Jinora opened her eyes. Her body felt weak. Where was she? She couldn't seee. Everywhere was darkness. A foreign darkness she doesn't know. Her head was above the water, and her lower body was resting in the water, sitting on a cold, smooth surface. She tried to move. To her horror, she couldn't.

Her hands were bound together. She panicked. She struggled to get the bounds off by twisting her hands but no avail. She panicked. She felt hard solid walls in between her. She was trapped. She was in a box. Jinora began to panic and banged on the walls until her knuckles hurt.

"Please, someone help me" she cried as she pounded on the walls- she noted it was hard like rock but too smooth to be one.

She couldn't remember what had happened before this. Oh, that's right- she was curious about moon and land above the waters. She had read a lot of books about two legged creatures who rule over the lands and wondered what it was like up there despite her fathers' and elders' warning about how dangerous the humans were. She remembered she had slipped past the White Lotus guards and saw the bright white moon for the first time and many boats..

Many boats which had drawn towards her.

Her thoughts were interrupted as her 'box' began to move. She gasped as she was tilted forward and backwards against the walls. She tried to gain her bearings but no avail, and her body hit the walls many times. There was a dim light piercing through the darkness. She heard an applause getting louder and louder and a booming voice.

"Ladies and gentlemen! We thank you for your patience. It will be rewarded greatly because this has been the moment you all have been waiting for!" The booming voice belonged to a man.

She heard cheering. With the dim light, she could make out a figure on the wall. Was it a shadow?

"This has been the 16th catch in the decade. This, my friends, is a rare special treat."

The 16th catch? A rare?

"My friends, may I present to you, one of the youngest mermaids ever caught-," white light blinded her vision, "and an Airbender Mermaid! ,"

Blinking rapidly, she got use to her surroundings. She was staring at thousands of humans below her. They stared at her back in shock and wonder. There was a man next to her with a black stick in his hand. He spoke into it.

"You can tell by it's silver tail that she is an Airbender.," the man pointed to her silver tail. " Perhaps a younger mermaid has a much better heart, granting longer life?" The crowd began to talk more enthusiastically. "Because of this rare species and her youthfulness, we shall start at 5 million Yuans. Any takers? Did I see 6 million? Seven?"

Her blood ran cold, and covered her mouth as she realized the horrific truth. She was being sold.

"Ten Million?"

Her eyes began to sting. She began to hyperventilate. He hands ran through her hair, as she remembered what happened back at the sea.

Boats were closing in. There were many lights shone at her. There were many men shouting.

Many nets had bee thrown at her. She sliced each of them with her Airbending. Then, she dove back into the sea, but one was shot towards her, and she was caught..and there was pain..her body had shook at the foreign power the net had.. then, darkness.

She remembers the elders talking about how humans wanted their hearts for the immortality.

Her heart…

She was going to die.

All these thoughts were too much for her. Her head was spinning painfully. She wanted her dad right now, or the White Lotus to bring her home. This was too real for her.

"Did I hear Eleven?"

She clutched her hair and screamed loudly. Her scream was high pitched- the humans were covering their ears.

The walls cracked and, to her surprise, gave way. She slid on the hard dry floor. She had stopped screaming by then, shocked at what had happened. Her tail flapped up and down.

"Someone stop her!"

Four guards from both sides were running towards her. They wore green uniforms and had goggles covering their eyes. She sent blasts of air towards them, knocking them to the ground.

Ropes wrapped around her, tightening her arms against her torso- and pain erupted in her body. She screamed. It was the same pain she had felt when she had been first captured. Her body jerked against the searing pain. She withered on the floor.

Then, it stopped. Her body was tired from the battle. Her eyelids were closing.

"Sold, to Mr. Hiroshi Sato,"

That was the last thing she heard.

She opened her eyes when she heard excited voices. She was in a similar cage to the first- small and narrow filled with water.

"I can't believe you got one!" said an enthusiastic voice.

"Bro, you need to keep your voice down"

"But I've never seen this one up so close before. She's so beautiful. Can I take look at her again? Please? "

"No. Let's wait until she wakes up,"

Until she wakes up, she thought.

Until she wakes up, she'll probably be tortured and killed for her heart. That's what her father had warned her about. In fact, she wished she didn't wake up to this cruel reality. She wondered if her family back at home had noticed her absence and if her father had sent out a patrol to search for her.

Suddenly, the black cloth was lifted and she was greeted with bright green eyes. She let out a scream and tried to back away as much as the glass wall could give her. It smiled.

"Bro, she's awake!" She looked at the green eyed human. It was a male and he looked a few years older than her. He had the a well built body and had black messy hair.

She saw another man approaching. He was taller and skinnier. Both of them wore long sleeved white shirts and black tie and trousers.

"Yea, and you terrified her," sighed the taller one. He was much calmer and serious. He loosened his tie. He approached her with a key in his hand. She sunk in the water as low as possible when he towered over her. After a few seconds and two clicks, the lid above her opened. He took out a knife from his pocket and his free hand reached out towards her.

"Please don't hurt me," she whimpered. Her voice trembled.

The man with the knife paused his actions. "Who's scaring her now, brother?" said the other man in a playful, mocking voice.

The hand came on her small ones. She opened her eyes at how warm, firm but gentle his touch was. Amber eyes were looking into hers. His voice was unexpectedly gentle as well.

"Don't worry, " he said "I won't hurt you," Those seven words stunned her. She remembered those lines had came somewhere. As quick as a flash, the knife drove through her bonds and the rope holding her hands together fell apart. She gazed at her free wrists which had red marks around them.

She was stunned at his kindness. But she shouldn't underestimate them. She had to be brave.

The man shoved his knife back into his pocket. "There, see? There's nothing-"

He didn't manage to finish his sentence because she had sent an air whip at him. He got out of the way just in time, merely cutting some strands of his hair. She sent a gush of wind to his brother, who hit his back against the rock wall.

"Wait, please," the taller man said, holding up his hands in defeat. "We are trying to save you,"

"How can I trust you to keep your word?" she retorted, her hands in front of her, prepared to fight him. She was scared, but it's the only way to save herself. " You humans are deceivers to my kind, always holding empty promises. You want us for our hearts to be immortal,"

"We don't want it,"

She arched her eyebrow in disbelief, "Oh, you don't?"

The man nodded, "Yeah, and-" he turned to see his groaning brother in a heap. He went over to help him up, "Bo, are you okay?" he asked.

"It's fine, it's cool," the guys 'Bo' said, "Mako, are you sure this is a good idea?"

Her eyes widened. Mako? That name rings a bell…

"Wait, Mako…"she said slowly, lowering her defense "You're the guy who had saved Korra eight years ago!"

This time, Mako was shocked. "Wait, you know her?"

She nodded enthusiastically, her fear was all gone, "She told me all about you. About a red scarf boy and weird eyebrows,"

Upon hearing the last two words, Bo burst out laughing and Mako buried his face in his palm in embarrassment.

"She could've left the last line out," he groaned.

"HAhaha…oh, this girl is awesome!" said his brother, clutching his belly. After a few moments he compose himself and walked towards her with a hand outstretched . He didn't look as threatening in the beginning, "I'm Bolin, Mako's younger brother. What's yours?"

"Jinora," she replied shyly, and shook it. It was how humans greeted each other. "I read a lot about humans,"

"You do?" Bolin asked, perking in interest. "Well, we're learning lots about mermaids. It's hard to learn about you guys because, well, there are hardly books about you all. "

"Korra and I have read lots of books which were dropped into the sea or found in abandoned ships below,"

"That's nice you know a lot about us, but not about you. So, tell me Jinora-," Bolin fished out his notebook and pencil from his pocket, "What do you eat? What do you drink? Can you see in the dark? What is a mermaid's favorite past time? Can mermaids cry? And-"

"Bro, don't overwhelm her with the questions," said Mako, coming to her rescue. Jinora giggled as the younger brother gave a pout. "I want to know, how is Korra doing?"

"Oh, she's fine. She always have the guards around her every single day. She's been trying to run away from them many times," Jinora realized how she was talking to them- how easy the words came out. It was like they were long time friends. "But that's what happens when you're a princess, "

Mako's eyes went wide. "Wait, she's a princess?"

Jinora nodded.

"Wow, a princess.." Mako said quietly, saying it more to himself.

The young mermaid looked around the room. "Where am I?" she asked.

"You're in a cave below our house," Bolin explained "No one knows about this place,"

She looked towards the opening, and she saw the waves crashing inside. She smelled the familiar saltiness.

"Don't worry, you're safe with us. And we'll take you home,"

The sun was scorching hot as they rode in the speedboat which Mako drove. But the wind made it a little more cooling as it whipped against her face. The city was getting smaller behind her. Her white dress danced in the wind, along with her long hair. She stood up on her new, unsteady legs and spread her arms, imitating the birds above her. She felt like she was flying.

She remembered the first time she was surprised and shocked when she found that she had legs.

"What do you mean I have to walk out? I can't impossibly do that. I have a tail!" she screeched. She was still in that small cage filled with water, which was keeping her alive.

"Do you know mermaids die of dehydration if they are out of the water for over an hour?"

"But you have to. It avoids suspicion instead of your silver tail," said Bo.

"But I don't have legs. Mermaids don't have legs and can never grow a pair. AHH!"

Mako had tipped the long glass box and tipped it sideways. The water and the girl spilled and onto the cold floor. Bolin yelled in disapproval.

"For the love of the Spirits," he said in annoyance. He doesn't have time to listen to those two bickering. She gave out a gasp when she saw her tail shrinking into two human legs. Mako dropped a white towel around her body and handed her some folded clothing. "Dry up and wear this," he instructed.

"How do you know?" she asked as she stared at her new limbs. No one had told her about this magic transformation. Not even her dad.

"Korra," he said simply and gave her an encouraging smiled "C'mon. The quicker you do this, the quicker you could go home,'

The speedboat began to slow down.

"I think this is as far as we won't get caught or spotted," said Mako.

Jinora looked at the waters below and saw her reflection. The water was cloudy green. She swung over, dipping her two feet in- testing the waters.

"Well, go on in," said Bolin encouragingly. "You're free,"

She plunged in. She saw the glow around her legs and felt the join back into her silver tail. She gasped out in happiness and leapt out into the air a couple of times. She was finally free.

After a few somersaults, she swam to the brothers' white speedboat.

"Thank you so much," she said smiling, filled with gratitude.

"It's our pleasure," said Bolin giving a bow, "Just make sure you don't run into those Equalists again,"

"Yeah, see you," said Mako, and put his hand on the wheel, ready to go.

"Wait," she said quickly, before they went off. "Did you know, you get a wish for helping a mermaid?" She wanted to repay them for saving her life.

"Yeah, I do," said Mako looking at her smiling, " You can grant anything we asked for,"

"Well," Bolin said thoughtfully, "I would like some-"

"No, Bo. We have enough than we can ask for. Keep the wish, we don't need it,"

The Airbender mermaid was shocked. What person doesn't want a wish? "But you saved my life," she said. "I would like to repay you in some way,"

Mako sheepishly smiled and shook his head. "No, thanks. We didn't save your life. Korra did. She granted me with riches eight years ago and we used that money to save yours. "

Jinora's eyes widened at what he said. Her mind was confused- Korra helped her?

Mako walked over to her, and leaned over to look at her. His golden eyes gazed into her gray eyes. "My wish to you is to never go near the lands again. You understand? It's for your own safety."

Jinora nodded at his instructions.

"And tell Korra I said hi." The engine grew louder and began to move.

"It was nice meeting you, Jinora," Bolin yelled over the loud noise.

Jinora waved them goodbye. When they were gone, she dove back into the deep sea.