Hey, I'm back. Finally the first OCs appears! Enjoy Chapter 4!

Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Avatar: Curse of the Steel Legion

Chapter 4: Elemental Crossing

The Great Plains of the former Earth Kingdom were spread out in front of the travelers, with the dying grass facing them in all directions. In the old days, these lands would have been filled with life. This wasn't the old days however. Under the Legions' grip, all lands were dying wastelands, fading away from drought and pollution. The newfound companions had left the forest five days ago, and their only sight for the remainder of those days was this bleak landscape.

"Grass, Grass and more Grass! I'm sick of grass. Sleeping on grass, clothes being covered in grass, eating grass, when are we going to get there," whined Kiran loudly, breaking the silence.

"You whine too much kid," Duos responded nonchalantly.

"He does have a point Duos. Where are we heading?" Saying this, Lennos slowed his pace so he could pay closer attention.

"Like I said earlier, we need allies if we're going to make this work. I know a town up ahead where we can get supplies, and, if we're lucky, some help."

Relia, who was currently getting a piggy back ride from Lennos, asked, "Duo-kun why is your hair so funny," referring to Duos with his new nickname.

Duos, merely smiled, reflecting on this question that was always asked of him. The leader's hair was certainly an oddity. For starters, it was two colors instead of one: blonde and black. Around the side of his head, the hair was smooth and hung to the teen's neck. The rest of his head was spiked up, like many other anime hero's.

"Well kiddo, since I'm going to be the savior of the world, I have to be a symbol, or you can say a fashion statement," chuckled the waterbender.

"Do you have multiple personality disorder, or something Duos?"

At the Duos threw back his head and laughed, "That's the first time I've heard that one!"

"Duo-kun, I have another question, when are we going to get there?"

"If we keep going at this pace, we should be there in 3 days time."

At this Kiran groaned, "Whaaat? C'mon you must be kidding me."

"Pick up the pace whiner."

Kiran groaned again before reluctantly speeding up.

Duos smirked, saying, "Hehe it's funny. The five year old is more mature than the preteen."

Lennos grinned. "Yup that pretty much sums up our family!"

Said five year old than asked, "Does this mean I'm the big sister?"

The three travelers laughed loudly, while the four merely said, "Why does everyone pick on me?"

***

The sounds of the early filled the air of the town. Many of the inhabitants were now waking, and getting ready for the day. The sun was now shining on the inn in the town center, bathing it in light. A single beam of light pierced through the window of the uppermost room and fell on the eyes of the inhabitant.

The teen stirred, slowly opening his eyes. Sitting up from his bed, Mytsu brushed his messy brown hair out of his eyes, throwing the sheets off of his tanned, toned body. Jumping from the bed, Mytsu grabbed a standard earth kingdom garb and threw it on. Wrapping his hands as he had always done, Mytsu reflected, "6 years since I left the temple. Seems just like yesterday, I was living a normal life with my friends. I wonder how they're doing? I'm just lucky no one has discovered me yet."

Shaking his head, the young airbender left his room, unaware of his fast approaching destiny.

***

A few hours later, the local tavern was already filled with patrons. Taverns were very popular, with bad harvest and all the despair in the world. Many people were already drunk, many others half-way there. Taverns were also hotspots for many mercenaries and bounty hunters. One such was sitting in a dark corner of the room.

Shockingly, this mercenary was a young woman. The tall, long haired woman was sipping a beer with her one hand, stroking her traveling companion with the other. The woman was dressed in a blue shirt and pants, covered with a black and silver coat. To her side was her pack, which contained her only two possessions. Her companion was a rare animal: a drat. It was the size of a normal cat, but with longer fangs and small dragon wings sticking out of its back. Drat, you see, are part cat, part dragon. This particular one was purring.

"That's a good Rex," said Mia as she took another swig of her drink. "Why haven't I left this backwater town yet? In three days at least I can leave."

Putting her mug down, the firebender cocked her head, "Strange, why am I getting this weird feeling? Something's coming, I can feel it."

***

"We traveled through all that grass for this?!" The travelers had just entered their destination, and Kiran was, of course, whining about it.

"Kiran, do us all a favor and SHUT UP," snapped Duos, who had already grown tired of the child's constant whining.

"Can't you go five minutes without complaining, Ran," said Lennos. "Anyways, Duos now what do we do?"

"We should split up, that way we can cover more ground. I'm going to find a tavern; you three do whatever you want. Meet me back here at sunset."

Lennos nodded, merely saying, "Good luck."

Giving his new friend a thumbs up, Duos walked into the crowd and disappeared.

***

The roar of the tavern was deafening to those who entered. The whole bar was filled with fights, laughter, crying, drinking contests, and passed out patrons. Duos stepped over one such as he walked to the bar.

"Give me a Boiling Rock, raw," demanded the waterbender, although he shouldn't even have been drinking. The bartender merely shrugged and got the drink: Fire nation whisky on the rocks with a flame on top.

Duos grunted, trying to act gruff, and gave the man a copper. The teen chugged the whole glass, ignoring the burning flame.

"Something's off with that kid, I just don't know what," thought Mia, as stared down Duos. A chill shot through her spine as she shivered.

"What's up with you kid?" Mia rose from her seat, startling Rex, who hissed loudly. A symphony of hoots and whistles filled the tavern as the young woman walked by.

"Perverts," she swore under her breath, as she sat next to "the kid".

Duos grinned from behind his glass, knowing that Mia would approach him. "Damn Duos you fox!"

"Isn't it a little odd for someone your age to be drinking?"

"Depends. Isn't it a lot odd for one of your kind to be here?"

Through her training, Mia had learned to not let her face show emotion, but her eyes flashed just the same. "What the hell? How does he know what I am?"

"What are you talking about kid?"

"Oh you know. Don't worry I won't go announcing it to anyone," his voice dropped to a whisper as he said; "we benders have to stick together."

Mia gasped this time, shocked as this revelation. "How can you know that kid? And what do you want?"

"I have my ways. I need your help in a fight."

"Forget it kid I work alone."

"C'mon you must hate the Legion."

"So what if I do kid? Stay out of my business," and with that she stormed off back to her seat.

As he departed the bar, Duos grinned, thinking, "I got her."

***

Relia was beginning to get worried. The little girl was standing on bench, peering across the crowd. She had been in the center of the town with her brothers one minute, then the next they were gone. The sun was starting to set as well. Hugging her stuffed kitten tightly, tears began to form in her eyes.

"Hey kiddo, you alright?"

The five year old looked up to see another teenage boy right in front of her. He was looking at Relia with compassion in his eyes. Relia shook her head to answer his question.

"Are you lost?" asked Mytsu, who had just got off work in the fields. "I know this town like the back of my hand. I can help you."

"I...lost my brothers. I need to get back to the town entrance by sunset, or...," whimpered Relia.

"Hey, hey it will be okay. I'm sure there worried sick about you. Let's go," Mytsu said, taking her hand.

Relia beamed at him and hugged him, saying, "Thank you mister!"

***

"Ran, where the heck is Relia?"

"Don't know?"

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON'T KNOW?!" shouted Lennos. The three had regrouped at the entrance of town, minus one member.

"Calm down dude, I'm sure she's find," said Duos, who was leaning against a wall.

"I JUST LOST MY LITTLE SISTER! I WILL NOT CALM DOWN!"

"BIG BROTHER!" came the shout as something tackled Lennos. Relia was in the teen's arms, hugging her big brother.

"Nice to have a happy ending," said Mytsu, running a hand through his hair.

"Thanks. You don't want to see him angry," said Duos, shaking his hand.

"No problem. Hey you folks need a place to stay? I live at an inn after all."

Relia pulled herself away from Lennos, begging with her eyes, "Please Big brother? He's real nice."

"Thanks for the offer, we'd be happy to," replied Duos. "By the way, name's Duos."

"Mytsu. Now come on lets go," said Mytsu as he turned towards the inn.

***

After several minutes of walking, the group reached the inn, a simple three-story building in the middle of town. Mytsu pulled a few favors from the owner, and soon they all were in their rooms. Relia kissed Lennos (and to his embarrassment, Duos) good night, and soon all three siblings were sleeping soundly. Making sure Lennos was asleep, Duos snuck out of their shared room and headed up to Mytsu's room.

The airbender was standing out on his balcony, looking up at the stars. "I wonder if any of the others are outside now," thought the teen.

"Wish you were up there doesn't you?"

Shocked at Duos' appearance, Mytsu jumped six feet in the air and almost fell off the balcony. Catching himself, he stared at Duos, shocked. "How does He know?"

Duos laughed, "You should see your face bro. Relax, I'm a bender too. Of course I'm a waterbender, but, you know."

"How can you tell?"

"Call it a talent I have. Anyways, I've guessed you're a refugee. Instead of staying in this boring town, why not come with us? See the world, meet new people, and fight the Legion, the works! What do you say?"

Mytsu turned, thinking this offer over. "The guys back home would do it. Heck, I might even see them again. And these people seem nice. I've always wanted to fight the Legion. Maybe I'll be like Aang and save the world! Maybe I'll fall in love..."

Turning again, Mytsu said "You've got a deal."

"Great. Good night." Before Mystu could blink, Duos was gone.

Mytsu's only steady companion, his pet rat, scurried up his shoulder. Smiling at it, he thought, "I've got new friends."

Duos was wrapping himself up in his blankets, ready to sleep.

"Do you have multiple personalities or something?"

Turning quickly, Duos stared at Lennos. "Aren't you supposed to be asleep?"

"Aren't you?"

"Fair enough. To answer the question, no. The serious, passionate Duos and the joking, fun-loving Duos: I use them both depending on the situation."

"But which one's the real Duos?"

"Good night," came the reply, followed instant by snoring.

***

The next day, the whole gang was outside and fully packed. Mytsu's landlord had been kind enough to give them new supplies. A rat cage was attached to Mytsu's bag, which contained his pet. Kiran had been whining about leaving, which had already annoyed the newest member of the group. The group had just started walking when an explosion shook the town. The group ducked for cover as shrapnel blasted in every direction.

"What's going on," shouted Lennos over the roar of the explosions.

"Legion got bored I'm guessing. Kiran! You and Relia get to safety! Lennos, you evacuate the town! Mytsu, you're with me!"

"Be careful Duokun!" shouted Relia as Kiran dragged her away.

Another bender was preparing for battle at the same moment. Mia was dressed in blue armor, the same kind old fire nation soldiers wore. In her hand was her sword: forged from dragon scales, you could coat it in your bending. The young woman sprinted through the screaming the crowd, ready for a full fight.

The sound of shattering wood filled the air as Duos ducked under a Brawler's mace, which smashed the wall of a nearby building. Duos leapt onto the Brawler's back and smashed a hammer into the man's face. As his victim crumpled, another man, a sharpshooter, was blasted away by the Hydroshark. The aquatic beast flew across the buildings on its return, attempting to put out the fires on the buildings. The shark's master was dueling a foot soldier on the roof, the sound of clashing metal bouncing of the walls.

Mytsu was in enough trouble for both of them. Steamers were blasting at him from all sides, searing his clothes. The teen was barely able to blow the blasts into each other. Foot soldiers kept charging the teen, trying to offset the teen's balance. As one such grunt clipped his side, the airbender tried his secret technique. Falling to the ground, Mytsu shot out a bubble of air, trapping his foes. Time stood still for his unfortunate victims. A moment later, flailing bodies could be seen blasting through the open sky.

As the teen attempted to clear a Brawler, a death grip latched onto his leg and sent him flying. The good news was he stopped in mid-air. The bad news was he crashed into Duos.

"Damn, what do we do now?" shouted Mytsu as he sent air waves at the enemy.

"Keep fighting!" came the response as a wave of water shot out from Mytsu's back.

And they did. Water and air met steel and steam. The air was filled with shouts, explosions, and screams; the ground was filled with debris and unconscious Legionaries. Wave after wave of enemy met wave after wave of element. The legion was relentless though. There seemed to be no end to their assault.

"I..can't keep..this up," panted Mytsu as he fell to his knees.

"Damn, I guess I have to use my secret technique then," thought Duos.

As a brawler charged, a wall of fire seared his back, felling him instantly. Blasts of fire collided with the other Legion members, sending them flying. A tinkerer turned just in time to be hit by a flaming sword. Two screams pierced the air: the tinkerer's cry of pain and Mia's battle cry.

Inspired by this, Duos sent another wave smashing into his opponents. Mytsu grunted as he got to his feet, running after Duos.

Mia had taken out most of those in town, who were fleeing and trying to regroup.

"I thought mercenaries need to get paid to help," smirked Duos as he stood next to Mia.

"I hate the Legion. Any chance to bust their heads I'll take."

Mytsu was staring at the woman, googled eyed. Taking her hand, the teen said, "Did it hurt when you fell from heaven?"

This was greeted with a flaming point at the teen's throat. "Want to try again punk?"

"N-No ma'am."

A grinding sound split the air before the confrontation became violent. Another wave of Legionaries charged toward town.

"Put your difference aside; together we can win."

A spark flashed in Mia's eyes: maybe this kid was right after all.

Mia's sword flashed bright blue, Duos created a Hydroshark, and Mytsu levitated in the air. For the first time in nearly 300 years, three benders worked together to accomplish something great.

The Legion stood no chance. Air, fire, and water turned against them. They themselves became weapons against their allies. The benders had quickly learned that using the elements together made a deadly combination: flaming tornadoes scorched the ground, boiling hydrosharks exploded against opponents, needle like rain pierced flesh and armor. Hope and energy flowed through the young allies, making them stronger and more accurate. This story would be told in the town for years.

As the triumphant benders strode towards town, a splitting sound filled their ears. Turning quickly they saw a new Legion weapon heading towards them. To you and me, it would be identified as a robot. The beast stood at 8 ft tall and it was a massive hulk. Forged of black metals, you could see the gears turning and the flames burning in its chest. The machine's fists were massive, dragging behind it. On its "head" were two flaming wrecks for its eyes. Groaning and clanking the death machine raised its hands and blasted them forward, mashing into nearby buildings and shooting out spikes.

"Quick! Attack it while it's occupied!" bellowed Duos as he charged.

Flaming metal tore through chains as Mia slashed at one on the arms. Mytsu shot forward and latched onto the beast's chest, trying to blast it off balance. Duos slid under the "legs" and used his aquawhip to latch onto the machines back. As the weaponized fists shot backwards, Mia lunged towards the beast shoulder, stabbing it repeatedly. Duos wrapped his water around the steel neck, choking it. Shockingly, it worked. The beast struggled at its throat as Mia stabbed and Mytsu shot a wave of air at its feet. The beast fell to its side, choking and flailing. Before it even fell, Mia impaled it in the eye, sending magma everywhere. Mytsu used a gust to bend the machines foot at an awkward angle, snapping it off. For the deathblow, Duos smashed the back open with his hammer, shifting it to a lance mid swing and impaling it. The three jumped away as the beast exploded, collapsing to the ground, triumphant grins adorned on their faces.

***

The campfire crackled, sending waves of heat at the group. After the battle, the weary benders were given a hero's welcome, and when they had left, they left with the town's full bounties. It was the third night since they left town, with Mia in tow. Duos and Mytsu were relaxing and licking their wounds, Kiran was eating (one of the few things he didn't complain about), Relia was playing with Rex, and Lennos was sleeping. As for Mia, the firebender was packed and ready to depart.

"Thank you for your help and company, but I really must go. Come one Rex."

Mia's statement and Rex's leaving put a frown on Relia's face. This look was able to get anything from Lennos.

Duos sat upright, "Are you certain this is what you want? I won't stop you, but we could always use your help."

Mia frowned and furrowed her brow, upset at this statement. "No..really I must go."

Her walk down the road was suddenly halted by a small grip on her hand. Turning, she saw Relia gazing up at her, eyes pleading.

"Please don't leave Mia. You and Rex are real nice and we need you. Without you, we might not...," cut off Relia, whimpering.

Mia cursed inside her head, despite the feelings of warmth she felt. "I can't say no to that face."

Kneeling, Mia smiled as she brushed a hair out of Relia's face. "There, There. I'll stay kiddo."

Face instantly brightening, Relia squeeled and hugged the older woman. "Duokun, she's staying."

Duos broke out in a massive grin. "That's great. Now come over here. Lennos wake up."

The whole team gathered around the fire and locked hands. Staring into each of their eyes, Duos began his speech.

"This night we become a family. We may not all be blood, but we are as real a family as any. This night we start a journey. It will be long and difficult; we shall face many hardships. But together we shall succeed. Together we are strong. Together we shall defeat the Legion and restore the world. This is our destiny and our pact. And we shall be triumphant."

That night, they worried not about what was to come. All that mattered was that they were a family united.

New Year, New Chapter. Now we really start. I know this chapter took a while, but my resolution is to try and write a little bit each day. The next one may take awhile though. I plan to write another chapter for my soul eater story as well as some other things before chapter 5. But it will come.

Last chapter to submit OCs, if you have any more, submit now!

Format:

Name:

Age: (can range from 3 to anything above)

Appearance:

Clothing:

Story/History:

Bending:

Personality:

The following are optional, they enhance the OCs.

Bending Skills: (These are any special skills/attacks you want. Like healing, metal bending, lightning etc. You can also make one up.)

Possessions: (anything special your OC has: weapons, any items they carry)

Pets/Mounts: (pets are like Momo, Mounts like Appa)

Requests: (anything you want to happen in the story)