BORN WITHOUT BENDING
It has been 18 years since 'The Destruction', and people are struggling, industries are collapsing, and poverty is rife. Tensions build between nations as they struggle to rebuild their empires in a world without bending. Avatar Korra's disappearance has never been resolved, some believe she chose never to return after her actions caused the catastrophic event, while others believe she perished when the Spirit World collapsed. Everyone's lives are different now, the entire world is different, and while some may hold hope for the future, others still long for the past.
Glowing blue light, softening, breezing.
Forming into a dark cloud, rain falling.
The dark cloud tearing apart like fabric.
People running, scared and screaming, their feet trampling on the earth.
The earth crumbles away, glittering amber veins, turns black like charcoal.
CHAPTER 1
WHACK! The wicker ball flies high up into the sky, the sun momentarily blinding the kids as they scramble to their positions in the circle, poised and ready for the next kick. Ma-mei, a pint-sized tyrant with scruffy dark hair and mud-stained clothes leaps into the air, flipping once and placing her bare foot in line with the ball. THWACK! Sprigs of cane glitter the sky as Ma-mei lands softly on the ground.
"Awwwwww" the children groan collectively.
"You ruined our game!" shouted one particularly upset kid, Jin.
"Oh yeah." Ma-mei said nonchalantly "What are you gonna do about it?"
The boy grimaced, looked down at his hands then yelled angrily "I'm gonna fire-bend you!"
He clasps his hands close together, building his inner energy with a mighty groan. Concentrating his energy into his hands, he steps forward into a strong and deep stance, and lets out an almighty "PSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Fireball, fireball!"
The kids scatter, running in different directions, screaming with panicked excitement. Ma-mei dodges the make-believe fire, ducking and rolling onto the ground. In a deep earth-bending stance she summons the power of the earth, and then "Pew! Pew! CRASH!" she starts projecting imaginary earth rocks at him.
They stare down each other, readying themselves for their next attack, the kids encircle them chanting and jeering. Ma-mei's hands widen as she concentrates hard on her stance, her eyes closed, and her brow furrowed she reaches to touch the earth beneath her bare feet. "LAVA BEND!" she declares, her eyes wide and intense.
A brief second passes and the kids start laughing hysterically. Jin is laughing too but remains smug, ultimately claiming his victory.
"I win. There was no such thing as lava bending."
"Yes, there was! My dad used to lava bend, and my mom would air bend!" she protests angrily as the laughter increases.
"Don't lie Mei, your dad's a farmer just like mine"
"No, he was a famous mover star, and an earth-bender and a LAVA bender AND he helped save the world with the Avatar!"
Jin rolled his eyes in disbelief. As the laughter simmered down, one of the kids asked, "What's an Avatar?"
"Ma-mei!" A loud, deep voice rings in the distance
"My brother's here, I have to go. Pew!" she says shooting them with a final imaginary earth rock.
"Leong! Jin says there is no such thing as lava bending!" she professes to her brother, almost like a question needing an answer.
Leong is tall with broad shoulders, dark hair and bright green eyes like Ma-mei. He is dressed in khaki green overalls, dirty with grease and oil, with a bag slung over his shoulder. He ruffles her hair and smiles. "Of course, Dad was a lava bender, I bet we would've been too."
"I know, I wish I could just prove it to them… By covering their houses in lava!" she says darkly as she mimics bending.
Leong chuckles as they walk down a gravelled village road towards the setting sun. Fields of rice and oxen scatter the countryside, green forest-draped mountains as a backdrop.
"How was work?" Ma-mei asks, the peaceful walk having calmed her down
"It was long, and tiring… so it's lucky I am so tough and strong" he says smiling "This is why you have to work hard at school, so you don't have to work in the factories like me."
"I want to, I am tough and strong too!" she pleads
He picks her up and carries her over his shoulder, she squirms to get away, but her efforts are thwarted by her much bigger brother.
The sun is almost gone, and fireflies begin to appear in the distance. Leong walks up the brightly lit deck of a nice wooden cottage, situated in amongst rice fields, carrying a sleeping Ma-mei over his shoulder. He walks through the door and places her on a white fur rug in front of the fire. Bolin, now a much older man, hair peppered with grey walks in to greet his kids, but Leong gestures to be quiet. They walk into the kitchen where they can talk without waking Ma-mei.
"How was work today, son?"
"Good Dad. What're you cooking?"
"My famous earth-fire oxen stew! This time I added a little saffron to give it some colour and spice." Bolin stirs the pot and gives it a little taste test. Starts sprinkling in some more herbs.
Leong looks nervous "Actually Dad, I wanted to ask - "
Opal walks in with two twin teen girls in tow, both elegant and neatly dressed like their mother. The girls, Sumi and Tilin, sit at the table both enthralled in a magazine they're reading together. Leong kisses his mother on the cheek and gives a little 'hi' to his sisters - though he doesn't expect much of answer.
Opal leans over the simmering pot and inhales deeply, then smiles. Bolin embraces her sweetly, and briefly. The twin girls groan at their parent's affection – which causes Bolin to dip her and kissing her again more passionately. Leong laughs and shakes his head. He rummages through his bag, and hands his parents a flyer.
"Someone was handing these out in town today."
It's an advertisement for an upcoming event with a spiritual leader monk. Tickets are limited, so get in quick.
"That's Jinora, right? I haven't seen her since I was a little kid."
Bolin looks over the flyer, deep in thought, then screws it up. He turns to focus back on his stew.
"She wouldn't want to see us anyways." He mumbles
Opal and Leong look at each other with a slight shrug, not wanting to delve into his issues.
"Dinner's ready!" Bolin announces, back to his usual sense of enthusiasm
Ma-mei walks in rubbing her eyes, smiling at the prospect of delicious food. Bolin starts serving bowls of stew to everyone, he hands Leong a steaming bowl, "You wanted to ask something before?"
Leong looks nervous again. Now everyone is looking at him expectantly. He sits down at the table and mutters something under his breath until everyone is seated.
"I have been offered a great new job, working in the engineering workshop, instead of on the factory floor. Better pay, better conditions. A real career." He smiles nervously
Opal and the girls are all smiling, but Bolin is looking serious. Leong stares straight at him, waiting for a response.
"I'm proud of you son. But Republic City is a dangerous cesspool. It isn't like it used to be when Uncle Mako and I lived there."
The smiles turn to shock and Leong smiles shyly, relieved that he didn't have to explain that his new job entails him moving to Republic City, where the Future Industries engineering department is located.
"I can't let you go, Leong." Bolin looks at him seriously and says firmly "It isn't safe there, especially with our background."
Leong matches his intense gaze, pauses for few seconds as he readies his argument. His face drops, his tone becomes solemn.
"I'm 19 now dad, I wasn't asking your permission. I've made up my mind." His soft tone turns stern "I'm going."
Bolin bangs his fist on the table in frustration, "That place just breeds death and destruction!"
He stands up with his back to them, nodding to himself as he tries to articulate his thoughts. Opal comforts the girls who start sobbing at this out-of-character anger they rarely see in their dad. A long moment passes.
"What did you want to ask?" Bolin says calmly, still facing away from them. Opal and Leong looking confused for the moment, not wanting to say the wrong thing. Bolin explains, "Earlier, you said you wanted to ask something. If it wasn't for permission, then what was it you wanted to ask me?"
"I… I wanted to ask for your help." Leong answers sincerely
Bolin turns to face them, eyes watery, nodding in thought. "Well, I guess I should probably teach you how to cook because the food in Republic City is the worst."
Leong smiles and gives his dad a big bear hug. Opal grabs Bolin and Leong's hands, "I'm proud of both of you."
They all pause for a moment, taking in the reality that their only son is going away to a faraway place, but also relishing in the trust and bond they have. Leong glances over at Ma-mei, her lips trembling, her eyes filled so heavy with tears and grief it defied physics that they hadn't spilled. A single tear drips down her cheek, followed by a flood, then without saying anything she runs out of the room.
"Ma-mei!" Leong goes after her, but Opal stops him.
"Let her go." She says, "she will calm down in a minute"
"I should call your Uncle Mako and Aunt Asami, you can probably stay there until you get a place."
"Ah, actually I already called them. Uncle Mako said it was fine, they were both just really busy with the business and his campaign that they probably wouldn't be able to spend much time with me. That's why I was hoping you could help me get settled."
The twins stand up in anticipation, "Can we go? Can we go?" they ask excitedly in unison
Bolin and Opal look at each other, undecided. A loud crash from the other room, Ma-mei's crying turns to yelling as she starts smashing things with her imaginary earth-bending. Leong rushes out of the room "Ma-mei, I'm sorry!"
The twins squeal with excitement as they assume their parent's silence is a 'yes' and hurry out of the room chattering about what they're going to pack. Opal and Bolin embrace, still in shock. With their foreheads touching Bolin asks if they're doing the right thing. "He's his own man now." Opal replies "If this is a mistake, it isn't ours to make."
The morning broke early, a rooster's crow at first light, awaking the family who hadn't really slept a wink the entire night. Four weeks of planning and preparations in place, today they were travelling to Republic City, for the first time in 10 years. Headlights shine through the window, Leong confirms it is a Cabbage Corp teksi-truck and excitedly alerts the family. They all roll out the door, suitcases in hand, Leong darts out to the truck first before stopping in his tracks. He spins around and takes one last look at his home, gazing at the farm and taking a deep breath as the sun peers up from behind the hills. He smiles, nods and throws his bag in the back of the truck, climbing in after it. The family follow, with Bolin carrying Ma-mei who is still half asleep. They clamber on to the bench seats and pull the gate up, the girls huddling in the cold. "Are we there yet?" Ma-mei says through a yawn. Leong laughs as he glimpses his house through the gaps in the wooden slats.
It is now mid-morning and the train station is bustling, people of all nations are rushing to get to their platform in time. Bolin puts on heavy glasses and a hat, he may be able to live a simple life back in the village but he might get recognized in Ba Sing Se so he practices caution. The twins are preoccupied with all the weird and wonderful characters that are wondering around the station, they have never been outside the village before and have certainly never seen Fire Nation citizens before. Ma-mei now awake is gripping her mother's hand tightly, this is more people than she has ever seen in her life, all in one small area. Steam clouds the platform and the train pulls up in front of Leong and he is face-to-face with a large Future Industries logo. He points and smiles in excitement, "That'll be me soon, designing these amazing machines." The doors open and the crowd rush to get in, pushing and nudging Leong and the girls who are shocked at the rudeness. Bolin places his arms around the family as he ushers them in to some corner seats.
"You have to be ruthless here, and even more so in Republic City, people are only concerned about themselves." He looks around nervously and suspiciously of everyone and whispers "Make sure you don't let anyone pick your pockets!" Opal places a comforting hand on his shoulder, whispering back "Sweety, you're making everyone anxious. Try to relax, ok?" Bolin nods and tries and fails to look more at ease.
"ALL ABOARD!" the conductor yells as the train slowly chugs out of the station. The family are beaming with excitement, enjoying the start to their first adventure together… all except Bolin of course.
The train makes its journey through the beautiful green landscape of the Earth Nation, luscious green woods and clear skies, much nicer than the grey and foggy skies of Ba Sing Se – and not a factory in sight. It passes a large river, snaking its way up through a valley, fishing boats lining the shoreline.
"Papa look – boats!" says Ma-mei excitedly
Bolin smiles for the first time on the trip so far. He points to the valley between two mountains in the distance. "If you follow that river through the mountains you'll come out at the shores of the Fire Nation. My mother, your grandmother, was from there."
"That's why Uncle Mako was a Fire-Bender. Not an Earth-Bender" Ma-mei says reciting a fact she had learnt
"That's right." He replies. As he looks into the distance a smile slinks across his face
Blue light, bright, blinding.
A dark figure, moving closer, unfamiliar.
He's trying to say something, no words come out.
Feint muffled words, trying to work their way to the surface
"I'm… "
Can't make it out, the light is going out, its getting darker. The figure is fading away
"I…. "
"I'm…"
"I'm hungry"
Darkness
7