Chapter one: Arrival
"So this is Republic City," I thought as my feet left the wagon. My legs were prickling due to the long train ride. After all, it was a few days from Shangyang...I mean...Ba Sing Se.
Well, the city seemed much busier than my hometown, that's for sure. Merchants were praising their wares loudly, scents floated through the air: baked fish, fried cabbage rolls and various other snacks, along with stalls full of fine leather wares, pocket watches, and all the things your heart could desire. So many unnecessary luxuries! Well...not really. But for little a rat who grew up on the shimless streets of Shangyang, everything besides a sword, some blankets, a pot, and food for the day was a pure luxury.
Of course, you may ask how a poor guy like me could afford such an expensive journey across the Earth Kingdoms. Well, let's just say I learned some little shortcuts from my hometown. One of the first lessons the streets taught me was: any money is good money. Stealing, lying, cheating...who cares! Cold, hard silver speaks for itself. In fact, the hefty little bad of yuans in my pocket right now...it came from some pretty dark sources, bloody to the core. It belonged to some of the local Triads.
They would've killed me if they knew, so I had to vanish from Ba Sing Se in a rush. Well...I planned on getting out of the spirits forsaken dump anyways, but now, I'd finally be able to do what I wanted to. A new city, a new life, a clean slate for me. Now I could finally become a cop and pay back the bastards that made my childhood a shit hole as deep as the yellow river.
The people here seemed to live peacefully, with so much harmonic tranquility that it was disturbing. To see Fire Nation citizens buying from Earth Kingdom merchants while chatting with someone who was cleary Water Tribe... indeed was very disturbing. In Shangyang, all these people would have been at each others' throats.
I grabbed my frayed backpack and started to make my way down the platform, trying not to collide with anyone. I mostly managed to avoid physical contact. Only on two occasions did someone jostle my shoulders. I am a tiny guy, just a bit over five feet tall, so I often have problems with being shoved around by ruffians. But people here seemed nicer than the citizens of shangyang.
Finally, the people thinned out and I could walk naturally and contemplate my current surroundings...
There was another reason why I picked Republic City as my new hometown...none other than its relationship with the man I hated and adored like no one else...Avatar Aang.
He was the man who brought peace to the world, built a city of dreams, and resurrected the Air Nomad culture. All of these were achievements that made me proud...but the fact that he had forced my mother out of the upper rings - down to the whore houses of Shangyang...the fact that he forced her into such misery that she took moonflowers to escape from her own life...those were things that I could not forgive him for.
My heart burned with all the rage that had built up over the years, the years in which I had to fight for a meal and a handful of yuans.
He might have been a father to this city, even a father to three entire nations, but he certainly had not been a responsible father to his firstborn son...me.
It was confusing, like a dream. I was not sure if my mother had lied to me. She told me on her deathbed who my father was, but she was terribly intoxicated with liquor and opium that day. Even as she spat blood after each drink, she could not stop, and I...I was helpless.
For weeks after she died, I sat around in a drunken stupor, contemplating her words and actions. If she was trying to cheer me up with the thought of having a famous dad, it definitely didn't work. I was furious at this rich bastard who couldn't even bother to pay enough for me and mother to live in a tiny house in the middle rings. Instead, I had to go out and scratch together money for the two of us since I was twelve.
Stealing, mugging, and beating up innocent people had never been fun for me, so I swore that when I got my hands on the Avatar, he would pay for his ignorance. I would make him suffer someday when he did not expect it. I had to take my retribution. Such a stick in the mud simply had to have more bodies in his cellar. I'm going to crack his golden exterior and show the face behind it. And the police force was the perfect place to dig something up, wasn't it?
But that was not my primary concern. First, I had to find a place to sleep. And perhaps new garments. My current colthing might've passed for emerald some years ago, but now the color had faded to grey. It attracted many suspicious eyes from the cops patrolling in the streets. The streets were paved with cobblestones and the buildings looked rather strange.
In Ba Sing Se, the buildings were not high at all, so I felt nearly breathless in the shadows of the stone giants towering over the streets, which seemed so small against the massive brick walls. They nearly shut out the sun. Now I understood why everyone called Republic City the City of Dreams. Here, everyone got a new chance, or so it was said.
I had heavy doubts about that, but at least no one would cut me down in the middle of the street just because my eyes had the wrong color.
Actually, my eyes had the wrong color almost everywhere. Mine weren't blue like the sea, or green like lush grass, or gold like dying embers. Mine were grey like a dulled blade, and three times as sharp. Most people thought they were creepy. In fact, there was only one person in the whole world who liked them, and that person was...Yumi.
As I thought at her, my chest feels as if invisible ropes were squeezing it to the point of snapping. I had to leave my girl in Shangyang. We agreed that she would follow me as soon I got a flat and a decent job, but she was bringing her grandmother. After all,she wanted to care of her gradmother, even if I had kicked this old bitch out years ago. I felt ashamed, hoping that the old hag would simply die from a heart attack or some other illness, but she was holding Yumi back. Without her, the two of us would be together, just like before.
I wanted Yumi here. I wanted the smell of her hair, her weight resting in my arms, and most of all, I wanted her silly jokes. She could always put a smile on my face when I was down.
But life is not what you want, its what you get. Before I could even begin to make a life here, I had to get a school degree, and that was a pretty big problem, because I never set a foot in a school in my entire life. In fact, I doubted that public education even existed where I grew up. But as a cop, reading and writing were quite important, that much I could. Problem was that the guys wanted a school degree.. So I decided not to rent a flat, even if that meant a longer time without Yumi. I would have to live on the streets again.
Most cities hat their hangouts for people who did not own a place to call home. In Ba Sing Se, it were mostly abandoned houses in the lower rings, but there seemed to be none in this new, clean looking city. It was spotless. Perfect. Not even shattered glass bottles adorned the streets, even in not so affluent districts. The only flaw seemed to be this station, a very loud place. The air was polluted with the scents of burning coal and other unpleasant things. Perhaps it wasn't so perfect after all.
The buildings here seemed to be new, but posters and graffiti from triads and other gangs were plastered about their walls. Clothing flapped in the chilly autumn air. The people here looked poor; the women wore plain clothing with no gems, no headpieces, and not even rings. Somehow, the hint of poverty made this strange city far less hostile and somewhat homely. The men chatting idly as they leaned on the alley walls all seemed to have blaring signs on their foreheads that read TRIAD. Most were wiry, scarred individuals with long knives on their belts.
I simply ignored them and they in turn ignored me. Even for their standards I looked poor, they could not see the dragon-steel blade in my backpack or the two hundred yuans in my pouch.
It took a while to reach the better parts of the city. Here, more cops walked around and the shops held everything one could wish for. Some shops even played music out of new gramophones. In Ba Sing Se, only the high society could afford such a masterpiece of technology, but here it seemed that technology was much cheaper.
I decided it was time to make myself sociable and went into the first affordable looking clothing store. The multitude of deep red clothe screamed Fire Nation, but dark colors do suit my taste best. A woman, aged around thirty, eyed me warily.
"Hey you, we don't wanna have beggars in here, so get lost." she snapped aggressively. She was a tall woman, towering at least a foot over me.
"I ain't no beggar, m'lady. I ain't from tha' countreside. Jus' comin' in tha' city, doin' some shoppin'." I mumbled in a thick Earth Kingdom accent, "Here, I gots some good money ya know." I said louder, patting my leather pouch.
She did not seem to believe me and raised an eyebrow.
"So, what do you want?" she snarled.
"I wanna have some fancy clothin' fo' my sista's weddin'." I explained.
She mellowed down a bit. It seems I finally pulled the right strings.
"So...well, mister. Then follow me please. Which kind of clothing do you wish to wear? Something traditional or modern?" she asked, pointing at a suit.
Personally, I think suits look ridiculous. I have no clue who even invented them. With the founding of Republic City about twenty years ago they suddenly appeared, and became more and more famous in the upper classes.
"Na. I wanna have some good ol' clothin', some good robes 'n garmets, ma'am." I said obtusely. Playing the dumbass was something I was really familiar with. You had to act innocuous when you went into pickpocketing.
The woman clearly was an expert on clothes. She presented me a wide, wine red robe with black undergarments and black trousers. To my wonder, the clothing was almost an exact fit, with just the sleeves a tad bit too long.
"Ye' I'm takin' those." I decided, praying that they were not too expensive.
"These clothes are really a good choice. They match your hair splendidly." she answered.
What really startled me was that she directly looked into my eyes, without spitting over her left shoulder two or three times like people did back in Shangyang. I had to pay 30 yuan, which was a rather harsh chunk from my current fortune. Nevertheless, I walked out of the store, head held high, with my old clothes stuffed into my backpack. My stomach rumbled loudly as the smell of fresh fried dumplings made my mouth water. Less than two minutes later, I was stuffing my mouth with spicy food.
Along the way, I looked out for kids or something that could be a school. The real problem was that I needed to find a private school to teach me because there was no way a full grown man would be accepted in a public school – if they were not only an urban legend. And private schools were expensive, hence my new clothing. I really wanted to make a good first impression. Of course, I should've had a slight advantage, since my mother was born upperclass and raised me better than most children. But still, I pretty much grew up on the streets of Shangyang.
Finally I was able to find somebody who looked young enough to go to school, a boy around sixteen, wearing fine Earth Kingdom robes, embroidered with circular brocade patterns.
"Hey Man. May I aks wich school you attend?" I asked the boy who was drinking some kind of deep red juice.
He spat it out in surprise and stared at me with nervouse green eyes.
"Ah! Uh, sorry, sir! I...I'm really sorry! B...But I felt ill in the morning." he stammered.
I let out a short laugh.
"Kid it's not my fucking business if you skip classes. I just want to know the name of a decent school. I want to attend one myself." I stated with a smirk.
The boy relaxed, tension draining out of his posture.
"Oh, uh, yeah mister. I go to a fine school, strict teachers and good education...but why do you want to attend a school if you're are old enough to join the Forces?" he answered.
I lifted an eyebrow at the boy.
"Join the army, huh?" I thought to myself, "Well, that was a decent backup plan but I could imagine better things than being forced to traipse around the world for the next three decades of my life."
The boy stared at me for another moment before hastily saying, "Okay, right! The school...uhhh, its right round the corner-Four Nations Elementary School, qualifies directly for the University of Ba Sing Se or Police Academy and such." the boy answered awkwardly.
"Thanks dude. Lee's m'name. See ya." I said with a slap on his shoulder before leaving in the direction he pointed me in.
The school was a very big building, which gave me a feeling of home with its green shingle roofs, dragon headed rain gutters, and heavy wooden door frames. It was long past midday, I doubted that any students would be around. As I entered, my heartbeat sped up from nerves. This was the first time I visited a school without the intention of stealing brass bells and doorknobs. Plus, I stuck out conspicuously; everyone would be able to see that I didn't belong in such a well off school. They even had a real black board instead of just a slate of rock with layers of chalky scribbles. All the windows were filled with clear unbroken glass!
Curiously, I started reading the black board: theater programs, schedules, and a job offer! And incredibly, it was a job that I could do. A tutor for the school's Blades Fighting Program. I bet that I was a better fighter than their curent coach, at least with a sword.
"Heck yes." I cheered under my breath before looking for the main office. Hopefully I could squash two bugs with one shoe, paying for my tuition by working at the same time. If not, just attending this school would be more than enough. I entered the main hall...at least I hoped this humungous hallway was the main hall. The air felt cool and still on my skin, and the hall was silent and open, perfect training grounds for an airbender like myself. A lot better than flying around on the roofs of Shangyang in the middle of the night.
"Hello...anybody here?" I asked while strolling through the halls and corridors. When I finally heard an answering voice, I was startled.
"What are you doing here this late in the afternoon? The lessons have ended two hours ago and the library is closed today." said a slim, middle aged man in green robes, "May I help you?"
He had a neatly trimmed mustache and a pair of round glasses perched on his nose.
"Erm...Maybe you can, sifu." I answered. I really hoped that 'sifu' was the correct title for this man.
He stifled a laugh and closed the distance between us with a few strides.
"You, young man are definitely not a student of this school. Are you in search of a job? Because we're looking for new teachers." he answered amicably.
I was speechless, a teacher...me? Was this guy kidding me? He seemed far to serious for something like this.
"Oh, beg my pardon, I forgot to introduce myself. I am Mr. Wong," said the older man, " former Professor of Earth Kingdom customs and Advanced Mathematics."
I cleared my throat and bowed to him. "I'm Lee Bei Gao. I'm interested in applying for the Swordsman tutor position you offered, as well as taking classes here. Do you know who is handling this kind of affairs?" I asked him as politely as I could. Damn, I was going to do more sweet talking today than I had in the last two years.
"The teaching position may be considered...but you attending our school may not be plausible. you are at least eighteen years old." he spoke looking at me with a look of pity in his eyes.
"It's...well...I never had the chance to go to school, I...I really need a school now to get anywhere near police academy. You know ...I grew up in the lower rings of Ba Sing Se and had to go to work since I was very young." I felt a blush rising in my cheeks. I was humiliated to play the poor underprivileged street rat who had no opportunities...but if I made the impression of a good for nothing noble kid, I was definitely not going to be accepted here.
'But, you are of noble blood." Mr. Wong answered, startled, "If your surname really is Bei Gao." he added with a touch of suspicion.
"It is. My mother was...not on the best terms with her family. I do not like to dwell on this topic." I replied shortly, trying to hold onto some of my pride.
"Forgive my rudeness, young sir." apologized Mr. Wong, "I suppose you want an Avatar Aang scholarship fo-"
The "no" left my mouth before he could finish, to his confusion.
I hastily added, "I may be poor, but I still have pride. I'm not some dirty beggar."
He looked at me ponderously, trying to digest my words.
"I may be of some assistance. We'll have to speak with the director first, of course." Mr. Wong said. "Follow me please – let us finish this. And about the job offer...you'll have to speak with Mr. Hinamoto, the martial arts instructor. He's rather old fashioned, so you'll need to call him sifu." explained Mr. Wong stiffly.
As we made our way down the hall, I looked at him curiously, sensing that he did not hold friendly feelings for Sifu Hinamoto.
When we arrived in front of a heavy wooded door, Mr. Wong straightened his robes and gave exactly three knocks.
"Come in." a deep voice answered. She matched the bulky man who sat behind the overflowing desk. The Man sitting there was a giant, at least six and a half feet tall, with the neck of a komodo rhino and shoulders broad enough to carry a koala sheep each. But despite his intimidating stature, he seemed a cultivated gentleman. After observing his demeanor, his eyes, and his clothing, I was able to formulate a plan of approach. I'd always been good with people; in the streets, it was essential to be able to judge a person's character in the blink of an eye.
"So, how can I help you, Mr. Wong?" the director asked his subordinate.
"Well, this young gentleman is interested in the position for instructor of swordsmanship. Also, he'd like to attend senior year at our school." he stated. The director was silent for a moment, then he let his finger run through his wiry, black beard.
"That really is unusual. Very unusual. How old are you? Eighteen?" he asked me.
"I am twenty years old sir. I've never had any decent education before, but I'm able to read and write. I will do my best if you accept my in your institute." a mumbled and bowed low. Cold sweat was covering my whole body. I felt helpless like a small child, it was a feeling I hated more than anything else.
"Rise." the director chuckled. "No need to be frightened. So, what is your name, and where do you come form? We are no ordinary school and take pride in our students. We want to know who we are teaching." the big man spoke quietly and leaned back in his chairs, arms folded in front of his chest. If he tried to look intimidating he failed gloriously. Even I could look more threathening than that!
"I come from Ba Sing Se, and arrived here today. My name is Lee Bei Gao. I am the son of Lin bei Gao, of the Bei Gao family. But my mother severed their ties to her family before I was born. The Bei Gao family thinks of me as...an inconvenience, if you understand." I explained in a bitter tone.
My gradparents were the same sort of fancy pants, good for nothing people that the Avatar was.
The director nodded for me to continue.
"So we had to make a living on our own, my mother worked as a saleswoman in a clothing store in the middle rings. I worked as a delivery boy, bus boy, well every available job there was in the lower rings where we had to live. It was not always easy but we could kind of fill our stomaches by the end of the day. I received experience in swordsmanship from an old neighbor who was kind of a father for me. He taught me the basics, and the streets of Shangyang did the rest. I have true experience in self defense, if nothing else." I answered as truthfully as I dared.
My mother did of course not sell clothes; she went whoring. But this was something nobody needed to know.
As the director still sat there with a blank face, my hopes began to fall.
"Crapcrapcrap I'm not getting in," I thought.
"Well, it was not easy to get to Republic City. I was on the road for nearly a year doing farmwork." I said quickly before giving myself a mental face palm.
The Director interrupted politely, "That's fine young man, but tell me. Why do you want to attend our school?" he said while fiddling with a little scrap of paper.
I forced myself not to stare at the paper that was being squashed by his big fingers. I took a deep breath.
"You know, I grew up in a place where there was no law and order. I...I do not want anyone to live in such a place and that is the reason why I aspire to become a policeman." I said. To my surprise, my voice was deep and steady, "I know better than most what the job encompasses, which is so to say, not much academics. But I still need a graduation certificate in order to attend the academy." I explained.
The director seemed to be interested. That was more than I hoped for.
"And what courses would you pick?" he asked me, prompting a blank stare.
Well to be frank, I never thought about that! But if I had to waste a year in school, I might as well learn things that could come in handy interacting with rich people.
"Well...erm...everything besides sports?" I thought aloud.
Both teachers broke out in laughter.
"You're kidding, right? Every young man wants to excel in sports." the director stated.
All kids wanted to do that, sure, but I stopped being a kid many years ago.
"I have many things to learn that are already second nature to a normal teenager, sir. I have not even written a single essay in my whole life. Believe me, I´ve other things to take care of than silly ballgames or martial arts. I'm already rather good at anything athletic." Slowly my confidence started growing, mainly because they took so much time to decide. You do not waste so much time on a guy you want to kick out of your office, right?
We chatted a bit about many things, and they examined my knowledge: etiquette, mathematics, spelling, history, even politics! I really gave all I had. At least I always had something to say in response to the questions, but they were definitely incorrect most of the time. Finally, the director rose from his seat; he was even taller than I imagined. I must've looked like a little child compared to him.
"Well Mr. Bei Gao. I am surprised...no. I am impressed with your story. You shall get your chance. I'll have a word with Mr. Hinamoto about the job. If you want, we can provide you with an apartment in the cellars of the school building. I inform you, it is damp, cold, and has no plumbing." he warned.
Nevertheless, I felt a genuine smile forming on my lips. "Sounds fine to me sir! Thank you, thank you very much for giving me an chance." I babbled with dizzying happiness.
"I am sorry to kick you out, but I still have some paperwork to do. I really need a new secretary." the director said partially to himself as he observed the chaotic stacks of stuff piled throughout his office. Mr. Wong kept silent and so did I.
"Well, I can show you the cellar" said Mr. Wong before turning to the director and asking, "You mean the room that is to damp for the scrolls, right?"
"Yes indeed Mr. Wong. It is just an option. I assume you have not the money to rent a flat, do you?" the older man asked me.
He was right about that, even though I hated admitting it.
"Correct. Thank you for your kind offer." I answered.
"In winter you will curse me boy, so stop the praising." the director said goodnaturedly.
He was probably wrong. I'm sure that the cellar room was less damp than half the lower rings back home.
So...I suppose I had to thank the spirits for something after all. I'd found everything I wanted to in just one day. It was a miracle I could buy some cheap horse blankets and would have a fine bed. For today though, the stone floor would have to be enough. The cellars of the school were enormous and laden with scrolls, books and...a stuffed moose lion? It was dusty and chilly down here. Then we arrived at the end of a long central corridor that all cellars stemmed from, and there was an empty room. Well, almost empty. The only things stored there were old wooden boxes containing oil paints or some other fancy school stuff.
"Well, make yourself at home. But I really would advise you to rent an appartment. I would not even let my racoondog sleep in this wet hole. " Mr. Wong said sheepishly.
My eyes scanned the walls for the small black spots of fungus growing in the plaster. Or stone, considering most of the plaster flaked off already.
"Oh. I assure you this is much better than an upside down dumpster with holes." I answered beaming at the decrepit cellar like a madman.
Mr. Wong shook his head an murmured something that sounded suspiciously like "rotten society" and "barbaric customs". He seemed to be a good man though a bit oblivious to the harsh realities of life for most people. Well, he was a teacher at this upperclass school after all.
"So Mr. Wong, is there some work for me, like cleaning the Dojo or something? While I am here I can also lend a hand."
Mr. Wong smiled gently. "No need for that Mr. Bei Gao. Really, everything is done. You really should enjoy our great city before you begin your lessons tomorrow. I'm not going to lie to you, if you want to graduate in one year, you'll have to work your butt off. There won't be many afternoons for you, hanging out in teahouses and such."
He was dead serious saying this.
"Hmm. I thought so. At least it's possible." I said politely. What else was there to say? Afternoons in teahouses? I didn't even know what a decent tea house looked like, never mind visiting one.
The other man scratched his moustache and walked away. I left shortly afterwards to enjoy the city, or more precisely: to get some fresh air. I walked farther inland. Yue Bay was nothing I wanted to see, not with that shitty island which contained the shittiest man alive. Nope, not riling myself up. With a controlled breath, I headed down the street.
My new clothes did wonders. People didn't jostle me for fun, or make snarky "street rat" remarks. Not even the cops watched me with suspicion. I eyed the sleek, state of the art architecture with wonder. Republic City really was a city of wonders. It was unbelievable what people had built in less than a half century. This city really was something else.
And just for the heck of it...I spent the rest of my afternoon in a teahouse.
My cheeks were glowing like a little kid when the waitress served my tea. The poor girl looked a bit frightened, but that was understandable. I probably did look like a maniacal dressed up thug. The only thing I regretet was that Yumi was not here to share this day with me. If she'd been able to read, I could have written to her, but the poor girl was not the least bit literate. I tried teaching her over and over, but it simply did not work! Anything else – painting, running a house hold, even firebending – was no problem. But simple brushstrokes had turned my girlfriend in a humiliated, crying puddle on the floor. And Yumi was no cry baby either.
As the sun went down, I returned to my apartment cellar, and walked right in through the front doors. Nobody bothered to lock the school, for some odd reason. Maybe the children's parents were so rich that they'd be happy if something was stolen, so that they could gain recognition for buying new equipment for the school.
After I trekked down all those stairs, I realized that I was really worn out. I hit the floor, after changing and slept like a badgermole in middle of winter.