Benders: A New Chapter

[Doom]

For a dreadful one hundred years, the tyrannical Fire Nation fought against the world, waging a war the other nations could never had seen coming. In a pivotal moment of history, the Avatar, master of all four elements, stopped him, and the world slowly repaired itself, becoming more and more peaceful.

One hundred years more passed, and miracles had been worked. By the wisdom of Avatar Aang, the Airbenders had been reestablished. The broken Southern Water Tribe had been rebuilt by its sister tribe in the north. The Fire Nation's rage and fury had been stifled by Zuko's rule. And, the corruption within the Earth Kingdom had been purged, allowing the people to live free once more.

Yet, hidden within harmony is a seed of chaos. On the day of Avatar Aang's death, the new Avatar was to be born. But, somehow, this did not occur. The child destined to be the Avatar could not be found in either of the Water Tribes. About ten years passed after Avatar Aang's death, and a new threat to the world had come into order. The Raiders of Infamy had assembled, and among their ranks were benders from all nations. Airbenders, Firebenders, Waterbenders, and Earthbenders alike bolstered a petty pirate force into a menacing army. Now, the leaders of the world are growing ever more cautious of what could happen if this threat remained unchecked or unmatched. Declaring another war was no option. Societies world wide would be annihilated. Only suffering could come from war. Instead, the leaders are secretly recruiting the most skilled trackers and benders within their nations to search for the missing Avatar. Now, the hunt is on. Will those who need help find him first? Or will the Raiders of Infamy get to him first?

You can be any bender you would like, and you can be either for your nation's well being or a member of the Raiders of Infamy. It's really simple. Your main goal will be to search for the Avatar, which I will insert into the story when someone happens upon him.

~~

"One, two. One, two." The teacher demonstrated the steps once more, and Fedra scoffed. She didn't want to learn to dance ballet, but her mother insisted. Fedra tried to mimic the teacher, but had two left feet when it came to dance. The teacher shook her head and sighed, then said, "Perhaps we can try again tomorrow?" She walked out the door, and Fedra stomped back to her room, and slammed the door as she entered. "Why couldn't daddy have given me a Firebending teacher? Why do I have learn stupid dancing, anyway?" She sat on her bed, then kicked her shoes off, then dropped. She didn't feel like doing anything, but her mother was dragging her to another drab grown up ball. She hated attending parties for grown ups. They always had to much boredom in store. "What am I to do? You'd think the only heir would get what she wants at least some of the time."

[Jay]

"Hey, get back here, kid!" a shop owner yelled to Azka, the poor child. At fifteen years of age, he was still worn thin, though his form suggested some muscular buildup somewhere, perhaps from running. His eyes shifted around, scanning the road ahead. The cold night air showed every breath he let out in puffs that looked like clouds. His brown locks swayed in his face. Though his hair was short enough to be a boy, he really looked as if he needed it to be cut. Azka's eyes remained their reddish brown coloring, typical of the fire nation. Yet, his shone perhaps brighter, with more integrity, than others'.

As he got a tighter grip on the prize he stole from the baker, he tripped a bit, collapsing into an alleyway. He laughed slightly, ready to get up, but that was when they came. He'd heard myths, or so he thought they were; about these raiders. Skilled benders. And, there were two. His eyes shifted nervously, knowing he was spotted, and he gave a look like a trapped animal, ready to fire, for he was a skilled bender, as his past lied in the dojo. But, that was five years ago. This was now. And he was rusty.

Just one year later.

Azka fingered the scar on his arm, having just woken from yet another nightmare, the one that caused the wretched mark, that took a chunk out of his arm. They were looking for something. He was still clueless to this day. As he yet again wrapped his mind around the possibilities, the maid yelled at him. "You filthy rat! I know you're awake up there! Get down here this instant! There's work to be done!". Azka sighed, as this was typical. Everybody talked to him like this, giving him nasty names that they happen to conjure at the moment. Never sparing him. He went down the stairs, having already been wearing pants, he was buttoning a shirt on the way down. "Yes, Rosalie?" he asked kindly, giving a bow. He was expected to act this way. Rosalie glared at him, throwing a bag to him. "Go down and get us some fruit. You know what kind." she said gruffly. Azka nodded, running out the door. Just another typical day. But, it was good of these people to house him, and he knew it. So, Azka was never much bothered by this at all. He whistled, skipping along. The song sounded somewhat familiar, though he hadn't meant it to. It formed into being a very, very, old song that he had heard in the dojo as a child. "Brave soldier boy, comes marching home~" he smiled slightly to himself, remembering the tune. It was a small joy.

((Hope this is okay, I'm really testing my limits here, aren't I?))

[Doom]

Fedra rifled through the crowds with light footsteps. She was amazed by how many people there were lining these streets. Many of them smelled terrible. So much poverty. What has my father been accomplished on his royal meetings, anyway? Certainly not betterment of the Fire Nation's citizenry. It was almost frightening to see men only skin and bones and mothers splitting their own food into the smallest portions for their children. The monotony of the crowd, however, was broken when she could hear a quiet whistling. She turned to look, and saw a boy about three years older than her with a frightening scar. She gasped, then thought, This young man is a fighter. But, what was he fighting? How did he get that scar? Oh, it doesn't matter. I have to talk to him! She ran over as fast she dared, pulling the rags that covered her head tighter. She tapped him on the shoulder, and threw her voice to sound weak and sick, then said, "You know such a lovely song. May I ask your name?"

[Jay]

Azka felt his shoulder tapped and jumped, hearing a feminine voice and turning.

"You know such a lovely song. May I ask your name?"

Were the words he caught. "Um, thank you..." his face was red, he hadn't meant for anybody to hear, and usually he'd be angry, perhaps start a fight, but this was a girl. "I'm... er- Azka..." he whispered slowly.

[Doom]

She giggled, and said, "That's a wonderful name. If you don't mind me asking, where did you learn that song?" She stared at him intently, but her face was well hidden behind the rags.

[Jay]

Azka managed a slightly angered face. This stranger asked too many questions. Personal ones at that. He frowned. "That's not much your buisiness, now is it, miss?" he turned away.

[Doom]

"Oh, I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pry. Well, nice meeting you, Azka!" At that, she skipped past him to the fruit stand. "One watermelon, please!" The man at the counter shook his head, then said, "I'm sorry, but we're all out of fruit. I'm not quite sure why I'm manning the shop this morning. My apologies, young lady.
"What?! How can you be out of fruit!" Fedra yelled at him.
"Well, I'm afraid I was robbed in the night. There's nothing left in this shop." The man answered, a grim frown on his face.
Fedra stepped back and began to shuffle away. "Robbers? In the Fire Nation? Who? And more importantly, why?" She whispered to herself.

[Jay]

Azka sighed, knowing exactly who. He went up to talk to the manager. "Any sight of who did it?" he whispered out of curiosity, his eyes darting. He still wanted to find those men.

[Doom]

"Well, I can't be certain, but they struck quickly, without a trace. My guess is those Raiders of Infamy, or whatever they call themselves. They haven't been too active in these boarders, but I'm fairly sure." The shopkeeper sighed, and walked back into the shop, double checking for anything that might have been left behind. Fedra was hiding in an alleyway, watching Azka. She knew he wouldn't turn away from a mystery like this. She was going to follow him, because she was in the mood for a little danger today.

[Jay]

Azka nodded. He dropped the bag, darting off in a fast walk. He was going to pack his things. If they struck, it meant that they were active, and, in these areas. This was perfect. He'd go after them, get revenge, and fade into the sunset. He could hold the smallest grudge until the day he died, Azka. He would never forget an unkind soul. Not ever. As he snuck past Rosalie, he grabbed the little things he had, stuffed them into a bag, then went into the supply room. Azka looked over everything, grabbing a satchel that was prepacked for long journeys, as his mistress took many. He took both bags, going back outside quickly, and fading into the crowd. He would find them. Then he would make them pay. As the boy set off, he planned things over in his head, thinking and pondering on where he may find them.

[Doom]

Silently, she trailed him. Goody! We're going on an adventure! She was so excited that small puffs of smoke punctuated her breathing.

[Jay]

Azka got the strange feeling that he was being watched, followed, and just plain observed. He shuddered, deciding to confirm if his feeling deemed true. He sharply reared a corner, hiding among the shadows of a dead end.

[Doom]

Without thinking, Fedra dashed around the corner, even if the crowd no longer hid her. She was likely in plain sight, not only because of her sudden exposure, but because her excitement made her hands glow red. Why are we here? It's so dark in here.

[Jay]

Azka steppped out, glaring. "You again? I could've guessed." he sighed. "Look, you don't want to follow me, miss. It's not going to be pretty where I'm headed." he said, his hand going to the back of his head, rustling his brown locks a bit, and they went slightly over his eyes. He went up to her, standing in front of her and cocking a skeptical brow.

[Doom]

"Well, just because something is ugly doesn't mean it's not fun. Trust me, I won't exist. I'll be out of your hair. I just want a little adventuring." She used a beggar's tone, but she didn't usually speak to anyone in such a manner. However, her annoyed expression couldn't be seen behind her rags.