Boy in the Big City (Part 1)

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender or any of its characters. Bryan Konietzko and Michael DiMartino are the creators of the show, not me.

O-O-O~~~~~~~~~~~~O-O-O~~~~~~~~~~~~O-O-O

"Water. Earth. Fire. Air. When I was just a young girl, my mother told me the legend of how Avatar Roku stopped Fire Lord Sozin before he could start a massive war between all four nations that would bring unbalance to the world. She told me the Avatar established the United Republic of Nations, a society where all four great nations could live together in harmony. They named the capital Republic City, but the peace did not last for long. A hundred years passed and Roku's time in this world is over. The new Avatar, an airbender named Aang, has come to Republic City to restore it to its former greatness..."

-Katara

O-O-O~~~~~~~~~~~~O-O-O~~~~~~~~~~~~O-O-O

Today was the day. The day everything changes. Aang had passed the thirty-five tiers of airbending and finished the thirty-sixth by inventing the air scooter, something he created in just a day when he realized walking and running around got boring. He is a master of his element, Air. Today, he thought, I'm going to Republic City, see Monk Gyatso, and learn the other three elements! He walked for a while, looking for the Council of Elders, the leaders of this Air Temple. After wandering for some time, he found them under a large tree meditating, shaded from the sun. Aang waited for them to finish, but ended up clearing his throat, gaining their attention.

"So I was thinking and…" he paused rubbing the back of his head, "And I've decided that it would be best for me to go to Republic City and learn the three other elements there."

The council of four monks opened their eyes from meditation and looked at Aang with worry. "The city is far too dangerous, young Avatar. It would not be best at this time to send you far away alone in the city," a monk explained.

"But I have a plan! I'll fly to Republic City on Appa at night, and then I'll meet up with Monk Gyatso in Republic City in the morning!" the young Avatar clarified for the monks.

"Think about the risks, Aang," another monk said, "You've never been to the city before and quite frankly, I don't think you're ready for such a place."

"I understand that, but I don't think staying here will help me learn water, earth, and fire. Besides, we Air Nomads are encouraged to explore the world and see new places. Could you please consider the option of me travelling to Republic City to learn the other three elements there?" Aang pleaded.

The monks sighed and began to whisper amongst them. Aang stood there, waiting in anticipation. Finally the monks turned to Aang to give him their final answer.

"We have unanimously decided," the monk paused, and then smiled, "that we allow you to travel to Republic City to continue your Avatar training there."

"Yes! Thank you, thank you so much!" Aang ran off with a huge smile all over his face. Today is the day everything changes! He thought happily.

O-O-O~~~~~~~~~~~~O-O-O~~~~~~~~~~~~O-O-O

Aang had Appa and Momo ready for the trip ahead of them. He packed clothes, provisions, money, and even his trusted glider. The monks gave explicit directions to fly all the way to Republic City and go directly to City Hall where he will find Monk Gyatso, a monk and representative of the Air Nomads in Republic City. He will stay there and learn the rest of the elements to complete his training. He began his flight at night where he would travel all the way to Republic City. Aang had little sleep; he was more excited about Republic City. As Momo lay curled by his lap, he could not help but wonder what he will find in the city.

O-O-O~~~~~~~~~~~~O-O-O~~~~~~~~~~~~O-O-O

Aang knew he was here, he could see it in the horizon. The sun was already coming out and he could see the city far off in the distance. "Look at that Momo!" Aang yelled in exhilaration. Situated on Ta Min Bay was Republic City in all its beauty and glory. Towering skyscrapers overlooked the city and shined in the morning sunlight. Smaller brick buildings littered the city beneath the gargantuan towers of Republic City. The metropolis was both stunning and enormous. Aang stared into the city, almost mesmerized. Eventually, he noticed he was flying right next to Roku Memorial Island and immediately felt a rush of fascination.

The massive statue of Avatar Roku was garbed in the magnificent flowing robes of a firebending master back then in the previous era. In the colossal sculpture's left hand held a scroll, signifying the spread of knowledge and wisdom to all. In the palm of its right hand raised to the sky is an eternally burning flame. The fire represented the ever glowing beacon of hope for the city. The monks told him the statue was made with the help of all four nations, and was one of the first things the four nations worked together on, to commemorate the life of this notable man.

"Wow..." was the only thing the Avatar muttered until he noticed a Dai Li Police Force airship coming at him, "Oh hey! Look at that, guys! The Dai Li Police Force! Cool!" Aang pointed to the police airship sluggishly making its way to the Sky Bison.

"Halt! This is restricted air space! You are not permitted to fly here!" a metallic voice resonated from the massive dirigible slowly making course to Aang's direction. A siren blared out of the metal police blimp.

"Uh-oh, Appa, looks like we're in trouble." Aang said to his sky bison with a hint of worry. I better get away from these guys, he thought. "Appa, Yip-Yip!" Aang yelled causing Appa to fly faster. Appa was quicker than the Dai Li airship, but the metal zeppelin was more equipped and armed than the sky bison. The airship fired two metal cables at Appa, but Aang swiftly steered Appa away from the cables and quickly flies down near the bay. The cables reeled back inside the airship and fired again. Aang maneuvered the flying bison away from the thick metal wires, causing the iron cords to crash into the bay. Appa hastily soared past the airship, while the police dirigible reeled back the cables. "Whew! That was a close one guys!" Aang sighed in relief. Suddenly the siren of the blimp shrieked out, making Aang look behind him. He saw the airship was still pursuing them, slightly faster than before.

"Land your flying bison now or face serious charges!" The police dirigible ordered. The airship shoots out a cable with a net at the end, trying to capture Appa. Aang swiftly grabbed his glider and ran down the length of Appa's tail. Aang swung his glider at the oncoming net and a powerful blast of air sent it flying back to the airship. The cable tangled into the right, primary propeller, causing it to malfunction. Smoke billowed out of the damaged propeller and the zeppelin was forced to cease its hunt for the Avatar. It gently descended down into Ta Min Bay.

"Now that was really, really close!" Aang declared looking behind making sure the police blimp wasn't still following. Momo peaked out from under the bags, relieved that the whole air battle was over. Aang took control of the reins on Appa and hastily descended into Downtown Republic City, hoping to escape the relentlessly alert Dai Li Police Force airships…

O-O-O~~~~~~~~~~~~O-O-O~~~~~~~~~~~~O-O-O

Captain Long Feng stood on top of the fallen Dai Li police airship. He watched as the flying bison and its owner entered the city. Long Feng wore a distinctive uniform than the typical Dai Li Police officer did. He wore an elegant long sleeved robe with golden trim, various shades of green and white, and a high collar. His metal outer armor had a different design and is a darker shade of gray. Instead of the circular canisters that store the metal cables by the waist for regular officers, his uniform had cylindrical spools hidden underneath his outer armor and robes. With the cords connected to the armor on his upper arms and forearms, he is able to deceive criminals into believing he is unarmed and unexpectedly ensnare them with the metal cables within his sleeves. Unlike the other Dai Li officers, he did not wear the wide brimmed hat or the metal earth gloves the others had. He kept his hair short, in a crew-cut and his Fu Manchu mustache well-trimmed.

Captain Long Feng detested the idea being defeated by some boy. He knew in his mind that once he arrests this boy, he will make sure he feels the full extent of his wrath…

"Captain long Feng, sir!" a Dai Li officer shouted, interrupting his thoughts, "Our airship is unable to fly. What are your orders?"

Long Feng didn't even glance at the officer behind him. "Call in a retrieval squad to pick us up. Alert all units in Republic City to keep an eye out for a sky bison and proceed with caution."

"Yes sir, Captain Long Feng sir!" the officer saluted the captain and ran back into open hatch leading inside the airship. Long Feng stared intently at the city, his face devoid of any anger. Beaten by a mere child; the captain thought bitterly, I'll make sure he pays dearly for humiliating me…

O-O-O~~~~~~~~~~~~O-O-O~~~~~~~~~~~~O-O-O

Author Note: My first attempt at a fanfiction... I'm not sure if I want to continue this or not, i'll just have the readers decide :P