Avatar: The Origin of Bending

Chapter One: The Rebels

Nearly a year after Aang and his friends brought an end to the Great War, the three nations managed to create a somewhat stable peace between them. The colonies once ruled by the Fire nation have been disbanded while those living there have either returned to their homeland or choose to stay and live along side their new friends. Avatar Aang and Katara, seeking to resurrect the once forgotten teachings of the Air Nomads, have begun a school in the Western Air Temple where men and women from every corner of the world have come to learn about air bending. Toph, choosing to stay in Ba Sing Se, now resides in Iroh's teashop where she learns more and more about herself each day. Sokka followed Suki back to the Kisoshi where they spend their days training and romancing despite Tai Lee's presence. As it would appear an era of peace has already begun to grow.

However, just as there are those who seek peace there are also those who seek destruction. Not long after Zuko's ascension to the thrown a small band of Fire benders calling themselves "Azula's Warriors" freed former Princess Azula from the Boiling Rock. Within a week of her escape the rebels grew in number and have begun an attempt to overtake the Fire nation. Recognizing the danger this could cause their newly found peace, Aang as well as Zuko have invited their friends to meeting to discuss the growing threat Azula and her army are becoming.

"Thank you all for coming here on such short notice. Obviously Aang and I would not have called you all here had it not been under the utmost importance. Now, I'll have to skip the pleasantries and get right down to business. As you all know my sister, Azula, was recently free by a band of rebels from the Boiling Rock. Since then their numbers have grown exponentially. At this rate it will not be long before they have amassed a good sized army."

"Can't you just send few squadrons to go and capture these rebels?" Sokka asked.

"We already tried that approached. Unfortunately it ended in disaster."

"What do you mean? What happened?" Katara inquired.

"For some odd reason our war balloons were unable to enough range to cause a significant threat to them. To make matters worse each balloon was somehow destroyed from the inside through the main furnace. It was only after I sent in a few spies that I discovered what had happened."

"From what the spies learned it appears that Azula is merely a pawn as are the rest of the Rebels," Aang said

"Then who's controlling them? Who's powerful enough to make even Azula bend to their will?" Suki asked.

"His name is Alexander. From what we've learned he was one of the world's first elemental benders."

Silence fell over the group. Of them only four were able to bend one element with the exception of Aang being the Avatar. The techniques required of bending had long histories dating back thousands of years. Unfortunately such information was limited and any information that would be useful in learning about the first benders had been lost when Wan Shi Tong sank the Spirit Library into the depths of the desert. Now they could only rely on the ancient scrolls that were housed in each nation.

"That's impossible. There's no way one of the first known benders could still be alive today," Suki argued.

"I don't know. When you think about it it's very possible. I mean, look at Aang. He's over a hundred and thirteen years old. It seems very possible to me," Toph said.

"Regardless of whether this is true or not I'm still going to need everyone's help if we are to stop them. Who's with me?" Zuko asked.

"I'm in," Sokka said.

"Ditto," Toph replied.

"I guess I'll help as well. I'll see if the other Kisoshi warriors will pitch in as well."

"Count on me and my water bending."

"You know I'll always be by your side," Mai said.

"That settles it then. Team Avatar is officially reinstated!"

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