Avatar Rylon
Book 1 Trust
Chapter 3 – The Test
As the MAGLEV train approached Republic City the first thing that Rylon saw in the distance was the spirit portal shooting straight up into the sky in the remains of the old city. The old city had been abandoned and the new Republic City had been built not too far away from it which meant that people living in Republic city were all able to see it from their homes.
When the portal had first been opened by Avatar Korra people were allowed to freely walk in and out of the spirit world through it and the spirits at first didn't mind people walking in and around the spirit world. A few years later however the spirits suddenly changed their mind for an unknown reason and made an agreement with Avatar Korra that no one was allowed to just walk into the spirit world whenever they liked but rather only the spirits were allowed to choose those who could enter. Korra respected the wishes of the spirits and so the spirit portal and the crater around it in which a lot of spirits now called home was blocked from the general public by a large metal fence that was now known to locals as the exclusion zone.
Despite the spirit portal not being accessible to the general public the Air Nation often carried out free tours from Air Temple Island where people flew on an Air Bison to inside the spirit portal exclusion zone and were given tours of the surrounds and of the portal itself, but they were never allowed to step foot into the spirit world.
The only person in the world who was allowed to enter the spirit world at any time was the Avatar but despite this Rylon has not yet physically entered the spirit world because he had been so busy mastering the elements. He had had no time to come back to republic city and all the times he had requested to visit the President had been busy or had informed him it was an importune time for a visit for a large variety of reasons. Despite the constant excuses from the President of Republic City for visit requests Rylon knew that this time nothing was going to stop him from visiting both Air Temple Island to met with some of his old air bending teachers as well as the spirit portal.
As they drew ever closer to the City Rylon began to make out the two huge Avatar statues standing in the city Harbour. One statue was of course of Avatar Aang which had remained the same since the time of Korra, the only change being that the museum that used to be at the bottom of the statue had been moved into Republic City for ease of access for the general public. Standing opposite the huge Aang statue was a statue of Avatar Korra, both of them standing proudly over Republic City which had become a beacon of peace for between the human and spirit world.
The train lined pased right between the two statues which gave Rylon a real clear understanding of just how huge these statues really were compared to everything else around them, they dwarfed everything in the harbour.
Once they passed the two statues the train headed into the city harbour and Train Station that was there. Rylon quickly followed suit with everyone else on the train as they all stood up and waited patiently for the doors to open.
Once the train had stopped there was a small hissing sound of the doors sliding open before people began to walk outside. The hissing of the door opening has confused Platinum who sitting on Rylon's shoulders eagerly looked around him for another dragon fly snake that he thought had made the hissing sound.
Once off the train and the crowd of people had dispersed Rylon saw the President of Republic City standing nearby motioning him over.
"Avatar it is great to welcome you to our city." The President said quickly grabbing Rylon's hand and shaking it. "I trust you enjoyed the trip over?" Before Rylon could reply The President continued. "Now the test will begin late this afternoon so until then you a free to roam around the city and enjoy yourself." The President clicked his fingers and a woman standing next to him quickly handed him a small card. "Here is the address of the 5 star Hotel you'll be staying in, first class of course!"
"Thank you I-" Rylon started but was interrupted by the President.
"Now here's the address for the test tonight…" He gave a piece of paper to Rylon who took it. "Make sure to get there early because it can't be delayed. Now if you'll excuse me…" The President said a he turned but Rylon quickly said something causing him to stop.
"I'm going to go visit Air Temple Island and the Spirit Portal before then so I was hoping you could…" He again didn't get to finish as once again the President interrupted him.
"I'm sorry Avatar but Air Temple Island is currently undergoing renovations today and is unable to be visited because all the air benders have been relocated."
"That's ok I can make my own way to the Spirit Portal." Rylon said as the president shook his head.
"Oh no I'm sorry Avatar but with this test today going on in the outskirts of the city I would prefer you to stay here just in case we need any assistance in setting up for the test."
"Oh I…" Rylon started.
"You do understand it is best for you to stay here and make everything goes swimmingly and help us if we need it right?" The President said looking at Rylon who quickly nodded.
"Yes of course but how will you contact me if…" The President put his hand in his pocket and pulled out a small electric device and handed it to him. "What's this?" Rylon said looking down at thin piece of metal in his hand that had numbers written down on the bottom.
"It's called a portable dial phone or PDP if we need you I'll give you a call." The President looked up at the confused look on Rylon's face. "You'll get the hang of it Avatar if my granddaughter can figure it out I'm sure you can. Now enjoy my city Avatar and we will see you this afternoon for the test!"
With that that the President, his assistant and the official that had been on the train with Rylon all walked over to a nearby black car and jumped inside before it drove off into the traffic.
Rylon looked down at the PDP in his hand and pressed one of the buttons before it started to beep angrily at him before he quickly put it in his pocket.
Turning to the city in front of him he noticed that it hadn't changed very much from his childhood. The metal buildings were still so high they were touching the sky, modern cars created by Future Industries sped down the streets all honking at each other and people everywhere were going about their business as usual. Unlike the fire nation where everything was in very strict order here everything including traffic and pedestrians seemed to be much more erratic with people walking every which way across roads and in front of cars.
"What should we do?" Rylon asked looking down at Platinum who was sitting on his shoulder looking out at the organized chaos of traffic and pedestrians in front of them. "What about we go to the Avatar Museum since we can't visit Air Temple Island?"
Rylon looked down the street where he saw a tram station and quickly ran up to it along the sidewalk just as a tram pulled up. Waiting for the people in front to board Rylon quickly jumped inside.
"Does this go past the Avatar Museum?" He asked the cranky looking old driver.
"Can't you tourists read the maps outside?" He grumbled.
"Oh I'm sorry." Rylon said quickly. "I don't want to keep anyone so does it?" He looked down at the people on the tram who looked frustrated by the fact he was holding them up.
"Look…" The tram driver stopped when he saw Platinum dozing on Rylon's shoulder. "No pets! Off, off!" He said shooing Rylon who jumped off the tram where he instantly shut the doors and moved off. Feeling a little embarrassed as people around him stopped to look he laughed a little before starting to walk down the street.
"It's a nice day so let's walk shall we?" He said looking at Platinum who didn't move.
-x-
After what seemed like hours and after asking a few people for directions Rylon finally arrived at the Avatar Museum which was compared to the high rises around him was a relatively small two storey building. Outside the front of the buildings entrance on either side stood two smaller versions on the Aang and Korra statues that were in the harbour.
Quickly running up the stairs to the entrance Rylon walked inside where he was instantly met with a sign which pointed to the Avatar Museum downstairs, the Spirit Exhibition upstairs and the gift shop on the ground floor.
"Gift shop?" Rylon said slightly surprised as he walked around the sign and looked at the gift shop not too far in front of him whilst beside it a set of stairs beside it lead up and downstairs.
Walking to the gift shop Rylon was amazed at the silly little items and toys they had.
"Avatar Aang's flying bison toy." Rylon read out aloud as he picked up a small balloon Bison that was floating on a short string. He quickly put it back down and looked further down the shop where he walked up and saw, "Avatar Korra action figure. Fight evil with your very own Avatar." He said rather amused as he picked it up and realized he could move the arms and legs and that the arms had small connectible plastic fire and water pieces that connected to them.
"Hey, hey you're the Avatar!" The shop keeper said running forward with a huge grin. "Could you see what you think of these?" The man grabbed Rylon's arm and dragged him to the counter. "Take a gander at these beauties." He said pulling out a plush dragon. "Limited edition Avatar Roku dragon plush! In both red and rare blue colour."
"Oh umm yes they're…" Before he could finish the shop keeper disappeared down below the counter and pulled out a stack of stickers. Rylon quickly looked around him and used his air bending the gently knock some spirit toys off a nearby shelf that caught the shop keepers notice. "Wait a minute avatar I should picked these up..." The shopkeeper quickly walked over to the shelf as Rylon instantly spun around and ran out of the gift shop and upstairs. After a few moments of waiting at the top of the stairs to see if he was going to be perused he breathed easy when he realized that he wasn't.
Turning to the sign in front of him Rylon saw that he was in the Spirit Exhibition which was a huge room full of photographs, models and reading cards full of information about the different spirits from the spirit world. He was surprised when he looked around the huge room and noticed that apart from him it seemed to be completely empty.
Walking forward up to one of the models he started reading the small card under it when a dragon fly bunny spirit appeared out of nowhere and flew over to him.
"Oh hello there." Rylon said looking up at the dragon fly bunny that seemed to be excited by the visitor. "Where did you come from?" He asked but was quickly followed by someone nearby shushing him. Looking around Rylon couldn't see anyone and wondered if perhaps he was just hearing things.
The dragon fly bunny cooed a little before flying over towards the back of the room beckoning Rylon to follow him. Following him Rylon came across an ajar door that he peered into to see a man sitting down at desk that was covered in paperwork as well as pictures, diagrams and books.
"I can see you!" The man mumbled as Rylon jumped slightly before opening the door to the tiny office.
"Apologizes but your little friend seemed to want me to come over." Rylon said pointing to dragon fly bunny.
"He seems to think I need company, just ignore him I'm too busy to bother with people." The man said not looking up. The young man was wearing a Museum uniform, had light brown hair and light brown eyes that were completely focused on what he was doing on his desk.
Rylon looked around the small office which consisted of nothing more than a desk that the man was sitting at, a filing cabinet in the corner and window that looked towards the city and the spirit portal that could be seen in the distance. Looking back down at the man's desk Rylon saw that he was working on the spirit information cards of the models in the exhibit.
"Would you like some help? I know something about spirits." Rylon said with a smile as the man again didn't look up at him.
"Look here…" The man looked up. "…Avatar or not I'm a very busy man with a schedule who needs to finish this or my boss will not be happy! Now shoo." The man said quickly standing up and pushing Rylon out of the room before closing the door in his face causing Platinum to hiss angrily.
"Come on let's finish having a look around before the test." Rylon said looking away from the closed door as he slowly walked back out the room and down the stairs. As he reached the bottom of the stairs back onto the ground floor he heard someone call out.
"Avatar there you are come back and look at this!" The shopkeeper yelled out and quickly began to walk over to him.
"Sorry I'm busy!" Rylon said quickly before making a mad dash to the exit before running outside.
-x-
Rylon spent the next few hours walking around Republic City taking in the sights around him. It felt strange that for so many years he had been learning to master the bending elements and yet here in Republic city he saw very few benders, but then again did anyone here really need bending at all? Why would a fire bender need to use fire bending during their local commute to work? Why would an earth bender need to bend any earth or metal whilst walking on the streets? Over the past twenty years even the air benders who had tried so hard to stick to traditional air bending transport such as bison's, staffs and suits had also mostly changed into the daily commute of trams, cars and taxis.
Pro-bending tournaments since the time of Korra had grown vastly in popularly so much so that all nations in the world had their own national teams and with the influx of air benders thanks to Avatar Korra there were now places for them which meant that teams now consisted of one bender of each element. The world championships would occur once every two years and would put the 4 nations and Republics Cities greatest and best teams up against each other for glory, a huge golden trophy and bragging rights. Rylon thought for a moment and remembered that in the previous year the Fire Nation team had won much to the displeasure of the Republic City team who had came in a measly second.
Not only did the Four Nations and Republic City have their own national world championship teams but they also played against each other in their own countries where multiple teams would fight to be named the best Earth Empire team or the best team in the Fire Nation. Rylon had watched some matches on television but they never interested him as much as they had his previous incarnation Avatar Korra who had for a short time actually participated in them and besides the Avatar had been officially banned from national teams even if he had wanted to participate.
Walking past the Police Headquarters he looked up at the statue of Toph Beifong the creator of metal bending and whose distant relatives had taught him how to become a metal bending master at the temple back in Zaofu. The police force always did an amazing job at keeping peace within the city and crime was at an all-time low.
As he walked another thing he noticed about the city was the lack of spirits which was strange especially with the spirit portal so close by. He had heard that most of the spirits in this area preferred to stay beside the portal in the exclusion zone but it was strange that barely any wandered into the city at all.
His thoughts were interrupted when he heard a loud beeping sound that made him jump slightly as he pulled out the PDP from his pocket. He looked down at it slightly confused. He was never good at using technology.
"Here just click this…" A woman in uniform said walking down the steps of the entrance to the police Headquarters and took the PDP out of his hand and pressed one of the buttons.
"Oh thank you." He said looking up at her as she walked away with a smile.
"Hello?" Rylon said loudly putting the PDP up to his ear.
"Avatar where are you? I'll send a taxi we're just starting to get ready."
"At the Police Headquarters, don't worry I'll…" Before he could finish he heard the President at the other end hang up. Looking at little surprised he put the PDP back in his pocket.
After a few minutes a black taxi pulled up and the man inside called him over and told him to get inside. Jumping inside Rylon sat down comfortably in the back before looking around him at the seats and interior, he'd only rarely been inside a car and he felt almost like a young child who was taking his first ride on a tram or a MAGLEV train.
"So the Avatar eh?" The taxi driver said as he pulled quickly into traffic as Rylon nodded. "Haven't heard of you doing much lately."
"Avatar Korra left the world in such a state of peace that there's little for me to do other than train and master the elements." Rylon said looking out the window.
"Maybe you should go work on some of this new technology with us humans instead if pandering around to those annoying spirits." Rylon turned back to look at him. "My father lived in Republic City when those stupid spirit vines overtook the place and then had to leave when the rest of the city was destroyed opening the portal. He had to change houses 3 times in 3 years! Not that anyone cared." He huffed. "Darn spirits didn't even help us rebuild, they just say next to their off limits portal and watched."
"The spirits have good reason to do what they do." Rylon said quickly as the driver glared back at him.
"Reasons? What reasons? What have they told you?" The man looked back to the road as Rylon bit his lip.
"Well they haven't talked to me much since I was a child but I plan to meet with them in the spirit world in the next few days after they finish the renovations of Air Temple Island…."
"Air Temple Island? Renovation? What are you talking about? Nothing's going on over there at the moment." Rylon look a little confused had to President lied to him?
"Well I…" Before he could finish the car came to an abrupt hault.
"We're here and don't worry about the charge the President has covered it." The Taxi man said as Rylon who didn't have any money anyway quickly jumped out of the taxi. Once outside he looked up at huge black fence that was bordered the southern side of the city where the cities blimp airport was located. There was a group of reporters all gathered around a door that was guarded by two police officers but as soon as they saw him they ran over.
"Avatar, Avatar The Daily Earth here do you really believe this is a good idea?" The lady said shoving a video camera in his face.
"I um…" Rylon started.
"The Fire National Avatar how do you believe this will effect relations between the Fire and Earth Nations?" Another man said shoving a small microphone in Rylon's face.
'Hey get away you savages!" A man in a black suit said running forward and pushing the reporters back a few steps with his air bending before grabbing Rylon's arm and oulling him towards the door and walking past the two guards. "I told that driver to park at the back." The man grumbled as he let go of Rylon's arms and walked away.
Turning around from the border wall Rylon looked into the distance where usually there were huge Earth Empire Blimps parked waiting for boarding was now a huge crowd of people all sitting down on seats facing a huge stage and podium where quite far behind it at the very edge of the airport stood a ten storey high rocket pointing directly up into the sky. The rocket itself was painted in green and gold with a huge Earth Empire symbol adorning the side.
Rylon stood there in amazement as he looked up at this huge rocket that the President had declared was going to take the Earth Empire to the moon, stars and beyond. He remembered having discussed this with the Four Nation's representative's years ago where they all agreed to proceed with the creation of this rocket which was to escape the planet's atmosphere, circle the planet before coming back to a safe landing here. It had long ago been the original idea of Lord Varrick which was a shame because he never lived to see his crazy idea come to fruition.
"Please step up to the podium Avatar." A lady said gently walking up to him as he nodded and started to walk past the seated crowd of at least 150 people all from different nations around the world but strangely he noticed that no spirits were attending.
Just as he was about to walk up to the podium stage with the President and the Four Nation Representatives a man quickly approached him.
"Avatar if you wouldn't mind leaving your pet here, The President wants this to be as formal as possible so no animals or spirits." He said pointing to Platinum who hissed a little.
"Sorry Presidents orders but you can watch from the side." Rylon said picking up an annoyed Platinum and putting him into the hands on the man who carried him off to the side.
Stepping onto the podium the President motioned him over to a nearby chair beside the representatives.
"Excellent we can begin the live broadcast!" The President said clapping his hands together and looking at all the video camera facing him just in front of the stage and podium.
"I need to ask you something first I…" Rylon started but before he had a chance to finish the president quickly pointed back to Rylon's chair.
"Quick sit down we're starting!" He whispered staring at the camera as Rylon did as he was told knowing he would speak to the President later after the launch. "Greetings people of Republic City and people of the Four Nations and welcome to the test launch of the latest technological marvel of the past 100 years thanks to our very own Earth Empire Future Industries! Today…"
As the President continued Rylon looked out at the crowd where a man at the very back stole his attention. Rylon watched him stand up and begin making his way to the stage. As the man came closer and closer Rylon soon recognised him as the man from the Spirit Exhibition at the Avatar Museum.
When he was quite close to the stage he started yelling something that Rylon couldn't quite hear but it was enough of a distraction that the President looked away from the camera down at him.
"Cut to commercial right now!" The President said glaring at the technicians near the cameras who quickly nodded and began clicking buttons on their handheld devices.
The man was almost at the stage when security finally grabbed him.
"You need to listen to me we have to stop this test right now! The spirits, the spirits warned me…" He looked directly at Rylon. "Avatar stop this test right now, you have to stop this launch!"
"Get him out of here!" The President roared as Rylon stood up and watched as two security guards took the man away.
For a few moments no one said anything as Rylon looked back at the President who laughed uneasily.
"He was just crazy." The President said and shook his head. "He should just be ignored and we should continue the launch, don't you representatives agree?" He said looking at the four representatives who all quickly nodded.
"What did he say about the Spirits though?" Rylon asked standing up.
"We can little listen to his little anti-technology pro spirit rant later but for now we really need to finish this, isn't that right Avatar?" The President said looking at Rylon who felt everyone's eyes on him.
Taking a deep breath he nodded.
"Yes continue." Rylon said sitting down believing that if the spirits had really not wanted this launch to proceed than they would have spoken up about it not only to him but also to the four nations and the President of Republic City. Since they had done no such thing there was then nothing to worry about and it didn't feel wrong to him as it was impeding the spirits or there world at all, this was purely a human matter.
The President once back on the television spoke for a little longer before finally it was time to launch the rocket.
"The Avatar I believe should do the honours." The President said as Rylon stood up with a smile and took the same hand held device that had large red button it as everyone in the audience cheered and clapped. "For Republic City and The Four Nations!"
Rylon pressed the button as in the distance there was a huge rumble as the engines ignited and pushed the giant rocket up into the sky which was followed by even louder cheers of excitement from the crowd who all stood up to get a better view. Looking up at the rocket and hearing the excited crowd Rylon beamed at the idea of being at the very forefront of this latest venture for the planet.
Just as everything was looking good all of a sudden up high in the sky the rocket appeared to hit an invisible barrier in the sky which sent a huge visible purple ripple through the entire sky in all directions pushing back the clouds as it burst forward across the sky. As this ripple passed over them Rylon suddenly felt an intense pain his head as he gripped his head his eyes glowing a deep purple as the ripple continued to surge through across sky until it vanished in the distance.
"Avatar are you alright?" The Air Representative said jumping up and running over to Rylon who was still gripping his head in pain as he fell to his knees on the stage.
"Everyone run for it, it's coming down!" The Earth Representative yelled in the microphone as he pointed up into the sky and pushed past the President to get off the stage.
Up in the sky a huge piece of the rocket which had exploded was falling down towards the panicked crowd who began to scream and run in all directions whilst Rylon was still on his knees on the stage the intense pain still throbbing in his head and his eyes still glowing bright purple.