Chapter 7 – Legendary Schism Part 2 – Separation of Powers


Chin City, Earth Kingdom

It was horrible. The whole urban area of the city was wiped out; houses, schools and places of business had been blown away. Only ashes were left, the earth had been burned away. Skeletons of men, women and children could be seen on the scorched earth, it was something no one should see. The Avengers had arrived.

The Captain held onto his shield tightly, his hand turned into a fist. Anger flow through his veins, he couldn't bare the sight. This was something worse than a battlefield, something as worse as war itself and he was product of it.

Iron Man stood opposite from him, he was equally furious and sad. But he was more worried about what would be the Republic's decision about the passing of the bill, now with this disaster. The Earth Kingdom would notify them clearly, as well as the other nations.

"The people…" Korra said as she walked pass the two Avengers and unto the now annihilated urban town. The once green pastures and houses were now a scorched, burn and lifeless plain of death. The only ones around were them, the aiding X-Men and the Earth Kingdom Soldiers. She still couldn't believe her eyes, death surrounded her once again…death without honor, just death for pleasure. Nitro had wiped out half of a city.

"Korra…" Sentry said as he landed next to her. "…It's not your fault."

"Yes, yes it is…" Korra responded. "I was their Avatar! It was my job to protect them!"

Sentry understood why she was furious and saddened. Her duty was to keep balance, and now a catastrophe had happened. He just placed his arm around her, to comfort the now depressed Avatar.

"We have to contact SHIELD, Fury must know about this already." Iron Man said.

"I fear that he is not the only one that already knows of this mess." The Captain said.

"Leo, listen, I will do all I can to prevent this bill from being passed, but just promise me that you won't take any drastic action." Iron Man said.

"I can't promise you that, Kuro." The Captain said as he walked away.


Council Room, City Hall, Republic City

"I told you that it was just a matter of time!" Kurr exclaimed.

"It can't be the way you say it." Tenzin said.

"It is clear Councilman Tenzin; the heroes were the main cause of this terrible incident." The representative of the Fire Nation said.

"And even if they did try to help they just worsened it." The representative of the Southern Water Tribe said.

"But…" Tenzin tried to reason.

"The law must be passed, for the sake of the Earth Kingdom's children!" The representative of the Earth Kingdom yelled.

The heads of states looked at one and other, and then they voted.


SHIELD's Aerial HQ Codename: The Trinskelion…Two days later

The Captain walked through the metallic hallways of the colossal SHIELD headquarters that floated high above the clouds of Republic City and the cities around it. It was bigger than any airship he had seen thus far.

He had been summoned by SHIELD Director Nikolas Fury, something happened he was sure. He wasn't sure, but Fury sounded worried. He stepped into the bridge.

"Where's Fury, I was called by him." The Captain said.

"Colonel Fury has been discharged from command." Commander Luria Jin said.

"Discharged?" The Captain asked.

"He disobeyed direct orders from the Council." The Commander said.

"So it is true, the bill was indeed passed." The Captain said.

"The Superhuman Registration Act is, since yesterday, fully active and to be followed immediately." Luria said. "As part of the military personnel of the Earth Kingdom forces and part of SHIELD's reserve, I ask you…no, I order you to do what the act and the people say."

"I have read the bill, Commander and many of my people have started to hide away." The Captain said. "This is completely insane, Jin, I won't do it."

"I am sorry, was it not clear that I was giving you an order?" Luria Jin sarcastically asked.

"You're asking me to arrest people who risk their lives for this nation every day." The Captain responded.

"No, I am ordering you to obey the will of the people, Captain." Jin answered back, the armored agents begun to stand with Luria. "Either you bring them in, or we'll bring you in."

The agents aimed their fist at the Captain, fire, earth and water in each of them. They were ready to strike at the Living Legend.

"Hands down, gentlemen, or I…" The Captain tried to say.

"Bring him down, NOW!" Jin ordered. The agents fired at the Captain in a single, combined blast. He covered himself with his mighty shield and ran through the agents with it. Avoiding the fire, rocks and cold water, the Captain defeated what it seemed to be a dozen men. He ran through the bridge and through the glass and he began to free fall into the city below. He landed on top of a SHIELD airplane, which was now being mass-produced by Shinzou Enterprises for commercial use, but SHIELD wanted a more offensive use for them. The Captain grabbed the pilot by the head.

"Keep us moving, son, if you want to stay conscious." The Captain said as he kept the pilot from moving his head and rising his shield up. The pilot obeyed, the plane descended.

From high above, in the Triskelion, the Commander watched how the Captain got away.

"You idiot. We were trying to save lives." Jin said.


City Hall, Republic City…3 days later

People outside the building were protesting, the destruction of half of a city, of looming problems from the past and what could come from the future scared them. They wanted registered capes now, no more free-roaming vigilantes. The councilmembers watched from the inside, they saw how the people revolted.

"Of all the people to go underground…The Captain?" Kurr asked. "Now every hero that disagrees with the act suddenly has a leader."

"Maybe we should hold off until…" Tenzin tried to say.

"That won't be necessary Councilman Tenzin. Registration can go forward as planned." A metallic voice said.

"Indeed it can." Ant-Man said as he, The Wasp and The Avatar entered the room.

"We'll take care of the Captain." Iron Man said.