Disclaimer: I do not own Legend of Korra, nor do I financially profit from this fanfiction.
Author's Notes: This fanfic will be set throughout the show's run and I will be edeavouring to update it weeekly. Each chapter will be accompanied by a number of extracts from the newspaper with which this fanfic is concerned. If you have any ideas about what I should include in the extracts, please feel free to add them to a review or to PM me.
I hope that you all enjoy this story!
Chapter 1: Boxes and Bosses
Michi pressed his back against the wall in an effort to squeeze past the stacks of wooden boxes that blocked more than half the hallway. Just as he was about to clear the last stack, he tripped over a crowbar sticking out from between the boxes and fell flat on his face. He groaned. An amused snort alerted him to the presence of someone else in the hallway and his head shot up to see the old man.
"I hope that you carry yourself better at the press briefings, Minori." The old man pressed a pair of round spectacles from the bridge of his nose to his pale, blue eyes. "After all, it's only the reputation of our paper at stake."
Michi made to stand, but, not realising that his foot was still caught behind the crowbar, simply fell to the tiled floor once more.
This time the old man groaned, before saying, "Minori, give your report to Asuka. I don't have the patience for this," and then turning and walking towards the open doorway at the end of the hallway.
"Wait, chief," yelled Michi. After some desperate flailing, the young man managed to extricate himself and race down the corridor before the old man crossed the threshold into the other room.
The old man turned and glanced down at the panting Michi. "Ah, to be young again," he said drily.
Michi reached inside his jacket pocket to remove a crumpled piece of paper. "Here's my report from today's press briefing, chief," he said quickly as he straightened his stance. "But that's not what I want to talk to you about, sir"
The old man took the paper from Michi's outstretched hand, before turning to cross into the other room. "My ears are ablaze with excitement, Minori."
Michi followed his editor into the room. Several desks lay haphazardly around its rectangular confines, each adorned with it's own heavy, black typewriter and plies of paper. Instead of wallpaper or paint, the walls were covered with headline and article clippings from various newspapers and magazines, with the occasional photograph drawing the eye. A large banner, containing the words 'Republic City Bulletin' in large black letters hung on the left hand wall. At one of the desks sat a young, bespectacled man with short brown hair, leafing through a small book. Directly ahead of the two entrants stood another doorway, beside which, a young, brunette woman sat behind a neatly ordered desk.
Michi tagged along behind the old man, as he held up the paper Michi had given him to the light and began encircling various words. "You see, sir, I would like to-"
The editor stopped just before the next doorway. "Minori, how do you spell abominable?"
"Em..."
The editor sighed and handed the paper over to the woman behind the desk. "Make this legible, Asuka. We need it ready before tomorrow's edition."
Asuka took the report and began surveying it. "Right away, chief Alden."
"You see," Michi continued, "I want to have a bigger role in the paper. Real journalism, not just transcribing what the council is saying. You know, opinions-"
"I don't pay you to have opinions, Minori," Alden said sharply. "That's what I pay Nao for." He gestured towards the young man behind the desk across from them. "Isn't that right, Nao?"
"Yes, sir", agreed Nao, not lifting his head from the book
Alden gave a satisfied grunt. "I hope that we're done here. I do have work to do." He turned to enter the room beyond the doorway.
"Sir," said Asuka, pulling a brown pillow from under her desk. "You asked me to bring you one of these before you left for lunch."
"Ah, yes," said Alden, stroking his greyish-brown goatee as he rolled the pillow under his arm. "Thank you."
"Sir," interrupted Michi, "I want to do some investigative reporting."
"Su is our investigative reporter, Minori. The best in the business."
Michi threw up his arms in frustration. "I've never even met, Su!"
Alden raised his free arm in the air and extended his index finder. "Thus, adding to the mystique of our intrepid reporter, who boldly prowls through the shadows as an unerring servant of light." He paused momentarily. "Asuka, write that down, so we can add it to Su's byline."
The edges of Asuka's lips curled into a smile. "Of course, sir."
"Sir," pleaded Michi, his eyes wide and his voice trembling. "Please, let me do this."
"Do you have a lead?"
Michi paused at Alden's question, his mind frantically searching for a story to latch on to. He hadn't actually thought the chief would seriously consider his proposal. He began glancing at the clippings on the walls, desperately seeking an idea.
"If you don't have a lead-"
Michi's eyes landed on the photo of a hooded man, wearing a mask. "That new anti-bending group!"
"What about them?"
"A source of mine claims to have some inside information on them that I want to follow up on."
Alden stared at Michi over the rims of his glasses. "Fine, you've got three weeks to come up with something solid. This is in addition to your normal duties, understand?"
Michi nearly jumped. "Yes, sir", he answered, clapping his hands together excitedly, "I'll get on it right away," before turning and racing out of the newsroom.
As Alden crossed over into his office a loud crash emanated from the front of the building, followed by an equally loud groan. "Asuka, the moving men are coming over later, right?"
"At 5 o' clock, sir."
"Good." Alden unfolded his pillow and placed it on the desk, followed swiftly by his head. "Wake me."
###
Michi rubbed his elbow as he sat down at his usual bench. He set down a box and a writing pad. His source should be here soon. As Michi waited, he looked around the park, watching the slow moving groups of people make their way around. He glanced over towards the lake where his source usually came from, narrowing his eyes to see better in the reflected light from the clear water's surface.
"So, what's in the box?"
Michi leapt off the bench, his writing pad in hand, spinning around to see the speaker. A squat, grey-bearded and wild-haired man leant against the back of the bench.
Michi gave a sigh of relief. "Oh, it's you."
"Who else would wander up behind you in a park," asked the homeless man, reaching down to pick up the box from the bench.
"Em, a thief maybe."
"A thief!" The vagabond spat on the ground. "There be no thieves here. Just us good honest bush-folk." The homeless man huffed and flipped open the lid of the box. "Ah, lunch!"
Michi raised his arm to protest the eating of his sandwiches, before letting it fall. He sighed. "So, do you have news for me?"
"Of course, that Equalist guy with the megaphone was here a while earlier. Spouting some stuff about how oppressive benders are and how the police force is elitist. Total hogwash, as long as you don't try to fish in the lake, officer Jorick is a lovely man. Really riled up a few people though, especially that girl with the polar-bear dog."
Michi looked up from pad he was writing on. "The girl with the polar-bear dog?"
"Yeah, dressed like a traditional water-tribesperson, though I think she was an earthbender."
Michi looked the vagabond up and down. He really should expand his contacts base.
###
###
From Republic City Archives: Selected Extracts from the 106th edition of the 'Republic City Bulletin
###
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: THE FIRE FERRETS.
As I have said many times before, dear readers, and I'm sure many of you will agree, pro-bending is in desperate need of new blood. Our beloved sport is endangered of becoming a cadre for a select few. A development which will no doubt render stale what should be a dynamic, lively and fresh game. Can the Fire Ferrets buck this trend?
Coming from tragic backgrounds, two-thirds of this new team, the brothers Mako and Bolin, grew up on the mean streets of Republic City and have spent years honing their bending talent. Mako's firebending epitomises control. His short, sharp burst leaving his opponents gasping for breath. His brother's earthbending, on the other hand, is far more energetic, covering a large amount of ground and reigning in their opponents for his brother to take on in closer quarters. These two commentary forces would make a formidable foe for any team on their own, but, as we all know, pro-bending is all about threes.
The team's waterbender, as many of you will have already guessed, is their weakest link. Hasook, at face value, is a fair player and I do not fault his skill. However, his relationship with the other two members of the team is obviously strained and it shows in the ring, with both sides of this feud often forgetting to cover the other. This has led in recent matches, as many of you have noticed, for the opposing team to focus their attacks on Hasook, knowing that the brothers will not cover him as they would each other.
The Fire Ferrets represent what's best about pro-bending: Talent, teamwork and dedication. However, their internal rivalry may prevent them from becoming one of the better teams in the game. Though I do not count them as contenders for the finals, if they managed to overcome their divisions, I could see them making the quarter finals. They are a team to keep an eye on for sure.
Your sports correspondent, Jurian.
###
CRASSUS TRIAL: FOUNDER OF INSURANCE COMPANY GenCiv INDICTED FOR FRAUD
The trial of Crassus Uri, the founder and chief operating officer of the insurance company, "GenCiv", began today with the accused emphatically declaring his innocence before an unsympathetic courtroom, naming this very newspaper as part of a conspiracy against his person.
As many of our regular readers will know, our own investigative reporter, Su, is the individual who first brought the evidence against Mr. Uri to light. Through long and hard work and severe risk to their person, Su managed to undercover extensive links between GenCiv and several of the underworld's most notorious crime gangs. The evidence our reporter uncovered revealed a system in which GenCiv sold bending exclusive insurance coverage to small businesses, who would then be assaulted by a gang with which GenCiv had connections, forcing the unfortunate owners to renew their policies.
These forced renewals bring into question the decades old Republic City laws of business insurance, which require all persons operating a business to purchase insurance for their premises. Unfortunately, many small business owners are unable to afford the high price of bending inclusive insurance coverage. These laws were originally forced through the council at the behest of councilman Titus, who though retired some years now, still holds controlling shares in many of Republic City's insurance firms.
Councilman Tenzin, who attended the opening of Mr. Uri's trial, has vowed to open an investigation into allegations of corruption.
Your Bulletin editor, Alden.
###
REPUBLIC CITY BULLETIN EXPANSION.
As of next week, the Republic City Bulletin is moving to greener pastures. We have purchased some new office space and hope to be moving there soon. Although we will not require new staff in the foreseeable future, we hope some new talent will come our way soon. So, budding writers, pens at the ready!
It is you, our readers, who have enabled us to grow from a circulation of a few hundred to several thousand, with one thousand subscriptions. We cannot thank you enough.
Your Bulletin editor, Alden.
I hope that you enjoyed and will continue to enjoy this fanfic and, again, if you have any ideas about what I should include in my newspaper extracts, please feel free to share them.
Au revoir!