Author's Note: First fic ever, I haven't written in a long time, so I apologize! Constructive criticism welcome, please review!

Korra

Republic City was enormous, Korra had never seen anything like it, it could take a lifetime to explore every street and alley in this city. She had just gotten off the ship that was taking her from the South Pole to Republic City, leaving the White Lotus compound she had been isolated to ever since it was discovered she was the next Avatar. There's so many people, I've never seen so many satomobiles. Korra's polar bear dog, Naga, walked her over to a spot on the sidewalk where she had a breathtaking view of Avatar Aang's statue, her mouth dropped. Here's hoping I can live up to what you did for this nation, Aang. Looking to the left, across the water from the statue she saw her goal, Air Temple Island.

"That's where Tenzin is," said Korra, patting Naga on the head, "Are you ready for a swim, girl?" Naga's head swept to the side, likely smelling a much more delicious destination. Not that I can blame her, the air nomads are all vegetarian, and the food we ate on the ship was questionable.

Naga bolted down the street into oncoming traffic, satomobiles swerved to avoid colliding with the huge polar bear dog, "Watch it, Naga!" Korra yelled, trying to regain control of the reins on Naga's saddle. As a truck swerved and crashed into another truck, Naga turned and sprinted down another street. As Korra turned back to witness the crash she felt incredibly guilty I guess Naga and I have a lot to learn about this city before we do this again.

After many shouted apologies to innocent bystanders and close calls with more satomobiles, Naga found what she was looking for, she nosed her face into the curtains on the back of a food stand and paused, eyes wide. Korra leaned forward and as she saw Naga about to take a large bite of the food laid out Korra stopped her, "Naga, wait." Naga's head dropped and she let out a soft whine as Korra jumped off her back and made her way to the front of the food stand. Not taking her eyes off the food, Korra spoke to the lady manning the stand with poorly concealed excitement, "We'll take one of everything, please."

"That will be twenty yuons." The lady said in a gruff voice.

"Uh.. I don't have any money" Korra pleaded with a shrug

The lady snatched the kabob out of Korra's hands with impressive speed and rose her voice "Then what good are you to me?!"

Korra slumped and made her way back to Naga, who let out another soft whine, "Don't worry, girl, the city's huge! I'm sure we can find another place to rustle up something to eat."

Only receiving the same result at several other places, Korra sat in the park near a pond, using firebending to roast some fish she had just caught in a pond at the park, while Naga waded in the water, preferring to catch her own fish. Just as Korra was about to take a bite of one of her fish a man popped out of the bushes.

"Say! Any chance I can get one of those tasty smelling fishies?" The man said with a huge smile, as Korra gasped and scrambled back a little bit from the surprise, the man's clothes were worn and his hair was wild with twigs and leaves from the bush stuck in it, Korra also noticed a slight odor emanating from him, she wondered if he lived in that bush.

"Oh yeah, sure." She said with a smile as the man hopped out of the bushes, grabbed one of the fish and took a seat next to her. Korra's curiosity got the better of her, "Do you live in that bush?"

"Yeah! As that is what I presently do call home, took me a while to find a bush that beauteous." He raised an eyebrow at Korra who wasn't comprehending. "This park is quite popular with all the vagabonds."

"So there are a lot of you out here? I thought everyone in this city was living it up." Korra slumped as she started to realize Republic City may not be as nice as it seemed.

The man let out a loud laugh, "You got a lot to learn newcomer! Welcome to Republic City" he gestured to the park and all the buildings behind him as Korra's eyes narrowed in thought.

"Hey, you! Stop! You can't fish here!" A policeman or park security guard was running towards Korra and her new found... Friend?

"You best skedaddle!" The vagabond said as he dived back into his bush home.

Korra whistled for Naga and started running, catching Naga's saddle as she ran by and hoisting herself onto Naga's back, the pair sprinted away from the man chasing them.

When Korra was sure the guard wasn't chasing them anymore, Naga and Korra continued walking through the park, Korra was hunched over in thought as the polar bear dog continued on the path. I wonder how many vagabonds there really are, and if there's any way I can help them, the White Lotus compound was rough but I can't even imagine what it would be like to call a bush home. I wonder if there's any other hidden problems in Republic- Korra's thoughts were interrupted by a man shouting into a megaphone, she made her way over to the noise.

"ARE YOU TIRED OF LIVING UNDER THE TYRANNY OF BENDERS?!" The man was standing on a makeshift podium in front of a large poster with a masked man with a small crowd surrounding him, "THEN JOIN THE EQUALISTS! FOR TOO LONG THE BENDING ELITE OF THIS CITY HAVE FORCED NON-BENDERS TO LIVE AS LOWER CLASS CITIZENS!" Gesturing to the poster behind him, he shouted again into the megaphone. "JOIN AMON, TOGETHER WE WILL TEAR DOWN THE BENDING ESTABLISHMENT."

"What are you talking about?" Korra couldn't keep quiet any longer, "Bending is the coolest thing in the world!"

"Oh yeah?" The man lowered his voice but continued speaking into the megaphone, "Let me guess, you're a bender." He pointed an accusing finger at Korra.

Korra nodded, showing her aggression plainly, "Yeah, I am."

"Then I just bet you'd love to knock me off this platform with some waterbending, huh?"

"I'm seriously thinking about it." Korra crossed her arms, an invitation for the man to give her one more reason to slap him with some water.

Pulling up the megaphone again the man continued, "THIS IS WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS CITY! BENDERS LIKE THIS GIRL," He jabbed a finger in Korra's direction once again "ONLY USE THEIR POWER TO OPPRESS US!" The crowd around him muttered and acknowledged their agreement.

Taken aback, Korra defended herself "What?! I'm not oppressing anyone, you're- you're oppressing yourself!" Korra took Naga's reins and turned away from the angry mob.

"THAT DIDN'T EVEN MAKE SENSE!" The man shouted as Korra and Naga made their way out of the park, Korra was starting to wonder if this is what Republic City is always like or if she was just having a bad day.

Downcast once again, Korra and Naga walked through the streets of Republic City. Korra couldn't help but be angry. The White Lotus should have prepared me for this, they spent all their time trying to mold me into their perfect Avatar, but failed to teach me about how to interact with people, or the real problems of the world. Korra had always been so self-assured, she was the Avatar, and she loved it, but she had never seen the world, the White Lotus kept her at the compound and never mentioned what was going on outside of it. All Korra wanted to do was help people, she just wasn't sure how. Right now, I just want to go to Air Temple Island and not only ask Tenzin to teach me airbending, but also how to BE the Avatar, and how to deal with Republic City's problems. Korra had never felt this naive, and she wanted that to change as soon as possible.

Realizing she had no idea where she was going, Korra pulled Naga over to an older couple having tea outside of a shop. "Excuse me, could you tell me how to get to Air Temple Island?"

"Just head down this street and-" The woman's eyes widened as she saw a red satomobile swerve around the corner onto the street she was just pointing down. "You should get moving, young lady! It isn't safe!" The woman and her companion stood and ran away from the table. Korra watched as the red satomobile came to a stop in the middle of the street.

Three men exited the car and walked over to an old man who was polishing a device that reminded Korra of a megaphone, but with a box attached to it. "Mr. Chung, please tell me that you have my money, or else I can't guarantee I can protect your fine establishment." The man in front said as one of the lackey's behind him lit a fireball in his palm, letting it hover menacingly.

"I'm- I'm sorry! Business has been slow, please! Take one of my phonographs" Mr. Chung pleaded as he raised the device he was polishing towards the man leading the group.

Korra gasped as the lackey who had just had a fireball in his hand raised his leg and swept it downwards in a rush of fire, crushing and burning the phonograph all in one movement. Mr. Chung fell over and screamed, trying his best to crawl away from the men as Korra rushed towards them.

"My friend here is not a music lover." The front man said, shaking his head with a smug expression on his face, "Give me the money or else-"

"Or else what, hoodlum?" Korra drew their attention to her, standing with her hands on her hips. Now this, I can handle. The three men looked at Korra and then looked at each other, shrugging their shoulders, before they all started laughing.

"Since you're obviously fresh off the boat, let me explain a couple things, honey." The front man said, his lackeys still shaking with silent laughter, "You're in Triple Threat Triad territory and we're about to put you..." He lazily gestured his hand towards Korra, "...in the hospital."

"You're the only ones who are going to need a hospital. For your sake, I hope there's one nearby" She said, pounding her fist into her palm, ready for the oncoming fight.

The man's eyes narrowed at Korra as he spoke. "Who do you think you are?"

"Why don't you come and find out?" Korra furrowed her eyebrows and smiled menacingly, cracking her knuckles.

The front man made the first move, reaching into his jacket he whipped water right towards Korra's face as the other two men went into combat stances. Korra caught the water easily and threw it back in the mans face, freezing it as it splashed over him. Shocked, the other two men looked at their leader, who now had a block of ice surrounding his head and they watched as he stumbled towards Korra, who moved to the side and kicked the man's head into his satomobile, shattering the block of ice and leaving him unconscious.

Korra focused on the two men that were still standing and made her way towards them, one of them bounded forward and jumped, about to go into an earth bender stance, but Korra was ready, right as he landed, Korra pounded the ground with her foot, making the block of earth he landed on spring up a foot higher, launching the man away. The man screamed as he fell, bouncing into a sign, and then an awning, and then another awning, finally landing on a fruit stand rolling onto the sidewalk, the man let out a few raspy breaths before he also fell unconscious.

Now, with only the firebender left, Korra let him make the first attack, with a shout he summoned a jet of flame and pushed it towards her. She easily caught the flame and spiraled it around her before she let them dissipate completely, jumping forward, she grasped the man's outstretched palms and started to spin, lifting him off the ground, grunting, she stopped and let the man fly into a shop window, shattering it, and the many clocks that were on display. Korra walked over to the firebender, chuckling.

"Got an idea about who I am now, chumps?" As she finished she heard a satomobile rev up, she turned around and saw it coming straight for her with the two men she dispatched first shouting out the car windows, "Come on!" The car swerved at the last minute to distract Korra, the firebender jumped out of the shop window and ran to hop into the car. "You're not getting away!" Korra yelled as the satomobile kept speeding down the street. She planted her feet and swung her arms up, the ground in front of her quaking, as it reached the satomobile she lifted he arms once more, making the earth shoot up under the car, launching it into another storefront.

Korra ran up to the building and watched as the men tried to get out of the car and only managing to slide into heaps on the ground. Korra rested her hands on her hips. That was easy. Korra patted Naga on the head as she heard sirens in the distance, looking up, she saw a black and yellow airship. "Police! Stay where you are!" A voice shouted over the PA system on the airship. Korra's mouth dropped as four armored men jumped out of the airship, halfway to the ground, they shot cables out of their wrists that latched on to the buildings, slowing their descent. As they landed they let the cables slide back into the device on their wrists and ran towards Korra. Cool! Metalbenders!

As they came closer, Korra let a smug grin take over her features as she gestured towards the three men stumbling out of the building, "I caught the bad guys for you, officers!"

"Arrest them!" One of the officers shouted, shooting cables out of his wrist towards the closest thug, two others followed suit, binding the three thugs around the chest and arms. As three officers moved to grab the thugs and take them away, the fourth walked up to Korra, jabbing a finger in her face. "You're under arrest too!"

Shocked, Korra took a step back and threw up her arms, "What do you mean I'm under arrest?! Those are the bad guys over there, they were smashing up a shop!"

The officer raised an eyebrow and gestured around them. "From the looks of it, you smashed up a lot more than that."

Korra looked around at the window she threw a man through, the road she tore up stopping the satomobile, and the destroyed storefront that the car was still smoking inside of. She heard a cable shoot towards her and turned to catch it, "Wait! You can't arrest me, let me explain-"

"You can explain yourself all you like down at headquarters!" The man yanked his cable out of Korra's grasp and swung it around to use as a whip against Korra, who vaulted into a back-handspring to avoid it. As she landed, Naga barreled into the officer attacking Korra as the other three rushed to apprehend her. Jumping on Naga's back, they tried their best to escape, kicking away the officer who tried to grab Korra's leg. Making their way to a bridge, one of the officers shot a cable that wrapped itself around Korra's ponytail. Grunting, she threw her arms up and brought the water under the bridge to form and ice wall behind Naga and herself, as the officer slammed into it, her ponytail was released.

Still being pursued by two officers, Korra led Naga to an overpass and pulled the rains back so Naga would jump over the side onto the top of a moving train. As they both slid to a stop and attempted to catch their breath, sirens blasted above them once again, another airship. Naga stood up as Korra tightened her grip on the reins, squeezing Naga gently with her legs to get the polar bear dog running once again. Naga ran across the train and jumped towards the roof of a building, but before her paws landed multiple cables shot out of the air ship, wrapping Naga's legs and bringing her up into the airship with Korra still in the saddle. Before they reached the open bay in the bottom of the airship, another group of cables shot out and bound Korra around her arms and chest, just the same as the criminals who were arrested moments before.

Seated in an interrogation room Korra stared at the handcuffs that chained her to the metal table in front of her. The White Lotus were right, I'm not ready to be out in the world, I've really made a mess of things. I was arrested! Arrested! How am I going to get out of this one? An older woman with gray hair and two scars across her jawline walked around her with a clipboard.

"Let's see... Multiple counts of destruction of private and city property, not to mention evading arrest." The woman slammed the clipboard down next to Korra, causing her to jump and lift her eyes from her handcuffs to the woman next to her. "You're in a mess of trouble, young lady." The woman sounded exasperated instead of angry.

"But there were some thugs assaulting a helpless shopkeeper and I had to-"

"Can it!" The woman stood up and walked towards the door. "You should have called the police and stayed out of the way."

"But I couldn't just sit by and do nothing!" Korra tried to raise her arms, forgetting the handcuffs she sighed. "It's my duty to help people." Her blue eyes begging the woman before her to see that she didn't mean for this. She only wanted to help. "See, I'm the Avatar." Korra showed a small smile.

"Oh, I am well aware of who you are." The woman crossed her arms, glaring at Korra, "And your Avatar title might impress some people, but not me."

Defeated, Korra sagged in her chair, taking a deep breath, she spoke again "All right, fine, then I want to talk to whoever's in charge."

"You're talking to her." The woman took a seat in the chair across from Korra, "I'm Chief Beifong."

Suprised, Korra's eyebrows shot up before she spoke, "Wait... Beifong? Lin Beifong? You're Toph's daughter!"

"What of it?" Chief Beifong grunted, sounding unimpressed.

"Well why are you treating me like a criminal? Avatar Aang and your mother were friends! They saved the world together" Korra pleaded.

Still unimpressed, Beifong rolled her eyes. "That's ancient history, and it's got diddly squat to do with the mess you're in right now." The chief threw up her arms, "You can't just waltz in here and dole out vigilante justice like you own the place!" As she finished speaking a metal plate slid open on the wall of the room.

"Chief, Tenzin is here." The officer through the gap in the wall said.

Chief Beifong tensed, fists slamming the table before she sighed, "Let him in." She moved from her chair to turn around as the door slid open, revealing Tenzin.

"Tenzin! Sorry! I got a little sidetracked on my way to see you." Korra tried her best to look innocent as she spoke, shrugging her shoulders and giving him a lopsided grin.

Tenzin inhaled deeply, appearing as though he was trying to hold back from shouting at Korra, instead he turned to the police chief. "Lin! You are looking as radiant as usual!"

His attempt at flattery had no affect on Lin, her eyes narrowed, "Cut the crap, Tenzin, why is the Avatar in Republic City? I thought you were supposed to be moving to the South Pole to train her!"

Tenzin's brow furrowed at Beifong's gruff tone, "My relocation has been delayed, the Avatar, on the other hand, will be going back to the South Pole immediately."

His emphasis on 'Avatar' let Korra know she was still in trouble even though Tenzin came to her aid. "But-!"

"If you would be so kind as to drop the charges against Korra, I will take full responsibility for today's regrettable events and cover all the damages." Tenzin spoke to Beifong, but his disapproving gaze never left Korra.

Chief Beifong glanced over her shoulder at Korra before looking back at Tenzin, she sighed and threw up a hand, opening Korra's handcuffs "Fine. Get her out of my city."

"Always a pleasure, Lin." Tenzin's tone made it sound like anything but, he turned towards the door as Korra stood up, "Let's go, Korra."

As Korra walked passed Lin Beifong, the chief brought the two fingers on her right hand up to her eyes before redirecting them at Korra, a distinct unspoken 'I'm watching you' feeling affronted, Korra did the same thing back to Chief Beifong before she lifted her chin up, puffing her chest out, she marched out the door behind Tenzin, not seeing the chief's confused expression behind her.

Before they left the building Korra was trying to make Tenzin see reason, "Please, you can't send me back home."

Tenzin shook his head and replied, "You blatantly disregarded my wishes and the orders of the White Lotus."

"Katara agreed with me and said that I should come, she said my destiny was in Republic City!"

"Don't bring my mother into this!" Tenzin fumed.

"Look, I can't wait any longer to finish my training, being cooped up and hidden away from the world isn't helping me become a better Avatar." Korra tried again, as Tenzin stroked his beard, deep in thought. "I saw a lot of the city today and it's totally out of whack. I understand now why you need to stay, Republic City does need you, but it needs me too."

"You-! y-" Tenzin sighed, but was interrupted from saying more as a door swung open.

"Is this your polar bear dog, miss?" An exasperated voice said quietly, holding Naga's reins, his hair swept to the side at an obscure angle, stuck in that position from being licked by the giant beast.

It was nighttime when they arrived at the docks on Air Temple Island, a ship already waiting to take Korra away from Republic City. At least I got to see some of the world, even if it was awful and only lasted a day. Korra sighed and walked towards the White Lotus guards, ready to surrender herself, before she made it two steps, three gliders swept down, and Tenzin's children, Jinora, Ikki and Meelo landed beside her.

"Korra!" They shouted as they all ran into Korra, enveloping her legs in a tight hug.

"Are you coming to live with us on the island?!" Ikki asked, it broke Korra's heart to see how excited she was about the idea.

Korra squatted down and rested her hand on Ikki's shoulder, "No, I'm sorry, Ikki, I have to go home now." All three of the children let out a disapproving 'Awww' and Korra turned to continue walking towards the guards with Naga in tow.

"Wait." Tenzin's voice was quiet, sounding as though he might regret what he said next, "I have done my best to guide Republic City towards the dream my father had for it, but you are right. It has fallen out of balance since he passed, I thought I should put off your training to uphold his legacy, but you are his legacy." His hand grasped Korra's shoulder briefly before he spoke again, "You may stay and train airbending here, with me." Korra gasped and grinned as he continued, "Republic City needs it's Avatar once again."

"Yes!" Korra cheered "Thank you! You're the best!" The children beside her cheered as well and she leaned down, grasping them in a bear hug and lifting all three of them off the ground, before moving and pulling Tenzin off the ground into the hug as well.

Oh wow, there's so many people. Korra blinked as cameras flashed nonstop, she was standing on a podium in front of Town Hall, addressing a huge crowd of media and other citizens of Republic City. I've never spoken in front of this many people before. Nervous, Korra's voice shook on the first few words, "Hello? I'm Korra, your new Avatar-"

"Does this mean you're staying in Republic City?"

"Were you trying to send a message to the Triad?"

"Will you be fighting crime or the anti-bending revolution, or both?"

"Will you be working with Chief Beifong and the police?"

Korra's mouth dropped at the onslaught of questions from reporters, cameras still flashing and blinding her, "Uh... Yes, I am definitely here to stay, but honestly I- I don't exactly have a plan yet- You see, I'm still in training but-" Korra took a deep breath as she regained her confidence, "Look, all I know is Avatar Aang meant for this city to be a symbol of peace and balance in the world and I believe we can make his dream a reality." Korra smiled as she gestured to herself and the crowd around her. "I look forward to serving you!" The crowd erupted into applause and cheers, "I am so happy to be here! Thank you, Republic City!" Korra had never experienced such admiration, as Tenzin shuffled her away from the podium, her heart swelled with hope as the applause continued. Maybe republic city won't be so bad after all.