Title: "Tahno Alone" (T)
Authors: ayziks and divsalley
Rating: T (innuendo, scary situation, strong negative emotions)
Summary: Tahno and the Wolfbats were unsavory antagonists against Korra and the Fire Ferrets in the Pro Bending games. But even they fell victim to the wrath of the Equalists and Amon. This is Tahno's multi-chapter story after being debent by Amon.
Authors' notes:Divsalley and I have enjoyed reading each other's stories since we met nearly two years ago on an Avatar fan forum. We often reviewed and edited each other's stories, and decided to actually collaborate on at least three joint stories. It's been awhile since we did it last, and decided that with our joint interest in Tahno's fate and recovery, and similar ideas about that storyline, we'd write together. Hope you all enjoy this!
Chapter 1: The Arena
Tahno did not know what to do next. He and his friends had just won the Team Bending championship again and were reveling in the tournament victory over the upstart Fire Ferrets. They were especially savoring their victory over the Avatar, who embarrassed them in their favorite restaurant.
But now, all hell was breaking loose around him, and they were faced with a half dozen Equalist chi blockers and their leader Amon strolling ominously across the field, having just stepped off the platform elevator.
"What's going on ref?" asked Tahno with great trepidation.
"I don't know," the ref said as he made a hasty retreat from the playing area, not wanting to be part of whatever was about to happen.
Tahno and the Wolfbats stepped backed as they considered either escaping, which appeared impossible, or fighting for their lives, at least for lives as they knew as benders. What was happening was totally outside of their experience, even as street fighters in their youth. There were better benders out there than the Wolfbats, and those who would use their bending to kill without mercy, and did, but no one prior to this who could take away the very essence of who and what they were, leaving them for essentially dead by making each and every one of them non-benders for a life of…of what?
Despite the fact that they had cheated to win, and had paid off the referees, Tahno's Wolfbats teammates were very capable and vicious fighters since they grew up on the streets of Republic City. Finally, the Wolfbats looked at each other and stood their ground.
Tahno sneered at the approaching Equalists, "All right, you want a piece of the Wolfbats? Here it comes!"
Tahno bent a water whip at Amon, who effortlessly leaned out of its way. Amon moved side to side and lunged forward. The Wolfbats' earthbender ripped pieces of the playing field and hurled them at the chi blockers. Tahno swung his arms in a swirling motion downward, directing a circular arc of water at Amon, who spun to his side. The firebender shot a blast of flames at Amon, but the Equalist leader deftly weaved to the side to avoid the flames. The firebender readied another attack, but Amon closed the distance and pushed his arm to the side, gets behind him and puts him in an arm lock. The firebender yelled in fright as Amon spun him around and threw him to the ground.
Tahno bent two streams of water, and took aim at Amon. Before Tahno could attack, his wrists were caught and bound by a bolo thrown by a chi blocker. The Wolfbat earthbender stumbled backward as his wrists were caught by another bolo. Yet another chi blocker tossed a bolo at the earthbenders' legs, catching them and dropping him to the hard tiled playing field.
The Wolfbats were totally incapacitated, and amidst the terrified screams of the crowd being held hostage by dozens of Equalists and their power gloves. Amon and his chi blockers stood over the vanquished Wolfbats.
Tahno watched helplessly as Amon took away his teammates' bending. But more than pitying them, what he felt most was fear. A crippling fear that he would be next. He was roughly pulled to his knees, facing Amon, with his arms held by two chi blockers. The normally unflappable Tahno was terrified. He and his friends had been subdued in seconds.
Tahno pleaded, "Wait, please don't do this! I'll give you the championship pot, I... I'll give you everything. Just please don't take my bending!"
He knew his fate was coming, and just for an instant wished it had been the Avatar and the Fire Ferrets who had won and were about to suffer this worse-than-death fate. He'd do anything to get out of this and so had tried to negotiate. Everyone had their price. To his surprise, this Amon did not.
Without acknowledging the attempted payoff or saying a word, Amon raised his hand above him, and to Tahno's horror, he placed his thumb against Tahno's forehead. His eyes grew wide and quivered. He could feel himself grow weaker and weaker as his water bending disappeared.
The deed was done, and Amon backed away, having finished performing the hideous act of debending on each Wolfbat. The chi blockers dragged the powerless Wolfbats to the playing field's edge and threw them over. It wasn't enough for Amon to take their bending, as he felt himself plummeting to the water below. Now he was going to drown. Maybe it was better that he did. What was life without bending?
Tahno's head swam in the interminable fall to the water below, and winced with the impact. It felt like hitting concrete. He vaguely saw two Equalists hang a large banner over the side.
He felt the coolness of the water, but as a water bender it was his element, and somehow, barely conscious, he willed himself to reach the team elevator and drag himself on to it. Where were his friends and teammates? He couldn't go back for them. He barely made it as it was.
He could vaguely hear huge explosions and watch the Chief of Police and the Avatar in some kind of battle against Amon and his followers who were destroying the Arena. But he had reached the platform. "Must rest," he thought, "Must rest". And then everything faded to black.
