Water...
Earth...
Fire...
Air...
Only the Avatar can master all four elements and bring balance to this world.
The Legend of Nueh
based on The Legend of Korra
inspired by real events
written by Carrotine Clara
Book 1: Revolution
Chapter 1
Republic City Island Adventure
also known as
We are who we choose to be
The stars were so pretty that night.
Like cute little bugs that soar across the horizon, illuminating the earth below with their butts. Just like Koashi, her best friend, a creature half electric stingray half glowworm. In order to float through the skies, its back opens up like that of a ladybug, revealing crusty, translucent wings that flap faster than can be seen with the naked eye. When wanting to dive into waters, a glowray would close its wings, floating beneath the surface like a sentient piece of cloth, using its tail to properly navigate, a set of compound eyes situated at the front like the helm of a ship. A lot of the other kids in the commune thought of Koashi as weird and gross, but she didn't mind. For as long as she can remember Koashi had been by her side. He soared through the air next to the girl on her glider, and he would dash through the clear waters of their oasis when she explored the ocean.
Home was paradise. Decades ago, her ancestors fled to Ember Island in order to escape the Earth Emperor's wrath. Despite their neutrality, the tyrant of a hundred years past still saw fit to strike. A peaceful people, driven from their homes and scattered all throughout the Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation, a few even escaping to the Water Tribes.
Then, the Avatar returned. A Fire Nation boy named Pyon Ki, who supposedly managed to freeze himself in time, emerging again when the world needed him most. Together, he and his friends stopped the Earth Emperor, ending the war. They brought peace. From the ashes of the Earth Dynasty's colonies in the Fire Nation a new country was born – the United Republican Islands. Pyon Ki accomplished many amazing deeds during his life. But, like all living things, his time eventually came to an end.
Strange men came to visit that night. They wore blue and white and smelled old. They might've had a flower pattern in their clothing. Was it a lotus? She was just ten, but she paid attention to such things. She proceeded to sneak onto the rooftop of their beach house, Koashi stuck to her back like he would often do. There she listened in on the conversation.
And she would not find sleep that night.
Nueh opens her eyes in a frenzy, her heartbeat thumping inside her ears as if the organ had moved up her body. Despite the cool morning air providing calm, the girl's breath enters and exits in frantic heaps, as if suffocating. As if the ground below the girl was wrapping around her legs, torso, head – dragging her into the abyss. It's just like it was that night.
A familiar humming resets her system. Nueh looks to her left, finding a concerned Koashi snuggling against her hand, the creature appearing to fear for her safety. She finds the energy to smile, her pulse slowly returning back to normal.
NUEH: Everything's alright, Ko-Ko. Don't you worry about me.
A few strokes from her hand on the animal's head and Koashi appears to relax slowly as well. Nueh takes a moment to look ahead, sitting under a mediation pavilion, one of many on the Air Temple Hub. In the distance, Republic City looms, the Scarlet Bridge to her left connecting the island metropole to the Fire Nation mainland. It's still incredibly early, yet it seems buzzy already. Almost alive. Nueh takes a deep breath as the hand not petting Koashi wanders up to her sternum, the girl stabilizing her breath further. Meditation had never been her strong suit, but still. That memory resurfacing threw a bigger wrench in her system than she had expected. It is her birthday after all, the anniversary. Seven years ago, her life changed indefinitely. Seven years ago, she ran away. She hasn't seen mom or dad since.
CHOEGYAL: Good morning.
A shrill, yet calming voice sounds behind her. She turns around, still seated with her legs crossed. Despite his overtly positive aura, she can't bring herself to conjure up a happy expression.
NUEH: Good morning, master.
A neutral response, one drenched way too much in a polite tone. Appropriately, Choegyal rolls his eyes in a humbled fashion.
CHOEGYAL: I am no master, dear. Or am I supposed to address you with that title?
Immediately, her eyes wander over her hand, on which a detailed, blue arrow crawls below her outfit and across her limbs, ending in a much larger end on her forehead. Nueh had been wondering for weeks now why Choegyal doesn't have his airbending tattoos at such a high age.
CHOEGYAL: Having trouble meditating?
Nueh quietly scoffs. Her reaction carries little shock as to how he could tell, though the girl has since made the discovery that Choegyal is impressively good at reading someone's emotional state. Impressive, and a little creepy.
NUEH: I'm fine. I'm just... hungry. Can't focus.
A fake-sounding cough truly undermines the bad excuse. Her back turned, she cannot tell what Choegyal's reaction is. The old man, hiding his skepticism, upholds his firmly friendly expression as he takes a step closer.
CHOEGYAL: Which is actually why I'm here. I was wondering if you'd like to join me and the acolytes in breakfast. I know for a fact that we're having sweet dumplings.
How does he know sweet dumplings are my favorite?!
She clears her throat, rising from her seated position and turning to the old master. His slender face holds firm in its attempt to persuade her into joining him, a matching pair of bushy eyebrows the only set of hair on the boney skull.
NUEH: Thank you Ma- ...Choegyal. However, I'll grab a bite in the city. If... that's okay.
Her hands fiddling behind her back, she hopes to just be left alone.
It's better not to get attached to me, old man.
CHOEGYAL: I expected that answer, though held out hope regardless.
A nod, a smile, and Nueh non-verbally receives the message "It's okay for you to go." Despite her persistence to be left alone, she does appreciate his understanding nature. No one back home was ever this patient with her. Nueh nods as well, turning towards the distance, Republic City under a soft coat of early morning fog.
"Big City Life" by Mattafix starts to play.
NUEH: Come on, Ko-Ko.
The creature responds with an insectoid sound first, then hovers swiftly onto her back, its soft citrus color matching her majority amber fabrics, tangerine the other major color in her outfit.
With a flick of her wrist her staff opens into a glider. Usually such a tool's wings shine in a bright orange, here they blend with the rest of her outfit in a pastel tone.
One deep breath later and Nueh blasts into the skies.
There was truly no other place quite like Republic City. In all fairness, Nueh had never been to any other big city, be it Omashu, Ba Sing Se, or Agna Qel'a. She did stumble her way into the Fire Nation capital once, though she didn't stay long there. Six months has been her record, back when she lived amongst the sandbenders of the Si Wong Desert. Eventually some of the locals managed to babble out who she was, forcing her and Koashi to abandon that temporary home as well. It was funny, in a way. Her commune had abandoned the nomadic lifestyle of the old airbenders.
And now look at me.
But really, this city was something to behold. An ostentatiously bombastic display of strange, square-shaped architecture, driven to its ultimate form via massive structures known as skyscrapers, evidently named after the ability to touch what is usually only Nueh's domain. As she approaches the coast, passing over various boats far out in the ocean, Charcoal Beach is already in sight, some early-going seaside enthusiasts rushing to what is most likely pretty cool waters at this hour. This early in the morning a part of the beach is still occupied by its true citizenship – flocks of sealion dolphins, who have grown quite docile to the humans of Republic City, having gained special protected status a few years back. Taking a sharp turn left, Nueh decides to go down her usual route over town, starting in the wealthier northern parts, with their lavish suburban area and Scarlet Park, stretching from the pompously massive Academy building all the way down to City Hall, which, by all means, remains far more modest in its design than one could've expected. Soon the roads beneath her take on their familiar hilly shape, like slopes, or massive stairs dragging themselves all across the city, coast to mountain range. Little red and golden trams drift across it, connecting all parts of town for those not fortunate enough to afford a Leitna, or a cheaper car alternative. It also doesn't get past Nueh that the further she soars south the more public transport and cheap collective housing she spots. It's also no secret that the wealthier bending elites live in the nicer parts while many non-benders are gerrymandered to find their luck in the not-so-fortunate parts of this "shining" metropole.
Passing by the lavish pro-bending arena and another park, the streets get more crowded, electric wiring gets more messy, and the smell becomes just slightly worse. If she were to fly a bit further south-east, she and Koashi would reach the city's industrial center, the Leitna Industries estates the peak of engineering and business craft. It's also the part that the city that becomes the most slum-like and neglected.
Feeling the wind stroking gently through her curly hair, a different sensation vibrates on her back, accompanied by an adorably snarly buzzing noise.
NUEH: You're hungry yet, Ko-Ko?
She smirks as her pet responds with another set of distinctly animalistic sounds, as if to say "Uh, yeah, of course."
NUEH: Alright then. We'll hit our usual spot.
I'll get my dumplings one way or another.
As her descent begins, the song slowly fades out.
A bell chimes with bright enthusiasm as a new customer enters. The Dumpling Citadel, despite its imposing name, is merely one of many adorably small shops in Republic's City south, close to one of the last stops of a nearby tram. Friday mornings are never usually that busy, which means one thing mainly for Mei Xing – inventory.
Yay...
The shop's bell serving adequately as an alarm mechanism, the young girl is stuck in the back storage, a wooden clipboard pressed firmly between her hand and elbow, her lips gently sucking on her pen to help her think.
MEI XING (mumbling): Dough is running out... we're low on berries again... oh – I need to buy cat food for Liu Ce-
LU BI (from a different room): Mei Xing! There is customer!
The girl, well, adult woman, flinches slightly at the command, the shrill voice echoing from her boss's office. Although calling Lu Bi just a boss seems slightly disingenuous.
Can't believe I didn't hear that stupid bell...
She readjusts the bun centralizing her brown mane, a few strains of loose hair wiped from her face as the clipboard is stashed on a metal shelf inside the dark room, her hands wandering quietly to her back, tightening the knot of her pink apron, a clashing contrast to her pine green fit, some lighter forest green mixed in between, an almost black shade of grey rounding up the triumvirate color scheme.
MEI XING: Coming!
Somehow her squeaky tone manages to be even more pungent when applying her customer service voice. With a practiced smile she walks behind the counter, a glass shelf displaying a wide array of traditional and modern baked goodness, from sweet dumplings, to sesame balls, mooncakes, Fa Gao, Zongzi-
ALRAK: Well... there you are, toots.
Mei Xing's mahogany eyes widen in shock as the sharply toxic tone and cadence of her current customer makes her blood freeze as if the familiar face was doing it via bending.
The buttoned up blue qipao hidden under a brown coat snakes itself around a person whom Mei Xing always thought looked somewhat ridiculously bulky, though not very tall. Alrak's smirk somehow widens as the toothpick dances on her lips, the pertly dressed girl taking a few steps closer in her dark leather boots, a set of grey trousers truly undermining her rejection of standard gender norms via way of wearing pants.
She finally uncrosses her arms as she stares at Mei Xing hands akimbo, the apron-wearing service worker needing a moment to readjust her senses and reform the crumbled tower of earth within her spirit.
ALRAK: "Mei Xing".
Mei Xing's head jolts down, her name tag treacherously informing the wannabe pirate of her true identity.
ALRAK: Pretty name ya got. I always thought that "Wo Min" was a bit too much on the nose as far as fake names go, ya know?
As her focus finally sharps, Mei Xing's features form a prominent glare.
MEI XING: It's a better alias than "Ice Pirate".
Her words like razor rocks, Alrak throws up her hands in a gesture of defeat, her arched bangs bouncing a bit back and forth with every motion.
ALRAK: Ay, now that's just needlessly personal.
Much to her surprise, the macho girl's hand extends in an attempt to communicate friendliness.
ALRAK: Real name's Alrak, by the way. I think it's only fair you get to know mine too.
Mei Xing's gaze nervously goes back and forth outside, the unnerve of being seen with this sketchy character more than apparent. Alrak's hand lowers as it becomes clear that a handshake will not come to be.
MEI XING (angry): I don't want to know you name. I don't want you here. This is my day job. We only do our deals-
ALRAK: In the filth? In the parts of town where one can see ya?
Her brows hovering upwards, Alrak manages to conjure a part of the woman to react with shame.
ALRAK: I'm not here to expose ya to the "real world" for ya... side-gigs. I'm here because it's urgent, toots. I need to see ya boss.
Anger rather quickly transforms into confusion.
MEI XING: You're here for Lu Bi?
LU BI: Ah – Alrak! So good seeing you.
To her complete and utter shock, the short, blonde earthbender woman emerges from her offices, wearing a distinctly crass burgundy-pink combo as she engulfs Alrak in a motherly hug, the two even exchanging smooches on the cheek like someone visiting their grandma.
It's not that Lu Bi is associating with the criminal underworld, that part Mei Xing was aware of from day one. It's that someone whom the woman had always liked to avoid meeting up with is now fraternizing with whom she would call mother.
ALRAK: Lu Bi, it's been too long. How are the grandkids?
LU BI: Very good. Very lazy though, daughter can't even run upstairs without panting.
ALRAK: Oh, such a shame. I'm sure she's still lovely, though.
Mei Xing almost gags as every word out of Alrak's mouth carries the same, slimy energy as an elderly scam artist.
ALRAK: Anyways, I was hoping you could help me arrange a meeting with someone. Since ya got connections and all.
LU BI: Sure, sure! Of course! Follow me, let's discuss in my office. Mei Xing, you take care for a moment, yes?
The old woman exchanges a warm but firm smile with Mei Xing. The waterbender in tow, Alrak throws a chauvinistic wink right after, one which almost makes the earthbender want to chug a pebble at her face.
The bell chimes once more.
NUEH: Morning.
While still under the spell of the Ice Pirate, the warm, soft tone of an optimistic airbender enters both the shop and Mei Xing's consciousness. The earthbender turns around as her face morphs wildly between the distain for her prior interaction mixed with the joy if this new one, if not unfamiliar. Very uncharacteristically, Nueh feels the need to inquire further here, why the girl isn't sure. Perhaps today's melancholy will persist for a while longer.
NUEH: Not that it's any of my business but... are you okay?
Mei Xing, not having realized that she crossed her arms in the process, undoes this right away before turning to the airbender with an organically cheerful smile, her customer service voice entirely absent.
MEI XING: Nothing I can't deal with. How's my most loyal customer doing?
Nueh scoffs in humility, much the same way Choegyal did earlier this morning.
NUEH: Broke. I'm gonna need to find a job soon or else I won't be able to afford your delicious dumplings anymore...
Her answer trails off slightly as her eyes form cartoonish heart shapes, the sweet delicacies hidden behind a transparent showcase taking on an equally animated shimmer of beauty.
MEI XING (while putting two dumplings in a paper bag, the usual order): You don't have a job yet? I feel like I've seen you for at least more than two weeks now.
Four weeks actually, but thank you for noticing.
NUEH: Uh... no, I don't. I saved up some money before I moved here. I'm good for now.
Why am I sharing this?! Keep it to yourself, Nueh!
MEI XING: You plan on staying long here?
A blatant moment of hesitation almost derails Nueh's breath for the second time that day.
NUEH: Um... I don't know yet.
Respecting her clear wish of privacy, Mei Xing's mouth forms a distinctly narrow line as it moves to the side, the woman typing in the order on her mechanical cash desk as the airbender's eyes nervously wander across the vast assortment of desserts.
NUEH: What's a "krapfen"?
The earthbender's head shoots up again with a smile.
MEI XING: Some new foreign thing, fried dough filled with apricot jam. They're pretty good.
Why not? It's my birthday.
NUEH: I'll take one with the usual.
Mei Xing politely follows the request, though can't stop her brow from furrowing in a skeptic manner.
MEI XING: I thought you said you're broke.
An embarrassed giggle escapes Nueh's mouth.
NUEH: Stop paying too much attention, I'm doing perfectly fine...
Her infectious laughter crawls onto Mei Xing as the financial transaction is finalized.
ALRAK (exiting Lu Bi's office): Aight then. Thank you very much for ya service. I'll be on my...
Moving in an exaggeratedly aloof manner, the Ice Pirate freezes on the spot as Nueh falls into her view.
Grey eyes pierce her with a sharply level precision, the girl's mouth slightly open as Alrak's brain undergoes some kind of mechanical failure. In her mind, a soft breeze sweeps across her face, her curled, brown beauty dancing in non-existent winds as her eyes sparkle like the stars.
NUEH (firm): Can I help you?
With that, the daydream melts away.
ALRAK: Uh... um... n-... no? I'm just... looking.
Pretty much all of Mei Xing's dreams come true as she can watch the snarky wannabe pirate lady be blown off by her favorite customer, whose arms are crossed as firmly as an anchor chain.
NUEH: Excuse me?
The internal panic bubbles to the surface as Alrak stumbles over her tongue.
ALRAK: Uh – no! I was just... I meant that I was... looking at your... dumplings.
Hoping to save her ass, she nervously points at the bag of said food item, after which she scratches her head repeatedly. Nueh simply blinks and turns around, subsequently creating a cold wave of air that blasts right in Alrak's face, ruining her hair and confidence.
Mei Xing finally breaks with a snort, her face just as red as the waterbender's, though for much different reasons.
ALRAK (embarrassed and angry): Not a word... to anyone. Understood?
Mei Xing nods as her laughter grows louder by the second.
Sure. Not like you could stop me.
After fixing her bangs, the girl stomps outside the shop in the hopes of never needing to think about this again-
The door closes as a peculiar creature hovers over next to her, the buzzing noise more than enough to make Alrak turn her head.
ALRAK: Well, hey... a glowray. What are you doin' in the big city?
Her hand wanders over slowly towards the creature with-
BZZT!
ALRAK (in pain): OW! CRAP APPLE!
She grunts with fury as Koashi soars back towards its owner and human companion, resting gently on her back like he did before landing.
NUEH (cold): She doesn't like being bothered by strangers.
Her glider opens in an instant and with a loud snap, obscuring Alrak from further gazing at the girl, shortly before her ascent into the heavens commences. The waterbender grunts yet again as she inspects her hand, finding a small blister from where the creature shocked her.
ALRAK (under her breath): Bastard...
Distracting her once again, a set of cloaked figures across the street move away into shadow. It might've been only for a second, but Alrak has had her fair share of encounters with Equalists to spot one right away.
ALRAK (under her breath): What are they doing here?
Evidently, the masked person had their eyes focused up on the sky. Possibly on that airbender girl.
ALRAK (under her breath): But why would they...
A thought begins to fester, one that triggers a strange sense of... action within her. Alrak briefly considers consulting Mei Xing inside the shop, though once determined that the earthbender has erupted into howling laughter after Koashi's little stunt, Alrak grimly chooses to investigate on her own.
The bright image of a zoomed-in world map jitters slightly as the apparently ancient classroom projector struggles to keep the image steadily plastered onto a massive whiteboard hanging behind Professor Quan. The older man's massive glass frames hide the relatively stern expression of an Earth Kingdom scholar, while also providing an adequate reminder as to why Chigiri chose his black frames in the smallest size possible. He readjusts them quietly as he jots down notes here and there, never scribbling entire sentences, as his brain can crochet individual words and thoughts and their meaning easier together than anything longer.
The tall classroom houses three dark wooden bench rows, which are separated imposingly by a good seven or eight feet, meaning that most of the other students, who chose not to sit down in the first row like Chigiri, are boldly towering above the slender boy during the lecture, ignoring his presence in a literal and social sense. He doesn't mind though. Chigiri didn't come to the Academy to make friends, he sought an education, and to learn from the past with his history degree. So far that part seems to go well.
As Quan continues to hold his informative monologue describing Air Nomad migration, relatively disruptive laughter sounds from the third and tallest bench row, somewhere in the corner to Chigiri's right, allowing him to look up with a furrowed brow.
QUAN: Is there a problem with my class, Mr. Yu?
The aforementioned Mr. Yu takes his feet off the desk, sitting upright. A short student roughly Chigiri's age, with umber colored, messy long hair hanging down his overly confident visage, a bright smile painted across it as his chestnut eyes try to communicate a sense of humility, unsuccessfully.
JUN: Please, the whole "Mr." thing is far from necessary, just call me Jun.
The Professor crosses his arms and pops his brows in an intimidating fashion, making Jun appear slightly more uneasy. Chigiri and the rest of class watches closely.
QUAN: Since you seem to lack basic respect for my classroom, I shall briefly do the same to you. So, why are you interrupting my lecture, Jun?
Jun lets out a provocative smirk as he takes a few seconds to find the correct excuse. Chigiri meanwhile focuses on the two troublemakers surrounding the boy left and right, a very conventionally attractive guy and gal, who both now try to appear as polite as possible with the Professor's eyes on them.
JUN: Not that I don't enjoy your lectures Professor, seeing as I have attended every single one, and have always submitted my papers right away. It's just that...
Clearly the gears in his brain shift the rest of his response to sound as non-offensive as humanly possible, despite its contents.
JUN: Me and some of my fellow students know this stuff already. The Air Nomad Migration Period, known as the Trail of Tears, is already very thorough high school material, and most of us have read up on it prior to the semester. I was making a simple joke related to something else, Professor. I'm sorry.
Chigiri's mouth forms an intrigued line.
Package your apology in overt criticism, interesting strategy, Jun.
Quan reacts with a conflicting expression, ultimately though, he settles on what he has been showing off so far, namely mild anger.
QUAN: I see. I take it since you're already very knowledgeable, you don't mind contributing to my class. How about you name all modern iterations of split Air Nomad culture?
Jun nonchalantly throws his arms up before clearing his throat.
JUN: Sure thing. Let's see... there's the Great Divide Commune of the Gaipan Province. Uh... there's a community that integrated into Omashu, though they don't have a separate name. There's the... Chameleon Bay Settlements. Then we got the River Communities northwest of Ba Sing Se. The... Swamp Commune at the very northwestern edge of the Earth Kingdom. Um... Whale Tail Island has its own community, although I think that one's an anthropological debate on whether or not they should be classified as Air Nomads still. The Polar airbenders of Agna Qel'a and... oh yeah, the Volcanic Settlements on the Fire Nation mainland. I've been there before, it's really nice.
Assured of his own abilities, Jun ends his speech with an inquisitive smirk, waiting for Quan's response. Chigiri meanwhile furrows his brow once again, his mind racing towards... somewhere.
QUAN: That was very impressive, Mr. Yu. That would've been on the chopping board next week. You almost got all of them, even.
Much like the projector, Jun begins to overheat and jitter.
JUN: No... Professor, I... that was all of them. I read up on all this stuff. What am I missing?
The desperation in his voice stands in stark contrast to his prior bravado, which appears to have shattered completely now. While Quan tinkers around the ancient projector again, he too smirks at having put Jun in his place so easily.
QUAN: Oh well, we can't be all-knowing. Does anyone care to take a guess which one he is missing?
Expecting nothing but silence to affirm his authority, one arm stands in stark defiance, moving up slowly in the first row as the Professor turns his head.
QUAN: Mr. Kuai?
Chigiri lowers his arm as he too clears his throat.
CHIGIRI: He forgot about the... Ember Commune of Ember Island. They're the smallest one by far so much of the material skips them or mentions them in some other context. But they are technically part of the split Air Nomad communities.
An aura of astonishment spreads throughout the room like a thick fog. Jun's eyes are glued onto a blushing Chigiri in the first row, who is currently looking down at his notebook trying to deal with all of this newfound attention. Even Quan scoffs audibly loud.
QUAN: Very impressive, Mr. Kuai. Very impressive indeed.
The rest of his lecture continued without any more hiccups, though Chigiri could not help himself from showing his pride off in a subtle smile while Jun could not stop taking his eyes off the boy, his pupils shaking from pure fascination. Shortly before the ordeal was done, the projector did end up overheating too much, breaking down beyond the point of fixing once and for all.
The early morning clouds have now disappeared over Republic City, allowing the celestial ruler of the skies to engulf the world with its warm rays. Chigiri nervously scratches his ridiculously short hair, which could almost be called a buzzcut. Adjusting his glasses again, his eyes scan his trusty notebook, the page he currently resides on having the names of pro-bending teams on it, a self-made graph showing who is up against whom in the coming weeks, the elimination process even adorned with some notes from the boy on who he expects to make it to the next round. Tonight's estimation is firmly settled on the Dik-Dik Cats, who have been the prominent newcomers of this season.
He can probably squeeze in some homework during his break, another course on his schedule for later today, after which he needs to head home right away, get ready for the match, catch a tram to the arena-
JUN: Hey, Chigiri!
The boy freezes at the sound of his name. In the relatively empty hallway stuffed with reconstructed fossils from the archeology department, Jun impishly appears from behind the remains of a Grogonopsid Stegosaurus.
CHIGIRI: Oh hey. Uh... Jun, right?
With his hands in his pockets and a crimson jacket over his dark grey waistcoat, Jun dares to walk closer, making Chigiri rather uneasy, despite the fact that he is more than a foot taller.
JUN: I've seen you a bunch in class before, but I don't think I've ever spotted you anywhere else. Didn't you go to Lee's function last week?
Chigiri nervously scoffs.
CHIGIRI: No, I'm uh... I don't really like parties all too much. Not a... people person.
Jun nods with calculating eyes, making it not one bit easier for Chigiri's unnerve.
JUN: Well, I'd like to change that. I think you're pretty cool for pulling that stunt today.
His embarrassment seems to settle as the boy reacts to the compliment with a confused head tilt.
CHIGIRI: Thanks?
JUN: Do you wanna hang out after class tonight? Me and some buddies from my Fire Nation Warlord Period workshop would probably come along as well. There's this amazing sushi shop down at Charcoal Bay-
CHIGIRI: I can't. But thanks for the invite.
Chigiri smiles as Jun crosses his arms in an intrigued fashion.
JUN: Really?
CHIGIRI: Yeah, the... pro-bending game is tonight.
JUN: Pro-bending? Huh. Didn't take you for a bender, Chigiri.
Shit. Don't panic.
CHIGIRI: Oh no, I'm not a bender. I just like the sport. Here...
He folds open his notebook again, showing custom matchmaking graphics with a glowing veneer of joy.
CHIGIRI: The Dik-Dik Cats are up against the Morray Barracudas tonight. Their waterbender is pretty slick, but the DDCs are on top of their game. Their captain, Oli, runs his team with the efficiency of an engine. It's quite spectacular to watch, really.
Based on his expression and protruding lower lip, Jun is seemingly sold.
JUNG: Consider me impressed. Can I tag along?
A brief, earnest smile grows on Chigiri's face.
CHIGIRI: If you'd like. I'm just not sure if you and your study friends can still get tickets.
JUN: Oh no, it's just gonna be me. Those guys are cool but... they're not really a fan of the pro-bending thing. They have some Equalist sympathies. But you didn't get that from me.
The word spooks Chigiri for a moment, sending a thousand creeping shivers through his system, a sensation that makes him think that tiny little bugs are crawling over his spine.
CHIGIRI: Oh. The... Equalists? Are they... popular in the Academy?
Jun, in contrast to Chigiri's overt fear, shrugs rather bluntly.
JUN: It's a mixed bag. Some are really into it, some are kind of weirded out by them. It depends, really.
CHIGIRI: And you?
A weirdly concerned tone is woven into his question. Jun blows some air before giving his answer.
JUN: I think they have some interesting ideas. But from my understanding their approach to changing the material conditions in our society is very limited. Unequal wealth distribution is the main problem, and yes, a lot of that wealth is in the hands of benders. But I don't think it's the correct solution to start a bender-non-bender-war. Just think of the Leitna family and how filthy rich they are. And they got no benders at all.
Chigiri frowns with a very blatant level of confusion.
CHIGIRI: So... you don't like them?
JUN: I wanna go to a rally once just to get a sense of it but, from what I've read, nah. My politics are a bit more... complex than theirs.
Putting a pin in the discussion, Jun's arm latches onto Chigiri's shoulder, forcing him to bow down just ever so slightly.
JUN: I can tell you more about it tonight at the match.
Chigiri smirks once more.
CHIGIRI: Not during the match though, or else I'm gonna kick you out myself.
The two boys share a warm laugh before Jun sprints off to a lecture that has already started ten minutes ago. Chigiri was going to work on a paper during his break, but he ended up scribbling more stuff about pro-bending instead, twice as hyped about tonight's match than he was before.
Watching cars zigzag down Omashu Street almost has a hypnotic power to it, like a series of tiny mice running on an asphalt snake that coils itself around a bunch of curved, green patches. Or like an x-ray of a digestive track, with each car representing a piece of a former meal making its way towards the exit patch. Regardless, Nueh has made the crossing her usual breakfast spot, mostly because it wasn't very loud or busy in terms of cars, and the surrounding buildings weren't freakishly tall like elsewhere uptown. Her feet dangling down a building housing a library, a pawn shop, and a tea store, the airbender slowly unpacks her earlier purchases as Koashi bubbles with excitement.
NUEH: Calm down, I'm not gonna let you starve.
As her glowray makes another impatient sound, it quickly subsides once his sweet dumpling is tossed onto the ground (well, roof) wherein the creature is free to devour it at a rapid pace.
NUEH: There you go, Ko-Ko. Told you I wouldn't let you down.
An odd sense of guilt washes over her skin like a bad cold. The little creature remains the last piece of her home, the last and only being that she didn't let down. As her jaw clamps down on the strange krapfen thing, the taste of jam lets her drift down memory lane, a path even more winded than Omashu Street.
It definitely wasn't a krapfen that she munched on seven years ago. Or... maybe it was. That day remains in Nueh's memory folder like a washed-up oil painting.
Their commune erected a long table on the beachhead. It was a clear, sunny day. Poles with lines spun across, orange lanterns that sparkled in the night sky. Nueh never had real friends, but she wasn't an outsider either. The girl got along with people, and everyone got along with her. Despite having changed many of their ways, the Air Nomads of Ember Island still maintained their communal way of life, of embracing your neighbors as if they were kin. She remembers getting her staff as a gift, and how Koashi made a whole mess in the kitchen that upset her mom. She laughed so much that her stomach hurt.
Then they arrived. A strange group of men, dressed in the same robes that they had when she first found out. Nueh had tried to forget about that day, somewhat successfully. Nothing that fogged up her mind, but never something that fully went away. It remained a tough spot in the corner you couldn't reach, couldn't scratch away no matter how hard you tried.
And now that spot returned in the form of the same old men that walked up to Nueh, seated behind the long table. First, they kneeled down, then the other airbenders followed suit. All except her.
The moment the men spoke up, Nueh started to cry.
Alrak's features morph into a frown as she looks up from across the road. The airbender girl is seated too far up to make out any details but... you can still decipher some of it. And it looks like she's...
ALRAK (mumbling to herself): ...is she crying?
For a moment the waterbender ponders, shoving her thoughts through a rolling mill in the hopes of squeezing an idea out of it. Should she try to get up there and... do what?
The woman shakes her head.
Nonsense. What on Earth am I gonna do?
Her gaze instead wanders back down the street, scanning the remaining buildings for any traces of suspicious activity.
Alright then. Do we have any Equalists here...
Firmly rooted and with her arms crossed, Alrak's investigative staring expands further down the street corner, even scanning some of the cars using the winded road downhill.
Perhaps they weren't following her at all. Maybe I jumped to conclusions. But then why the heck am I here?
She paces down for a few moments, her eyes tinted like a massive glacier persisting in their attempt to make out any danger.
I couldn't've possibly imagined it all just cause...
That's when Alrak stops and her head moves up again, spotting the airbender girl as she wipes her tears and munches on a sweet dumpling while her little floating ray thing soars around her. A smile forms on the waterbender.
It melts away just as quickly.
Don't be silly, Alrak, the doll hates ya. Plus, she's way out of ya league. Let's just head back to the docks before-
POLICE OFFICER: Excuse me.
With a politely devilish grin Alrak turns around, keeping perfectly calm.
ALRAK: How can I help ya, officer?
The young man clearly out to make a name for himself eyes her with suspicion, a tiny notepad held with one hand, a pen in the other.
POLICE OFFICER: Can I ask to see your license for that club?
Oh shit. I shouldn't've brought it. Keep it cool, lady.
ALRAK: Oh, this?
Her hand moves back, gently removing the weapon from its dark leather scabbard. It's mostly ocean blue, a pure, white orb in the front.
ALRAK: It's a traditional Water Tribe ceremonial club. I'm supposed to return it to my brother downtown.
Always include a truth when telling a lie. You're as smooth as ever, Alrak...
POLICE OFFICER: Mhm. And you don't use it as a weapon?
Oh, this one's a bit tougher.
ALRAK: Well, I mean, it is a weapon, officer. I obviously don't do anything bad with it.
I'll have ya know, I only do awesome stuff with it, bud.
The thin mustache on the law enforcer twirls as his lip form a pout.
Ah, you totally got this.
ALRAK: Can I go now?
Don't worry one bit...
POLICE OFFICER: Show me your ID, please.
Alrak's otherwise proud smirk drops like a wet sack.
Shit.
KABOOM!
Both she and the officer duck at the sound of an explosion going off not too far away.
ALRAK: Crap apple. That sounded like it came from that bank up the street, doesn't it?
With her confidence returning, Alrak's firm tone and expression gets the young officer to abandon his interrogation and chase up the street. The sound of sirens is heard in the distance.
I should probably make off too.
Thick boots trample across the pavement as Alrak makes a run for it. But...
...what about...
The waterbender almost forgot about her. As she looks up, she merely catches a glimpse of the airbender girl soaring to safety, the little creature stuck to her back like a newspaper to a windshield. She could run after her. Why not? Who knows if more Equalists will show up.
Just in case she-
Alrak halts comically, disappearing into an alley as a good seven or eight police cars dash by, the doppler effect repeating over and over with the unbearably loud sirens attached to each vehicle.
She could try to follow the airbender. She could live at the Air Nomad Hub. But... it's not like criminals can just show up there. And what would she say anyways?
Alrak scoffs, a hint of disappointment in her exhale.
ALRAK (quietly): See you in another lifetime, I guess.
With that the Ice Pirate disappears into a shadowy labyrinth of shady alleyways.
The lock mechanism purrs with a metallic quality. Mei Xing opens her apartment door quietly, shutting it in much the same way. Immediately, she is greeted by another noise, a meowing to be precise.
The girl sighs in disappointment.
MEI XING: Oh, I totally forgot the cat food...
She kneels down with another exhausted sound, the Dik-Dik Cat joyfully chasing towards her, digging its elongated snout into Mei Xing's hands.
MEI XING: Good to know you're not mad at me.
After her prescribed unit of pets has been transferred, Liu Ce runs away just as fast, disappearing off to somewhere else in the apartment.
It's a nice place, more than nice. Amazing. Bigger than anything Mei Xing ever called a home.
She and Oli have only been living together for a few weeks now. The woman hasn't even unpacked all of her stuff yet. Her influence on the place is very apparent though, mostly thanks to the overbearing presence of way too many potted plants. She walks over to the window for a moment, opening it just an inch, letting the warmth of the sun and the busy noise of Republic City enter their home. A faint smile forms with just half her mouth as she watches cars hurtle by. The road outside their place is a beautiful stone pathway surrounded by a symmetrical number of flourishing trees. She had walked down this road back when she was a child. Back before Lu Bi took her in. Before she could call anything her home.
Another meow. As Mei Xing turns, she finds Liu Ce softening the large couch with her paws. On the living room table, the girl finally spots something that probably should've caught her eyes earlier.
A gorgeous bouquet of her favorite flowers stands proudly inside a newly acquired clear ceramic vase. It's mostly roses, and mostly shades of green and blue and yellow. She takes a good, long smell and allows her heart to skip a beat.
Right next to the gift, a note. Mei Xing opens it in excitement as she sits down next to Liu Ce, who is attempting to take a nap.
I know you said you can't come to tonight's match, but I was hoping to take you out to dinner afterwards. Maybe that sushi place you like down Charcoal Bay? Whatever still serves late at night.
See you later. Love you.
-Oli
Her lips disappear into her mouth as her otherwise pale cheeks take on a deep shade of red. Another exhale escapes her mouth, one that feels much warmer and... safer.
The pungent sound of the telephone right next to her scares not only the girl but frightens Liu Ce enough to make her jump up and chase out of the room. No time for daydreaming now – she puts Oli's note next to the flowers and grabs the two-piece telephone, one end on her ear and the other in front of her mouth.
It'll be tonight's reason not to see Oli's game.
MEI XING: Hello?
Her voice sounds nervous, but ultimately stable.
LU BI (through the receiver): Hello Mei Xing. Are you okay?
Mei Xing nods, feeling like a dunce right after, as such a gesture cannot be heard over the phone.
MEI XING: Yes Lu Bi. Got any got jobs for me tonight?
A well-practiced ritual. There were weeks when Lu Bi only called once, others when Mei Xing had to go out every night. It was never anything violent or obscure. Mostly acting as messenger, courier, or to help down at the casino. Despite her fierce reputation in the underworld, Lu Bi had never broken her promise that she won't force Mei Xing to do something the girl wasn't okay with.
LU BI (through the receiver): I have good news, yes, a good job. You'll like it.
MEI XING: Hit me.
LU BI (through the receiver): Do you remember how this Alrak girl came to visit in the morning?
Mei Xing's features adequately reflect her repulsion.
MEI XING: I do. Why?
LU BI (through the receiver): You will meet her at the pro-bending arena tonight.
Yet again her heart skips a beat. For all the wrong reasons though.
LU BI (through the receiver): She needs access to backstage. You can help her out, yes?
Curiosity gets the better of the girl.
MEI XING: Why does Alrak need to get backstage?
LU BI (through the receiver): She will meet someone there. I can't say more. Can I count on you?
Like a gag reflex Mei Xing sits upright, her response already spoken a thousand times before.
MEI XING: Of course, Lu Bi. You can always count on me.
LU BI (through the receiver): Wonderful. Love you. See you tomorrow. Bye.
MEI XING: Bye-bye!
A clicking noise, then a dull tone indicating the end of their phone call. Mei Xing remains sitting there quietly, her hands finally putting the communication device back on the counter next to the couch.
The third exhale, this one the loudest and most ambiguous. She should be happy. She can catch one of Oli's matches tonight. He had been aching to have her there for a while now. Nothing would make her happier than to see him happy.
But this will also mean that she'll meet Alrak. And Mei Xing has no idea how to react if her boyfriend the firebender would stumble across the criminal waterbender.
It could trigger a conversation that she had been trying to avoid for over a year now.
RADIO VOICE: …explosion near Omashu Street has been confirmed as another Equalist attack. This time the perpetrators used the blast to get away with a bank robbery. Details on the case...
The voice fades out again as Chigiri returns to his frustrated state. It's now his fifth time running through his tiny apartment, which can barely even be called that. Two rooms and a toilet outside. But it's all he can afford for now.
Where are they?!
The reason for his frantic state of being is the continued absence of his matches, which remains his only way of turning on the gas stove, on which a pot with instant ramen is waiting impatiently for their preparation.
I can't leave without dinner first!
And no, popcorn at the arena does not count as dinner. His hand rips open every drawer, every shelf stacked with dishes that he has. Nothing.
There is one more alternative.
Chigiri sighs with frustration, the fire within him raging.
CHIGIRI (talking to himself): Fine. But just one small fire. Nothing more.
He takes one step back, extending his palm in claw-ish pose before taking a deep breath, which is about the extend of his knowledge on firebending. He could name a hundred different moves and players from pro-bending history, but how it's actually done, the boy has no clue. For good reason.
Focusing on his breath, he pushes his hand in the stove's direction, a janky jolt being a nice of way of describing it...
Come on. A little more force. Just... try to focus.
Inhale via his nose, then an exhale through his mouth. He jabs forward again and-
An impressive fireball, much larger than Chigiri had hoped or expected for. While his wall and shelves get a nice little burn mark, the flames do ultimately fail to set his gas stove ablaze, which was the whole point.
Chigiri grunts repeatedly as he kills off a few tiny flames with a dish towel, turning off his stove and putting the pot plus contents back into his almost empty fridge.
RADIO VOICE: ...for tonight's match are unbelievably high. The Dik-Dik Cats have won the hearts of many already, thanks in no part to their dashing firebender Oli-
Click!
With a twist of Chigiri's hand, the radio shuts up indefinitely.
The sun is setting over the horizon, casting a dim few final sunbeams over Republic City. Nueh's landing includes an awkward kneel, her strength having subsides from almost a whole day of flying. Koashi echoes this sentiment, as the little creature rips itself from her back and hovers onto soft grass, flapping its body as it pats out a napping spot. Nueh gets up slowly, looking back towards the big metropole as the encroaching night forces it to light up. A city that never sleeps.
CHOEGYAL: I was wondering if you had gotten lost again.
The warm smile and same pavilion location give Nueh an adequate feeling of déjà vu.
NUEH: That only happened on my first day. I was looking if anyone was hiring.
And I was trying to forget about some stuff, thanks for asking.
CHOEGYAL: You're looking for a job? Does this mean you're planning on staying-
NUEH: I don't know yet.
Her interjection came as sharp as a bullet. The airbender girl regrets it right away as Choegyal reacts with something akin to shame.
NUEH: I'm sorry. It was... just a thought. There was an explosion earlier.
The swift change of topic seems to cheer the old man up again a bit.
CHOEGYAL: I heard about it on the radio. Sounds like quite an exciting birthday, you've had.
NUEH: Yeah, I guess. It was-
She curses herself for catching on so late.
NUEH: What did you say?
Choegyal chuckles sheepishly before taking a few steps closer.
CHOEGYAL: I felt a strange shift in your aura this morning, Nueh. I had my suspicions but... ultimately, you're the one who confirmed it just now.
Her disappointment manifests in a quiet exhale.
NUEH: Yeah, I guess you know now. I didn't want to have a party or something. I really hope you didn't organize one while I was gone.
CHOEGYAL: Oh, no-no, of course not. I know you're not a big fan of birthday parties. From what I've heard you ran away after your last.
Nueh had already been sensing that the conversation would go in this direction. Regardless, the reveal slams against her like a locomotive. Strangely, the old man's voice takes on a much more serious tone, while still maintaining its earnestness.
CHOEGYAL: I am not here to present you with a speech about what your duties are or about what you "have" to do, Nueh. Clearly all of that pressure is what has caused you to run away for all these years.
The girl's lips quiver ever so slightly as the thought of leaving Republic City resurfaces. She looks again towards the metropole, lost in thought, the emerging lights shining as bright as the stars in the night sky back home.
CHOEGYAL: If you choose to leave the Air Nomad Hub and the city altogether, I will not stop you. Having met you was already a privilege worth experiencing.
From his airbender robes he takes out a piece of paper which he then hovers towards her via gently rotating his wrist. Nueh grabs it from the air as his bending subsides again.
CHOEGYAL: It's a ticket for tonight's pro-bending match, since you've never been. Think of it is a... birthday gift. But a secret one at that.
A small film of tears covering her eyes, she stares back at the old man, his intrusive look so intense a sensation that it feels like he is piercing right into her soul.
CHOEGYAL: I wish you the best of luck for whatever you choose. I really hope we'll see each other again, Nueh.
A bow later and Choegyal slowly walks back towards the temple proper.
Nueh takes a moment to inspect the ticket closely, the characters imprinted on it starting to imprint on her mind as well.
Leaving would mean a new start, a new place somewhere where no one has any expectations of her. Somewhere she would be free to be who she is.
But it would also mean no Republic City. No watching sealion dolphins chase tourists, no soaring across busy streets, no great restaurants and visits to the park. No stumbling into fascinating strangers, no conversations with the nice woman at the Dumpling Citadel, no... anything.
Leaving would mean a new start. With no one. Resetting the clock again like she has dozens of times before. Would it make her happy?
Probably not.
Probably not. For wherever Nueh goes, no matter what name she uses, what fake backstory she comes up with – one thing will never change.
Her mind wanders back to the night of her sixteenth birthday, the moment that the men of the White Lotus kneeled down alongside the rest of her people.
WHITE LOTUS ELDER: It is our honor to serve you, Avatar Nueh.
