Into the Furnace
(A "The Legend of Korra" Fanfiction)
Chapter 2
A huge mountain stood before the man. He had travelled long and far. He was tired and his supplies were low. He gazed at this mountain in disbelief. "What is this!" the man shouted. "I have already climbed three mountains and yet you demand more of me." The man collapsed in defeat and sobbed. His tears flowing into the dirt. He stayed like this for a while until he heard footsteps behind. The man turned around to look at the person walking towards him. In front of him stood a tanned young male with long spiky black hair. He was shirtless except for a sash that ran across his body. He had on some shorts that had seen better days. He carried nothing with him. The man quickly wiped his tears away and said, "Excuse me but how did you get up here?"
The younger man looked at the other man with intense dark brown eyes and calmly retorted, "I live here." The large crybaby immediately stood up and bowed towards the teen. "Forgive me Guru Hoshiko." Zen stood eyeing the man searching. "What is it you seek?" he said. The man retorted, "I am Lee Tsang. I have travelled a long distance from Republic City in search of you." Hoshiko relaxed at the man's words. "I won't recognize your name since I caught you crying on my mountain." Lee smiled meekly at this. "I was afraid of what your brother would do to me if I returned without finding you." Hoshiko laughed at the man's words. "You fear my brother? Ha. You haven't meet his twin." Lee widened his eyes at this. "So what does my brother want from me?" Hoshiko asked. "He wants you to stay away from Republic City." Hoshiko turned form the man. "So that's what this is about eh?" he started. "Well tell my brother that Republic City is a place I cannot stay away from. I will meet the Avatar and I will test her on her knowledge and skill." Hoshiko said. "My master, Guru Pathik, taught Avatar Aang about the wonders of chakras. I want to see if Korra has had a good spiritual teacher." Lee was not pleased with his words and moved for his swords. "When my master says stay away, you will stay away from Republic City!" He shouted lunging at the guru with his swords drawn. Lee swung at the guru who dodged his swipes with grace and speed. Lee backed away from the guru. "Really? You're gonna fight a guru?" Hoshiko said as he jumped back from the swordsman. "You will obey my master's wishes." Lee yelled. He ran at the guru a second time who stood there with a huge smile across his face. "Since when does the eldest brother takes orders from the youngest?" the guru retorted. He then dodged the next barrage of swipes from the swordsman who was beginning to tire out. The guru saw this and kicked the man square in his chest with no effort. Lee laid on the ground gasping for breath. Why am I so tired? he thought. "We're on a mountain you idiot. There's less air up here." The guru said. Lee sat up shouted "Your brother won't stand for this." Suddenly, fire flew past the tired swordsman's head. "And I asked you when did the eldest start taking orders from the youngest?" the guru shouted. Lee sat there staring at the guru's steaming hands. "You can firebend?" he asked. The Guru answered with a fireball towards the swordsman feet. Lee jumped back in fear. The guru stood there waiting to see if the swordsman would react. He didn't. "Now listen and listen well, tell my brother that I will do whatever I want." The guru began. "I will arrive in Republic City in two days, so if he wishes to stop me that's his time limit." Lee gathered his swords and raced towards the entrance of the mountain top. He stopped at the entrance and turned around. He stared in disbelief at the now empty mountaintop. There was no trace of Guru Hoshiko except for his sash that was now blowing through the icy cold breeze.