Burning Rocks: The Tale of Two Brothers Part 1

It is 60 years after the Great War, and ten years before the Equalist revolution, and a family has moved to Republic City looking for jobs and opportunity in the largest metropolis in the five nations. Mako and Bolin look outside the ferry as they arrive at the statue of Avatar Aang. Mako is eight, and Bolin is six.

"Look, Mommy" Bolin says, pointing out the window at the statue. "We're here". He shakes his older brother awake, which Mako doesn't seem to appreciate.

"I'm still tired" Mako says. "Wake me up when we actually get there, not when we're almost there". Bolin frowns, he knows his brother is a light sleeper, but wishes he would pay more attention to him sometimes.

"Now, Mako" Their mother says. "You should spend more time with your brother, and the city is a great place to do it".

Mako simply grunted and shrugged. "I spend time with him at school, isn't that enough".

"No" Mother says. "Bolin is counting on your to be a good influence, and you can't start out like that". Mako again shrugs and puts his arm around his brother. "See Mom, is that better?". Mom sighes, but nods. Bolin smiles, knowing Mako is not one for brotherly affection, but accepting it anyway.

"This city is awfully big, Mom" Mako says. "Will we be allright?". He says, worry in his face because of stories he has heard about Republic City. It has as many gangs and crime syndicates as it does good people and councilman. Every type of scum the world knew once went to Republic City and still lived there.

"We'll be fine son" Their Father said. "A strong firebender like you, you can defend our family just fine".

"And with your brother, Bolin?" their mother added. "Why, you two would be unstoppable".

"Okay, Mom" Mako said. "I trust you". He didn't really, but he didn't want to make his parentz upset nor scare his brother. When they got off the ferry, and old friend and real estate agent named Toza showed them to their home.

"It's the best I can do" he said, pointing to the ramshackle shack. "With taxes on the rise, and more trouble coming, I can do no more. I'll try to get you some air conditioning though".

"Thank you, Toza" Their mother said before waving the earthbender away. "Now unpack your bags, boys. This is your new home"

They never did get used to their new home, but they did get used to roughhousing quiet a bit, clashes of earth and fire would sometimes destroy their room, but the moody Toza would always come by and fix it. They lived peacefully for about six months, until the Agni Kai leader, Sozai came and knocked on the door.

"Hello" he said with a smirk. "Time to pay the rent".

"We have already given Toza our rent" Mako and Bolin's mother said. "Now leave us be".

"I should be more specific" Sozai said. "You see it's not actually rent. It's just money you pay me to make sure me and my gang don't burn this place to ground with you and your landlord in it". He pointed to a pole where Toza was bound, struggling to Earthbend but to no avail.

"Fire is so hard to control" Sozai said, and the flames in his hands grew larger and larger, and as the parents stared at him, ever larger.

"We will never yeild to scum like you" Mako and Bolin's father said, pointing a gun at their faces. "Now leave before I have to fire this thing".

"A future industires shot gun?" Sozai asked, firebending the gunpowder to make it blow up in the man's face. "Oh my, I'm SO scared". The man fell to the ground in agony.

"Pay up or the same will happen to you" Sozai said, gearing up for another burst of fire, but the woman shook her head and the fire ignited her as well, she was dead within seconds, despite Mako's bending efforts.

"Your mother is dead, kid" Sozai said. "Quit pretendin' she ain't". He walked off only to get his left arm burnt heavily by Mako.

"Leave here and never come back again!" Mako yelled. "I never wan't to see or hear you here again, or you'll regret it!". He continued blasting fire at the man, but Bolin put a hand on his shulder.

"It's dad, Mako" Bolin said, pointing to the moaning figure. "He's still alive"

"Barely" coughed their father, he put his hands on the two boys shoulders as he struggled to sit up.

"Listen, Mako. Never forget your lessons and forms at the academy they'll save your life" he said.

"What are you talking about, Dad" Mako asked, crying. "NO...DON'T DIE!".

"And Bolin, pratice your earthbending, as you will be a powerful as Toza one day". When he said that, the old man on the post shook his head, he really doubted that.

"No, daddy" Bolin said, tears flowing down his face as he embraced his father for the last time. "Don't go".

"Protect each other, understand" their father said. "Never let each other down, always be there for each other. Can you promise me that?"

"I promise" Mako and Bolin said together in unison.

"Good" their father said, and with his last breath, the man fell to the ground, and his hearbeat stopped, and his chest fell, he was dead.

In the midst of their crying, a man in a blue shirt walked up to them.

"You okay kids?" he asked.

"No" Bolin said. "They killed Daddy and Mommy".

"They did?" the man asked, that's horrible.

"We know" Mako said.

"Listen" the man said. "I heard your daddy say to protect each other, what if I made that easier for you"

"You could"

"Sure, I'm an enemy of Sozai and the Agni Kais, I could help you train and stop them from causing more harm".

"You could?"

"Yep"

"Okay then" Mako said. "Come on Bolin lets go with..."

"Shin" The man said. "Shady Shin"

And with that our tale beigins.

Part 2 tommorow. And more stories coming after that. Hope you enjoy