A Ripple in the Stream

Long ago, there were four nations. Each nation represented a different element including fire, water, earth, and air. A spiritual warrior called the Avatar was destined to unify the nations and bring peace to any outstanding conflicts every generation. That was until the Air Nomads were brutally wiped out by a Fire Nation empire.

A 12 year old Avatar named Aang was forced to retreat to avoid imminent destruction. About a century later, Aang was unthawed from a block of ice. Now he is being hunted by the Fire Nation and a team of unlikely heroes Katara, Sokka, a flying bison named Appa, and a flying lemur named Momo stand with him on his journey of freeing and liberating the world from Fire Nation tyranny.

As the Hundred Year War rages on, one of the deadliest and most efficient units in the Fire Nation is ordered to retreat from Water Tribe territory. After being ambushed at the Willa Region and the Fire Nation's failed Siege of the North, 31st Company member and Fire Nation soldier Kett has been held captive by Water Tribe forces.

Kett is no ordinary trooper, he is known for his unique firebending abilities, and for his independent thinking. Kett is tall, muscular, has fair skin, golden eyes, and wavy dark brown hair. Kett sits at the back of an open wagon that is hauled by two sheep-rhinos. They are strong and fuzzy with thick white fur, pointy horns, and light green eyes. As they ride, they speak like sheep.

Their fur helps them survive in the chilly winters of the Northern Water Tribe regions. As Kett rides chained, he notices another 31st marine riding across him. It is a male in his early thirties who has curly brown hair, yellow skin, pointy ears, and toffee brown eyes.

Kett looks across at his ally, as both are held back by steel chains. The sky is baby blue, and the grass is mint green. A few snow flurries float through the sky and a light windshield blows across the air. It is roughly 2.77 Celsius (37 degrees).

Two Water Tribe riders wear light blue robes with light grey markings and light grey masks covering their faces. Kett comments, "I don't think the locals here are keen on making steel, they must have traded it from the treacherous Fire Nation United Way network."

A Water Tribe rider responds, "Actually, we have blacksmiths as well. Is the Fire Nation's education system really that bad?"

The other 31st marine responds, "It's the best in the world, shows what you backward barbarians know."

Water Tribe rider 2: "Backward? Backward to whom? Backward because of what? Your people have built many things and are in touch with your inventions but have fallen out of touch with spirituality and a part of reality. That is why you both are here, as captives."

Kett: "That didn't make an ounce of sense. Stop trying to be a philosopher, it isn't working. People get captured on all sides of war, but we are winning by a landslide."

Water Tribe rider: "By a landslide? You realize your forces have been thwarted at the North and your prize fleet was smashed to pieces. Admiral Zhao is gone. This could change the tide."

31st Marine: "Fleet smashed?! Maybe Zhao is dead, but that's impossible."

Water Tribe rider 2: "As we said, your nation is spiritually incompetent at the moment. The metal and iron you produce is miniscule compared to the power of the spirits."

Kett replies, "Just wait until Ozai ramps up his defenses, everything you have will be smashed to oblivion. And if Zhao captured that Avatar, the one you think will save your people, then I know Macai will defeat him. He's twenty times more skilled and deadly than him with a unit that is far more creative and talented."

Kett adds, "He'd probably beat him and Zuko simultaneously. And that doesn't include Ozai himself. Ozai has singlehandedly destroyed armies and cleared out villages. He did all this while only being a part-time combatant and not a real full time soldier like his older brother Iroh. They say no one could even come close to touching him in Agni Kai."

When Kett mentions an Agni Kai, he is referring to the 1 vs 1 duels that are done within the Fire Nation. You can only win by burning your opponent and it is seen as a rite of passage in the Fire Nation's culture. Water Tribe rider 1: "What really matters is who wins in an actual life or death fight or battle, not some fake duel in a chamber."

Kett: "Say what you will, but it is only a matter of time before destiny manifests. Our people are the greatest the world has ever seen and it's only a matter of time before we triumph."

Water Tribe rider 2: "Oh really? Then why does the Avatar come from every nation after each generation? There has never been just one from the Fire Nation. Why has ever nation been the wealthiest at a different time in history? Do they not tell you that in your classes? You may have the best technology right now in this age, but in another age you may not. And history, culture, and richness can be found in every group."

Water Tribe rider 1: "You can kill us firebender, but you can never kill the truth."

As they ride, Kett notices several tan plank houses can be spotted. Water Tribe warriors stand across them with cornflower blue robes and lemon yellow -markings representing a different clan than that of the riders. While both groups are part of the Northern Water Tribe, some of them represent themselves differently through clans which resemble each village and region.

In the Northern Water Tribes, the people often sport lighter blue uniforms and sometimes royal blue. While the Southern Water Tribe is known for darker blue costumes. The Eastern Water Tribe has colors that are like teal and turquoise with hints of green. The Western Water Tribe has indigo and blue-purple clothing.

So, while each group primarily looks the same within a tribe, minor deviations of appearance may be seen in different clans, areas, and villages. Kett looks and notices about seven other wagons. Each has 2-4 Fire Nation prisoners on them. About half of them are 31st troopers, as denoted by their dark red and dark grey markings.

The other half are from another unit. The soldiers have candy red armor and flint grey stripes with hints of black. A Water Tribe trooper announces, "Ok everybody, get out!"

The trooper looks at the riders, "Lono and Tono, good to see you both." Lono is the rider 1 on the left and Tono is rider 2 on the right. Lono has light yellow skin, black wavy hair, thin eyebrows, ice blue eyes, medium ears, and a medium nose. Tono has light yellow skin, black straight hair, thick eyebrows, slate grey eyes, medium ears, and a small nose.

Both Water Tribe rider brothers are about five feet and eleven inches tall. They are thin for their frame making them appear lanky. Kett steps out with chains covering his hands and feet. The trooper that rode with him walks at his left side. Kett mutters, "What's your name trooper? I don't remember talking with you much."

Fire Nation trooper: "Jannik." Kett looks a bit closer and notices that Jannik has light brown skin with thick dark brown wavy hair, a long nose, high cheek bones, and hooded eyes.

Kett: "Nice to meet you trooper." As the troops walk forward, seven Water Tribe warriors stand at attention. Four have spears, two are waterbenders, and one has dual silver longswords with a light grey war mask that covers his face.

The masked warrior, known as the Warden, points at the Fire Nation troops, "Take them to their holding cells." The fire troopers are escorted to a wide wooden structure. Multiple guards stand outside of the building, the floor is made of light brown smooth wood, the walls are sky blue, and the roof is sand-colored.

Cells are secured by metal bars, but Fire Nation troops are also made to keep their hand and feet cuffs on to prevent them from blasting through walls or attacking security personnel. Kett enters his cell thinking of how he may be able to break out from his facility.

Jannik does the same. Each trooper is placed in an individual cell to reduce the odds of collaboration and the tribe is capable of doing this because they do not have massive amounts of prisoners when compared to Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom facilities.

Outside of the cells, the building looks more like a home than a prison. As the troopers stay, they are feed well though the diet could be a bit more diverse. Fish, different types of nuts, a wide variety of fruits, rice, various vegetables, and grits are regularly served.

Prisoners are even given fresh green tea. Those who operate on good behavior are given massages and spa treatments. Once a week, a musician plays his flute for prisoners to hear in an outside demonstration while four drummer boys put on some background noise.

Two weeks later, Kett is called into a counselor's office. The man has a bald head, a long white beard, is frail, crystal blue eyes, and yellow-brown skin. The man exhales as he smokes from a pipe before he puts it down. The room has white walls, a light blue carpet floor, and a light grey ceiling.

It is about 10 am. Two windows emit beautiful yet feint light into the room. Kett looks at the counselor while still being cuffed. Kett blinks, "So what is the point of this? What is the point of all these antics?"

Water Tribe counselor: "This war brings a lot of stress, and it is the goal of the Strategic Director that all the prisoners are counseled. He believes it is essential for good mental health, to have someone to speak with."

Kett: "Concerned? Why would he care about us? We are his enemies. We have probably killed people from his village."

Water Tribe counselor: "Every life has a role; every life has value. Every being has a purpose. We as Humans will never understand it all, so we should not pretend to. Instead, we should play our role and be fair to those around us. If we live like that, then there is a good chance that brightness will shine down on us."

Kett: "Brightness? Well, I see the Water Tribe still lives on fairytales and riddles."

Water Tribe counselor: "I see fire nationals still love to stereotype our people. Each and every tribe is unique. We have our own customs and values but one thing that makes us stick out is we value spirituality and diversity. Whereas your nation tries to force all its identities to merge into one dominant view. Perhaps you should learn from our people and how we learn to accept the differences of different cultures."

The counselor continues, "For instance, our culture is that of the Sogothen. Strong warriors of this village, Sogo! And here a rich history lies, one that will never be forgotten by those who knew of this land. Generation to generation, we have passed on traditions of a legacy and that is part of our identity. As a prisoner of Sogo, you will know our land."

Kett: "If your people are so good at accepting differences, then why do the Northern and Southern Tribes continuously fight each other?"

Water Tribe counselor: "They fight due to situational disagreements, but even members of both tribes understand that our lands and roles are different. That we both have a purpose that is a piece of something grander than we could ever comprehend."

Kett pouts, "And what were you smoking?"

The Water Tribe counselor smiles, "Air and water... The pika is a device that has water deep within it. When we breathe into the instrument, the pika turns the air into vapor. It is refreshing and I boiled my water in mint to give it a fresh taste."

Kett crosses his arms, "And yes, to be honest, I am worried about the war. Perhaps not because I hate you people, I don't hate Water Tribe members, I haven't known any of you well enough to develop those feelings. I mean, I kind of resent you all for killing some of my friends in battle."

The counselor nods, "War is painful, so as it is for our people. This job isn't easy for me either, but I put myself aside for what is greater. My role and duty to my nation. To my people. I'm sure you understand this feeling."

Kett nods. Water Tribe counselor: "But when this war goes away. When the victors and the losers are long gone. The only thing that will be left, is the memories and legacy of our actions. Deep down you will know the atrocities you may have committed and a hallow victory cannot erase those feelings. It isn't all about winning or losing, it is about the essence of each decision!"

Kett remembers when the 31st was recently ordered to destroy a village and when he was the only one who disobeyed that order. Not because he superficially cared about that village but because he could not stand to wipe out any village like that and even his nation in his mind couldn't justify it.

Kett replies, "There may be some truth to that."

Water Tribe counselor: "You know it is true."

Kett: "But like you said war is painful. It makes people do things they never wanted to do, like kill."

Water Tribe counselor: "Maybe, but perhaps there still should be an extent to which you are willing to kill. Perhaps there should be a greater purpose for why you fight outside of pride and vanity which are fleeting."

Kett: "I get that your people fight for survival, but it can be argued that every nation does that. Ours is just winning."

Water Tribe counselor: "And why do you believe that? Is that what they taught you in school? I could show you evidence of a different time, of the eras of peace before now. Of the times, when differences were celebrated and not feared."

Kett: "And how can you prove that?"

The Water Tribe counselor smiles, "Oh, not yet. But that lesson will come, in due time. But don't worry Mr. Kett, I will be requesting you again. And since we will be seeing each other more in the future, I might as well introduce myself. My name is Teshiki." Two Water Tribe guards escort Kett out of the room.

The next day Kett has the opportunity to talk with other prisoners outside while they are being watched by Sogoian (Water Tribe) guards. Kett looks at Jannik, "It's interesting, what Mr. Teshiki thinks. He has a different approach that I've never heard before."

Jannik scowls, "Don't trust him, they're trying to get into our heads. That's the only logical reason they're treating us so well. But it won't work, it's near impossible to change a fire national's mentality."