This is my contest entry for the Avatar OC Contest organized by . Though the pic took a few days to come up with (LOTS of erasing), I was surprised that the background history was more of a killer for me to write. Anyways, enjoy!

---

Name: Rui
Age: 17
Gender: Male
Nation: Fire Nation
Likes: His parents, studying, reading, fire bending, comfort, the arts, beautiful objects, fine foods, Fire Nation culture, learning about the world.
Dislikes: Darkness, discomfort, sea-sickness, loneliness, rude behaviour, ignorance, cruelty.
Background history:

(The end of this description places the timeline around 5 years before Aang's awakening)

It isn’t an exaggeration to say that Rui had lived his life literally buried in books. The only son of a government scholar and a noblewoman, he was blessed to have forward-thinking parents who allowed him to indulge in his passion for learning. He very much loved to read the works of wise scholars of the Fire Nation on his own, and whenever he could, he would accompany his father to work at the Capital City’s library; there, he would have the opportunity to access rarer texts to satisfy his unending curiosity. Rui was also fascinated by the Bending arts, particularly in the way it requires unity of both the mind and body. He welcomed the fire bending lessons he was required to participate in from childhood as a member of nobility, and he became adequately adept in wielding the fiery art. Rui’s life was a charmed one, and he took advantage of that in his ambition to become a famous scholar one day.

Just like any other citizen of the Fire Nation, Rui was proud of how advanced his country has developed in the last hundred years. He had read through the years how the honorable men and women in the army had helped the nation expand their borders by bringing progress to the more primitive nations of Air, Water, and Earth. He had hoped that he too could play a part in civilizing other lands. And in his 17th year, as a neophyte in the nation’s service, he was assigned to follow a small Fire Nation naval convoy to record their deeds and achievements in subduing rebellion in an annexed Earth Kingdom territory.

During the journey (and away from his peaceful household), Rui began to notice the differences that separates him from the soldier class. He was constantly badgered by the soldiers because of his upbringing at having lived a comfortable life which to them rendered him useless in fighting where it mattered most. He never revealed that he had formidable fire bending skills as he felt there was no point lowering his self to their level and earning unnecessary antagonism at the same time. The traveling was a few agonizing weeks, but Rui was patient and recorded his observations accordingly.

When they arrived at their destination, Rui was surprised to see that it was nothing more than a down-trodden village. The inhabitants were just ordinary people similar to those who lived within the Fire Nation; the glaring difference was that they were tired and hungry, as a result of limited supplies and rationing imposed by Fire Nation troops. As the soldiers were busy trying to capture a few Earth Benders who were part of the local resistance movement against the occupying forces, Rui spent his time amongst the villagers to learn more about the conflict. Although he wasn’t keen of the poor living conditions, he told himself to look beyond that in conducting his duties.

Soon, through his communication with the villagers, Rui began to gain a clearer insight into the situation. The citizens of the Earth Kingdom weren’t uncivilized at all; they have a rich culture, with fascinating philosophies, customs and social mores. They were a proud and noble people, whose way of life was suppressed by the occupation, having to live their lives in oppression as their identity was forcibly stripped by the Fire Nation. Rui finally realized that the Fire Nation’s expansion was not the romantic ideal of bringing civilization beyond its borders…that was just a lie to mask the real reason; A brutal campaign of territorial and cultural conquest that brought much suffering.

When the soldiers finally captured the rebels and were preparing to transport them and their accomplices back to the Fire Nation, Rui was torn; He knew the only way to achieve his dream was to bow to the will of his nation’s ambitions, but his heart cannot accept that his path will be paved by the suffering of others. In his uncertainty, a scream made Rui accidentally use his fire bending to strike a soldier dragging a rebel’s child onto the ship. Needless to say, the troops did not take kindly to this betrayal and attacked him. Rui tried to hold his own ground with his skills, but it was obvious that the numbers would overwhelm him. The child’s Earth Bender mother managed to create a chance for him escape, and Rui took it to flee into the depths of the forest, though it shamed him to leave in such a cowardly way.

He returned days later to a burnt-down village, witnessing the aftermath of the Fire Nation's brutality first hand. Abandoned by his countrymen, Rui knew that from now on he was a traitor. Resigning to the fact that he may never return to his old life in the Fire Nation, it was then that Rui decided; He may never be able to achieve his ambition in the way he intended to, but he can surely go about it the different way. The people of the Fire Nation had been lied to, unaware of the true machinations of the empire they venerate. Unaware of how the hideous cruelty of the military was reflecting on them. Unaware of injustices perpetrated by their heroes that would be regarded as barbaric where they live. Unaware of the careless destruction of cultural heritage of others that enriched the land. History, after all, had always been written by the winners.

Not anymore, now that Rui had found his new calling. He was going to record everything the Fire Nation had tried to erase in their conquest.

And he hoped that one day, his words will help his nation awaken and regain its soul.

---

Avatar, Fire Nation, Earth Kingdom are (c) Nickelodeon
Rui is (c) Irma S. Ahmed/ Aimo

Artwork is finished with Photoshop.