Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender. Nor do I earn anything from writing and posting this.

Edit: This is one of the first Fanfiction that I have ever written, before I really knew what Fanfiction even was. Recently, there has been a spree of Fanfiction being stolen and posted illegally to other sites. I do not give permission for this to be copied and put up on any site other than . If you find it anywhere other than it wasn't me. If the owners of Avatar: The Last Airbender want me to take this story down from this site I will gladly do so, but I can't claim anything for stolen content. I have done some research, and it is notoriously hard to get it taken down since the author themselves didn't post it.

If you see this on any other site, it wasn't me.

I hope that everyone can be courteous and understanding of the situation.

Chapter 1

The Choosing

The darkness wrapped around those who had entered the cave like cloaks, disguising them from the others. Each of them chose one of the seven seats that were set along the cave walls.

When the last of the cloaked figures had settled they pulled off their hoods. The one closest to the entrance was a young woman. Her face was as pale as the snow in the north and south poles. Her eyes were a deep sapphire blue and her pure white hair was pulled back into a tail. The dress she wore underneath her cloak was white as her hair.

The man next to her looked similar. His eyes were the same color of blue and his hair was just as white. Instead of a white robe, however, he wore one of deep midnight blue, the color of the ocean in a storm.

Across from the man and the woman was another pair. These two, however, both had deep brown hair. The woman had green eyes wile the man had hazel. Both wore green robes embroidered with plants and animals in such fine detail that you could see the fur on the squirrels. They sat straight with their arms crossed over their fronts with displeased expressions crossing their faces.

Grey eyes watched all the others suspiciously. These two were perched on the edges of their chairs, ready to flee at any moment should something go wrong and their temporary peace be broken. The man and the woman were both in yellow and light red clothing under their black cloaks. The woman had long silvery hair wile the man was bald, proudly showing the arrow imprinted on his head.

The last man was without a companion. His hair was deep black with streaks of fiery red and he sat in the darkest corner of the cave with his golden eyes half hooded, watching all of the others as they settled down into their seats. His own robes were black and red with what looked like flames dancing along the edges. He was the first to begin.

"We all know why we are here," he rumbled with a slight rasp, "The Avatar, who is supposed to bring balance to the world, has failed us."

Mumbled agreement spread from the gathered group as they nodded their heads.

"What to do about it though, is the question," the man with blue eyes said, glancing at the grey eyed man and woman who had stiffened when the golden eyed man had spoken.

"What do you suggest we do, Agni? After all, it was you who called us all here," the grey eyed man glared openly at the golden eyed man as he said this.

Agni dipped his head to the man, ignoring the venom in his words. "Too much time has passed. Without the Avatar the world is unbalanced-"

"And who's fault do you think that is?" the grey eyed woman muttered angrily but was ignored.

"-the Avatar is a child. He will be unable to do what he must to end this war," Agni took a deep breath, a troubled look in his eyes; "This is why I propose that we create a new Avatar."

Gasps and mutterings were heard throughout the gathered group. The only one who hadn't said anything was the lady with the sapphire eyes. She watched Agni intently with understanding in her eyes. As the muttering escalated she stood and the others silenced, turning to her.

Her eyes wandered to each of them, piercing them with her unwavering gaze, making them shift uneasily. "I know that you and your people have all suffered at the hands of Agni's people. I myself watch in agony as my blessed are captured one by one and subject to life of imprisonment. I watch as many of them go insane and use their powers for that which is forbidden.

"I watched and could do nothing as the air nomads were slaughtered in their own homes.

"I watch as the EarthKingdom is attacked again and again, slowly being driven back by fire and destruction, as their benders are imprisoned on islands made of metal.

"But I also watch Agni's people, and I see them suffering too. I see family's torn apart because of the Fire Lord's war. I heard their silent calls for peace and I see their tears as they get yet another notice that a brother, as son, a husband, is never going to be able to come back.

"I watch and can do nothing wile they mourn but can not complain. If they speak out against the Fire Lord's wishes, I watch as they are forced to 'disappear' and are never seen again.

"I know that we have all suffered in this unnecessary war, but it is not Agni's fault. The fault lies at the feet of those who have already passed on to the realm of the dead.

"I, for one, agree with Agni. The Avatar has failed his duties too long."

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before nodding to the golden eyed man, "A new Avatar must be chosen and guided by us, the first in his or her cycle."

"You already have someone in mind, don't you?" the man next to her said, his eyes twinkling.

She smiled softly at him, her eyes sad. "There is only one that this would be possible for. They must be a descendent of the previous Avatar, Roku, so that the powers of the Avatar are still strong in them and will just need to be resurfaced."

"You wish to make a firebender the new Avatar?" the grey eyed woman hissed, her eyes narrowed in anger.

Sapphire eyes met stormy grey head on and the one who had spoken out flinched under the unwavering gaze.

"Yes, I do. Does anyone else have a problem with that?"

Quick shakes of everyone's heads and the grey eyed woman sat seething silently.

"You plan to make Princess Ursa the Avatar, then?" the woman in green spoke for the first time, watching them all with a curious expression.

This time it was Agni that replied, "No, she is too old. The power would never take to her and might possibly kill her. It must be placed in a newborn, one yet untouched by the way of the world," he took a deep breath, "It must be placed in her firstborn, whoever it may be."

There was silence for a moment before the green eyed lady nodded, "That is understandable. I grant you my blessing to place the power of earthbending within him."

The sapphire eyed lady nodded as well, indicating that she too would grant her element, water, to the chosen newborn when the time came.

They all turned to the last to speak, the grey eyed ones. The man was silent, a troubled look in his eye's, but he nodded in consent.

"It is decided then," Agni said heavily, and nodded to each of them, "Thank you for all coming."

They left in groups of two until all that was left was the golden eyed man, Agni. He sighed and looked down at the small pool of water in a basin hidden in the corner. The water rippled, looking into the future, before showing a new family of three. The mother was smiling tiredly down at her new baby who had fallen asleep. To her right, though, a man stood, looking down at the babe with a calculating gaze. His gaze sent a shiver of foreboding down Agni's spine.

"I am so sorry little one," he said softly, "If only it could have been someone else," he closed his eyes and let a single tear slide down his cheek and drop into the pool, making the rippling image disappear.

One Year Later

The cry of a baby echoed through the halls as the midwife held the baby out to the exhausted new mother. The mother took the baby with a smile, looking down at it with love in her eyes. The midwife smiled inwardly. This is what she liked about her job, watching the mothers seeing their children for the first time. She carefully kept her eyes from wandering to the boy's father, though.

The mother was Princess Ursa, wife of Prince Ozai who was the brother of the Crown Prince Iroh.

"Zuko," Ursa said softly, "My little Zuko."

Ozai said nothing as he watched Ursa with his son, but a gleam had entered his eye that if Ursa had seen she would have immediately run in fear for her child. Ozai was not a kind person and if not for the arranged marriage Ursa would have never married him.

As he watched a small, malicious smile spread over his lips. With his own heir he now had a line of succession. The only thing that stood in his way was his brother and nephew, but if something were to happen to Lu Ten . . .

Then it would be he who was in line to become Fire Lord.

I hope you like it. The second chapter is almost finished and will be up soon.