AVATAR: LIGHT THE WORLD (The Illevitus Chronicles)

BOOK 1

-Air-

Chapter 9

-Breaking News-

Kyri was enjoying herself some lychee nuts, probably an hour outside of Ba Sing Se when she heard about the train bombing. Something told her gut that Niko and the others were in danger. She dropped her bowl of delectable nuts and quickly tore open a hole in the fabric of space, luckily she has her own compartment, so there was no one around to see her universe bend.

Flying high above the wreckage was a Channel 12 helicopter currently reporting the live updates on the situation. Misty Haverford, Channel 12's fiery blonde news siren, as her legion of fans called her was signing off for now, "And as always please stay tuned in for any updates on the train bombing outside of Ba Sing Se. This is Misty Haverford live at the scene, returning to you in the studio Kevin."

"And we are clear," the producer began from behind the cameraman. He was a portly man with a handlebar moustache, jet black like his hair except for a white streak right on his scalp, thus giving him the appearance of a skunktoad when he smiled. He looked at Misty with a wicked looking grin, "Misty, my darling, you're on fire right now! All four nations faithfully adore watching their new up and coming plucky, down-to-earth reporter, much more than that duster Kevin in the studio. So, tell me why you look so glum."

Misty really didn't want to have this conversation with her boss, it wasn't time, and that was something she needed a lot of right now. She shrugged her shoulders then soldiered a smile that the world was well acquainted with, "It's… the whole tragedy…" that was a lie. While on air she always was excited, palpable, and intriguing; secretly, off air she was miserable, yet she couldn't let the network know that. This year she was just promoted to full time field news anchor, but everything she was covering was just absolutely draining. There was no joy in reporting for her anymore, well except for knowing she's giving the people the news, and still all these negative and dreadful headlines she would have to face. She longed for the days of being part time: reporting on a polar bear-dog pack that turned twelve, a new playground or park being opened, or an old water bending lady who makes puka shell bracelets. None of that was holding a candle to the smoke, fire, and destruction she'd seen today.

"Hey pilot, bring us down, I want to interview some first responders! Oooh, just think of the ratings if some strong beefy earth bender is there to recall the harrowing tale like the gentle giant he is!" The producer spat out with a swish of his hands, imitating an earth bender.

Misty also couldn't stand her eccentric boss either, he was a washed up dancer who just happened to make a career in production, and normally her mantra was to let others be and live their lives. This man however broke that philosophy to pieces, and it made Misty's skin crawl. He was unnaturally invested in some made-up delusion that some strong rugged man will sweep his little rotund booty off his thin gangly legs, and in the meantime he was exploiting the truth for rating. How? Misty- she was his diamond in the rough, he groomed her to be the face of Channel 12, and whatever she said was eaten up by the masses, true or otherwise. She imagined the spin he would take on this story: Train Goes Haywire, killing 40.

As they approached the ground Misty thought she was going crazy, but she could've sworn she'd just seen a young woman standing in a tall tree overlooking the chaos. She blinked and they'd already gone below the canopy of leaves. Her mind was now focused on the black smoke that was spiraling around the helicopter coming from the crash site.

Tobias, the cameraman was now in charge, he began to air bend the smoke away so they could see the ground better. He was a quiet boy who was always punctual for work, never gave any problems to anyone, and just a nice person all around- aside from being an air bender.

"This is as low as I can go without impeding their efforts down there," the pilot began over his headset to the others, "I'll circle around for twenty minutes so you can get your interviewing done." With that he pressed a button on the control panel that immediately deployed a few cables from the side of the helicopter. Tobias jumped right out of the helicopter, breaking his fall with a gust of wind.

Misty was next and probably the only other one going down into the fray, her producer never took part in groundwork, but that wasn't an issue. No. In fact it was a blessing in its own for Misty, twenty minutes away from Carl was fine with her. She unbuckled herself from the seat, scooted out the door shimming down the side of the helicopter, and then down the cable provided. She always wore pants knowing her job would have her doing crazy things like this. Today it was a nice white turtle neck shirt with matching pants that as she slid down the cable were gaining two black marks on her inner thighs, "I just had to wear white today," she sighed looking at her ruined pants. Well on the bright side it wouldn't be to noticeable, so long as Tobias keeps the shot above her waist.

With feet firmly planted on the ground Misty took in her surroundings, to their left was the wreckage, still burning in places as earth and water benders attempted to put it out; meanwhile a few metal benders where tearing through parts of the metal exterior that wasn't on fire. These men and women were looking for survivors. To their right was a few emergency service vehicles, some law enforcement agents, and beyond that a barricade set up by the police- behind there was many concerned family members and friends.

An officer approached them and judging by his tan and green uniform he was a policeman from Ba Sing Se, "Excuse me folks, but we can't have people so close to the wreck. Even if they are reporters who just fell from the sky." He gestured to Tobias and his clunky news camera. As much as Misty would've just loved to completely leave, disregarding Carl, she still needed to make a paycheck, so begrudgingly she plugged in that fake smile. The guy immediately recognized Misty once she did that, "Oh your with Channel 12, umm… Masie Haytheword? Right?"

Misty just blinked at him, unflinching, but all she wanted to do was to punch this man. Tobias took the lead for once, which brought Misty back from her boiling internal rage. "She's actually Misty Haverford, and sorry we crashed your… crash site, but our boss just wants a few interviews. In and out, would that be okay?"

The man scratched his chin, as the flames crackled behind him, "Well… normally we don't do this kind of thing, but-" He quickly pulled out a piece of paper and a pen, "My kids are big fans of yours Misty, and I'll let you stay for an autograph. I'm in charge so you'd have to stick with me as well."

Misty blushed, "I'm flattered, and yes!" She quickly signed the paper with her signature left hand scrawl, "What are their names I'll have to shout them out on television?"

The chief was stunned, "The autograph is enough… I swear!" He chuckled.

Misty flipped her hair back, "It would be my pleasure." He wrote his kid's names down on a slip of paper that she pocketed quick, "Thank you for letting us do this!" With that she and Tobias started interviewing a woman whose son was leaving for Republic City, but it was cut short by the same son being pulled out from a compartment. In what could only happen as Misty would say, "A moment you cannot fake! This young man and his mother reunited." The first series of stretchers rolled out as a few more survivors poured their way out with the metal benders supporting each victim.

Misty was in the middle of interviewing a first responder when she noticed the chief had left them alone, "Powerful testimony here! Thank you for your time sir." She wandered off closer to the wreck making sure no one noticed her inching closer, but it wasn't the wreck she was interested in. The young woman who she thought she'd seen in a tree canopy earlier was now grounded. She was kneeling right by the buried frontend of the train, her outlandish appearance was enough to not mistake it was the same person. She knelt down next to her, "Excuse me miss? Is everything okay?"

Kyri looked up at Misty with glossy eyes, "You're Misty Haverford! Wow! I'm such a huge fan!" She wiped her eyes, "My friends were on this train."

Misty patted her on the back, "Thank you and I'm so sorry! Hopefully they're all still alive, inside."

The universe bender sighed, "They are alive, but they're not here…" Misty and Tobias were now really confused and unsure about continuing conversation, "One of them is new Avatar… and I think the bombing was related to his presence on the train."

Misty looked as though she would've passed out from shock, "Wait? Did you just say the Avatar?" She thought back to reporting on Korra's death, "Shouldn't he be like fresh out the womb?" Kyri laughed merrily at that comment.

Tobias crouched down with them, "So the Avatar is back already. Nice!"

Kyri was now confused by this man who just took this news like it was pizza lunch in school. Misty giggled, "Toby isn't a man of many words, in fact, I think you've said more today than you have since I got promoted." Tobias smiled warmly at Misty. He truly was a man of few words. Most of their interactions tended to be non-verbal, but that never bothered Misty as the two understood each other on a deep level.

Misty smiled at Kyri who stood up and crossed her arms, "I'm so stupid! Why did I say that?" Kyri smacked her face.

Tobias grabbed her wrist gently not saying anything as usual. "Please, stop that." Misty grabbed her other wrist gingerly. "What's wrong?" Misty asked in a gentle voice.

In the most sincere way she could she responded, "I shouldn't have ran my mouth like that, please, don't tell anyone about his existence! He's already got the Reservists and some crazy bounty hunter after him."

"Wouldn't dream of it," Misty and Tobias made their leave. Somehow that didn't make Kyri feel any better. Misty kept interviewing aimlessly for one liners and some sound filler until they heard the whirring of the helicopter getting closer. The two looked up as cables ascended from the bottom panel, "Looks like this is our ride," Misty unenthusiastically quipped.

Back at the studio there were even more reasons why she longed to part ways from the job, none of which compared to her boob of a boss, but every little thing was becoming a dizzying nightmare. "Hey Misty, you're looking particularly hot today, yowza!" That voice was the disgusting wretch, Dirk Bannington, he was a reporter for the evening news weather segment. While most women find him attractive, with his tall lean physique and devil-may-care bad boy persona, Misty found his personality ugly. Quite frankly, she couldn't understand why women nation to nation fawned for him.

Misty stopped looked up at the ceiling with her eyes closed and took a deep breathe, "Cut the crap, Dirk." She turned to face him, "I have work to do, so please leave me to my work." She put an unneeded emphasis on work, which only fanned the flames if anything, because the jerk then sneered at her with a slanted grin that made her shudder.

"Oh come on, at least let me take you out to dinner when you're done your 'work'," he air quoted work and leered at her. Misty was feeling really uncomfortable now, "I'll pick you up around, let's say, eight-thirty?"

Misty gripped the giant schmuck by his chiseled chin, eyes narrowed. She spoke in a low tone as every looked on in amazement, "You talk to me like I'm one of your fangirls, you have made many advances that have made me feel uncomfortable, I've gone to HR on you several times, but now you are gonna quit your little game of gaslighting. I'm never speaking to you, don't show up at my house, or I will take you out… permanently."

She let go of his jaw after a tight squeeze and turned tail to enter her office while she waited to do the afternoon news with Kimberly Stanton. She slammed the door behind her in a huff, "She'll come around, right Ari?" He winked at the senior writer who was about ten years older than him. She and an intern who was probably fifteen just giggled to themselves like primary school girls.

In her office, she found peace from her job. It wasn't an average office by any means, there was a hot tub just in the middle of the room, and every corner surrounding it had orange flowers and white potted fruit-bearing trees. Off to the side their was a small side room with a bathroom and shower, and to her right was a desk that was littered in junk food wrappers. Despite her slim body she was an avid snacker, just now pulling a candy bar from her jacket pocket. It was taffy made in the fire-nation, the best candy ever, in her opinion, that she'd die for it. She took a bite, and slipped into a bathing suit that was stationed to her left. The hot tub felt absolutely perfect, it took a few negotiations and threatening to expose Dirk as a predator on live television, but she got her hot tub. She applied a nice face mask with cucumber eye covers, tossed her long blonde hair up into a towel after treating it with a lavender eucalyptus hair-conditioner, and that too was fire-nation brand.

A sudden knock interrupted her peace, "Go away Dirk!"

"It's not Dirk, it's Kim, may I come in?" There was a pause, but Misty acquiesced; "Sure, come in." The young intern was a meek soul, his knees knocked as he shuffled into the room, and seeing Misty in the hot tub was making his heart beat fast, "I have this weeks articles drafted for you your post-show exposed… I mean exposé!" His face grew a vicious shade of red as Misty lifted the cucumber from her left eye, "Innocent little Kim, you shouldn't be so nervous." She lifted the other cucumber slice off taking a bite out of it, "You look tense, come in and have a dip. I'll make you an exfoliating mask." Kim's face was bright red and you could practically hear the whistling going on in his head, and see the steam erupting from his ears, "That's an order, bud." Kim slowly put the paperwork down onto the desk feeling his heart pounding so fast it might've jumper out of his chest. He turned away while stripping down to his boxer briefs.

An hour later the two where still just hanging out in the hot tub, as friends, nothing more, and Kim felt comfortable. This was the first time he'd actually felt comfortable in the new job, "No wonder everyone who watches the news loves you," he took a drink from his rocks glass of whiskey, "you're pretty laid back, thanks for being so nice."

Misty smiled at her intern, "Well I've been taking note of your adjustment to the job, and I felt you needed to be put out of your comfort zone." She took a sip from her rocks glass, "You should stick with me kid, I have a future, and I see you do… with me."

Kim swirled his glass, "Can I ask you something? What puts you out of your comfort zone, Misty?"

"Fire."