Welcome To Republic City
Countless centuries ago the world was divided into four nations named after the four elements. There was the Fire Nation, Water Tribes, Earth Kingdom and Air Nomads. It was also said there were special individuals who could manipulate their nation element at their will called benders.
There was even one person born who could manipulate all four and kept peace and balance between all nations called the Avatar.
But that time and era had long since passed. Most believed that the world was long ago myths and fairy tales and only told as bedtimes.
It is the 21st century now and all the beauty, magic and adventure and bending has vanished from the world. It's been replaced by what is so commonly found in the modern day world.
Cell phones, computers, video games, fast cars, and people too busy and wrapped up to notice what really matters in life who are more devoted to sinful behavior then what is good and right.
It would seem the heroes of old are truly needed again. But even with both the lack of benders or the Avatar those same heroes from long ago are needed nonetheless. The only question is can the once again stop a war without their special powers?
With nothing but themselves to help them but their own pure hearts, beautiful souls, and willpower? That is the question this story will answer. But we are getting ahead of ourselves.
Let us start at the beginning as all stories must start at the beginning for only starting there until we reach the end.
We have come to the most modern-day version of Republic City. In many ways, it was the same as Avatar Korra's world and yet it had become what you expect of a modern day city.
From the inside out you only had to take a fleeting glance and it was obvious there were major problems. The city was on brink of war. But not a war of non-benders and against benders that Avatar Korra had to face.
This is the war mankind has fought since it first came into creation. It's the war we fight against each other every day against the most deadly and ravaging of plagues. Even far worst then the Plagues of Egypt.
There is the Plague of Racism, Plague of Prejudice, Plague of Bigotry, Plague of Hate, Plague of Intolerance, Plague of Ignorance, Plague of Indifference, Plague of Discord, Plague of Corruption, and Plague of Fear!
The Ten Deadly Plagues had so infested Republic City and it consumed almost everyone 's beautiful soul and hearts till their hearts and souls were so black that any ray of hope was snuffed out by these terrible blights.
Though only making the Ten Deadly Plagues worse are the evil and unholy disciples who feel it's their mission to spread the terror and infect as many people as possible with these plagues.
That's what the countless gangs who called them themselves everything from Terra Triads of the Earth Kingdom to the Agni Kai Duelists of the Fire Nation. And there were the sick bullies who lived in each of the four nations and just torture students at each nation own schools.
Then what made matters far worse were the adults who had far more influence and power. Those who worshiped all the deadly sins and not only flaunt it they glorified sin and abused power and people.
Those with power, money, and influence could do anything. Hell, they could get away with murder if they wanted too with how badly corrupted the city was. Countless time there was so many miscarriages of justice most people didn't even go to the police. They took justice into their own hands and that made things only more of a mess.
The case was a point, in fact, the original dream of the four nations living in peace and harmony in a utopia city had disintegrated to a dystopia and the city was getting ready to kill itself and it would happen by summer end at the rate it was going.
So as the expression goes desperate times call for desperate measures. Some of the few good people of the city came together and an effort to save the younger generation the decision was made that they no longer be separate.
They'd all go to school together and maybe if they're forced to spend time together they'd find a way to become friends and if they'd become friends maybe they could save the city from itself.
At the same time, the adults would make one last ditch effort themselves to bring the City together.
The meeting to discuss all this was taking place at a rather nice manor in the Fire Nation section.
The beautiful manor house was home to a highly prosperous tea shop owner and his wife. The man name was Iroh and his wife's name was Kimana.
Kimana was a very beautiful and ravishing woman with waist-length cascading wavy raven black hair, an eye-catching and kindhearted face with captivating golden eyes. She was a woman of great faith and wisdom.
As well as much knowledge when it came to the subject of plants as her family was botanist who'd bred many hybrid plants. Along with breeding special butterflies to assist them with their hybrid plant life.
She kept her own extraordinary greenhouses in the backyard with her own specially bred butteries for which she got her name from to continue her family's work and to help them with their tea shop "The Jasmine Dragon."
Right now Kimana was serving her own special blend of tea. She looked either like a horticulturist or a religious person, to be honest with how she dressed.
With her flower straw hat, sleeveless pink top with a dark pink flower, dark purple skirt with matching dark pink flower in the corner with purple sandals and her flower earrings.
"Welcome to our humble home honored guests. Sorry I didn't have more time to clean up. It's been a very busy time the last few days. And we're dealing with um...personal problems." she fumbled stealing a glance back to the living room's fireplace mantel where a picture of her late son Lu Ten sat.
"We understand, Kimana. We do remember." Hakoda replied in an understanding way.
He was one of the few politicians who wasn't corrupted. He was one of the two people who helped represent the Water Tribes at City Hall. It was also known his beloved wife Kya had died at the hands of a mugger six years ago when she'd been out buying groceries.
When he was doing his job working at City Hall he wore a suit and tie in of course the traditional blues and purples of his people. Though for day he was wearing a casual light blue shirt, faded blue jeans and old boots. Though he still wore his hair in the traditional style of his people no matter what.
"Thank you for being understanding, Hakoda," Kimana's angelic voice replied graciously to him who nodded and smiled at her.
"It's alright. Now can we talk about this new school we've spent so much time and effort to build? For one last hope for our children's fate to be changed?"
"It's cost the Beifong family a small fortune to pay for this school to be built. I just hope I've not made a bad investment," Lao spoke in a well-mannered voice.
He was still dressed like the aristocratic businessman he was. It was never 'a causal Friday" for him or his family. For the Beifong family, they're just always trying to maintain the perfect image of aristocrats.
"Is not the future for our children and the city, not the best investment you could make? They are the hope for the future of this city and the world at large and you're worried about something as replaceable as money?" inquired an older man with an arrow tattoo on his bald head.
He still bore the tattoos of his people even if bending had long ceased to exist. Though he wasn't dressed in monk robes of times long since past. Though he still wore the colors of the Air Nomads. The yellow, orange and reds like the autumn tree leaves.
The man wore a light orange and yellow turtleneck with jeans of a yellowish-orange color and short leather ankle boots and a necklace with the Air Nomad symbol on it.
"I'm still a businessman, but I am a father, Gyasto. I'm thinking of my daughter who will be attending this school. I need to know she'll be safe and this school will be up to standers for those who have disabilities and that I didn't put my child in harm's way," he replied as he wiped his mouth for a moment. Then setting down his teacup he looked again at the Air Nomad man.
"Besides, beg your pardon for these words, but it's not like any of you Air Nomads are true parents. Your culture doesn't believe in raising your children with biological parents. You raise them in gender isolation and without knowing who belongs to who.
So you wouldn't know what any of us feel about having your own flesh and blood in any danger as you don't have a child of your own to look after," he argued in a reasonable way.
"Be mindful of your words and don't speak of what you don't know. You know nothing about me or who I love and if I may have children or not or the secrets I do know." Gyasto replied in a tightly controlled polite voice.
"How about we all cool our jets and remember we are here for the same purpose? Our children? Whether they are blood or not? We all care about our children's souls?
I'm worried about my godchildren. And no I don't have a blood connection but what makes someone family is love not blood, okay?" a beautiful Fire Nation woman spoke up as she came in carrying a plate of cookies on to the enclosed porch space that was part of the lovely estate.
She was a vision of great beauty. She was extremely attractive from head to toe. She was a tall woman with an envious figure, full lips, brilliant gold eyes and well sculpted facial features. She wore her long raven black hair with a distinctive hairstyle.
In place of a topknot, she'd done an elegant small knot on the top of her head. The rest of her lengthy black locks were styled in thick side buns with incredibly long pigtails that had gold clips at the bottom and weaved into the side hair-buns were bright ruby red flowers.
At the moment she was dressed in a stunningly beautiful cherry-red and sun gold sundress with matching flowers as the pattern on the skirt and some gold jewelry beautifying her.
Looking up at her she bowed once and spoke apologetically. "I'm sorry I was late, my friends. I had to um, drop my godchildren at dance class. They are rehearsing for "Phoenix Heavens."
"Did you make sure he wasn't around when you picked them up?" questioned Kimana in a low whisper to Xiaoying who nodded.
"Death wasn't around. I waited till he left to go with some of his 'buddies" to play blackjack.
If you're wondering about the Demon? She went with her friends to get a Mani-peti, then go bargain hunting."
"I've to go pray. Excuse me for a moment." Kimana left the room in a great hurry with tears in her golden eyes.
"What was that about? Death? Demon?"
"Trust us, Hakoda it's better you don't know. Now we agree it's best that each of the Four Nations is represented fairly and equally at this new school which we all agree should be named after the first Avatar of legend. Avatar Wan. As it's a new begin and to honor what he stood for," Iroh began to speak as he sipped his tea happily.
Iroh was also dressed very casual. Just a russet red cotton shirt and some matching sweatpants. Despite the splendor of his manor and or the fact he was from a well-known and wealthy family he really was down-to-earth and didn't feel superior in any way.
"It seems foolish to believe in legends and myths," Lao muttered under his breath.
"Legends are lessons that ring with truths. You can't have a future without a past, Lao Beifong. If you don't learn from the lessons of the past you can't do better in the present nor will you shape a better future.
Everything is connected. People, nature, time, everything that is about of life is connected and we all depend on one another in some way or another to live and thrive," Gyasto replied in a very philosophical voice.
"That's is truly a very enlightening thought, my dear friend and one that is needed so much for all of our children.
Now as it was agreed by all you have judged me to be the best man to be the principal of this new school? Is that my understanding of this whole business?" Iroh asked to confirm their thoughts.
"Yes, of anyone in this whole city you are by far the wisest and most humble man in the whole city. If anyone can lead our children out of the darkness into the light it is you, Iroh." Hakoda spoke for all of them.
"And you don't mind having another Fire Nation person being Vice Principal? As you asked me to be Vice Principal?" Xiaoying inquired to them inquisitively and they nodded.
"You seem qualified for the job in many ways and anyway you agreed to all our suggestion for several staff members from other staff members," Gyasto point out sensibly.
"Well, your recommendations are all people we do know well. And one is my boyfriend. So Piandao is fine. So lets from this list of recommendations lets see." Iroh looked at the list.
"We've some of your top picks from the Water Tribe are Pakku, Yugoda, and your own mother Hakoda? Kanna?"
"She wanted to keep an eye on her grandchildren at the new school," he explained with a faint blush.
"Okay. That is duly noted. From the Earth Kingdom we've got Bumi, a man named the Mechanistic, some crazy nomads to teach the music class, a woman named Auntie Wu, a guy called Guru Pathik and finally for history a Professor Zei," read off Xiaoying flipping the papers.
"Now from Fire Nation we've got my boyfriend Piandao, Shyu, Jeong-Jeong, part of the school nursing staff is a woman who likes to be called Healer Yang. That covers our top picks."
"The Air Nomads are a little thin, I must admit," Iroh confessed as he looked up at Gyasto who sighed.
"Many of our people are very traditional and stubborn to change and not very forward thinking. So are reluctantly to try anything new. It was with great difficulty I was able to sway anyone to join the teaching staff.
In fact, only one person was actually eager to join the teaching staff."
"Her name appears to be Akanke?" Iroh read off the name.
"She jumped at the news when they said they wanted teachers at a new school. She's always been well 'different' from the rest of the people in our culture. Doesn't quite fit in. I was only able to find about three others to join the staff."
"Yangchen, Lio, and Laghima?"
"That's all I could get. I assure you they are very good teachers."
"Well, we want everyone to be fairly represented and it was who wanted to volunteer to be on staff. We will have a meeting here next week to make sure everyone is suited for their subject of choice to teach and then the following week inspect the school before it's open for the school year." Iroh declared of their intentions.
"So that's how we spend the last two weeks of the summer?" Lao wanted to know for confirmation.
"Yes, that's the plan."
"Well, I want my building contractors to take that time to go over every inch of the school and make sure everything is up to code if you don't mind. And that the school is again equipped with all the things it needs for itself and teachers and students alike."
"That's a very good idea. Please do it and report back to us."
'Maybe the two of us should make sure we oversee how the kids handle being redistricted alright? And that how they get to this new school is handle correctly?" suggested Hakoda.
"Yes, both I and Hakoda can do a better job together then doing that separately."
"That is another good idea. We've only two weeks to make this all go well and without a hitch. Then we've got to try and plan the Harmony Ceremony for next summer to hopefully bring the city together if this school fails in its own mission." Xiaoying reminded them.
"Let's hope it doesn't then."
As they got up to leave it caught everyone attention of a small door open to a room off from the living room. It looked like it wasn't meant to be seen, but the hidden door was ajar and they could hear Kimana praying.
Well, curiosity took over and no-one could stop the guests from going over and seeing what was going on in Kimana's secret room.
She was startled at first that her private sanctum was being invaded but then said if they needed to pray they might as well.
They looked around the room and realized it was a shrine or place of worship and prayer. It was as large as a master bedroom in a hexagon shape. It was designed from floor to ceiling to resemble a Fire Sage Temple.
In fact, because Iroh and Kimana both were collectors of antiques of the lost ages the room was filled with authentic things from a Fire Temple.
So floor and walls were a genuine solstice calendar with real golden flames and a solstice jewel in a window that would hit a golden flame on the opposite wall.
In the corners of the room were both burning incense to ward off evil spirits and flower baskets with sacred flowers of the Fire Nation. In the center of the room was an altar of sorts.
It had several candles including a dragon and phoenix candles that were always burning with several photos in gold frames with rubies, sunstones, and fire opals decorating the frames.
She also added for extra protection a crucifix and two small angels as she felt you might as well call in all the help you could get to keep your family safe as all the photos were of her family.
There were pictures of her sister-in-law her nephew and niece and her nephew's true love who was the adopted daughter she, her husband Ursa all shared and was Xiaoying's goddaughter.
It was here she prayed every day and every chance she got for her family. That her sister-in-law Ursa was safe and one day she'd be able to reclaim her children and wouldn't have to be in hiding any longer. That her nephew and his love wouldn't be abused in every sense of the word anymore. That the demon inside her niece could be exorcised so her soul could be saved.
And most of all she prayed that one day that justice would be done and that her husband's diabolical son of bitch brother who was death himself would face justice and be put in a place worse than hell itself forever and a day.
It was after they left her prayer room that she asked the others if they were truly worried about their children or family with the threat of a war on the horizon?
Hakoda spoke first of his troubles with his own children. His 15-year-old son Sokka was a very smart and bright boy. He had no doubt his grades would be all A's at the new school. He excelled when it came to using his brains whether it was for creative planning or just thinking.
To be honest Sokka had three loves in life. He loved meat, snowboarding and the other Water Tribe politician daughter Yue. They'd dated for a long time. But then Hakoda revealed something that he made the others swear not to leave this room.
What no-one knew but Hakoda and Arnook knew was Yue wasn't well. In fact, the girl had been battling cancer for four years now and it was looking like the cancer was likely to win that battle.
And all this time Yue had not told anyone she had cancer let alone her boyfriend. So everyone could see that Hakoda was worried what his son was gonna do if and when he got the news the love of his life was dying.
Hakoda's other child his daughter Katara he loved but held his own worries. She was only 14 years old and yet was way too much a grown up. She acted way too much like a mother and not like a kid.
And what upset him the most was before his wife's death Katara used to do two things always with her mother. They would sing every day and she was a talented figure skater.
Katara would still figure skate but lost the true passion needed to really make it beautiful as her muse and soul wasn't in it. Furthermore, she hadn't sung once since her mother passing and Hakoda would give anything to hear his daughter's voice singing once more as he met her mother in a karaoke bar.
Lao said he wasn't sure what wrong with his daughter as she did everything to annoy him and her mother. She was supposed to be a lady and she was acting like a rude, ungrateful and low-class child.
She was supposed to be well-bred, soft-spoken, and conservative. She was to know proper etiquette and be a proper gentlewoman.
And all she ever did was be ill-mannered, loud, cheeky, blunt, dress radical and be anything but a lady.
Everyone basically told him maybe he should stop trying to turn his daughter into something she wasn't and let her be herself. Just because she was blind didn't mean she was helpless and maybe he was the one who was blind.
Not seeing his child for who she was and only wanting to see what he wanted to see. To see her for who she was and not what he wanted her to be. And maybe they actually get along.
The last to speak of a child was Gyasto who spoke of his young ward. The boy who he looked after a young 12-year-old boy named Aang.
Aang he explained could be summed up in a few expressions. That he had the energy of a bullet, that he was a much a trickster and mischief-maker as an elf, there was no animal he couldn't tame or ride, and above all, he wasn't like any other Air Nomad kid.
He would follow many of the teachings when it came to non-violence and eating no meat and that sorta thing. But there were things he just wouldn't conform too.
There were things that he wanted and liked to do that weren't part of the time-honored traditions of his people that got him into trouble. That Gyasto was the only one who seemed to understand and helped him get and tried to make sure he didn't get caught with.
The Air Nomads weren't supposed to be 'tainted' with modern day technology or objects. They tried to keep their spirits as pure and untouched by modern day poisons as possible.
Aang wanted to be a typical 12-year-old boy. He wanted to watch TV, surf the net and go skating park and catch big air.
Gyasto had broken a very big taboo by getting him a tablet and telling him to keep it hidden. So Aang had to be secretive and not let anyone find out about his tablet or the fact he had WiFi.
Or the fact for his last birthday Gyasto had gotten him a real scooter and would sneak him away for hours at a time so he could go to the skate park to practice tricks with his scooter.
But the one thing that everyone did know about Aang that wasn't a secret was fact he wanted to know about his biological parents and that was something even Gyasto couldn't give him no matter how much he wanted too as the birth records were locked up in a place so tight no one was sure who was the real keeper of them.
So after hearing about this Lao was a little softer to Gyasto
With everyone feelings made bear they all shared in a prayer to hope they could make a dream come true. To save their city and home and that their children's dreams and wishes could come true as well.
And with that everyone went home as the moon came out into the sky and shining brightly in the sky was a star that was brighter than any other. In the old days, it was called the Avatar Star and it was supposed to be a symbol of everlasting hope.
May it work its magic for all of the city and its souls once again. For a miracle was needed so badly right now!