The Four Elements

By: Mahe Shah

Fire, water, air, earth are the four elements that have been at war for decades. Most of them survived but some of them died too. The avatar that controls all the elements was supposed to keep all the elements safe but he couldn’t since he was locked up in a giant iceberg for 1000 years. The young avatar, who was afraid of his new responsibilities, fled from his home and got washed up by the sea, which made him get stuck in an iceberg for a 100 years. Shortly after, Fire Lord Sozin, the ruler of the fire nation, launched a world war to expand his kingdom. Knowing that the avatar was an Air Nomad and that he couldn’t fulfill his wish without the avatar dead. He wiped out the entire population of Air Nomads with the help of the comet that enchants the fire benders powers. One hundred years later, Katara and Sokka, two teenagers of the Southern Water Tribe, accidentally discovered the avatar (Aang) in an iceberg and revived him. They brought Aang back to the Water Tribe where they introduced him to them. But the Southern Tribe forbade Aang to enter and said, “you failed to protect us”. Our water tribe got destroyed because of the Fire Nationals.” But after a lengthy discussion they had to agree since their Water Tribe was still in danger.

Aang wanted to go back to his family but he didn’t know that the Fire Nationals wiped everything in The Air Nomad. So, the two teennages and Aaang travelled on Aaang Bbison. When they reached, Aaang called his friends but no one answered. S and soon he realized that because of his disappearance, his family and friends died. He shortly forgets about it, but has gained more anger on Fire Lord Ozai. Aang still blames himself on what happened to his family and could never forgive himself so Katara told him that later one day you will have to leave your old family and start a new one with your friends. Aang travels with Katara and Sokka to the Northern Water Tribe to learn water bending and prepare for his battle. He needs to learn how to control his powers since he is still just a kid. Prince Zuko, the banished son of the current Fire Lord Ozai, pursues them, accompanied by his uncle Iroh, hoping to capture to restore his honor. Zuko gets banished for speaking up when his father was planning to control the whole world through the four elements. Aang is also pursued by Zhao, a Fire Nation Admiral to win Ozai’s favor. When his navy attacks the Northern Water Tribe, Zhao, goes through and kills the moon spirit who is the princess of the tribe, Yue. She was Sokka's first love. Sokka felt devastated thinking about his first love and she died. On the other hand Aang drives the fire nation’s army fleet while he was in his avatar state where he is unstoppable. The problem was if he got killed in his avatar state then he would be the last air bender and avatar in the whole world. Azula shoots Aang with her lightning while Aang was in his avatar state. He fell to the floor, Katara picked him up and they drove away. Before Aang got killed, Katara took some magic water from the pond where the moon spirit was, that water can heal anyone who is in grave danger even if it is the avatar. Katara used that water on Aang and he was conscious. Aang learns how to bend water and has only 2 more elements to learn.

After the tragedy in the Northern Water Tribe, Aang and the teenagers decided to travel to the Earth Kingdom to learn earth bending. Aang found someone who was excellent at it and she was called Toph Beifong. She was a blind, twelve year old girl. While zuko and iroh, who are fugitives of the fire lord, came to the earth kingdom as refugees and eventually settled in Ba Sing Se. Both groups are pursued by Azula, Zuko’s younger sister and a firebender prodigy. The Fire Lord always was very impressed at Azula and never at Zuko. On the other hand, their mom loved both of them equally but sadly their mom died. Azula never liked her brother and was always better at him. Aang’s group travels to Ba Sing Se to seek the Earth King's support for an attack on the Fire Nation on the upcoming solar eclipse, that is when the firebenders are powerless because their power disappears only for that amount of time. Azula instigates a coup d’ètat, bringing the capital under Fire Nation control, and Zuko sides with his sister. Aang is mortally wounded by Azula when he was in his avatar state, but Katara used the water she got from the Northern Water Tribe and used it to revive Aang.

Aang soon learnt how to fluently bend three elements: water, earth, air and he still needs to work on his fire bending. He learnt the element of water from Katara, earth from Toph and he already knew how to air bend. Aang and his allies invaded the Fire Nation during the solar eclipse when they wouldn't be able to bend fire, but they were forced to retreat. Zuko realises that he was wrong and decides to abandon the fire nation to join Aang and teach him fire bending. Aang, who was raised by monks to respect all life, wrestles with the possibility that he will have to kill Ozai to end the war. In his avatar state he defeats Ozia but doesn’t kill him instead takes his powers away given by the lian turtle who Aang met on the way of his journey. When, sosin (Zuko’s grandfather), comet returns, Aang confronts Ozia and uses his avatar powers to strip Ozia of his firebending ability, as well as captures Azula. Azula tricks Zuko but Katara saves him and locks Azula up. Zuko is crowned the new Fire Lord and ends this war to bring peace amongst the four nations. Zuko, Katara, Sokka and Toph became the best of friends and fought together to save the world. If you enjoyed this show and you want to continue but can’t since you finished all the books, then watch “The Legend of Korra” which is a continuation of the Avatar.