Her eyes went wide as she recognized the Airbender. She saw the tattoos and realized that the Airbender was young, about 11 to 13 years. Could it be? Cautiously, she reached out to the hand clinging to the stick. It was warm. Then, the hand twitched, followed by a low groan. Hikari jumped backwards.
“Airbenders are terrified of Fire Nation, and he is probably the last one. it would be too odd to find a Waterbender here, so Earth Kingdom it is. I just hope he doesn’t ask to many questions.” Before Hikari could change, Aang woke up, and screamed. Hikari sighed.
“Would you calm down?” She asked.
“Why? You are the enemy!” Aang screamed, scrambling to his feet.
“If you would shut up and listen for five minutes, that would be nice. I know, I’m a Firebender, and yes, I’m from Fire Nation. I am not the enemy. Would you get back here?” Hikari rushed off after Aang, who didn’t get far as he was still weakened from being in the Avatar State.
“You need to rest, Avatar.” Hikari growled, “Don’t make me tie you down.”
“Ava-wait, no, I’m not the Avatar!” Aang said quickly.
“You are the Avatar. I’ve been taught to recognize the Ava- Would you stay put? I’ve been taught to recognize the Avatar because of what I am, and it is not just a Firebender!” Hikari glared at Aang, “I am the Guardian!”
“I’m not th- Guardian? What’s that?” Aang asked.
“You mean you don’t know? What did those Airbending monks teach you at that temple? The Guardian is the one who serves the Avatar and protects the land. I am also the last element before your current one.” Hikari stared in shock at Aang, “My great grandmother served your last reincarnation, Ruko, which brings me to the next question. Where have you been these last 100 years? Do you know what trouble you caused us Guardians? We had to pass ourselves off as you just to maintain the peace!”
“I was in an iceberg!” Aang cried out.
“I’m supposed to believe that?” Hikari asked.
“Hey! You did such a great job keeping the peace that Fire Nation is at war with the world!”
“That wasn’t my fault! Fire Nation planned this for a long time! They waited for you to die and then proceeded to wipe out the Air Nomads! They wanted you to die and stay that way! We guardians managed to find and protect you from Fire Nation by sending you to the Southern Air Temple!”
“That worked out so well that Fire Nation attacked it too!”
“My grandmother was there, Avatar!”
“Why didn’t she stop them then?”
“She tried! She passed herself off as you and let them take her! How was she supposed to know they would kill all Air Nomads in the temple? She escaped and hid inside Fire Nation, checking prisoners each day searching for you!”
“Why didn’t she search the icebergs for me?”
“There are no icebergs around Fire Nation! Think about it!”
Hikari’s head snapped up suddenly, startling Aang. Next thing he knew, he was being yanked to the ground.
“What was mrrf!” He found her hands covering his mouth.
“Shh! Not a word!” she hissed in his ear.
Aang stayed still. Footsteps pounded the ground as a voice screamed orders in a strange tongue. Suddenly, the air went hot as fire flew overhead. Aang squeezed his eyes shut. He prayed the Fire Bender wouldn’t see him or Hikari.
Hikari cursed mentally. Shadow Tribe didn’t venture this close to Fire Nation, ever. Shadow Tribe had an innate fear of Fire Nation, and avoided this area of their territory like the plague. Why would they come in this far? She dared a look. The Shadow tribesman looked skinny, but those of Shadow Tribe were always gaunt looking. Plus, they lived in the choicest range of their territory. Second of all, why was there a Fire Bender with the tribesman, and why were they speaking the ancient tongue? The two men moved on fifteen minutes later. Hikari stayed down for five minutes more. Only then she let Aang up.
“What was that for?” Aang growled.
“That was very unusual. Shadow Tribe fears Fire Nation. Why are they working together?” Hikari ignored him, “This isn’t good.”
“Would you mind cluing me in?” Aang screamed.
“Oh sorry, Aang. I forgot. Those air bending monks never taught you anything important. That gaunt looking guy was Shadow Tribe, and the red and black guy was a Fire Bender. They were looking for us.” Hikari replied, “Shadow Tribe fears Fire Nation, and they are an infection on our world. I am responsible for healing that infection. Got it?”
“Wouldn’t that fall to me, the Avatar, to heal that infection?” Aang asked.
“The Avatar has no business fighting Shadow Tribe.” Hikari went bitter, “It was how you died. You fought them, but they infected you badly. We couldn’t save you. It is why we guardians fight Shadow Tribe.” She decided to tell him as little as she could. What happened to Ruko would not happen to Aang. It could not happen, no mater what.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The storm cleared up quickly, but Sokka wasn’t thrilled. He was starving. The bag Momo was sleeping in held nothing food wise. Momo was currently perched on his shoulder, whistling and chattering away. Sokka was doing the walking, and he wasn’t thrilled about that ether.
“Of all things to get stuck with, I get stuck with you.” Sokka complained. Momo stopped chattering, and gave him a quizzical look, “Unless you want to be dinner, I’d suggest you find food. What’s with the look? I don’t know what’s edible! Except you, that is.” Momo cocked its head, and suddenly leapt up into the trees. “And now you abandon me. Just my luck.”
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Katara kept Appa circling above the storm clouds. The storm passed quickly. She had a clear view to the water below, not to mention an island. Wait, an island? How far off course were they? Katara decided to wait until she got Sokka and Aang back to figure that one out. Aang was great with maps. Some people believed that Air Benders were born with an innate ability to read maps. Aang was no exception. Early in their journey, Aang let Sokka handle navigation and quickly learned that Sokka and maps don’t mix. It took Aang three days to get them back on track. Katara recalled leaning over his shoulder to see the map. Aang had then taught her how to read the map. An Air Benders map was not the same as the ones Katara or Sokka would use. For one thing, Aang’s map was very accurate, and extremely detailed. Also, it showed the path of what Aang had called the Air Belt. this was a path of air that rushed just above the clouds. Traveling the Air Belt, one could cross the world in a matter of days.