This is my first attempt at any Avatar related fiction. I have rated the fiction 'M' for violence and sexual themes. I would appreciate any feedback from the readers, as I break new ground in the Legend Of Korra. I sincerely hope that you enjoy my story. It starts slow, but I promise it will pick up soon.
Thank you for your time.
This is the Journal of Cheong Moa
Beware all who look to read its contents.
148 ASC, September 14
I find it rather strange to even start this journal, not quite sure where to anyways. My name is Cheong Moa daughter of Ling and Min, born 121 ASC. I am an Earthbender of Republic City, but enough on that subject.
I find myself in need of a… record of my decisions starting with today and hope to find myself as I continue to write. For now I will start with the events of today in hopes of making you understand myself.
Today was the raid. The Snake eyes and the Triple threat's turf war were planned and I was on the Side of the Snake eyes. We all met early this morning in order to spread out, and prepare for today's attack on the Triple Threat as their area leaders were to leave their warehouse in the fire lumber district of Republic City. I was on the east side of the two-story building facing the side exit, in case the occupants looked to escape a different route whilst we raided within.
I don't know why I did it, but I had decided to wear a face concealing mask today. Perhaps it was the unease within the group, or maybe my fear of being recognized if we were to fail today, but something made me pull the mask from the back of my measly two drawer dresser as I readied myself. I suppose I was also lucky to be stocky and muscular, for with my short cut hair, I appeared very much a man, especially when my mask was donned.
Apparently, the meeting was dragging on much longer than any of us had suspected, or what our inner eye had told us. Ten minutes had already passed much to my chagrin and I was becoming impatient. It was only then that I caught the white tuff of hair that drifted on the wind through my window that I watched from did I realize what was happening. It wasn't an actual meeting but it was an ambush, only we were going to be the victims. There was only one species of animal in the city that had this kind of fur… and that was an Air Bison.
I threw myself against the side of the building I was watching from, eyes darting madly as I tried to formulate a plan in my mind. Did they already know where I was? How long did I have to hide if they didn't already know my position? I pulled myself from the window that I was watching from and backed into the shadow of the inner building. There were few choices, but I sure as hell wasn't going to be caught by the Avatar, let alone the Police of the City.
While dangerous, I knew my best bet at escape and survival would be to hide near one of the entrances of the building and conceal myself within one of the walls. I had only done so once, but it had worked back then. I just prayed that it would work now. I took off quickly from my post and down the hall towards one of the side exits of my own building; undoubtedly this is where they planned to send some of their people to snag the others that waited in the building. Right around the corner from the exit, I bended some of the concrete from the wall and pushed myself against the hard grain, softening and molding the cement around myself. Within seconds, I was hidden and waiting for the metalbenders.
My heart was racing now, and I could feel beads of sweat streaming down the back of my neck. My face was wet against my mask, making it dank and almost unbearably itchy, but I knew better than to move, lest it be the end of me. It seemed as though years had passed as I waited, when it had probably not been more than a minute. The door flew open, a thick mist flowing in as the wood crashed against the wall adjacent to my position. It had begun.
I held my breath as I felt three, then four and finally six beings fly past my position, none of which stopped as they rounded the corner past me. I still waited as the mist started to settle, when I heard the sounds of fighting on the floor above me. Now that the benders were busy on the upper level, I would have a better chance to leave. I extracted myself in one swift movement, dust crumbling to the floor as I breathed my first full breath. It was time to leave.
I turned and ran around the corner, the door gleaming with violently bright light fifteen feet away, ten. I could hear a sharp whir as I spun, stomping to throw a solid slate of cement from the floor which was followed by a harsh clank. I stood steadily postured to find myself face to face with a metalbending prodigy, Bei Fong Lin. I recognized her from one of the many papers that had chosen to run articles on the young bright policewoman who looked to follow in her mother's footsteps. She was twenty-seven, the same age as me.
I could feel the sweat caking the dust on my hands as we faced each other, knowing that she wouldn't let me escape at any cost. She started her first move stronger than I thought she would, but I didn't let that stop me as I twisted my feet making the ground snake and wave. Though she lost only some balance, she released a large boulder, making me slid into a dip to avoid collision. Banging my left fist against the wall, spikes shot out where she stood, but she was able to dodge them. My right fist did that same to the floor, making her move again, briefly in a defensive move, so I could regain my feet below me.
We both stood steadily at the same time, bringing us back into the rhythm of the fight. My chances at escape were dwindling away fast as I continued to fight against Bei Fong. My heart was racing when something completely and utterly miraculous happened. It would seem that one of the benders from Snake eyes had made it down to escape, a waterbender named Naga. I could see his water whip swing towards the policewoman, but it never made it. She had turned and blocked it. Though there was two to one, Naga was visibly tired and I chose not to give up my freedom for years of imprisonment, so I did the one thing that I will never regret, I pulled the ceiling down. And although I succeeded, I was unable to block the sharp-edged baton that Beifong Lin threw right before the ceiling obstructed her view.
Blood streamed from my face as my mask split and fell to the floor, following the metalbended baton. My gloved hands grasped at my forehead, and came away slick with blood. I stumbled against the wall, dumbstruck for a moment as I tried to remember what I had been doing. Everything was sluggish and spinning, but I knew I had to leave and leave now. My feet started to catch on themselves as I fled the scene of the ambush as fast as I could, earthbending the slightest spring into my step so I could more quickly escape, not knowing if I was being followed or not.
I must have ran for ten minutes or more aimlessly before I crashed into an alley, weary and sick to my stomach. My stomach turned painfully as I fell to my knees and vomited my morning breakfast. It didn't stop there either. I dry heaved until I was depleted of any energy I had left. Exhausted I crawled out of the view of the street and behind a trash heap leaning against the wall heavily. My breath was returning, but the pounding in my head was nearly unbearable. I think I blacked out at this point, for I awoke again as twilight was setting in around me.
I could feel the dried blood crack painfully against my face as I opened my eyes and a slight dampness against my nose. The smell of the trash heap around me was nearly unbearable now that my head wasn't pounding. Gulping back the bile forming in my throat, I pulled my glove from my hand and felt the deep gouge that formed on my skin. It ran from the middle of my forehead and down, down to the near tip of my nose. It will scar.
As I try to collect myself to go home, or at least anywhere outside of this dump, I hear a whimper. At first, I sit dumbstruck and conclude that it must have been an anteater cat looking for its next meal. When I hear it again, it's barely above a whisper; it was the sound of a baby crying, in the trash heap next to me. Slipping my glove back onto my hand, I peel apart the trash gingerly; half convinced that I was just hearing things in my head from the blood loss. I find a little wiggling foot. Again, I feel sick, but not from my own wounds.
Carefully, in disbelief, I find a newborn baby buried beneath rotting fruit and dirty newspaper, alive but dangerously thin and cold as ice. It cries a little stronger as I pull it against my warm body. If I didn't have a sign before, this was it. I was alive by some grace, as was this abandoned baby girl, brought together when things couldn't get any worse, both ready to start anew. I cried for the first time in many years tonight, as I held the baby against my chest. She is mine now. She is my precious daughter, Yuujung.
151 ASC, January 18
Yuujung Age: 2
It's taken over two years for me to finally gather the resources I needed to build my new dream, an orphanage for children. I find the lack of caregivers in the city disturbing; young children are in the streets begging for food, many of the children of benders are being snatched by the gangs off of the streets, never to be seen again.
And my dear Yuujung has grown. The child who I rescued from demise, was petite and in need of medical attention. Frail and cold, the doctors were surprised she had survived at all. But she did. And she grew. Her eyes became a beautiful Hazel; her hair grew in thick and black as onyx. It wasn't long before I came to realize that she was a non-bender and for that I love her even more.
Yuujung and I have found a run-down warehouse that was used to produce wagon parts, but since the revolution in vehicles, it made no profit. It shut down. The two story building is located farther into the city than I first thought was likable, but it was due to this that I was able to get it for the price that I did. It needs a lot of work; the second floor needs to be reinforced and the floor rebuilt, there are a couple of tiles that need replacing on the main level along with a lot of the wiring from what I've been told to get the place up to code. It will take a lot of time and effort, but I'm sure with a little bit of elbow grease, it'll be great.
Yuujung, my dear child, I owe so much to her. I think it was due to her that we were able to get as far as we did. It all started three weeks ago, when I went to council. I had written for a grant to convert the factory to an orphanage and it was being read that day. I dressed myself for the reading, and planned to leave Yuujung to the landlady that morning, so I wouldn't be distracted while discussing the grant.
In an unfortunate turn of events, our landlady fell down her stairs and broke her hip. It was then upon me that Yuujung would have to attend the council with me. I cringed at the very thought, I already had enough slack around me for being 'rumored' as a former street hand, but to bring a child with me would be deemed highly unprofessional. I had no choice.
I dressed Yuujung in the best clothes I could find, second hand clothing I had bargained a merchant for months before. They were still too big for my poor child. She wrinkled her nose at me and screamed "No mom! No! You wear!" This child will be the death of me if she thinks that wearing clothes is as horrible as she makes it sound. After settling her the best I could, with a couple of toys and a cup of juice, we headed to the City Hall.
Surprisingly enough, once we came within view of the building, Yuujung hushed and watched entranced as we came through the doors. I was on time. Before me were the five most powerful people I have ever hoped to meet. From the left there was the Fire Nation, the Southern Water Tribe, the Earth Kingdom, the Northern Water Tribe and the Air Temple representative, Aang the current Avatar.
My chest tightened up when I saw that it was the Avatar before me and not his son Tenzin, who was said to have taken over his seat. Nervously, I set Yuujung onto the bench beside my bag, joining her only when I had also been motioned to sit. My proposition was read before the council, few seemed less than interested in the contents though. My hands started to sweat as I glanced at Yuujung who was sitting quietly for the longest stretch I had ever seen. She was biting onto her fingers again, a habit she developed when she got nervous.
"So, Miss Cheong, why do you think you should be the one to receive any grant money from us for your, what was it? Orphanage?" It was the Fire Nation's representative asking. Her tone of voice didn't match her smile. She seemed quite intent on not giving me anything
Clearing my throat, I stood to address the council for the first time. "I have seen how the streets are lined with children begging for food and shelter alike for many years now-"
"As have we all. What makes you anymore special?" The Fire Nation's representative interrupted.
"I plan on opening a compound to not only house and feed these children, but to also teach them so that they may one day follow a trade of their choosing. I find it imperative that-"
"Again, you are not the first person to stand before this council and say the same thing. If I've heard it once, I've heard it a thousand times. You think that we are made of money here? We can't give a free handout to anyone who's looking to buy a new home. There is no guarantee that-"
"You shuh up." Yuujung had risen from her seat and stood defiantly on the bench, her small hands clenched in fists. "Every need home. You need. You need. You need. You need. All need." With every 'you' she pointed to a member of the council. "You no special, you bully. We help. You spoil." Her pigtails flopped as she collapsed onto the chair, crossing her arms.
Sustained silence followed her outburst and it seemed that some of the council members didn't know whether to be amused or angered that they were talked back to by a two year old with limited vocabulary. I was proud of my child, but all the same I feared that we had lost any chance at getting the grant we needed.
Avatar Aang seemed to consider us for the longest bit, until he smiled gently and rose. "I think we all know the decision that should be made. If it is clear to even the youngest in our city, then it should be also to us. I would like the support of the council to grant Cheong Moa the money that she requires to open and run her orphanage, as long as she meets the guidelines she has set for herself: living, feeding and teaching the abandoned children of our city."
The council was reluctant, but they agreed and a contract was made. My child is full of surprises.
153 ASC, October 8
Yuujung Age: 5
My child is full of surprises. Yuujung was sent home prematurely from school today for fighting. At first I wasn't sure what to do. The bright white note pinned to her blouse was rather prominent as she tried to sneak into the house without being seen, though I could hear her clanging against the fence the entire way to the door. Her hair had been pulled from her braided pigtails and dirt stained her clothes. She looked up at me in disappointment and fear as to my reaction.
I picked the note from her blouse and pointed to the chair at the table as I read the note from her teacher. I became furious and frustrated as I continued to read and reread the letter. It stated that Yuujung had been sent home from school today for fighting not once, but three times with her classmates. And it wasn't just because they were teasing her… it was because they were discussing "anti-bending" in class. I glanced at Yuujung who was hanging her head. "Do you want to tell me what happened?"
Yuujung shook her head violently, her eyes welling up with tears. "Th-They said that b-b-bend-benders are n-n-n-n-no good. And that t-they need t-to l-l-l-leave the city. I said that t-they s-shouldn't say that since benders help the community. T-they said I was s-s-stupid too and and and and n-need to l-leave."
I came to her and hugged her tightly, stroking her hair with my free hand. "We're not going anywhere and no one is going to make us. I promise. Come on baby, let's get you cleaned up."
157 ASC, December 29
Yuujung Age: 9
I've done something that I never thought I would do. I told myself I wouldn't since I started my new life, and I bestowed these same feelings to my child and to the children that I take care of in the orphanage; never sell your body. I feel so disgusted with myself after this, I scrubbed my skin raw, but it still doesn't change the feelings of revulsion.
I slept with the Representative from the Northern Water Tribe to keep my grant and to secure fire wood for the furnace.
These last months have been especially hard on me and the children as there has been an influx in orphans, but there haven't been any adoptions. I was close to pulling my hair out while the children were at school, trying to figure out how to get the money for the fuel, when the representative made a surprise inspection. We didn't do as well as I thought we would, especially when he pointed out that we had no fire wood.
I should have shot back that with the bad harvest they should have given us more to survive on. I should have said provide food and I will get the wood. I should have said no. I should have went to the council when he suggested the lewd act. I should have-
Now I am liable. I have as much place in this as he does. I made a mistake, and I regret it. I will never let us get into this situation again as long as I live. I will do what it takes not to put my child or any other in this same position.
As I gazed into the mirror in the bath, I found the mark on my neck and my inner fury returned. I said there were no marks to be left. My hand cracked the porcelain wash basin as I leaned in closer. There was nothing I could do now. I would have to tell the children it's a rash. But I know that answer won't be enough for Yuujung; she's grown rather curious these last couple of years.
I have to get dressed. The children will be home soon.
160 ASC, September 15
Yuujung Age: 12
Today and yesterday have been the hardest days of my life. I took it upon myself to reveal to Yuujung her origins. I somehow regret not telling her sooner, while she was still a child about the circumstances of her birth and my adopting her. She didn't take it well, as I would expect from a child that is mine. She values honesty very highly, and she feels as though I have been lying to her her entire life. I don't know how I would have reacted if my parents had told me the same thing.
She avoided me for the rest of her birthday. And the day after her birthday she merely ate a piece of toast before leaving. She didn't tell me where she was going; only that she would be back as soon as she could. I nodded, knowing that she was still upset with me, and that she needed time away. I let her go.
Then I got the news that there was a crazed Firebender on the loose and that he had mugged and killed a couple across the city. He was still unaccounted for and was considered dangerous.
My heart just about stopped when I heard the news. I never felt so helpless. I couldn't leave the children of the orphanage by themselves to search for Yuujung, but I didn't want her out there on her own either. I hated that I had let my helper leave early today. And it didn't help that the children could tell that I was on the edge.
I paced with baby Kona on my shoulder, patting her back to burp her by the door waiting. Yuujung didn't come home. She didn't come home until nine that evening, once all the children were asleep. I was still up, sick with worry. When she came through the door, I was as angry as I had ever been in that moment. My feet seemed to move on their own and before I knew it, my child was bound in rock up to her waist.
"Where have you been Yuujung! Where have you been?" I was crying again. My child was home and safe but she could have never came back. I fell to the floor crying and never wanted to stop. I wanted to keep her safe, locked up in the house, never to leave again. Would she hate me forever? I thought she would. She had every right to do so.
"Mom, get up. Don't cry. I'm home." She said stoically holding her hand out in front of her. I stood and came to her and engulfed her in a hug, the earth crumbling to the floor around us. "I have something for you, but you need to let go." When I finally backed away, she pushed her hand into my chest. I could feel the coolness of metal against my exposed skin. I took it in my hand and examined the metal. It was half of an oval shaped locket, with a small school picture from the year before pasted hastily into the inner side. "I wanted you to know, that even though you didn't give birth to me, you're still my mother and I love you. I will keep the other half to remind you."
My daughter is more tolerant than I.
165 ASC, August 1
Yuujung Age: 17
My daughter is more tolerant that I.
I am amazed at how much she has grown in the last five years, though it seems only yesterday, she was a baby in my arms. Now… now she's a beautiful young woman, making her way into the world, a world that I am unsure how to react to, Politics. I had known that when she was a little girl, she was meant for something great; compassionate, steady and self-motivated, not to mention stubborn as a bull rooster like her mother.
She had only gotten her letter this morning, and yet she zoomed around the orphanage, full of energy and excitement. She has been invited to become an intern in one of the offices in City Hall… Administrative General or something... maybe it was a general assistant? She flashed the letter so briefly, I was unsure what it had said. The one thing I know is that she is going to be working in close proximately with him, that waterbender from the north. I know I shouldn't worry. He hasn't approached anyone since that winter many years ago… but Yuujung is an adult now. It was no longer out of the realm of possibility. I will keep a close eye on him.
Yuujung has told me plenty of times that she wants to assist people, and help them to understand that everyone is equal. She sounded just like the Avatar Aang I grew up listening to, but since his passing twelve years ago, things had changed. There was more corruption and worse, more anti-bending protesters. Some of my friends had already left the city, being unable to find well-paying jobs to keep their homes. It was discrimination, but since they couldn't prove that it was because they were a bender, they could not do anything to stop it.
As a parent, I can't help but feel that my little girl is slipping away from me. There is so much that I don't understand. But things could always be worse, she could be like I was at her age. She could have a man and kids. She could be intolerant of people. She could be stuck up and ready to be done with me. But she is none of these things and for that I'm glad. I just don't want her to lose the spirit that I have seen grow as a child, which will be hard in the corrupt political career track . The things I see are the things I wish I could shield her from. She is still so naïve.
I will protect my child.
169 ASC, December 5
Yuujung Age: 21
I will protect my child until I breathe my last breath.
I am in shock. The feelings I have cannot be easily translated to paper. I only have six months to live at the most, I have been informed. I didn't expect it to end this way, with a genetic heart ailment, but I should have seen it coming. I knew that it was something along these lines that claimed my parents' lives but to have them pass on these hereditary quirks to me? Damn them! I need to breathe, the doctor says that my temper will only bring me a step closer to death.
Weak heart valves. I should have known. It started nearly a year ago, mostly while the children were out of school and Yuujung was at work. I would black out often, and find myself on the floor when I awoke. If I had gone to the doctor sooner, would I have been able to live longer? It is doubtful. I find myself in much pessimism these days, will my dream die or will my child give up her own dreams to accomplish her foolish mother's?
I have taken on much debt and I am fearful as they continue to pile higher. What have I done to my daughter? She will be furious with me when she finds what I have done. Do I dare let the façade fall or do I continue to pretend that it will all be fine in the end? I cannot tell, things are so unclear to me. There are no favors left for me, I am alone in a house full of love. Is it superficial? I cannot tell. I wish there was someone here that could tell.
I have so much still to confess to the child that knows so little about her own mother. I love her dearly for never prying, but at times I wish she would have tried a little harder to know my past. Now that there isn't enough time, will I be able to get my feelings across to my darling daughter, the last of my light? Again, I cannot tell. I do not wish to die with regrets, but it is hard. I wish it wasn't. But my wishing isn't going to change anything. I will have to find the will to do what is needed. Steady and stable like a rock.
I am not sure I have the heart to tell her. I am a coward. She is working so hard to achieve her dream, but I fear that there may soon be repercussions. The non-bender movement has gotten stronger, they have a leader now, someone that guides them from the shadows; I do not know his name nor does his face, but his words that I have met my ears weigh heavily on my mind. More violent outbursts against the metalbending police have occurred as they have to general bending citizens. They call for a new regime without benders. Why do they think that they can irradiate that which has always been present?
I suppose this is why my daughter is the politician and I am not. She has an understanding of these things, being a non-bender with a bending mother. Bless her. I hope she finds a solution for this situation before it gets out of hand. But for now, I must protect her and the children of this orphanage the best I can.
There are four benders within my home: two earthbending brothers who are five and seven, a waterbending boy aged eight and a firebending girl the youngest of the benders at three and a half. I have tried to teach them restraint to their bending in these dangerous times, but I cannot keep them from showing their spirit and nature; it would be detrimental to their wellbeing. I have written letters to acquaintances outside of the city in hopes of having them adopted to families that will love and protect them. None have written back yet, but it is still early. Hope is present but it is still far from our reach. I dearly hope that the new Avatar will come soon.
A lone woman sat before the wood stove of the orphanage kitchen, her home for many years, thumbing the last page of Cheong Moa's diary. She was dressed plainly, as many of the working class did, her black hair coiled into a tight coif on the back of her head. She sighed in exhaustion, tossing the book onto the table and checked the clock on the wall. It was nearly midnight and she could hear Hau whimpering upstairs, probably hungry. She had best get upstairs before her crying woke the other children.
As she walked to the stairs, she paused at the miniature shrine that stood in a wall niche. A picture of a reserved Moa stared back at her. She clapped her hands and bowed, "Good night mother. I will see you in the morning."
