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Disclaimer: Avatar: The Last Airbender and Legend of Korra all belong to Nickelodeon. I however own the OC's and plot.

-6 o'clock p.m. and I'm about ready to crash. My life is hard, alright; I'm not one of those druggy teens that are lazy or anything. I'm a hard worker, I have mouths to feed; and by that I mean myself and my grandfather. He can't work since he's bed ridden. Only reason my parents can't is that there missing. They've been missing for almost my entire life. My grandfather says it's cause they were "called to duty" in the military.

Yup, it's a bit of a sad life. A boy with no father figure but his grandfather. Still, I managed, but my grandfather hasn't. Every time I feed him his favorite food, -fried frog legs with this wired sauce he kept stocked up for years- he says I look like my father when he was growing up. He's still somewhat living in the past.

Oh yeah, how rude of me. Where are my manors? I'm Rotsen Oshoku; yeah I know it's a wired name. I'm very different from every other junior in my high school. For one I have a streak of white hair that boarders the end of my black raven hair; and yes, I was born with it. I'm the only god damn Hispanic there. The schools like a box full of white crackers and I'm a baked one that fell into the box. That and I'm the only one that wears dark clothing. Seriously, the people there wear a lot of light colors and none that are dark. It's like a high school pulled straight from the movies. It's practically torture to be around those people. I barely get enough bliss at home talking to my grandfather. Too bad now he only has a few more months before he bites the dust.

It's now 2020 of January. It's almost the 29th, still a few hours till then. It started off normally; me walking home from the pharmacy with my grandfather's meds. We live in the outskirts of Louisiana, near the border so I could just see the mountains of Texas just over the horizon, or that's what my grandfather says.

It was late out but I didn't mind, the stars were out and the moons light gave enough light out for me to see. I hummed a tone of a pan flute my grandfather use to play. I use to join in with him with some drums he gave to me. He says it was my father's when he was just a little boy.

It was several minutes later when my house was in view. It was an old fashion two story house with a basement and attic. The porch was empty and the lawn was bare from any living thing, even weeds couldn't grow on that cursed lawn. The drive way wasn't empty; it had my grandfather's old car and several tires. I don't understand why he won't let me sell it for scrap or even the tires but it was his.

I stop whistling when I unlocked the door and entered, being welcomed by the warm a. The place was like a Chinese and Japanese home Americanized. There were some model katana on the wall and every other mashes of Japanese and Chinese culture blended in with a hint of American stuff. I don't understand why but my mother was Japanese and my father was Chinese. Both of their families came to America for a better life, away from the Firebender's unfair government system in Asia. What's even stranger is that I don't show any signs of either culture! It's like my mother slept with another man but my grandfather keeps telling me that she didn't and that my grandmother on her side was actually from Mexico and moved to Japan. I sometimes doubt it but I never really question him.

I walked into the kitchen to start on his favorite dish. It toke me half an hour to finish and add in his medication into the sauce. I gaged at the smell one last time before I made my way upstairs with some hot tea for both himself and I. The doc says no hot liquids for him but I've been going against it cause it seems to be helping him a lot.

I knocked at the door with my foot softly. I had my combat boots so I had to make sure I didn't either dirty it or cause a noticeable dent. I heard a cough and a tired voice speak, "Come in."

I opened the door and toke in the scenery again. I could never get used to it; the room's only light was from old candles he had. He found a way to light the fire and turn it off, never telling me how. The only signs of color were red with a golden orange and yellow. Tarps with the ancient Fire Nation symbols filled his room, along with a dark brown nightstand near his bed. He was wrapped in his blanks and slightly sweating from sickness.

He was an old man and when I say old I mean old. He never told me his real age but he says it was before the world wars and before the revolutionary war. I don't believe it but whenever he was being serious his eyes went dark with age and they show old wisdom and sadness. He had a long white beard and was covered in liver spots. He was starting to bold, his white hair from the front were making an oval shape. He was always dressed in crimson silk robs that he had for years.

I walk over to him and placed the dish on the night stand and gave him his tea. When he toke one sip he stopped sweating. "Thank you Rotsen."

I nodded as I started to feed him his food, trying not to take in the fumes the frogs gave off. After about twelve forkfuls of that stuff he spoke again. "Rotsen, I must tell you something."

"What is it, grandfather?" I asked, making sure not to show so much emotion. Last time I showed too much sadness from school or joy he would laugh at the joy and tell me to man up. I kept my head down slightly, a sign of respect many people do in the Fire Nation. He says our family line comes from the old Fire Nation rulers but I doubt it.

"There is something I have no told you for years. I have tried to tell you before but I knew the time wasn't right."

Oh yeah, you on your death bed sure is the best time to tell me.

I nodded, trying to push away my rude thoughts. "What is it?"

He looked up at me with his dark old eyes, making me look up. "You are special, my grandson."

"Grandfather, I know I'm special. You keep telling me that for years." It's true; he keeps telling me that I'm special for years but never why.

"No Rotsen, you are not just special. You are important to the world." Okay, starting to creep me out a bit but go on. "Let me tell you a tale."

I looked up slightly more. I was curious and he did tell the best stories when I was a kid so maybe he had one more he never had told me.

He coughed slightly, something he always did before he would tell a story. "There is a legend that speaks of a human of great importance, chosen before birth, to be able to control the elements and bring peace to the world, making sure it was balanced, that good and evil were balanced."

I interjected. "But grandfather, I've heard of these benders. They're just normal people that can bend an element, nothing more and nothing less." It's true, there aren't any benders in Louisiana but there had been stories about them on the news and newspaper. There aren't that many out there and I've been told tales about them occasionally by him, that they either kept it hidden for some shunning and some other countries that completely outlaw the ability.

He nodded, not even fazed by my comment. "Yes but the man or woman could bend all four elements, and then some. You see, every generation one is chosen and I now know for sure that you are the Avatar."

I was a bit shocked. I only heard rumors of the Avatar and how he or she was to be all powerful. I was a little lost in my thoughts before pulling myself out. "Are you sure grandfather?"

He nodded, his eyes going a little dark. "I have also kept a secret about our family. We come from a long line of Firebenders. The chances of the trait not being passed down are rare but I know you could be able to do it. Look at my candles, imagine the flames dimming and going out. You must be focus and be gentle minded."

I nodded, now a bit creped out and thinking about just ending it for him if he's going crazy, if I could even bring myself to do that. I mean really, me as the Avatar, little less a Firebender? But I did have trust in him so I fallowed his instructions. I looked at the candles and focused on it. I then started to motion my hand upwards, acting a little on instinct. Almost instantly when I clenched my fist in boredom they flared upwards. I was shocked and stuttered back, dropping my hand and hearing my cup of tea fall to the ground, spilling.

I stood up, starting to freak out now. "W-what the hell?"

Grandfather started to laugh. I see the position I'm in. I'd be laughing too if it was someone else. I let him laugh some more until he spoke up. "You see boy, you are a bender. And I know you must be the Avatar. Your heart is pure and I see greatness in you. Now though, I have a task for you."

I calmed down, looking at him with an expression that said "What else have you not told me!?"

He looked upwards. "You must look for your uncle. He lives in northern Alaska, also a Firebender. He will help you look for the ancient benders; you must learn from them and complete your task in balancing of the world."

I nodded, still shaking. I mean really, your grandfather and only family member has told you that you had a uncle that is a Firebender, must go to him on your own, and become a powerful being of peace. That doesn't sound strange at all.

"B-but, Grandfather," I stuttered out, still a little shaken up, "I don't think I can do that. I mean, go across country and look for a family member I never heard of, on my own. Plus what about school, someone's bound to notice that I've gone missing and your bed ridden. I can't leave you."

He coughed, his expression softening. "Don't think I'm just old doesn't mean I can't take care of myself. Now grab your belongings that you will need for your travel," He looks over to the wooden staff hung above the door. "Take your father's staff as well."

I looked up at it with a questionable look. "He used to have a staff?"

He nodded and continued. "That was one of his closest belongings. He used it to practice his own bending. Keep the staff with you at all cost, it will be useful in due time."

I nodded before getting up, grabbing the staff from above. I felt the foreign wooden texture. It felt comfortable in my hands and I could see carvings in the wood, too faded for me to even read out. I left his room and headed for mine. I grabbed my school backpack and dumped all the papers out. I stuffed it with some clothing and bathroom stuff. When I was finished I went over to my night stand and toke out a necklace my grandfather gave to me when I saw ten. It was linked together with a strange dark purple metal and the Fire Nation symbol hung by it, made of the same material. Around were two long and hard teeth, two either side of it. He said it was actually parts of an ancient Lion Turtle's claws. Again I didn't believe him during that but now, I wasn't so sure.

I put it on, hearing the cold metal rattle. When I finished I took my bag and staff in hand, heading for my grandfather's room one last time before I leave.

I opened the door slowly, standing by his bed side. I knelt down, letting my head hang in the air. "Goodbye grandfather."

He nodded before coughing madly, placing a warm hand on my shoulder. "Now go, don't look back and do not give up."

I nodded back, looking up to him and returned the soft and warm smile he gave to me. I got up, giving him a hug before leaving and closing the door. I look back at everything in the house before I left through the back door. I didn't look back as I walked down the road that led to the other end of Louisiana. I had a long journey ahead of myself, and I know my parents and grandfather will be with me in spirit. Hopefully the Avatar spirits as well.