Post by Tealeaf on Sept 4, 2011 17:21:57 GMT -5
The universe must always be in balance. But for the past one hundred years, the universe has not been in balance. The elements Air, Earth, Fire and Water have not been in balance and as such have allowed tyranny and pain to take control. With the coming of Aang the Avatar, the universe began to tip on the universal scales, once again aiming for balance. Two years after Aang’s success against the Fire Lord Ozai birth-rates have increased. With birth-rates increasing, it brought a whole new miracle, the children of Air.
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As raindrops fell upon the newly constructed council building people arrived from all over. The council building was to promote diplomacy between the three main nations along with each particular smaller nations, unaffiliated villages and towns. Its aim was to settle disputes but today it was to talk of the miracle.
“We hereby commence this meeting, at midday to discuss the rumours of Airbender children born within the past two years.” Spoke the fire nation minister, Sida Mie. He was a fierce man, but he was also a man of peace, and in recent times had been elected to oversee all council meetings backed by a representative from the two other main countries. His hair was long and held in a small bun, held together with a golden forked pin. His golden eyes scanned the room. “We shall start off with the earliest example of the rumour, with two year old Pan Lou. Bring the child forward please.”
Usually children beneath twelve were not allowed within the council chambers but today, six or more children sat quietly with their parents in the galley above the council. The council were seated in a line against the back wall, with a banner hanging over each of their head. In front of them were a group of at least twenty doctors, each of them were waiting to have their say in the matter. The mother, who was holding the baby against her chest, wandered down the wooden steps and then seated herself on a cushion in the middle of the room. “Where were you born?”
“The… The fire nation colonies, sir.” She looked nervous, as she sat there, all eyes on her baby.
“Don’t worry my dear, this is not an interrogation, we would just like to see the child.” Spoke a large Earth Kingdom councilman.
The mother nodded and gently placed her child on the ground away from her. As she did so, the two year old got uneasily to his feet and gawped at the many people around him. Pan Lou took up his hand and suddenly started to suck his thumb, much to the amusement of many in the room. Sida Mie smiled. “Pan Lou…” The child suddenly turned around at the sound of his name. Pan Lou turned so quickly he fell back onto his backside and blinked in confusion. It was almost as if the child didn’t know whether to laugh or to cry as he sat there. Then suddenly the child sneezed. The sneeze was powerful and the air released was enough to throw the child sliding across the varnished floor like a curling stone. Every council member leaned forward as the child displayed something of an Airbender talent. “What is your family history my dear?”
“U-uhm… For the past four hundred years, sir, my side have been Firebenders.” She replied.
“And your husband’s?” Another councilman asked.
“Well we can only trace his family back one hundred years, but his family are pure firebenders too.”
The councilmen slumped back in their seats and looked between one another. They had expected some Airbender blood in the child’s family history, but there was nothing, not a single drop. Each of them was baffled. “That is all, my dear… You may go.”
Pan Lou had crawled over to a nearby doctor and was attempting to climb onto his shoulder, as his mother collected him and disappeared back up the stairs. The councilmembers looked up at the galley. “I trust you all have been proven by the doctors to herald airbender children, yes?” The head councilmen asked. He was given a nod by each parent.
“Let’s put this into perspective.” Sida made a hand signal as he spoke. A guard disappeared into the back room, and then he was followed out by two men. The two men were carrying out a large scroll and when the cushions were removed it was rolled out across the floor. It was then revealed to be a map of the world. Tokens were then placed in a pile next to the map. “Will the representative from the northern water tribe, please step forward?”
The Northern Water Tribe representative stepped forward. She was a middle aged woman who took up five tokens from the pile. “There have been five Airbender children born to our tribe to date.” She placed her tokens down over the Northern Water tribe on the map and stepped back to her seat.
“Next, the representative from Ba Sing Se, please step forward.”
The representative from Ba Sing Se, another woman, picked up fifteen tokens and placed it over Ba Sing Se on the map. “Fifteen air bender children have been born, but with at least a hundred mothers expecting a child within the next month, I predict at least two of those will be Air Benders.” She stated simply.
Over time the map was occupied by over fifty tokens, with the majority of tokens falling in the territories of the Fire Nation.
“With so many children born within the past two years, I believe we need to help these children in some way. I know some of you have suggestions, so please go right ahead with your proposals.” Sida stated, fiddling with his sleeves.
One of the doctors got to their feet and stepped forward. It was an Earth Kingdom doctor named Kazuo Noboru. He was rather small, and quite young. He was dressed in Earth Kingdom robes, with long sleeves. “My proposal is that we build a boarding school for these children. We gather them up and issue an order for Avatar Aang to train them, when they come of age. That way the new generation of air benders will be born and balance will be restored…”
“Foolishness” shouted another voice from a doctor. “If we gather the Airbender children up it will only lead to more genocide or persecution of them! I suggest we examine the Air Temples and collect airbending techniques for each child. When they are of age, they shall receive the scrolls we make. Tracking these children and watching over them is far too dangerous!”
Kazuo laughed out loud. Kazou twisted his body to look at the speaker. “Are you sure? The children are no longer a threat to the fire nation. We already know who the Avatar is. The children are as threatened of genocide or persecution than you or I! It will do no harm to create a school for these children! No harm at all!”
Another doctor rose to argue, like Kazuo, he was from the Earth Kingdom. “And what about Fire Lord Ozai’s loyalists?! They’re still out there! They would do anything to get revenge against the Avatar! The Airbender children would be a way of doing that. Giving them a way of tracking those children down will lead to bloodshed mark my words!”
“Enough!” A shout from Sida, the Fire Nation minister echoed across the room, making all but Kazuo jump. Kazuo just smiled as Sida began to speak again. “No more arguments, the council will retire to consider the options. Submit any argument in writing. I will not here anymore squabbling.” With his harsh words, Sida got to his feet and walked out. He was immediately followed by the other councilmembers.
As the doctors filed out of the room too, Kazuo stopped to look up at Pan Lou and smiled.
“Don’t worry child… You’ll be safe in my hands….” Kazuo stated as if it was a fact.
When Kazuo arrived in the hallway, he was tapped on the shoulder. “Who are you?” A voice asked. Kazuo looked around. The doctor, who was from Omashu, narrowed his eyes. “I know the representative from Ba Sing Se and you are not him. What have you done with him?”
Kazuo’s expression darkened. “Who am I? Oh wouldn’t you like to know…” Kazuo smirked and suddenly plunged his hand into the man’s chest. Kazuo’s hand went through the doctor’s chest, as if he wasn’t even there. In actual fact it was Kazuo who wasn’t truly there. It wasn’t uncommon for a spirit to walk the earth. What was uncommon was for a spirit to pose as a human, and one of those spirits just so happened to be Kazuo.
As Kazuo twisted his hand, the doctor tried to scream, but no sound left his lips. “Sorry about this. But it’s for your own good. I can’t risk you harming my plans.” Kazuo pulled his hand out of the doctor and watched him collapse. “Someone fetch a stretcher! This man’s fainted!” Kazuo shouted, faking worry. Instantly guards came with a stretcher and lifted the doctor onto it. “Poor man… His heart must be failing him… Take good care of him won’t you? He’s such a dear friend…” Kazuo turned on his heels and walked away.
It was only a matter of time; he knew the children of air would soon be his. It was then the games would truly begin.
------
As raindrops fell upon the newly constructed council building people arrived from all over. The council building was to promote diplomacy between the three main nations along with each particular smaller nations, unaffiliated villages and towns. Its aim was to settle disputes but today it was to talk of the miracle.
“We hereby commence this meeting, at midday to discuss the rumours of Airbender children born within the past two years.” Spoke the fire nation minister, Sida Mie. He was a fierce man, but he was also a man of peace, and in recent times had been elected to oversee all council meetings backed by a representative from the two other main countries. His hair was long and held in a small bun, held together with a golden forked pin. His golden eyes scanned the room. “We shall start off with the earliest example of the rumour, with two year old Pan Lou. Bring the child forward please.”
Usually children beneath twelve were not allowed within the council chambers but today, six or more children sat quietly with their parents in the galley above the council. The council were seated in a line against the back wall, with a banner hanging over each of their head. In front of them were a group of at least twenty doctors, each of them were waiting to have their say in the matter. The mother, who was holding the baby against her chest, wandered down the wooden steps and then seated herself on a cushion in the middle of the room. “Where were you born?”
“The… The fire nation colonies, sir.” She looked nervous, as she sat there, all eyes on her baby.
“Don’t worry my dear, this is not an interrogation, we would just like to see the child.” Spoke a large Earth Kingdom councilman.
The mother nodded and gently placed her child on the ground away from her. As she did so, the two year old got uneasily to his feet and gawped at the many people around him. Pan Lou took up his hand and suddenly started to suck his thumb, much to the amusement of many in the room. Sida Mie smiled. “Pan Lou…” The child suddenly turned around at the sound of his name. Pan Lou turned so quickly he fell back onto his backside and blinked in confusion. It was almost as if the child didn’t know whether to laugh or to cry as he sat there. Then suddenly the child sneezed. The sneeze was powerful and the air released was enough to throw the child sliding across the varnished floor like a curling stone. Every council member leaned forward as the child displayed something of an Airbender talent. “What is your family history my dear?”
“U-uhm… For the past four hundred years, sir, my side have been Firebenders.” She replied.
“And your husband’s?” Another councilman asked.
“Well we can only trace his family back one hundred years, but his family are pure firebenders too.”
The councilmen slumped back in their seats and looked between one another. They had expected some Airbender blood in the child’s family history, but there was nothing, not a single drop. Each of them was baffled. “That is all, my dear… You may go.”
Pan Lou had crawled over to a nearby doctor and was attempting to climb onto his shoulder, as his mother collected him and disappeared back up the stairs. The councilmembers looked up at the galley. “I trust you all have been proven by the doctors to herald airbender children, yes?” The head councilmen asked. He was given a nod by each parent.
“Let’s put this into perspective.” Sida made a hand signal as he spoke. A guard disappeared into the back room, and then he was followed out by two men. The two men were carrying out a large scroll and when the cushions were removed it was rolled out across the floor. It was then revealed to be a map of the world. Tokens were then placed in a pile next to the map. “Will the representative from the northern water tribe, please step forward?”
The Northern Water Tribe representative stepped forward. She was a middle aged woman who took up five tokens from the pile. “There have been five Airbender children born to our tribe to date.” She placed her tokens down over the Northern Water tribe on the map and stepped back to her seat.
“Next, the representative from Ba Sing Se, please step forward.”
The representative from Ba Sing Se, another woman, picked up fifteen tokens and placed it over Ba Sing Se on the map. “Fifteen air bender children have been born, but with at least a hundred mothers expecting a child within the next month, I predict at least two of those will be Air Benders.” She stated simply.
Over time the map was occupied by over fifty tokens, with the majority of tokens falling in the territories of the Fire Nation.
“With so many children born within the past two years, I believe we need to help these children in some way. I know some of you have suggestions, so please go right ahead with your proposals.” Sida stated, fiddling with his sleeves.
One of the doctors got to their feet and stepped forward. It was an Earth Kingdom doctor named Kazuo Noboru. He was rather small, and quite young. He was dressed in Earth Kingdom robes, with long sleeves. “My proposal is that we build a boarding school for these children. We gather them up and issue an order for Avatar Aang to train them, when they come of age. That way the new generation of air benders will be born and balance will be restored…”
“Foolishness” shouted another voice from a doctor. “If we gather the Airbender children up it will only lead to more genocide or persecution of them! I suggest we examine the Air Temples and collect airbending techniques for each child. When they are of age, they shall receive the scrolls we make. Tracking these children and watching over them is far too dangerous!”
Kazuo laughed out loud. Kazou twisted his body to look at the speaker. “Are you sure? The children are no longer a threat to the fire nation. We already know who the Avatar is. The children are as threatened of genocide or persecution than you or I! It will do no harm to create a school for these children! No harm at all!”
Another doctor rose to argue, like Kazuo, he was from the Earth Kingdom. “And what about Fire Lord Ozai’s loyalists?! They’re still out there! They would do anything to get revenge against the Avatar! The Airbender children would be a way of doing that. Giving them a way of tracking those children down will lead to bloodshed mark my words!”
“Enough!” A shout from Sida, the Fire Nation minister echoed across the room, making all but Kazuo jump. Kazuo just smiled as Sida began to speak again. “No more arguments, the council will retire to consider the options. Submit any argument in writing. I will not here anymore squabbling.” With his harsh words, Sida got to his feet and walked out. He was immediately followed by the other councilmembers.
As the doctors filed out of the room too, Kazuo stopped to look up at Pan Lou and smiled.
“Don’t worry child… You’ll be safe in my hands….” Kazuo stated as if it was a fact.
When Kazuo arrived in the hallway, he was tapped on the shoulder. “Who are you?” A voice asked. Kazuo looked around. The doctor, who was from Omashu, narrowed his eyes. “I know the representative from Ba Sing Se and you are not him. What have you done with him?”
Kazuo’s expression darkened. “Who am I? Oh wouldn’t you like to know…” Kazuo smirked and suddenly plunged his hand into the man’s chest. Kazuo’s hand went through the doctor’s chest, as if he wasn’t even there. In actual fact it was Kazuo who wasn’t truly there. It wasn’t uncommon for a spirit to walk the earth. What was uncommon was for a spirit to pose as a human, and one of those spirits just so happened to be Kazuo.
As Kazuo twisted his hand, the doctor tried to scream, but no sound left his lips. “Sorry about this. But it’s for your own good. I can’t risk you harming my plans.” Kazuo pulled his hand out of the doctor and watched him collapse. “Someone fetch a stretcher! This man’s fainted!” Kazuo shouted, faking worry. Instantly guards came with a stretcher and lifted the doctor onto it. “Poor man… His heart must be failing him… Take good care of him won’t you? He’s such a dear friend…” Kazuo turned on his heels and walked away.
It was only a matter of time; he knew the children of air would soon be his. It was then the games would truly begin.