---------------------------------------------------------------------------- You know, I never really had that good of a life. Not since the war started. I was only two years old when my parents left me at ol’ Aunt Bonnie’s house. Shortly after that, they died in the war. Shocking, I know. Dragons don’t really have that many weaknesses. Too bad I never got to meet them. Hard to miss people you don’t remember—but somehow, I do. Twenty-five years ago, a strange crystal fell from the sky and crashed onto Dodlinn Island. The thing held unimaginable power. Even without a wielder, it created a massive fortress around itself, like the world was instinctively trying to protect it. Ever since then, all eleven tribes have been fighting to get their claws, hands, or tentacles on it. Fire. Water. Air. Earth. Plant. Ice. Electricity. Tech. Poison. Light. Dark. Our harmony didn’t survive the impact. Luckily for me, I was never drafted. “Milo!” Aunt Bonnie screamed from the other room. “Can you believe the Plant Tribe infected ten percent of the eastern Dark Village with a fungal disease? It’s practically a cry for help!” “Bonnie!” I shouted back. “Why are you even still in my house?” “I live here!” “No, you don’t. I bought this place from you. Quit being a squatter and leave!” “Well—” I sighed. “Whatever. Time for my sucky job.” I work at the local tavern. I’m a bartender. Honestly? It smells like the inside of a Poison Tribe outhouse, but at least it pays well. That’s the dream, right? Emotional trauma and steady income. On my way in, I saw Kevin enter. Oh no. The last five times that old phoenix showed up, he drank so much liquor that his vomit overflowed the toilet. Luckily, I’m not the janitor—but somehow, I still get blamed for it. I stepped behind the counter and waited. Ordering usually takes forever, because most people only come for the free samples. Our rule is fifteen per person per day. Sounds reasonable, right? Except we also have to account for body size. Which means some people use size-altering potions to cheat the system. The only one who ever actually orders is Kevin. “Milo, young boy!” Kevin shouted. “No, Kevin,” I said flatly. “I’m not giving you more alcohol. You have a serious problem.” “Ah, ah, ah,” he said, waving a stack of Fire Nation dollars. “But I have money.” “I don’t care. We can’t pay any more of your medical bills.” I barely finished my sentence when someone—no idea who—burst through the tavern doors and immediately collapsed face-first onto the floor. “Milo!” he screamed. I froze. How did he know my name? I rushed over. “Sir? Are you okay?” As I got closer, I realized something that made my stomach twist. Poison Tribe. “I—I’m sorry for the inconvenience,” he wheezed, “but you need to take this.” He pressed a folded paper into my hand. *Meet us on Tolta Island. For all our souls.* “B-by the way…” he whispered, his voice fading. “You have… your fa-ather’s eyesss…” And then he was gone. Just like that, someone from another tribe walked into my life—and died in front of me. I didn’t even hear Kevin complain. I needed answers. The port. I had to get to the port. That’s how I’d reach Tolta Island. But then it hit me. Tolta Island was deep in Electric Nation territory. How was I supposed to get there? …Wait. I knew a way. At the port entrance sat a small kiosk. Behind it was an old phoenix, his feathers faded and colorless. “You got a boat permit?” he croaked. I swallowed. I definitely did not have a permit. I turned away dramatically. “Dang,” I muttered loudly. “I’ve dreamed of driving a boat since I was two. Too bad.” I was obviously lying. “Well, why didn’t you just say so?” the phoenix said. “I can sneak you in. Nobody comes here anymore.” Oh. That also works. As I stepped onto the boat, he called after me. “Gotta warn ya. The clouds near Electric Nation cause some nasty storms. Don’t go too far.” “Okay,” I said. “I never got your name.” “Walter. Name’s Walter.” As I sailed farther out, something strange happened. Silence. No shouting. No war talk. No Aunt Bonnie. Just the sea and the wind. It was nice. I didn’t know I needed it. My life had always been so loud. For the first time, I wished time would stop. Then I heard it. A low sound—like a tiger growling beneath the water. It grew louder. And louder. Too loud. TOO LOUD. --- *To be continued…* ----------------------------------------------------------------- -----------
The description version is a polished version from AI. Here's the original, if you don't like that: You know, I never really had a good life. Not since the war started. I was only two years old when my parents left me at ol' aunt Bonnie's house. Shortly after, they died in the war. Surprising, I know. Dragons don't really have that many weaknesses. And it's too bad I was never able to meet them. Twenty-five years ago, a strange crystal landed on Dodlinn island. The crystal had immense power. Even with no weilder, it was able to create a fortress around itself. Ever since then, all 11 tribes have been fighting to get their hands on it. Luckily for me, I was not drafted. "Milo!" screamed Aunt Bonnie. "Can you believe The Plant Tribe inected ten percent of the eastern Dark village with a fungal disease? It's practically a cry for help!" "Bonnie! Why are you even still in my house?" I shouted. "I bought it from you! quit being a squatter and leave!" "Well..." I whispered. "Time for my sucky job." I work at the local tavern. I'm a bartender there. Honestly? It might smell like the inside of a poison tribe outhouse, but at least it pays really good. On my way there, I saw Kevin walk in. Oh no. The last five times that old pheonix visited, he bought so much liquor that his vomit overflowed the toilet. Luckily I’m not the janitor, but I still get blamed for it. When I walked in, I stood behind the counter and waited for an order. It always takes FOREVER, because everybody only walks in for our free samples. Our rule is fifteen per person per day. That might not sound that bad, but we also have to take into account the size of the person. Meaning that sometimes people take size potions to cheat this policy. The only ever person who ever orders is Kevin. “Milo, young boy!” Kevin shouted. “No, Kevin, I cannot give you more alcohol. You have a serious problem.” “Ah, ah, ah… but I have money.” Kevin said while waving fire nation dollars. “I don’t care, man. We can’t pay any more of YOUR medical bills.” Oh yeah. I forgot to mention that. As soon as Kevin was about to slam the money on the counter with his feathery hands and make a run for the cooler, somebody, I dunno who, busted through the door, before falling over. “Milo!” He screamed. How did he know my name? I ran over. “Sir? Are you okay?” As I got closer, I realized, it was someone from the poison tribe! “I’m sorry for the inconvenience, but you need to take this.” He handed me a paper. It said “Meet us on Tolta island. For all our souls.” “By the w-way, you have… your fa-ather’s eyesss…” I couldn’t believe what just happened. Someone from another tribe just walked in and passed away right before my eyes. I needed to figure out what was going on… the port! I needed to get to the port! That’s how I’ll get to Tolta! But wait… Tolta island is in electric nation territory… How will I get there…? Wait, I know a way. I enter the port, at the front is a kiosk. “You got a boat permit?” Said the old pheonix at the kiosk. His feathers were noticeably desaturated. Wow. Really old. Wait, I don’t have a permit! I’ve got an idea. If I walk away and then sneak past, the old pile of dust wouldn’t notice. “Dang, I was dreaming of driving a boat since I was 2. Too bad.” I was obviously lying. Anyways- “Why didn’t you just say so? I could sneak you in. Nobody comes here anyways.” Oh. Guess that also works. As I get on the boat, the old pheonix says: “ I gotta warn ya. The clouds near the electric nation cause some serious storms. So don’t go to far.” “Okay, sir. I never got your name.” “ Walter. My name’s Walter.” As I sail further and further, I felt something I never felt before. Silence. It was nice. I never knew I needed it. My life was just too loud. I wish this would never end. But then I heard something. Like a grumbling tiger. It’s getting louder. Too loud. TOO LOUD.
