I've always thought Republic City was suppose to keep the peace, a place for harmony and equality. Equality, I don't even know that definition anymore. What is truly equal and who are the bonds that keep us "equally" together. What a sickening joke. People vandalize, argue, fight.. murder, they call that equal? What a damn joke!
My fist slammed into the window sill, a quick pain shot through my fist but I ignored it. I gazed out into what was suppose to be an utopian society built for peace but all I saw was a disorganized city mimicking Hell. Maybe I was in Hell, after all that would explained why my brother was still in the other room. I chuckled at the thought. The massive buildings of Republic City impaled the sky and went beyond. That was at least what I could see from the dining room, my view was alright, if you enjoyed starring at a brick wall that is. Venders were out on the street, selling whatever they had. Every day seems to be about money or at least in the market district it does. It's either you pay to survive or the Equalist party gets to you, with caustic consequences. I had been in deep thought, not hearing my brother calling me.
"Khai!, you in here?" "Khai, where are y...oh your in here again. I don't understand why your always in the dining room. Is there some ancestral meaning dad told you, it seems like there always is".
Bo had effect of making things seem alright, even in the worst of times. I turned around and smiled at him, he was right, dad had always made some historical reference to anything, when he was not talking politics.
"yea, uh sorry Bo I just enjoy looking out into a city rather then a regular wall, kinda gets boring ya' know?", Bo looked at me and snickered a bit. "kinda describes your life here huh Khai?", Bo said laughing. Being the asshole he is, he was right. My life here wasn't as good as it was in elementary school. My mom and dad were Equalists, wealthy high politicians to be exact, and being apart of a public school mostly filled with the kids of benders, I wasn't greeted with the best respect.
"I'm only joking man, lighten up, I'm on leave from being overseas I got to pick on you a little. Don't be such a downer and come out to the porch, we're all waiting for you and mom made cooked goose".
I had been born into a wealthy family of four, My brother Bo was 6 years older then me, taking on the age of twenty four and reaching sergeant in the Equalist Army of Republic City (EARC).
My father Bao, was an irritable ultra nationalist who would give he life for the Equalist party. He is the representative for our district. District 23 also known as Kyoshi way. All districts in Republic city were named after past Avatars, The Yangchen section was district 4, Kurkuk's path was district 9, and there was even Roku sqaure which was the center of republic city, ironically it had a statue of Avatar Aang in the middle holding a metal globe of our world with all element insignia's on it.
When I got my mom and dad had been sitting there, starring at Bo and I as we walked in. "you better have a good explanation to have kept us waiting Khai, practicing with your blades hopefully" said Bao frowning. Big surprise that my father never smiled, not even at his ideal son Bo, nope he was all business.
"Sorry dad, I was busy with.." I couldn't find the right words, all he wants me to do is train with swords, I sat there starring at my goose.
"He was daydreaming dad, dreaming he could fly and shoot fire out of his fingertips, seriously Khai what's the matter with you, you should find a girlfriend" Bo interrupted.
"Thats not true! I just zoned out that's all nothing else", I said embarrassingly. I took a few bites out of my goose and flicked off Bo under the table, just enough so he could see it but he just did the same, smiling while he did it.
"You had better not Khai! Bending is forbidden in this family and all benders are dangerous scum who dare endanger the lives of all of us who live in our city", Bao said, acting like this was his first time even mentioning his deep hatred for benders. "That is why your brother joined the EARC, to block all benders who try to enter Equalist territory, and so will you!", he added
"Bo your twenty four now, treat Khai with respect and stop being immature", my mom said but Bo just rolled his eyes. Jade was my mother and even her cooking talent could not hold over her hatred for benders. Her sister had been killed by a fire bender, however her sister, being an Equalist Soldier as well, had assaulted a bender in his own pottery store. He had fought back but with greater might. I didn't know the whole story because my all my mother says when I try to bring it up is "That bender took my flesh and blood that day, who needs them if they were to vanish".
"Jade, you are weakening our son, Bo is toughening him up and making him a strong Equalist soldier. Khai you are weak, fact is fact and being a fact I want you to train after dinner, two handed sword not your damn short sword but something that can actually do something for your body, Bao said drinking tea. I clenched my fists and stopped eating, I felt a powerful rush of adrenaline run through my veins, but I kept cool from a loud outburst.. A loud outburst, doesn't mean I didn't say anything back.
"Dad I've been training since I was seven, and every day since that day I've used different swords, Short swords, long swords, halberds, spears, maces, and a ball and chain! what is a ball and chain suppose to do besides get my tangled up with the enemy. This training is a waste of time if the Equalist were as good as you say they are do you really think they'd use a ba-"
What was I doing? I was saying my death speech, that's what. I might as well have slapped the devil in the face while I was at it. Speaking out against the Equalist party was the top thing you should never do in my house or anywhere where there are people like my father.
My father had interrupted me while I was saying ball and chain. "I swear Khai if you finish that sentence it will be your last! You know speaking out against your superiors under my roof is breaking my rules". He was furious, if he was a fire bender he probably would have incinerated me. My mother only watched and nodded agreeing with my dad, i doubt she actually meant it.
"Another thing, those weapons you have cursed are high value property of the Equalist army and you should be proud I even bought those for you to train with. You think I like having a weak son? No, it embarrass the hell out of me Khai, and by calling them useless you have once again insulted your army, your Equalist Army, so do us a favor Khai and stop acting like a damn brat and learn some respect!" He added more furious then ever.
I slumped back into my chair heartbroken, did my own father just call me useless? Am I really that much of a waste of time for him. I didn't dare look him in the eye, I laid back in what felt like my own darkness but what was really the shade from the canopy.
Today had been an especially hot and there were no birds in the sky. Not even a transportation balloon seemed to be in the sky and they're the fastest transportation from Republic City to the water and earth nations. The fire nation are the closest nation to the entrance of Republic City, although driving their on the coal powered automobile seemed a fast and cheaper way, the transportation balloon was still offered to them like the rest of the nations.
I sat there rubbing my head, "whoa dad" said Bo.
There was a knock at the door, and my dad stood up and left after throwing down his napkin on his half eaten goose. "I've lost all means for food" he said glaring at me and walked inside the house.
"You know your father cares about you Khai, you just have to show that your trying. We're both worried, you've been quiet ever since you got back from school and acting up like this is never like you", said my mom.
"Uh mom, you did just hear dad call Khai a waste of time right? I'm not a father yet but those aren't words of encouragement or thoughtfulness" Bo said stuffing he face with the cooked goose.
I interrupted my mom before she could discipline Bo, "Shut up Bo, you couldn't handle yourself for two days without mom, the only reason your in the army is because your such a failure at everything else! You probably bought your way to sergeant and never even held a sword."
Bo swallowed the mass of goose and wiped his mouth, he tried to talk be he had seemed to have eaten to much causing him to sputter a little. "Ar-are you challenging me?"
I could see that he was now frustrated and was definitely insulted. I smiled "Wow, I thought I had to spell it out for you" I said sarcastically
"All right you little shit, after lunch we'll fight, no shields, only short swords because I know how hard it is for you to carry the two handed ones" Bo said
I grinded my teeth, I would have said something back, but Bao had returned with a parcel in his hand and dropped it in front of me on the table. "Before you both fight about anything Khai has to make this delivery for the merchant Shino in district 10" Bao said in a less angry tone.
I didn't say a word, a grabbed the parcel turned around and left, I didn't even finish the goose.
Hey guys so this was my first chapter, sorry if this was to long, I promise to make to shorter. I hoped you liked hearing about this loving family and there differences. Don't worry there will be action and not just the fight scene between Bo and Khai. In the city itself we'll see the true dangers within the city and later on unlock a secret within the family that you wont expect.