Rival
*All characters belong to bryke*
Chapter 2 Inner Peace
"Good morning Korra, I'm glad you've joined us." Tenzin said as she walked into the pavilion where Tenzin and his three children sat.
"Uh-huh." Korra said flopping down next to Ikki. "Your wife sure does know how to wake people up." Korra said ringing out the water from her hair.
"Years of practice!" Ikki said smiling up at her Korra frowned in response.
"Before we start practicing air bending moves we need to focus on finding your balance." Tenzin paused gesturing towards the children. "That is what we are all doing today. Now the key thing to remember is that while you are meditating is to clear your thoughts. Let your mind empty and concentrate on your breath. Let your energy flow gently through your body." Tenzin placed his hands together and closed his eyes. "Give it a try Korra."
Korra observed his position and followed suit. Placing her hands together she closed her eyes.
I should just water bend the rest of this water out my clothes. It's making me soggy.
Last night's match was so awesome I wonder if there is another one tonight.
That chief lady might show up ag- Oh quiet silence your thoughts….
"This isn't working Tenzin. There's no way I can do that." Korra said slumping her shoulders and opening her eyes.
"Don't try so hard Korra. Thinking about it only makes it harder. Try listening to your surroundings. Don't ask what the noises are that you are hearing. Simply listen." Tenzin continued sitting there still as a brick and Korra closed her eyes again.
Listen…For an island this place is pretty noisy.
WOW! My hearing is pretty good I can hear the waves from all the way up here.
There has got to be at least a mile from here to the water.
"UGH! I can't do this Tenzin." Korra said uncrossing her legs and standing up. "I need to move. Do stuff." Korra said flinging her arms around.
"Korra, come walk with me." Tenzin said standing as well. He looked down at the three kids and spoke again before he walked away. "You three stay here and keep practicing."
They slowly walked away from the kids along a path opposite from the house. Soon they were walking through an extensive garden. Trees were hanging down all along the path. Sun beams peaked through the leaves lighting up the flowers on the ground.
"This place is really beautiful." Korra said looking around at the vibrant colors of all the flowers.
"Come this way." Tenzin said as they veered off the path to the right. Tenzin stepped to the side as the trees began to thin. In front of her was a small gazebo hanging off the side of the cliff. Eight post held up the roof with one open side facing the edge all the others had a wooden guards around them. It was almost completely taken over by a white vine like flower.
"Whoa." Korra said walking over to the opening to look down. "This is awesome." She leaned over to see the waves from the bay crashing into the side of the Island.
"Korra, this is the most relaxing spot on the island. It might help you with your meditations. I can tell everyone else to leave this spot alone, so that way only you have access to it." Tenzin said watching her reactions from the entrance. Korra turned around and looked at his troubled face.
"What's wrong Tenzin?" She said walking over to him.
"This was my father's, Aang's, special place. He made it specifically for himself and all the future avatars to help them find their inner peace. I can only hope that it will help you." He said placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Well it really is relaxing she said stretching her arms out and smelling the water in the breeze. "But I don't think even a place as beautiful as this can help. There are just so many things going on up in my head."
"It will take time Korra, just keep trying. You'll get it. I'll be back in a little while to see how you're doing." Tenzin said turning and heading back the way they came.
"Well if I can't meditate right here I'm not going to be able to anywhere else." Korra said sitting down. She sat directly in the middle of the structure and looked out. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
Listen…just listen. Now I'm thinking about listening too hard. UGH! This is impossible.
Korra opened her eyes and inched closer to the edge dangling her feet of the side. She couldn't wait until tonight. She wanted to go back to the arena and watch another match. She would have to watch out for the Chief of Police. Maybe hid out somewhere in the stands this time, if she could get past security.
Korra waited a while longer before she got up and walked back towards the house. She saw Tenzin outside watching as the kids fly around on little balls of air.
"Any progress Korra?" Tenzin asked when he noticed her.
"No…I'll just try again tomorrow." Korra said feeling defeated. "Hey when can I go look around in the city?" She said smiling at the idea.
"We will have to tell the people that you have arrived. Maybe some time next week I can set something up for you to introduce yourself to the city." Tenzin said looking back at the children.
"I have to wait a week?" Korra huffed out in frustration.
"Well if you can promise me not to make any scenes Pema has to go to the island for some materials to make the children new clothes. You could go with her to the market." Tenzin said scratching at his beard.
"YES!" Korra yelped out and ran towards the house.
"PEMA! PEMA LETS GO! Come on!" Korra yelled through the house running around the hallways and into every room. When she couldn't find her in any of them she ran back outside to where Tenzin was. She looked at him confused. "Where is she?"
"Hm, she might have left already, I'm so-"
"That's Ok I can catch up!" Korra cut in before he could finish. She began running down to the docks before he could object.
"Korra you'll get lost!" He yelled watching her shrinking figure.
"I'll be fine!" She said before she disappeared from his sight. She bolted all the way down to the docks and straight into the water. Once she made it across she flung herself onto the rock wall surrounding the city she quickly climbed up it and hopped over the other side. Several people stopped and stared at her.
"Uh…hello…there…ahem." She said walking awkwardly away from the spot she had just appeared at. She crossed the street that looked out over the water towards the building and began walking down another. She looked up at all of the buildings and stopped in awe.
"Time to get lost." She said looking around at all the people, street signs, and buildings. She walked further and looked around for any maps getting deeper and deeper into the city. People were looking at her up and down examining her clothes.
"Excuse me? Are there any maps? Of the city any where?" Korra said to a small woman passing her by.
"There is a guy over at city hall who passes them out." She said pointing down a street. When Korra looked at her confused she continued. "Just keep walking down that way a few minutes and you'll see it. It's a big white building can't miss it." She said walking off. Korra turned and crossed the street to where the woman had pointed to. She walked for a few moments like the woman told her and she entered a giant square. There were more people here all walking around the center crossing to different sides some stopping and looking around like she was. She scanned the area and saw the vendor the woman had mentioned.
"Hey can I get one of those?" Korra said walking up to the large elderly man who had an empty expression on his face. He nodded and looked away. She took one of the folded papers in her hand and opened it up.
"Crap." She let the paper unfold itself as she found a bench to sit on. There were lines and lines of streets and names of business printed all over the paper. She didn't even know where she was on the map. "I'm never going to find Pema here." She said staring angrily at the paper.
"Need help…Avatar Korra?" A man's voice came from behind her. She looked up and saw the vendor staring behind her with an expression of shock on his face. Korra stood up and turned around to look at the owner of the voice. It was the man who had spoken in the arena last night.
"Lost?" He said glancing down at the map in her hands.
"I don't need help thanks. I'm just trying to find this market place." She said turning back around and sitting down again. He walked around the bench and sat down next to her. "What do you want?" She said not looking away from the map.
"I am Councilman Noatak." He said holding out his hand to her. She went to shake it but he grabbed it instead and kissed her fingers gently. "If you're lost I can help." He said looking at her as he let go of her hand. She blushed slightly and snatched her hand back. She looked him up and down for a moment. He was handsome. He had dark hair that was smoothed back, bright blue eyes that were contrasted against his dark suit.
"No thanks." She said getting up off the bench looking away from him. He stood up with her and she began to walk away. No idea where she was going but tried to lose him. He followed after her however and continued to speak.
"Might I ask what you are doing in the city?" He said following closely behind her.
"No." She said turning a corner. He smiled at her as her faced twisted in confusion looking down the street that only lead to a wall. He tapped her on the shoulder and pointed behind him. She huffed in frustration and followed him. She watched him as he walked in front of her. He moved like he was gliding on his feet, his hands clutched behind his back. He stopped and lifted his arm out towards a market that had several venders along either side of the street. Korra looked into the crowd of people and instantly saw Pema's bright yellow robes.
"Thanks." Korra sighed out and began walking towards her. He continued to follow her as she walked up to Pema.
"Hi Pema." She said looking ashamed of herself for getting lost.
"Korra? What are you doing here?" Pema said looking between the two of them.
"Well Tenzin said I could come to the market with you-but you left…and I got lost. But I'm here so let's go." Korra said trying to walk away from Noatak.
"It's a pleasure to meet you." He said bowing slightly towards Pema.
"Mhm. Thank you for helping Korra." She said looking him over once and turning away from him. They walked away from him and at last he did not follow. They travelled deeper and deeper into the crowd; Pema stopped occasionally looking at the different fabrics that vendors were selling. "So he was cute." Pema said causally glancing at Korra.
"Huh what? Him…no." Korra said looking away nervously. "That's Councilman Noatak." She said poking at a fuzzy hide.
"Ah." They continued looking around without saying another word. Pema finished getting all the fabric she needed and they made their way back to the dock. They walked the dock to the fairy that went to the island and got onboard.
"So any progress with air bending Korra?" Pema said as she sat down on the deck of the boat.
"Not really. It's not easy clearing my mind." Korra said sitting beside her. The sun was setting now and they looked over the water together.
"Don't worry Korra, Tenzin will be able to teach you." She said smiling. Once they reach the Island Korra helped Pema carry the fabric into the house. "Dinner will be ready at six Korra." Pema said as she left the room.
"Okay, thanks Pema." Korra made her way down the hall to her room. She opened the door and ran straight over to the radio. She turned it on and laid down on her bed listening to the music while waiting for the announcement for tonight's pro bending match. A few minutes went by and she began falling asleep. What felt like a few short moments later she was being woken up by the large tongue of her polar bear dog.
"Oh Naga stop it!" Korra said raising her arms to protect her face. Laughs erupted from the door and Korra looked up to see Ikki and Meelo looking in at her.
"Dinner is ready Korra!" Ikki said running away from the door frame. Korra pointed and angry finger at Naga and Meelo and got up. She began chasing Meelo down the hall into the dining room. Not paying attention she ran face first into Tenzin.
"Oh ouch. Sorry Tenzin." She said looking up at him. He had an angry look on his face. "Uh…whatever I did I'm sorry…" She said waiting to be yelled at.
"I heard you ran into Councilman Noatak today. Are you ok? What did he say to you?" Tenzin said leading her over to the table. She sat down confused and answered.
"I'm fine Tenzin, he was nice."
"He was very nice." Pema added in smiling at Korra. She blushed and looked away from Pema.
"Ok good." Tenzin said grabbing his tea and began sipping at it.
"So…why do you ask?" Korra said poking her finger in her tea and twirling the liquid around.
"Councilman Noatak has a bad reputation. He isn't fond of benders at all Korra. I'm very pleased to hear he was polite to you. He has been leading this whole non-bender movement for years now. Trying to give non-benders more rights than benders have." Tenzin spoke beginning to eat.
"Movement?" Korra asked turning her tea into ice.
"Yes, he is pretty much trying to have a non-bending supremacy over republic city. Me and the other council members are always trying to hold him back." Tenzin said with anger all over his face. "Any way eat your food Korra, you hardly ate last night. You'll need your strength tomorrow we are going to begin practicing air bending forms." Tenzin pointed at her food.
"Ohhh can I help daddy?" Jinora asked from across the table.
"We'll see." They all finished eating their dinners and said their goodnights. Korra then made her way back into her room. Once she was inside she locked the door and opened her window sneaking out once again.
She swam around a different way to get to the arena this time and splashed onto the dock leading up to the main entrance. She looked up and saw a large crowd gathered. She began walking forward excitement oozing out of her. When she started getting closer she could hear people yelling upset.
"THIS ISN'T FAIR!"
"WE WANT EQUAILTY!"
"YOU DID THIS TO YOURSELVES!"
"OPEN UP!"
"Whoa…what's going on?" Korra said looking around. Everyone was yelling and there were a bunch of guards at the entrance blocking everyone from getting inside.
"Hey!" A voice shouted beside her. "You're the girl from last night!" Bolin said smiling at her.
"Oh hey Bolin. What's going on?" She said pointing at the doors.
"They closed the arena obviously." The tall rude boy said beside her.
"Oh really, I couldn't tell." Korra said in response glaring at him. He looked down at her slightly surprised at her sarcastic response. Bolin stared between the two of them.
"Councilman Noatak shut us down because they wouldn't allow his precious non-bending team in." The boy said looking at her.
"That jerk." Bolin cut in.
"What's wrong with that guy?" Korra said angrily.
"I don't know but I'm about to give him a piece of my mind. Because of him me and Bolin don't have a place to live any more. We were using the arena as a temporary home. I'm Mako by the way." The boy said holding out his hand.
"I'm Korra, come on lets go see what they are saying up there." She said grabbing Bolin's arm and leading them through the crowd. They reached the front where they had it roped off. There was the fat man who owned the place and Councilman Noatak.
"I'm sorry folks but because of Councilman Noatak's new law we cannot continue this year's series!" Mr. Butakha said yelling at the angry crowd in front of him. Noatak took the microphone from Mr. Butakha and began speaking with a smooth clam voice.
"Pro Bending is a fine sport which highlights Republic city's fittest men and women. But if Mr. Butakha and the other benefactors of pro bending will not agree to make the games for everyone, I am afraid that the council and I must prohibit this display of expert fighting from continuing. We, the council and I only want equality for every citizen of republic city." He smiled and handed the mic back to Mr. Butakha who looked like there was smoke coming out of his ears.
"Well if that's all he wants let his stupid team play!" Someone shouted out before the roars of the crowd began again.
"This is crazy." Korra said looking around at all the angry people.
"Yeah, you might want to go home before a riot starts or something Korra." Mako said looking around with her.
"I can handle myself." She said jabbing at his side.
"Fine fine."
"Hey where is your other team mate?" Korra said looking at Bolin.
"He…quit. All this drama about the arena and what not closing, and then Mako was pushing him to hard today." Bolin said glancing nervously at Mako who wasn't paying attention any more.
"Oh…so even if you guys could play tonight…you couldn't?" Korra said upset.
"Well our team wasn't playing tonight but we do have to find another water bender before tomorrow…that is if they reopen." Bolin said shrugging.
"I'm a pretty good water bender if I say so myself." Korra said standing up straight and smiling. Bolin looked at her and then Mako quickly.
"You have to ask my brother if you want to try out." He said as Mako looked back down at them.
"You're a water bender?" He said sizing her up.
"Only the best of the best." She said proudly.
"Yeah ok. We will just see about that." Mako said looking back up at everyone. Mr. Butakha was in a group of people now arguing the councilman was standing off to the side smiling at them. Then Mr. Butakha broke away from the group and picked the microphone back up.
"Fine. We agree to councilman Noatak's law, but only after next year. No non-bender team can be permitted this year since the season has already begun." He said flustered into the mic. The crowd cheered and the council man began walking away with a smile.
"The games tonight however are cancelled. They will begin again regularly tomorrow night. Good evening everyone."
"Well that's a bummer." Korra said turning away.
" What are you kidding me that's great news!" Bolin shouted out. He grabbed her hands and began twirling her around in a circle. "Come over in the morning and you can try out for the team!"
"Yeah good lu-"
"Avatar Korra, making new friends already?" Bolin stopped spinning her and stepped away eyes wide. "Tenzin will not be happy to see you here." Councilman Noatak said watching the two brothers creeping away.
"What- Tenzin doesn't…he-"
"Korra…" Korra stiffened at the sound of Tenzin's voice. She slowly turned away from the Councilman to face Tenzin.
"Oh…Hi there Tenzin…"
"I don't know what you are doing here but I don't have the time to deal with you right now, get back to air Temple Island this instant, we will talk in the morning." Tenzin said staring at her angrily.
"Let me accompany the avatar home Tenzin." The councilman said bowing slightly towards Tenzin. Tenzin looked him over and then at the two boys watching her and nodded.
"Fine, get her home safe please." Tenzin walked off into the arena with a group of older people all yelling at each other.
"Sorry guys." Korra shrugged looking at the confused faces of Mako and Bolin. "I promise I'll explain everything tomorrow." She said being dragged away by the councilman pulling on her arm. He wrapped her hand around his arm and began walking towards the dock.
"I have a boat this way that can take you back to the island." He said looking straight ahead.
"Fine." She said tugging her arm away from him.
"Is something wrong Avatar Korra? I'm just trying to be polite." Korra ignored him and continued walking forward to the only boat at the end of the dock. He looked down at her trying to read her expression. Once they reached the boat he stepped in and offered her a hand which she refused. He started the engine as she sat down and began to drive off.
"What's your problem?" Korra finally spoke.
"You'll have to be more specific Avatar Korra, a man can have many problems." He said smiling.
"You want non-benders to fight in that ring! They are just going to hurt themselves! Are you trying to get people to be killed?" Korra yelled out glaring into his back.
"No…not quite. Tomorrow in honor of my victory of this new law, I will be holding a celebration at my home. You and Tenzin are welcome to come. There will be a non bending demonstration where the team will show case their skills. I think you will see why I am not worried for their well being. My brother, councilman Tarrlok will be there. You might like him better than me, seeing how he favors benders such as yourself." He said while glancing back at her.
"We'll see." Korra said crossing her arms and staring out over the side of the boat. They soon reached the dock at the Island and Noatak got off the boat offering her a hand once more. She took it this time and she began walking away.
"It was a pleasure meeting you today, Avatar Korra." The councilman nodded at her and she turned back around. She gestured back looking into his eyes. She saw a flash of an emotion across his face but it disappeared immediately as he jumped back into the boat and sped off into the night.
"Boy am I glad Pema wasn't here this time…" Korra said looking out after the boat.
"Hi Korra." Pema smiled from behind her. "Come on back inside."
A/N: Thanks guys for all the views! Hope you're enjoying! I have a lot planned for this, it's going to be very exciting. Can you guys imagine handsome Noatak in a flashy black suit? Ohh I can. Well any way guys hope you liked it!
