Meifeng: The Lost Avatar

Prologue

Monk Gyatso stared at the woman. He had just been informed that she – Lien-Hua – was pregnant with twins. It was unheard of within the air nomads. Their birth meant something significant, and he wasn't sure if it was good or bad. The old man pursed his lips. "In all my years, I have never heard of twins being born to the air nomads. I warn you, Lien-Hua, this is an omen. Good or bad, I do not know. Keep this information from the other monks. When the children are born I will see that it goes well, and I will bring a midwife that I trust. The twins must not be found out, Lien-Hua!" He said.

The young woman's eyes filled with worry. "Thank you, Monk Gyatso. I will be going now." Lien-Hua bowed and hurriedly walked out of the room.

A few weeks later, Avatar Roku was killed defending his home from an erupting volcano. There were rumors floating around the Earth Kingdoms that Fire Lord Sozin caused his death. When he heard the rumors, Monk Gyatso grew even more worried. Could this rumor be connected to the twins? He brushed it off, though, not believing the rumors. Eight days later, exactly five weeks after Roku's death, the twins were born. It was a long and painful birth; Lien-Hua couldn't take it. Hours into the night, Gyatso and Yu, the midwife and nursemaid, approached Lien-Hua's husband.

"You have two beautiful children, Chaoxiang, a son and a daughter. What are their names?" Gyatso asked the children's father.

"Lien-Hua wanted to call the boy Aang, as it means peaceful soaring. She used to tell me that he would be a powerful bender, and the name suits him. The girl will be called Meifeng, because it means beautiful wind. I do not know why Lien-Hua wanted to call her this, but I will honor my wife's wishes."

Monk Gyatso nodded. "Very well, Chaoxiang. I will bring the children to your home tomor-"

Chaoxiang cut the Monk off. "No. I am in no state to care for them. Without my wife, I cannot provide the necessary care. I want them to have the best chances possible, and if they stay here, they will be known as the motherless. Take Aang to live in the Southern Temple, and Meifeng to the Northern. I want them to know that they are brother and sister, but not live together. Please, Gyatso, I ask this of you not as a subject or commoner, but a friend. Can I trust you raise my children to the maximum potential for me?" He asked, tears in his eyes. Gyatso felt his heart soften. "I will see what I can do." He said, and beckoned for Yu to follow him. "Yu, can you take Meifeng to the Northern temple? Tell the locals that she is an orphan. Do not tell anyone who she is until I visit. I will be there in a few weeks; I will sort things out then." Yu nodded before walking out of the Eastern Air Temple.

As promised, Gyatso visited Yu and Meifeng two weeks later. He explained everything to Xia, the only living female airbender. Xia took Meifeng in, luckily and promised to tell Gyatso if anything happened.

When the twins could walk and were beginning to talk, the Monks brought out the toys. Both children reached the same four toys. After a small squabble, Aang had a fan toy and a monkey toy, while Meifeng had the turtle toy and the spiral rattle. Gyatso's fears had been realized.

There were two Avatars.

The legend wasn't legendary anymore.

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Two nearly identical eleven year olds – told apart by the fact that one of them had hair – were playing on what seemed to be a ball of air, demonstrating some game to other children their age. A few men walked up to the group approaching the apparent twin siblings. "Aang and Meifeng. Come with us." The one in lead ordered. Aang looked at his sister before following them to an open roofed room.

"First," Gyatso said, "You will be getting your tattoos today. Meifeng, you must shave your head."

When Meifeng shaved her hair off, the Monks began the process. The one in the middle closed his eyes, then the two on either side of him – one was Gyatso – and the last two on the ends. The tattoos slowly lost their color, turning white. As soon as the tattoos were completely white, the children felt pain.