Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The snow fell the day I was born. At least that's what Dad said. They named me Ko, which is right after Ice and I was really small and weak, they were worried I wouldn't last the night but here I am. Now, Dad looks at me across the way, his cool blue eyes meeting my dark blue. I'm soaked and tired. He's burly and more muscular than I could ever be. His coat's a gray n' blue furred style, his long dark hair tied back from his face, a little beard on his face. Dad's been trying to get me to be a great Waterbender like he is. Ever since I could walk he's tried.

"Gah! I can't get it! I tried! I tried but I can't!" I yell out, just to him and not at him. He puts his warm glove on my soaked face. Smiling at me with his wrinkles crinkling a bit. He's always been strong and it's just not fair.

"Ko, look at me." he ruffles my hair, "You're still new at this. You won't always get it the first time." he helps me onto my feet and takes his stance. His hair billowing along with his flowing movements.

"See, with Waterbending, you have to flow as Water does. But we need to find a way to work with your problem." he dances along, the flowing movements calling a snake of water to flow between his hands, it works gently, swirling with his body.

His fingers dance with the water, his arms gently flow along with it, and there's a moment when I know it's all beautiful in the sunlight, glittering and pretty, the snake shape flowin' into a ball. I know what's comin' now.

"Alright, your turn. Flow with it, kid." He gently tosses it my way and I close my eyes, holding out my hand, the water stops, almost scared, the ball shakin', but I start. My arms flow the best they can, eyes closed and focusin' on the movements.

Steady… steady… gently… they're shaky, but I hear it goin'. It's still lettin' go of some of its water.

Dad's voice rises, "There we go, Ko! That's it!"

I open my eyes, and my movements keep going, "Dad, I'm doing it! I'm-" right as I get excited, it all falls apart. The water ball splashes down onto the ice, and just before Dad could react there's an intense burnin' in my chest before flames burst outta my mouth an' I'm punchin' the air.

Flames burst outta my fists too, and I fall on my butt. Dad gawks at me before running to me and scooping me into his arms, "Ko… kiddo, it's okay." he soothes, and my Mom comes running out of our home.

Her dark hair and lighter blue eyes seem to be snappin' around like she's trying to find out what the big woosh was.

"Honos! What did you do?!" she snaps.

"Nothing, Yosih! Just… Ko, just… show your mother?" he motions for the wall sconces are still flickering and burning but when I lift my hands they end up… WHOA! Mom also gawks up at the torches standing at attention.

They shine brightly, flaring up at my motions and down with them too.

She looks at me, and then at Dad, "Honos…"

"I know. Get everything ready." he holds me a little tighter. It's the first time I've ever seen him this serious in my life. They start packing everything they can, shoving it all into a sledge pulled by our Narwhalseal. He blubbers out a sigh and Dad pats him.

"I know, I know, we're moving again." he huffs.

"Wait, what do you guys mean 'again?' Did I-" Mom cuts me off by kneeling and placing her hands on my shoulders.

"Honey, people might be after you, so we're moving to protect you." She smiles and kisses me on the forehead, "It's not your fault." I clench the bone staff Dad gave me. Not my fault, huh? Over the years, Mom would keep saying that.

People I never get to see, it's not my fault we left. The same snowfields out in the middle of nowhere, no one around, what is Dad running from?

What are we running from?

Dad and Mom run around like chicken-turkeys with their heads cut off when it comes to things I do.

"The Platypus Bears are really bringing the heat now!" The radio roars with cheers as I try to contain my excitement. There's no way I can miss this! The radio's light starts to dim, but the signal still goes strong even now.

Come on… come on…

"And they gain more terr- it- or…" It winded out. With a sigh, I grab the crank and start turning, the constant clicking and catching of the machine starting to wake the sleeping giant that's my Dad. He rises from his area and grips my shoulder.

"Outside. Now." he snaps, his tone short and his voice even more harsh than it usually is. He grabs his clubs, real nasty numbers made of simple metal and bone, crafted by hand to be absolutely devastating in his hands.

I march outside, taking off my coat with a shaky breath. He always has me shirtless when I'm training, so I could 'get used to the cold'... I was born in it, same as him. So I don't get it.

He and I head towards an arena he hewed out of the ice and snow, just a simple set of lines where we'd play catch or duel each other staff to clubs. Today was both and he whips some water my way, my hand reaching out weak as anything to catch it.

It stalls, wobbles, and splashes down. Dad letting out a click of the teeth.

"Again, Ko!" Dad yells, and the water swirls around me. Gently dancing along with my staff, my eyes closed, remembering all the other times we ran. A neighbor found out once, Dad had shoved him down with some water, scooped me up, and ran away. Another time we snuck into the Northern Pole to visit Mom's parents, they almost sold us out if not for Mom gettin' us away.

Both of those had us end up here. Nowhere special, out in the snowfields where nobody went. Where I'm still wet n' tired trying to bend Water, but at least with my fire we have an easy way to keep warm. The water I'm bendin' swirls along with my movement. The same gut feeling creeps into me, twisting around me like a clenched fist. My staff swirls with the water, My feet wobble but the water stays steady with my staff.

I almost think I'm in a stadium, burning lights sear into the padded armor and the announcer calling out, "And here he is, folks! The Avatar!" dreaming of me wielding water against other people than just my dad for fame and glory, to become something! When I twirl it, it follows, and then Dad lashes out, his club passing just by my face but I meet him in the middle quick with a staff strike, our weapons clash and shove off. Motions whirl and I just barely whiff the next blow.

Dad doesn't even flinch, ramming me with his body before I get my staff knocked out of my hands. I try to scramble for it but he stands in my way.

"Stand up, Ko." he says, "A warrior must not have any blatant weaknesses." he looks down at me with a knowing smile. At least I think it is, sometimes Dad's confusing like that. Slowly getting myself onto one knee, there's a moment where everything slows down.

Dad's clubs come screaming towards me, and I dodge by just a hair, my hair getting nicked. Rolling back into the snow, Dad looms over me with a glare. I knew what he was going to do…

This was training. Dad keeps raging towards me, kicking my staff back towards the water each time I got hit. The clubs aren't padded so my arms and legs almost want to quit while they're ahead. Each hit smacks me back, hard and fast like there's no weight to it at all. He doesn't add ice to it, thanks to him, because that's a whole nother can of- A heavy smack and I'm fuzzing out. He's still coming for me.

Dodging, trying to weave through the hits to get it back, it teeters on the edge of the ice just over the water. Dad's harsh expression never leaves his face and it's makin' me shake just thinking about how much this is all gonna hurt. With one mighty, mighty swing he whirls towards me with a wave of water coming towards me. Bracing myself, there's not even a second or so to lose. Then… all of me is cold, wet seeping into my coat and clothing.

But I have my staff. That's all I really need. Holding it tight, looking up at the sun shining through the water. It's quiet, my bruises and bumps dull and throbbing but the cold helps. Dad goes over the side, his muscly arms wrap tight around me and he kicks both of us to the surface. Coughing and gasping, sudden air sharp and cold stabs my lungs.

He dumps me back onto the ice and snow like a sack of potatoes. His harsh eyes narrowed in disappointment. It's not just disappointment. He's a soldier, a warrior stronger than anything around for miles. He's even more disappointed I could barely take what he was throwing at me, but when I can barely walk right without my staff it makes it's harder to believe I even COULD be 'ready' as he says.

"You're not ready." he sighs, turning around and heading back to the house, "Yet again, you'll be easy pickings for outsiders."

"But Da-"

He turns, "No. Ko. That's final." he places his hands on my shoulders, "Listen, I do this because I want you to survive. When your mother and I are gone-"

"I'll be alone." Sighing just like I've heard it tens of times, like I have. It's practically his motto.

"Yes." he smiles, "But you'll be stronger, and that's all this world will ask of you." As we walk back, the snow crunches under my feet and I look back towards the wide horizon, bright and making my eyes hurt. One day I'll get out of here. But not today. Dad and I head inside and there's Mom. A dancehall number playing on the crank-radio. It's bummed off a signal from the Northern cities, where Mom was from.

The knife she's holding thunks onto the cutting board, "Training again, Honos?" Always tough and a little harsh, my Mom is the only person my Dad's ever even considered being a little scared of.

"Yeah, Ko was listening to Pro Bending-"

I like it though. I don't get why Dad and Mom don't want me to listen to things I like? The Platypus-Bears had an undefeated season, and then Dad just HAD to wake up and catch me trying to crank the radio quietly. Quietly, my ass. It clicks and whirs with the crank so it has this loud wind up CHOO CHICKA sound. So instead of just turning it like a music box, it's almost like those big engines going CHUGGA CHUGGA CHUGGA.

So… yeah, I was stuck training. Not that I hated it. But there's nothing else to do. It's wake up, eat, train, hunt, eat, train, and then back to eating, and then finally rest. Dad and Mom love their little schedules. It's such a small life, but when I sit alone like now… watching the clouds and sky paint the pictures of the world? I wish I was anywhere but here. Inside my chest, something pulls me, something grips me like a vice and stands me up.

It's an almost out of body experience, whispers and an entire crowd of them. I couldn't even count them all. Up in the sky the aurora shines, and I see them all sitting there. Vague shadows and all of them looking at me almost expectin' me to cut it and run to the ocean. Headpieces of warriors, Air Nation arrows, Fire Nation clothes and the furs and blues of folks I could've seen years ago reflect back at me, eyes lookin' down like they're expectin' something amazing.

But where do I have to go? Could they tell me? It'd be nice if they talked. I grip the head of my carved bone staff, trying to think of some way to tell them. That's when a shadow covers the warm lamplight of the house. Whirling, Mom stands there and walks out with a softly concerned face. She's carrying some food with her and she settles next to me with some healing stuff, lightly dabbin' the bruises with ointment and just staying quiet as I tuck into the meat.

"Your father is angry, Ko." she states softly.

"That's normal." through the bites, I flinch at the burning pain as Mom tries her best to keep a stern face. But she can't. Her hands shake, scared at the thought of me leaving. Because we'd known for a long time ever since I could Firebend.

The people in the aurora were the Avatars. And I'm next in line. At least I think so. I don't really know, and the one place I needed to go was the one place I absolutely couldn't go no matter what happened. Dad's harsh training was normal, but my body aches and strains, tryin' to figure out if I was dead or not. The night wears on, but Mom stands up and makes sure he's dead asleep inside. In moments she hands me an overstuffed bag full of all my stuff.

"Just go, son. Before I change my mind. And here…" she pushes a map into my hands, "A route you can take, just… be careful." her arms wrap around me and she squeezes, tears running down her cheeks.

I wrap my arms around her and hug her back, trying my best not to cry, because again, Dad doesn't like it when I cry. Or when anyone cries really. Letting her go and turning to work my way to the water where we moored our boats. The only thing I think of is what if I never make it out of the Pole? What if I just run right into trouble? Should I just quit while I'm ahead? Dad's already mad enough at me… but I grip my staff harder.

If I don't figure out who I am, it'll just hurt people in the long run!

We have two boats, one with an engine and one with an oar and sail. Dad taught me how to work it. The bag on my shoulder is heavy. Heavier than it has any right to be. Sweeping it off my shoulders and tying it to the mast, I grab the oar and look back one last time at the simple snow and bone house, the pelts keeping it warm and the smoke puffing away.

In one shove, I'm off, unfurling the sail and taking off, slicing through the water like nothing to it. The dawn's rosy fingers gently pry away the night. I have a long way to go, and I close my eyes just to sleep for a bit. Everything falls away, the ocean's gentle rocking, the birds cries, all of it. All there is, is the sensation that something is watching me. But I float, and dream under the sunlight, floating towards the city that could point me in the right direction.

The wind smacks me in the face, the waves toss me from my sweet slumber like an angry kid. Everything goes sideways and all I can do is try to bend my little boat through the waves, trying to concentrate. The waves grow, but I crash my hands together, they spill me over the crests, my prow diving down, splashing and lashing me to raw pain. My staff and I flow, the waves we're controlling battling against the ones that aren't.

Thunder shakes me down to my bones, lightning turns everything to sheer day. Yet, even so, with my body shaking and quaking, barely awake… I keep fighting. A scream leaves my throat, ripping against the wind and I yell out…

"You can't beat me! I won't let you!" The storm answers with its fury, and I sweep my staff and the waves slam me into the air, sailing through it with a wide smile on my face, skimming the waves and slicing through them at speeds I couldn't even feel.

Solid as stone, fierce as fire, calm and flowing like water, and fierce but guiding like the wind all at once, at one with my boat and the storm, the air itself… all of it.

Then…

It all goes wrong, my mast snaps, hands scramble to catch it and try like I'm stupid to reattach it, but through the dark, ink black clouds, there's hope. The sun shines down on me, the clouds pull away, and there's the calm blue skies.

I can't help but let out a happy cheer, "YEAHAHAHAHA! BEAT THAT! I WIN!" I turn back at the dark clouds and there's nothing but a soft speeding motor sloughing away from the rest of me. I reach for the oar and begin to row.

But then I smack right into the deck. I'm out. But I drag myself to a sitting position, opening my bag and checking the map. I think we're on the right course? But without a sail I'm done for, and I'm too tired to bend myself onto the right course. Great, just great. First day or so out on your own and already the world wants to kill you. Great job, brain. And great job, me. I row on, the rudder's shot so I guess there's no turning back for me even if I could steer.

Drinking some water, eating some dried meat, and trying to fix the mast later and I'm still just… floating in the middle of the ocean, the waves taking me wherever. Crossing my arms and closing my eyes, there's the pleasant warmth of the sun, gently pulling me back to sleep. I let it do its thing, the waves also rocking me to sleep like I was just a child again in my mother's arms. Back when things were simple and I didn't need to fight nature… back when I knew what I was and what I wanted.

But I don't know, I'm just this big important guy they lost for ten or so years because my Dad was paranoid and my Mom didn't want to give me to some old guys who were part of a former Pai Sho club years and years and years ago. The one question I had in my mind though was… who was it that bended the waves? It couldn't have been natural. I did some of it, but at some point it felt like I was in some kinda zone. Before I could puzzle out the answers, my sleep becomes deeper and I knew no more.

Chapter Text

I wake back up in a dark room with a few electric lights shining down, which is weird. Even weirder is the fact that my hair is completely down and my staff is missing. There're people close by, the room having the chugging engine of wherever we were rattling me into the shakes.

"Hey. Hey, kid. You up?" a voice hisses, an older guy with cracked glasses and weirdly quaffed dark hair, curling like a cloud around his head. He smiles and kneels.

"Where am I?" I groan, "Feels like I've been out forever." the guy nods and looks around. There're two guards and both of them look bored as all get out.

"You're on the Grand Mamare," he pulls out a small device and it clicks as it flashes a light into my eyes, at my squint he grins and puts it away, "There, that way if you're dumped, your family'll…"

"Nota! Stop talking!" one of the guards snaps, banging on the bars. Nota shrugs and sits next to me.

"I know it's a culture shock," he whispers, "But welcome aboard."

"Are you with them?" I snarl a little, "Don't get in my way when I get out."

"Oh no." Nota answers, "I'm a hostage like everyone else." the others all seem to look at him with a kind of angry expression. He smiles.

"I'm not exactly well-liked."

The guards look back at him with anger, before they both leave. Maybe it's to switch out the guards? Or they're so tired of getting Nota to shut up that they're guarding the door to the room we're in.

I focus on the wall sconces, they're gaslights. This is the Boiler Room, a big engine chugs away and I sit and stare at it. How am I going to make it out of this? There's cries of babies, some of their mothers looking at me like I'm some kinda savior.

Probably because they knew or they had hope that I was some kinda savior. I move over towards one of them, a woman older than me, holdin' a little baby boy in finer clothes that I haven't ever seen before. She's tanner, pretty green eyes meet my dark blue, the little boy's got her same eyes, staring at me with that thousand yard stare. Earth Kingdom people, most likely. At least from what I heard from Dad. They tend to wear green, and judging by the color, they're dirty green and brown. Dirty from the metal floors of course.

She looks at me, "Are you here to help?" she asks.

"Hopefully, if I can figure out a plan." I smile, "I'm something of a planner myself." I look back towards Nota and he smiles as I look back at the woman and her baby. Remindin' me of me and Mom back home.

"I promise I'll find a way for you and…" The baby giggles and reaches out for me, and I let him grip one of my fingers. His big green eyes lock with my gaze as I let him wiggle my finger.

"His name's Takao."

"Takao, huh. Cute name. My name is Ko." I nod, "I'll get you all outta here," another one, an older man with a heavyset frame and balding, he pipes up.

"And who are you supposed to be?"

Looking at him, "The Avatar, duh. I'm from the Southern Water Tribe, and I can prove it. Got any water around?" There's murmuring and something being passed towards the front, it's a waterskin, at least I think it is.

The man chuffs, "Prove it then."

I smile, "Gladly!" raising one hand, I untwist the cap and the water gently flows around my hand, looking back over at the gaslights, I focus and one starts dimming, the flames flying towards my other one, they dance end over end, twisting together and dancing around one another.

Gently, ever so gently, I let them return to their places. Concentrating hard as the people look at me in shock. Whispers I can barely hear are called out, everything kind of blurs together but with my staff it'd be easier. The man's wearing red, a little black, maybe some gold. Fire Nation. He looks shocked and then moves back to where he was, keeping up the rumors. I move back to where Nota is, he's sitting by the cell front, looking up at the door almost wistfully, like he's been wishin' for a way out and he's closer than ever because he's mumblin'.

"He's the Avatar… of course… maybe… no no…" he's jotting something down in a worn leather notebook, he keeps on mumblin' as I settle down alongside him.

"What'cha mumbling about?" I ask.

"Oh! Uhmn… just things about home. I've never thought about it all that much, but-" he sputters but then finds his voice again, "What's your name, again?"

"Ko." I answer, "And I'm trying to find out where I fit in all this."

"Ah, I see. You got this grand destiny and you're all stuck?"

"Yeah…" I look past the bars and into the room beyond, "Hopefully one of us has a plan because this is going to take a while and I don't want to get stuck forever."

"That or a few days with a little food, water, and something to off yourself with. They maroon people on a chain of islands off the coast of an international archipelago." he explains as the door above us creaks open and he immediately grabs me and guides me towards the back wall.

Two men, they're with the pirates, descend the stairs lookin' for someone and some other people seem to press themselves towards the back, with them unlocking the door and opening it, heading in and looking around at the scared people, glaring through my hair at them like I want to bend them into next week with water or fire.

They grab the Fire Nation guy from earlier, "What?! No! Not me! Anyone but me!" he screams, "Take that boy right there!" he points at me and they look at each other.

"Nah, the Captain wants a word with 'im in the morning."

"Ahh?!" the man gasps, "Do something, Avatar! Please!" he looks at me and I stand up, moving towards the two guys, glaring at them with flames stoking in my hands. The guys look down at me like I'm nothing to them.

They take the guy up, out of the cage with his eyes wide, "You're the Avatar! Save me!" I know I have no shot without my staff, so I look away.

"I'm sorry, if we get out of this, I promise that I'll get someone to help you." I say, looking at the others. That night I curl into a little ball, gritting my teeth. For another day I sit and try to figure it out after water and rice gruel they tossed in a bucket.

I need to get these people out of here.

The door above us all rustily creaks open, the turning valve-like knob moves and footsteps sound out, along with the jingling and jangling of some kinda keys. The guards hurriedly stand up and salute a big guy in a silver suit, slicked back dark hair, and piercing golden eyes.

In his hand is my staff, thunking along like he's not using it right.

"So… you're the new meat, huh?" he says, kneeling on the other side of the bars in front of me, "You don't look like much. Consider it luck that I managed to pluck you out of the waves." I glare up at him with rage in my eyes. I want my staff back and this guy took it!

"What's your deal? Some kinda pirate?" I ask, "Because this is really, really funny because I've always dreamed of a Pirate Adventure!" The guys blink at my excitement as I rise against the bars.

The captain laughs, "Wow! That's new, well… Whaddya think so far, boy?"

"It's nice, although… What do you guys do?" They're clueless, so clueless in fact that one of them unlocks the door and grabs me almost roughly as the Captain laughs even louder and his men lead me out of the hold, and into the verandas around the ship.

Nota and the others kind of look after me almost like I'm crazy. But now the sting of the sea air hits me in the face almost like a slap. The Captain whirls on his heel and then a punch rockets into my gut.

The air leaves my lungs and before I could crumple, he roughly grabs my hair and yanks me up to eye level.

"You think I'd just letcha go?" he snarls, "You KNOW how many guys tried that?" His men let me go, well… that's their mistake. I notice his other hand's got my staff in it. As he draws me up to his stinking breath, I don't care what it smells like, it's awful.

But just over us is another gaslight. It brightens at my finger quirking, before blasting down and outward, like an arrow it lands in my hand, the Captain lets go of my hair and my staff clatters to the deck floor.

I scoop it up and whirl around with the flames twisting and shining around me, he and his men watch as I swirl it around my staff and let out a heavy cry of, "C'mon!" they all get their weapons ready but there's something more to all of this.

Ferocity takes over my movements, the flame dancing and darting eagerly along with me. They hit me in the openings I have, but I sway with the hits, countering back with more flames. Skidding after the Captain because he took off running the second I hit 'em with the fact that I can bend fire. Hitting the deck with my staff, flames boost me up and forward, closin' in fast an' loud with my legs wrappin' around the dude's neck and slingin' him as hard as I could to the deck. There's a crash, a lotta pain, and I'm more than just hurt.

His men all take their bending stances, but here I am. With the tenacity of a Honey Badger Dog I spin my staff and thunk it down with a wave of flame blasting out with the walls singing and they slide in some metal walls, but I duck under them, shooting out small fireballs. One of them lashes water at me, but I take it back, slinging it around like a whip and cracking it hard over their heads, a pile of rocks tumbles down and some of them dodge out of the way, Nota running towards the bridge.

What I don't notice is a club coming right for my face, blinding pain rockets across my face. Blood pours out of my nose but I wipe it away, my staff smears with it and the guy clashes with me, pushing hard back towards the railing but I grin.

"Do it, knock me down!" Snappin' feeling brave. I take more of my blood and smear it on my face in some kinda warpaint. Breaking it hard and hammering the guy back, I lash some saltwater into him.

Every inch of me feels at peace. Dancing through the bending of the others with fire and water flowing and striking around me. There's no plans. No thought. For some reason there's a moment where I'm outside everything. The first chance I took, I cut and ran. No solid plan and no solid idea of what I could do. Never thought I'd make it as far as I did. Just fists and feet of fury. All helped by my staff. I make it to the bridge and the Captain and his last few crew members make their final stand.

Nota's held at sword point. The guy isn't even a bender I don't think. I skid to a stop. He grins.

"Now now, let's not do somethin' stupid…" he starts, "Put the staff down, we'll talk it out like men."

"Funny, I never thought trash had a gender." I don't move, Nota looking at me with a shocked expression.

"Quips?! Really, Ko?"

To be one hundred percent honest. I'm terrified. The only guy close to a friend I have right now is at blade point and honestly I'm really not sure how I got as far as I ended up getting with this plan.

"Just let him go, and I won't kick your butts." I state, not really making a motion but it's more like a standoff. I stare at him, and he- Nota slams his head into the guy's nose.

"GAH-OW!" Nota spins, grabbing his sword and pointing it at them.

"Republic City, now! Ko, you make sure everyone down in the hold gets out!" he snaps, "Do it!"

I lope out of there as the crew gives up, getting down to the hold once more and everyone in there looking at me with hope, seeing my bloodied face and uneven steps. But they know. They know.

As the Grand Mamare chugs its way towards the dock, the communications blare and Nota scurries to them. Keeping a good handle on the wheel, Nota almost drops the receiver.

"Who are you?!" the voice yells and Nota calls back.

"This is the Grand Mamare, we're WAY over schedule!" he barks, "My name is Daisuke Nota of Future Industries' R and D department!" he listens for a moment.

"Who is among your men? And what are you carrying?" Nota pauses and looks at me but I don't have my hands free to look through a ledger or something before he barks into the receiver.

"We have men, women, and children aboard! Most of them were captured by the pirates who once controlled this vessel!"

"And we're just going to believe that a ship that's been missing for years now is suddenly coming back with its crew and some missing technician?"

"Also we have the Avatar."

"Oho yeah, and I'm a talking Platypus Bear."

"Come and see for yourself!" Nota snaps. That's when it happens. While everyone was celebrating on the decks there's a looming shadow of something overhead. I rush to defend them and there's a bunch of armored men coming down to investigate. One of them steps towards me.

"My name is Officer Zenigata of the Republic City Police Force. We're here to investigate the ship, if you would be so kind as to drop the staff and come with us, we'd very much appreciate it."

Zenigata's voice is rough but kind enough. But at the same time the people on here seem a little scared. I mean when they descended like vultureowls onto the decks I'm sure it was shocking as all get out.

I look at Nota and he nods, my staff clunks to the deck again as they grab hold of me and whir back up on their metal lines. I've never actually seen Metalbenders before but the blimp flies over the water, the city stretching onward across the water. Shining, endless.

Hopefully, I'll find what I'm looking for.

The light shines down on the table. My staff tied to my wrist and I'm sitting there drumming my hands softly. The officers outside seem to be talking to someone important. I don't know who exactly but the minute she comes in I'll know. The door slides open, and a woman in the same kind of armor as the officers strides in, her harsh green eyes pin me to the chair and her lips downturn in a scowl. She's got scars on her face and a badge on her chest. I hope things go well.

"So, you're the one the people on the Grand Mamare claim to be the Avatar." she starts, "Not only that, but you nearly single handedly took out the entirety of the pirate crew." she sits down with her arms crossed.

"Listen, officer…"

"Chief, it's Chief Lin Beifong."

"Right, ri-" I pause, "Wait, Beifong?" There's a flash of a memory, a girl with the same last name. Chief Beifong raises an eyebrow.

"Sorry, sorry, that was a deja vu moment. If you have to know my name is Ko, I'm from the south pole, and I liberated the Grand Mamare with the help of my friend Nota who works for-"

"Future Industries, yes. I know." she huffs a little, "But why do you claim you're the Avatar? It's been about a ten year long search."

My eyes widened, "Ten years?" It's not that I'm shocked, just the dedication alone is impressive.

She nods, "Tell me, why would the Avatar avoid being found?"

"Mostly because my parents didn't want to hand me over to complete strangers." I huff, "But what happens now?"

Chief Beifong coolly looks at me with a smirk, "You'll stay here, at least until we inform them you're here. It's up to them if you're the Avatar or not."

She gets up, leading me out, "You've made quite the noise, Ko. Let's hope you live up to it." That stays with me for the rest of the night as I lay in the holding cell, laying on the bench and looking up at the ceiling.

What the heck am I going to do if I can't prove I'm the Avatar without a shadow of a doubt?

Chapter Text

My eyes crack open to the sound of the cell door opening, "Lin, why do you have him in here?" a tough sounding voice asks.

"Well I couldn't be too sure about what he claims, but the others on the Grand Mamare claimed he could firebend." she continues as I sit up and make sure my staff is right by my side. Ever since I was plucked from the sea my other stuff was lost.

"I'll be the judge of that." The man says, watching as I lope my way out towards him. I couldn't help but bow my head to Officer Beifong mostly because I didn't want to cause her any more trouble.

She doesn't nod back only fixing me with what I could only describe as a death glare. Almost like she wanted me to never show up here again on the other side of those bars. Yep. Totally not going to end up here again. We're joined by a bunch of old men in blue robes and white trim looking at me like I'm something to study which was somethin' Mom and Dad were afraid of. I can't blame them. The man is the only thing warding them off and I grab the edge of his reddish-orange cloak.

He turns a little, "Don't worry. They're just anxious." he assures with his voice softer than when it was in the station. The city bustles with people in carts, on smaller animal-less vehicles, and big rumbling ones that I would soon learn were... 'Satomobiles.' Or some other type a' thing.

"Oh, where are my manners?" the man turns and bows a little, "I'm Tenzin." He's tall and well-built with a pointed brown beard and looking to be around Dad's age. Maybe a little younger? His blue eyes sparkle with warmth and I can't help but get a little awkward.

He's bald and has those bright blue arrow tattoos, so I know he's a big cheese in the Airbending arts. Well, maybe. I think everyone gets one?

"Uhh! I'm Ko. I'm from ah... the South Pole, and I came here on a boat n' stuff!" I blurt out and Tenzin chuckles warmly with a smile reminding me of when my Dad was happy with me. That's when something honks.

The sound makes me huddle closer to Tenzin and he lets me cling to his cloak again. He leads me towards a weird little stable/pier hybrid. We all kinda walk along while I'm cautiously taking in the sights, sounds, and smells of the city. It's loud. Really loud. Most of the time back home we'd just get the wind or the crackle of fire. Or the deep cracking of ice that signaled it was time to move again. It was calm. But here its like five billion different sounds and sensations crashin' together like cymbals again and again.

Our way over is some big fluffy furball of a thing with horns and six legs. It grumbles and Tenzin helps me onto the weird wide saddle-thing on its back. The Air Temple Island is out in the bay, and with the members of the White Lotus surrounding me we set off.

"Thank you for getting me out of jail." I say, the other White Lotus members looking at me like they didn't expect me to thank them, "What? It's that weird lady- I mean Officer Beifong- no wait Chief Beifong... the lady with the armor that arrested me, you guys got me out. It's ah... common courtesy!"

I keep sputtering but the men just keep to themselves while Tenzin sounds like he's got a long road ahead of him, "Let's hope that isn't a trend, Ko."

"It won't be sir," I say, "You put me anywhere and I'll stay there." I look out at the island ahead and reach down, patting the soft fur of the flying bison. Hearing a happy grumble from the big fluffball.

"So… wait there're flying bison?"

"Yes, is this your first time riding on one?" Master Tenzin asks, looking over his shoulder with a curious glint in his eyes.

"Yes! It's gorgeous up here!" I look around, back at the city, towards the island, and even across the water to the statue of the man I used to be. At least I think so. My lips stretch into a smile, then a wide laughing grin as the other members of the White Lotus seem to get uncomfortable.

"It's just so amazing! Please tell me when I can explore! I wanna see all there is to see, do all there is to do I-"

Tenzin cuts that down in seconds, "When you're properly trained, Ko. I know that you've never been in this city before, and believe me. It's overwhelming even for myself." That makes me think of my father. That same insistence on my training.

I hug my staff close, "Sure." I say, "Just… I can't wait!" I need to keep on being respectful. He IS the grandmaster Airbender after all. If I tick him off then goodbye Airbending hello going back home to the snow, ice, and constant never ending boredom.

Just in the bay is a huge statue of the last Avatar. A noble face holding his staff thrust out before him towards the city he created. A city I hoped to explore even more as time went on. His clothes billow in hard waves behind him.

A legacy I'm just one part of.

The island is pretty big, a temple looms large over it all and the grounds themselves have two sets of dormitories. (During the tour Master Tenzin did say that everything was pretty much it's own sovereign section of the city.) Also that the actual quarters and housing were more humble than the temple itself. I had a bed, a desk, a chair, and a chest of drawers to my name for my clothing.

I listen with almost eagerness. Maybe even my excitement at being in a new place makes me want to learn more about it? I've never been outside the South Pole but after the Grand Mamare and the storm to get here I've been looking forward to all of it. He guides me and the other members of the White Lotus to the main area of the temple, my excitement turns down to calm as he turns to look at me.

"Now then, Ko. It's time for us to evaluate your capacity to bend the elements."

The members of the White Lotus call on their champions. Two Waterbenders, two Firebenders, and a couple of Earthbenders just to test me. There's also a couple of Airbenders too.

Tensing, I get into a rhythm. Hopping from foot to foot tapping my staff on the stones. Keeping my body light. Warming up and trying to stay focused on all of it makes it even harder to track in a way. First up are the Waterbenders. I smile and stance up this is the strongest element I've got. Streams of water crash towards me but I whip them around me, flowing along with the streams and lashing them away. Droplets touching my skin and making me smile.

They flow more water at me this time solidifying into ice. I sling it around and melt it back into water with a quick burst of crude fire. The elders and Tenzin watch as a few murmur in slightly impressed tones. The water crashes into me but I flow it around and hit them back almost like a dance. Even if the timing's a little off. My way of bending water accounts for the unevenness of my motions.

The tap of my staff gives me timing and the way I move kind of messes up their timing too. They're trying to use an orthodox style against a guy who invented his own. Using a burst of fire I cut in close with a swing of my staff clocking one of them in the face. Using the fall to gain some kind of edge I blast a stream of water right into the chest of the other guy through the swing of my foot.

The water sways me to my feet and the wave spits out my staff back into my hand. That's when one of the crowd of old guys signals to change the pair. When it comes to the firebenders my movements are nowhere near as fierce or precise.

Wide, ragged jets of flame clash with their bursts as I keep myself damp so that nothing gets to catch me on fire. Fireballs shoot out and I catch them with my staff guiding them back. The fight wears on and I've been mostly on the defensive. My flames weren't exactly strong but they did the job. Swaying and dancing along with the flow of the fight I can at least try my best to keep up. Everything hinged on this one moment. Everything would open up for me if I did well.

Steadily, my flames get much more controlled but my movements no less fierce. Something inside me guides my movements a little, giving pointers almost like its muscle memory. The flames die and the two duelists drop from exhaustion.

I take a drink of water and sit down in the middle as they sway to a sitting position too, "Here." I state, handing them my waterskin. They take it and sip from it. I get it back and do the same. Letting the White Lotus members talk amongst themselves and Tenzin keeps watching.

This is a gauntlet of fights. Testing my mettle with each of the four elements and the next two... I don't know anything about. They were called back and the Earthbenders showed up. At this point I'm just barely able to keep up as I try and dodge the stone being whacked at me. Then the walls pop up and I try to get away, but my flames don't work and my water is too late to come and help. I resort to trying to manhandle them back from me is WAY harder than it is. My muscles strain and my thoughts scream in to, 'PUSH! PUSH DAMN YOU, PUSH!'

Tenzin tries to signal them to stop but the other members veto it. I shut my eyes and it's almost like I'm outside of my body? Here I am with my hands lashing out and bursts of wind push back at the walls before shredding them down to nothing and stilling. My eyes glow a pure white light before I'm back in my body.

I blink and at this point the White Lotus members are clamoring amongst themselves.

"He's the Avatar!"

"Finally, after all this time!"

"He had us going there with the whole staff and being lame thing. But I knew it!"

Tenzin steps in, his eyes fixed on me. Of course his stern and bearded face makes me think of Dad. What if I disappointed him? What if this is the end of the road for me? If I'm rejected now, how will I ever be the Avatar?

My world spirals and everything focuses down to this one moment. The tension in my body is killing me with their eyes burning into me, the disappointment, all of it. Dad would get a little frustrated and Mom would look a little sad. I don't want to look up. I don't want to see their reactions. They spent years of their lives scrambling to find me and this is what they get? A guy who knows Water like the back of his hand but everything else is so basic?

I bow hurriedly, "I don't... I don't know, Master Tenzin! It's... it's not something that-" The bad thoughts continue to build and build until it starts screaming at me.

'You're not good enough!'

'That wasn't good enough!'

'Go back home, little boy!'

The storm comes back to me. The battle through the waves, the Grand Mamare, everything to get here meaning nothing in the end just makes me want to cry. Through the bad thoughts I hear a warm chuckle and feel a hand on my shoulder.

"It's alright, Ko. You know a lot more than we expected, considering how hard it was to track you down." Tenzin says.

I look up into his sky blue eyes, warmth filling my cheeks, "Does... does that mean...?"

He nods, "Of course." he lowers his hand and the joy makes me leap into hugging him as hard as I could, "Oof!"

"THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!" I sputter, before breaking away and bowing, "I mean, thank you, Master Tenzin." but before I could do anything else my body goes slack and my eyes close.

What happened?

The dream bleeds in out of the darkness. A quiet glade appears in almost yellowy tones as I come to and sit up. Sitting across from me is a man with a short beard with the same blue tattoos on his body and wearing similar robes to Master Tenzin. He's also just as bald as him too.

His eyes are a darker shade than his but his smile is familiar, "Hey there!" he exclaims before I shoot to my feet and yell out.

"STATUE GUY?!"

He bursts out laughing, "Statue guy?! That's hilarious! And the first time I've ever been called that." he stands up and grabs my shoulders.

"My name is Aang. I was the Avatar before you, Ko." his expression is filled with that kinda jokey humor but also some sadness. He seemed to have left kinda young. At least young in the sense of most people when they die.

"So what is this place?"

"Think of it like a place where I can talk to you. Sure it's kinda weird given that you need to pass out to see me, but hey. You're further along than I was!" he laughs a little again and I look down at myself.

"I mean... are you sure you want me to be the Avatar?" I ask, "I just... well, everyone who knew about it growing up always told me it was some big deal. An'... and I'm the way that I am." i can almost feel a fall coming on but Aang nods.

"Yep. It's pretty difficult to figure out. Just take your time, Tenzin's there to help. So are a lot of people. My advice? Take it one day at a time. It's a big ask of any of us."

A little ember of hope settles in my chest but as the weird calm glade fades, all I can think about is how new this world is. How it all starts spreading out before me. A huge city, a new master, and the past me making a quick appearance to say hi.

What now?