DISCLAIMER: I do not own these characters, those edits, or the poem mentioned no matter how much I wish I did.

160 AG

It was a joyous, triumphant time for the Northern Water Tribe. Many were enchanted by the prosperity of their community after spending sixty years in intimate alliance with their sister tribe in the South. There were parties and celebrations unlike any other where benders would display their unique talents and many cheered out of awestruck and wonder. It was truly a joyous time.

The royal family was in celebration of Tonraq's tenth year reigning as Chief of the Tribes. Technically he was the star of the night, but it was his daughter, Korrin, that was the true light of the occasion. Earlier that year, the family had the delight of learning she was in fact the new Avatar and that night it was finally announced to the public. Many times throughout the party, the young girl was asked to see just a sample of her powers beyond water bending, although she had only been training for six very short months.

Though she was very far from taming the three extra elements blessed upon her, Korrin was close to fully mastering her natural element, water. Meaning her mentor, Katara, would soon be retiring back to her home in Republic City with her son. Both prodigious benders had grown very close, developing a deep connection no one could possibly match. Korrin was devasted at first to hear that her dear instructor would be leaving.

This sparked the idea in Katara to give her a parting gift, something that would always give the young Avatar thoughts of her while she was away. Korrin was ecstatic to receive the endearing token. Wrapped up in the mentor's withered, practiced hands was a traditional betrothal necklace. But instead of having the normal insignia of the Tribe or even a symbol of the relationship they shared, inscribed around the perimeter of the charm was "Home is wherever you are". On the back was written "Republic City". Along with the necklace, she had also hand-written Korrin's favorite poem onto a scroll. She let the parchment slide out of its blue, plastic container and released it from its tightly coiled state. Together, the two water benders recited the scripture.

"Someone asked me what home was

and all I could think of were

the stars on the tip of you tongue,

the flowers sprouting from your mouth,

the roots entwined in the gaps between your fingers,

the ocean echoing inside of your ribcage."

And as their tongues shaped the last syllables, the light-hearted moment ended; the reign of such a joyous, triumphant time had ceased and a sinister one stepped in it's place. Its owner stepped along with it: Unalaq.

He was Tonraq's younger brother, and even his most trusted advisor beforehand. Throughout the years, though, Unalaq became power-hungry, so obsessed that he was driven to the point of madness. In compulsion of his greed, he left the family in promise to return with greater power than the Four Nations combined. Unalaq had sold his soul to the Great Spirit of Darkness Vaatu, in exchange for extreme power only to fulfill one duty: destroying Tonraq and the rest of the royal family.

That night, he had arrived to the party to announce his intentions and spark the flames sent from the most heinous spirits. Homes were invaded, families destroyed. Civil wars erupted not just in the North but in the Southern Tribe, as well. After weeks of corruption, Vaatu's spirits finally reached the Northern palace.

Katara tried to escape with the young Avatar in tow. Within the chaos, Korrin escaped her mentor's grasp in search of the sacred poem. She ran back to her room, now in complete disarray. While the girl searched, Katara tried to fight off the dark spirits the best she could until it became too late. They were surrounded. No escape. No choice. No mercy.

It was as if she were in a dream as Korrin felt the wall behind her begin to move. Her worst thoughts came to mind, The walls are collapsing. They palace will fall. There really is no way out. Her train of consciousness came to a halt as she felt a nudge behind her left ankle. Looking down, she saw the dark-haired head of a young boy. She knew him. He was the son of one of the servants, so he helped out around the palace quite often. More often than that, though, he would spend time spying on the young Avatar. It seemed he had an infatuation with her, and she wouldn't deny he had great looks for his age.

The boy nudged her foot aside, giving himself enough room to rise off the floor, and pushed both water benders towards the wall. Korrin resisted until she saw that the wall actually had an opening, as if there was some hidden tunnel through the way. The boy pushed the two again, urging them to move. Korrin resisted again, turning to the boy and asking for her scroll. His rich auburn eyes burned through her own.

Without explanation, the boy pushed Korrin passed the threshold and quickly slid the walls together again. He turned and searched the room for the precious scroll only to be greeted by an army of spirits.

Both water benders scrambled through the crowds in attempt to reach the boats. Katara almost sighed with relief as she felt the wood of the boat beneath her shoes. The spirits could only travel so far away from Unalaq, considering his body housed Vaatu. The fact had given Katara comfort until Korrin was violently ripped from her arms.

She was dragged across the harsh snow, spirits wrapping their limbs around her ankles, directly into the hands of Unalaq. Katara immediately bent the snow and ice around his body, constricting his arms and legs, forcing him to let go of the young girl. The ice beneath him shattered and Unalaq was sent down into the frozen void. Korrin was dropped onto a portion of solid snow, knocking her unconscious.

Katara felt the boat surge to life in one large push and it began to speed, separating her from Korrin quicker and quicker. There was nothing that could be done. Korrin was gone. It was the end.

A/N: Inspired by these lovely edits by kaiayame . Please please please give me feedback! Thank you!

The poem used was written by e. e. cummings