While carrying their luggage they left the airport. Or should I say emotional luggage? He thought. After all, with every step they took on the land of Republic City, he longs for the South. As weirdly as it sounds, even his lungs felt the change of atmosphere. This probably has to do with the polluted air here, he thought. Then again, look at those buildings, the cars, the people, the green! Even though it still rained when they got out of the airplane, this city still managed to be the most colourful city he has ever seen. And the taxi ride they grabbed to get to the Air Temple Island only proved this statement more.
On this ride, they managed to get a glimpse of the inner city and it was not only the scenery that was colourful: the people around here were not just brown skinned with blue eyes like in the South. No, Republic City was a melting pot full of people from all around the world living peacefully together. Maybe he was a little close minded, but he could have never imagined a young Fire Nation boy playing soccer with another Earth Kingdom boy, without a glimpse of discrimination… and yet, here they are, he thought. Back in the South an interracial marriage was looked upon, never mind same sex marriage. It was really an old, close minded environment, he admitted. From the news he saw on the television he was informed that Republic City one of the first was to legalise these kind of marriages. I must admit, that's kinda cool.
While heading to the Air Temple Island, he has this weird, wholesome feeling in his chest. Like one of those feelings you could get when you are leaning on your mother's shoulder, smelling her familiar scent. Perhaps some would call it euphoria, or safety, or even familiarity, like it was all meant to be. It was weird to admit to himself, but he was kind of happy to leave the South in exchange for something more progressive.