The Only Hope

Book 2: Prologue

Three Months After the Defeat of Amon.

I tore at the bread in my hands, breaking it into little pieces. From there I opened my hands, allowing the bread to fall, from the bridge that I stood on, into the water below me. A few turtle ducks swam over, and begun to eat at the soggy bread pieces in a violent, quick pace; to get to them before they could sink. Then the family swam off, happily, together. I sighed, and leaned on the bridge’s stone railing.

“Hey, Zabri.”

I stood, and turned at the sound of Bolin’s voice. Seeing his smile as made his way over to me made my stomach drop.

“Hi.”

As he stopped next to me, he leaned in a bit, waiting for me to meet him half way for a kiss. I didn’t. Seeing I wasn’t going to meet his kiss, he pulled back and glanced out to the water; where I had been staring at.

“What’s up?”

“…Nothing, what about you.”

“Eh, it’s been a normal day. Practice was brutal, though.”

Could he really have forgotten?

I could swear that my light lunch was about to come up right then and there. Though once it was from the crazy, amazing feeling of love, now, it was a different feeling. It was crazy to think how… it had all changed.

“Bolin, we need to talk… about us.”

His face fell a bit, and I fought the urge to hug him right there.

“Okay…”

“Bolin I-I- this-us-we- I see you… looking at other girls. I see it, and I know about it. And, the way you look at them, is the way I use to look at you; and how I thought you looked at me… But I was wrong.”

“Bri, please, let me-”

I closed my eyes, fighting the urge to bawl my eyes out.

“No- please, just let me speak… Our paths, crossed at some point… But now… you have pro-bending, and I-… I am a master air bender with duties and responsibility… I guess what I’m trying to say is… we have no real reason to be together any more… All we’ve done these past few weeks is fought… and this “break” is just a joke to delay the inevitable… and I-I-…I don’t love you any more… Bolin, it’s over. We are both heading down our own path, and it doesn’t include us together. Let’s just be friends.

“Bri-”

“I have to go.”

He reached out to me, eyes soft with shock, and hurt. I turned from his hand, and with a swift motion was up flying in the air on my glider. As I flew up, I could have sworn that I heard him chock out “I’m sorry.” But the howling of the air pushing around me blocked out all sound.

~~~

Landing onto Air Temple Island, I stumbled for a few feet, before I caught myself. With a soft sob, I wiped away the few tears that had worked their way onto my cheeks with the edge of my palm.

“Hey Bri, you’re back just in time! We’ve got a surprise for you it’s going to be so-so-so-so-soo amazing and you’re going to love it so-so-so-so-sooo much!”

Ikki, Jinora, and Meelo marched down to me. I forced a smile on my face, as I slipped my glider to my back.

“Ikki, shh, you’re going to ruin it.”

“Yeah Ikki, shh!”

I laughed at Meelo’s attempt to be like Jinora. I bent down, giving them all a hug; before they grabbed at me and tugged me up the dock.

From there they led me into the hall right before the dining hall. Ikki kept her hands on my own, while Jinora grabbed the door handles and Meelo jumped onto my head and covered my eyes.

“Guys what are you-”

“SURPRISE!”

Before I could even finish, Jinora opened the doors, Ikki pulled me in, and Meelo fell from my head; giving me full view of the dining hall. The whole room was adored with flowers and paper streamers hanging from everywhere. All of the Acolytes were there, smiles on their faces with Tenzin, Pema, Korra, Mako, and Asami all in the front row.

“Happy 15th birthday Master Zabri!”

I looked at them all shocked. I didn’t know what to say. I couldn’t speak. I had secretly been hoping that Bolin was pretending about forgetting my birthday in the past coming weeks; but glancing around told me that, that was not the case. I had hoped that he would pop out laughing that he fooled me and that we should have never broken up.

Get your head out of the sky and back to the ground.

Korra took a few steps over to me, smiling.

“So what do you think? We spent all day preparing, and there is a ton of your favorite foods and gifts and even cake with tea.”

I opened my mouth to force out a thank you, or an excuse me; but what came out instead was a tear filled sob. Turning, I ran away.

~~~

I sniffled, and wiped my face with my palm. Another dry heave of a breath choked out from my mouth.

“Hey…”

I glanced over my shoulder, to see Korra standing there. When I didn’t return her greeting, she walked over to me and sat down next to me.

“That sure is a pretty sunset. Don't you think?”

I nodded my head. Korra knew that the meditation pavilion was my favorite place to go; and it had an amazing view.

“You, uh, kind of rushed out of there… Anything you want to talk about?”

Leaning my head onto my knees, I stared out into the rainbow sky.

“I ended it today... Bolin and I are over.”

“Oh… I see… are you okay?”

I straightened myself, ready to nod my head yes; but instead I shook my head no as a fresh round of sobs started up. Korra simply opened her arms, and I fell into her embrace…

See?! I told you I had no clue if Zalin would last (or was it Bobri?)!! But I mean, COME ON! That season premiere last night was AMAZING! I'm super stoked for the rest of the season and CANNOT WAIT to put Zabri's twist into it all. (I'm even thinking about introducing her father... between you and me.) Oh and sorry about the corny Disney song that no one wants to hear... I just though it was a good one for "the moment". It fits, doesn't it?

<3 XOXO A.T. Judge