a/n: Did you guys see episode 5? Because I'm gonna pretend it never happened :P

Epilogue

So it was that time again, thought Mako as he stood at the entrance to Toh Sa Village, his family surrounding the two brothers. He stood to the side as their mother tearfully hugged Bolin goodbye. Xiuling had taken it surprisingly well when Mako and Bolin had told her of their plan to leave for United Republic just two days ago. This was just hours after Shadow's Traveling Circus had on leaving only a bag of cash and two tickets to Republic City Harbor. Most of the cash had been spent paying off their debt and the leftover money was spent buying supplies for their journey.

"You'll be careful, won't you?" asked Xiuling, patting her oldest son's cheek. Mako nodded, staring deep into his mother's green eyes which were the same shade as Bolin's and Min's. Xiuling embraced Mako who had to bow slightly so that his mother could wrap her arms around his neck.

When they broke apart, Bolin was hugging his baby sister Min and his younger brother Mireu. Min, the oblivious angel, was smiling happily as she playfully pulled on Bolin's ears as he made ridiculous faces for her enjoyment. Mireu laughed along, a tight grin adorning his face.

"You gonna miss me, bro?" Mako asked Mireu, squatting down so that their faces were level. The false pretense evaporated as Mireu's shook his head. That one gesture was enough to splinter a piece of Mako's heart. "We're going to be back soon, I promise," Mako said quietly. Behind him, Min was attempting to crawl up Mako's back.

"That's what Dad said…" whispered Mireu, his voice breaking. "I… I don't want you to leave…"

Even before the tears fell, Mako hugged Mireu to his chest. He could feel his little brother's whole body shaking as he cried. Mireu – who rarely cried – was like a two-year-old as he clung to his brother who neither said nor did anything except envelope their pain.

Bolin took notice and pulled a squirming Min from Mako's back before she could see Mireu sobbing.

"Why is mommy crying?" she asked, noticing Xiuling who was blowing her nose into a handkerchief.

"Mommy isn't crying," Bolin said hurriedly as Xiuling turned her back to them. "She's just happy because Mako and I are going on an adventure."

"Avenchur?" repeated Min, tilting her head to the side. Then after a momentary pause she asked, "Why?"

There was any number of lies that Bolin could have told which Min would have willingly accepted. He could have said that they were leaving to meet an old friend or find a long lost treasure or (Min's favorite): it's a secret!Instead, repeated a line from the letter Shadow had left, which was currently tucked into a notebook in Mako's rucksack.

"We're going on an adventure because," he said, bumping foreheads with his little sister who giggled, "it's our choice." It was a lame explanation that Min didn't understand but, almost as though to spare her brother's feelings, she smiled lovingly and tapped him on the nose. Taking it as a good sign, Bolin smiled back.

By that time, Mireu had calmed down and was trying to surreptitiously wipe his blotchy red face with the back of his hand. Mako took Min from Bolin and blew a raspberry in her belly button. Min squealed happily, still flailing like a trout as he set her back down on the ground.

"We'd better get going," Mako said. Both Xiuling and Bolin nodded. Mireu forced a grin, his face still puffy from the tears. Min awkwardly saluted her two older brothers by placing her hand on her forehead. She resembled someone with a headache.

"It's your choice!" she giggled, parroting Bolin's earlier answer. Despite themselves, both Mako and Bolin smiled back at their little sister, wondering when they would see her again.

As the brothers turned and walked down the road out of Toh Sa Village, Bolin glanced over his shoulder for one last look at his mother, Min and Mireu. It suddenly dawned on him that he was really leaving everything – his family, his hometown, everything – behind.

"We'll be back," said Mako as if he had heard Bolin's thoughts.

Bolin looked sideways at his brother who was resolutely staring forward. "Did we… make the right choice?" Bolin asked, resisting the urge to look back a second time.

There was a slight pause before Mako opened his mouth then – changing his mind – closed it again. The question hung in the air before them as they walked on but at the same time, both knew the answer without speaking.

The choice is entirely yours, Shadow had said. But whatever you choose, it will be the right one.

a/n: I know that some of you suggested a scene where the brothers first arrive in Republic City. Originally, that was my plan for this epilogue but I decided to end it like this in case I ever wanted to do a sequel starting off with their day in the big city. Love you all for hanging in there and reading until the very end :D Thank you so much!