Republic City seemed to pour into the Arena. Thousands of people dressed in their snazziest attire passed through the large doors with excitement plastered on their faces. Gone were the looks of fear and apprehension that had plagued them for months. Tonight was their time to relax once more, to cheer their young Avatar and her teammates on in their Championship Final.
The police force moved intricately within the building, eyes ever vigilant for suspicious characters. Beifong had issued their new communication devices, the Walkies, in hopes of staying in touch over large distances. So far, they were a huge success. She was given reports from all of her metal benders, and nothing seemed to be amiss. However, something the Avatar had whispered to her earlier hung at the front of her mind.
They were standing in a then empty Arena. Lin and Korra had searched every inch of the place for any tampering done by the Equalists, but had found none. The silence of the room blanketed them as they brooded in their own thoughts. Suddenly, the girl turned to Lin with an odd glint in her eye. Her face had hardened into the one she wore during the council meeting. It made Korra look wise beyond her years, made her seem like she was someone else entirely.
"Expand your criteria to that of suspicious citizens tonight Chief", she had said in a voice unlike her own. Lin had only expressed her confusion, demanding that she explain.
"Amon won't risk barging in here in full regalia, not when security is so air-tight. He might be employing regular people as well as his trained Equalists. People who still don't believe in me or in the Avatar Spirit. These citizens will walk in here undetected and be able to do some real damage when the time comes. Please, have your metal benders use that seismic sense you taught them to monitor anyone with a calm heartbeat," Korra explained.
She had turned towards the Chief then, placing one of her cold hands on the crook of her arm. The touch sent a chill through Lin, and she knew that she was talking to the Avatar.
"People should be excited to be here tonight, their hearts should be racing with energy. Anyone who is not in this state should be monitored. We cannot allow anything to happen to the innocents tonight. I'm counting on you, Chief," Korra finished before turning to leave.
Lin Beifong had watched as the girl turned powerhouse soundlessly left the room, sucking all the air along with her. Her words sounded oddly like an old Airbender she once knew. It took all she had not to clutch her heart in memory.
Now Lin was standing in the same spot as earlier, just at the entrance of the stands. People walked past her with smiles on their faces, bowing their heads to her as they went to take their seats. Chief's senses were on overdrive, marking all of the oddities that she could manage. She would not allow anyone to slip into her Arena to cause trouble. After all, she had the Avatar counting on her. She would not fail.
Meanwhile, the original members of the Fire Ferrets were in the locker room getting prepped for the match ahead of them. The Bending Brothers had since made up, their previous dispute laid to rest once and for all. Bolin had told his brother of his new relationship with Korra the night before, after he had dropped her off after dinner. At first his amber eyed brother stood in shock, but then he found long arms around his neck and a fist in his hair. His brother was truly happy for him, and expressed it the way he knew best.
Now they were checking each other's gear like normal, making sure everything was in order. Korra was still running checks on the Arena with a few of the metal benders assigned to guard the area around the locker room. She had been unusually quiet the last few days, and even though she claimed everything was fine, Bolin could not shake this feeling away. Her eyes lacked that spark he loved so much, and the dark circles under her eyes were starting to become permanent. Something was bothering her, and he was determined to find out what.
The boys' heads turned at the sound of the door opening. In stepped their missing teammate, already in full bending gear. The helmet was tucked under Korra's arm as she muttered the last of her instructions to the three metal benders at her side. Mako and Bolin couldn't catch her words, but watched in awe as the three professionals bowed to Korra before leaving, the door closing softly behind them. Releasing a sigh, she turned to her teammates with her normal grin on her face. Mako relaxed considerably, but Bolin could see that her smile lacked its shine.
Something definitely isn't right, he thought.
"Hey you guys! Sorry I'm a little late, I was just finishing up some last minute changes with security," she told them.
Korra walked up to Mako and laid a hand on his shoulder in greeting. Their relationship still was a bit awkward, with the firebender holding his feelings for her deep inside so neither she nor his brother could detect them. Korra still treated him like a friend however, and that was enough for him. The waterbender then dropped her helmet on the bench before wrapping her arms around Bolin's neck. She let out a shaky breath as his strong arms came around her then, allowing herself to feel safe for just a moment in his embrace.
Korra had been sent into another one of her fugues that afternoon, but this time was different than the last. She had been patrolling the empty grounds with the Chief at her side when she slipped from reality. But she did not fall back into the past as she had once before, she remained in her body, just unable to control it. It was frightening to say the least. Instead she could feel a dominating presence inside her, one so larger than life that the confident Korra found herself quaking in fear. In her mind it was the deep tenor of a woman that shook her to her very core. A flash of face paint and lethal war fans crossed her mind, and she knew which of her past lives had shown themselves that time.
Avatar Kyoshi.
This person had taken control of her body and spoken to the Chief in her stead. Had mentioned the thought that was plaguing Korra's mind all day; the idea of Amon using citizens to invade the Arena. Kyoshi had told the Chief of her plan to identify these individuals using the infamous seismic sense that Toph Beifong had invented. Korra had watched in horror as the Lin closed herself off from her, instantly knowing that this was not the young girl she was acquainted with. There was nothing she could do as Kyoshi used her for the remainder of that afternoon, giving off orders as if she commanded these police officers. To Korra's shock, they listened to every word that came out of her mouth. Only when she made her way to the locker room did Kyoshi leave her body, granting her access to what she thought was hers once again.
"Protecting the innocents is one of the Avatar's most pressing duties. It is time you learned this, young child of Yue", that cold voice whispered in her head.
Korra had never felt anything like this, but decided to heed the old Avatar's words. Pressing her face in the crook of her earthbenders neck, she allowed a small shiver to go through her. Here she was safe from Spirits who wanted to invade her personal space. Safe from emotionally painful memories of her past lives, filled with cryptic messages and a cold sense of foreboding. She had not told anyone of this new spiritual development, but made the sudden decision to tell Tenzin and Bolin after the match that night. Korra could no longer shoulder this burden alone. Not with the thought of having another Avatar take hold of her once again.
Bolin had felt her shiver in his hold, and tightened his arms around her. Korra rarely ever showed any weakness, she was much too proud for that. But to feel her release some of that tension in his arms gave him the desire to fight whatever demons were bothering her. Before he could say a word, she backed out of his hold, gingerly. He read the silent message in her eyes, one that promised to tell him everything later. So Bolin allowed a real grin to flash on his face, inciting a gently laugh from his girl.
"You ready to make bat dung out of those losers? I sure am," he announced. Mako and Korra raised their fists in the air and hooted, finally amped for the match ahead.
The Fire Ferrets then walked to the platform that was to take them to the Arena. The bright lights of cameras blinded their eyes, the roar of the packed Arena giving them extra adrenaline. Any fear from her experience with Kyoshi vanished from her mind as Korra raised her hands to wave at the crowd. Republic City seemed to grow even more excited, their Avatar spurring them on. Tonight was about showing Amon and his Equalists that they were not afraid. With their Avatar standing in the Arena, despite the eerie threat to her safety, the people of Republic City felt that they could endure anything as long as she was there to guide them.
Fireworks exploded on the other side of the Arena, revealing the White Falls Wolfbats decked out in capes and crowns. The crowd cheered, though not as hard as they had done for the Fire Ferrets. Said team watched as their adversaries shucked their costumes and entered the ring opposite of them. All three remembered the night at Narook's, anger and frustration building up inside them. Turning to each other in a huddle, the Ferrets looked to each other and nodded. It was time to show these chumps what real Pro-Bending looked like.
The ding of the bell resounded throughout the crowded space, signaling the end of the second round. Both bending teams had put up an impressive show. Although the Wolfbats were a favorite to win the title again, the Ferrets were posing to be a difficult team to put down. They had skillfully evaded the near perfect offense the Wolfbats threw at them and had somehow survived much of the first round. However, a sudden distracted Avatar was the chance they needed to take the Ferrets out. Tahno had mused during the brief timeout between the first and second round.
The Uh-vatar was bending like the Water spirit itself, weaving through their offense like a nimble stream, when she began to stumble slightly. It was barely noticeably by his teammates, but was clear for Tahno to see. Her eyes became unfocused, a cloud having overshadowed that normal lightning gaze of hers. Korra had shaken her head and muttered something under her breath, and in that moment Tahno had sent a raging water spout to knock her into zone three.
The rest of the round went in their favor, despite the Fire Rat's best efforts to hold on. She had managed to hold the Fire Rat and the ledge with that insane strength of hers, saving them from a first round knockout. Tahno had never seen anything like it
Whatever that had taken the Uh-vatar's attention away had vanished at the beginning of the second round. She came at them ruthlessly, together with her team had managed to throttle them into dust. The Earthbending street rat was bending all he had towards him, seeming to take his grudge out in the ring. However, a call was made that gave them the option to have a one-on-one showdown with one element for a tie break. Of course the spunky traditionalist stepped forward to challenge him, head cocked to the side and her fists brought together.
Tahno had accepted the challenge gracefully, not expecting what was to happen. He taunted her, called her belittling names as he circled her on the risen platform. Korra had been undeterred, although her frustration was clearly written on her face. As soon as the bell sounded, she shot a right hook at him, sending a small stream of water his way. Thinking that was all she had up her sleeve, he dodged, only to feel the full force of her upper cut in his chin. The force of that blow knocked his helmet clean off, sending him back to his teammates on the ground.
The crowd erupted in deafening applause, and he was quick enough to see that monstrous glint in her eyes as she smirked at him. Of course, she had won the second round for the Ferrets with that blow, sealing the deal for a third round to decide the match. That had sent Tahno into a rage, and he proclaimed to send her and her pathetic team to their watery graves. Now, as they were gearing up for the last round, the former swamp dweller couldn't help but watch his waterbending opponent.
She was currently rolling her shoulders around like the brute she was, talking effortlessly with her teammates about something trivial, no doubt. She continued to surprise him, ever since she sicked her Hell hound on him that night at Narook's. She never acted the way he expected her to. She was from the bottom of the world. She dressed in the heavy furs that the Southerners wear, arranged her hair in those unsightly wolf tails, and even wore the armbands of a water tribe warrior on those huge guns of hers. A far cry from the willowy maidens that frequented his bed. But somehow she showed considerable strength in a world that she was not accustomed to. Tackling those reporters at that press conference, admitting her fears to the whole city, even threatening to pommel him anytime he went to bother her. Korra of the Southern Tribe was as fascinating as she was irritating, a paradox wrapped up in muscles and furs.
Tahno wondered what it be like to really get underneath that thick skull of hers, to see what made her tick. He walked to the edge of the line with Ming and Shaozu at his side, geared up for the final chapter to this pro-bending season. Just before the Wolfbats could really throw down the gauntlet, several bright flashes crossed their line of sight.
In the crowd, from the first rows and into the balcony, there were quick flashes of light. He spared a glance at his opponents to see that they were also as confused as he was. Before he could turn to the ref and ask what the deal was, he felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. The same feeling he got when he ran along his carpet in his loft with his favorite pair of fuzzy socks.
Static.
In the split second that would forever change his life, Tahno of the White Falls Wolfbats caught the gaze of the Uh-vatar just before she glanced up. He watched as her mouth formed a grimace, and winced as her voice boomed throughout the Arena.
"Equalists! Everybody get down!"
The following explosion seemed to shatter the whole world.
Glass and debris fell from above, hurtling towards them in a shower of death. Korra raised her arms and gathered all the water the ring had to offer, turning it into a shield of thick ice above their heads. She could feel the eyes of her teammates and her opponents on her as she held the ice in place. The level of debris falling was increasing, and her ice was beginning to crack. It wouldn't hold for much longer.
"Move out of the way!" she shouted. The Wolfbats didn't need to be told twice, and began to run towards their end of the ring. Mako and Bolin stayed by her side, however, refusing to move. Words did not need to be spoken, she could tell they weren't going to leave her. But Korra did not have the time for this. She could hear the screams of the people and police officers as her worst fear came to life. And up above, she could feel more presences entering through the hole in the roof.
Without another thought, she turned the ice she had above them to water, sending the wreckage she caught over the side of the ring. She then gathered more water and wrapped it around her teammates, sending them over the side as well before many masked chi-blockers landed on the ring.
"Go help the people in the stands! Find Chief Beifong," she yelled to their falling forms.
"Korra what are you doing?!" Bolin screamed to her as him and his brother plummeted down into the drink.
He had caught her eye just before Equalists landed all around her, but could do nothing to stop her as she sent them over the side. He heard her command loud and clear before he hit the water. Glass and metal was zipping into the water around them, and Bolin could feel his brother's hand gripping his arm as they swam up and up towards the surface. Air hit his lungs as he gasped for breath. Turning to his brother, he was about to exclaim how they needed to help Korra when he registered the shock in his brother's eyes. Following his gaze, Bolin felt his stomach drop as he took in the tall, mustached figure, and the metal rods in his hands.
The Lieutenant.
In the ring, Korra was surrounded. She could see that the Equalists had also managed to corner the Wolfbats as well, corralling them together in a small circle in the ring. Back to back with her former adversaries, Korra could feel their fear as if it were her own. This was no doubt the first encounter they had with the Equalists. However, she could not allow this same fear to freeze her resolve anymore. A growl rippled low in her throat, sending a few chills of her own through the ranks of the men around them.
"Are you going to show me what you've got, Pretty Boy?" she asked the pale boy beside her before launching at the nearest chi-blocker.
With bright orange flame at her command, Korra sent a flying torrent of flame towards her enemies head before covering the man's limbs in ice. He didn't even notice, not with all his attention drawn to her fire. She kicked him soundly in the chest and sent him over the edge of the ring. A battle cry ripped from her throat as she turned to the next Equalist.
Tahno and his teammates only stood in awe and slight fear at what they saw. The loud obnoxious girl that they faced in the ring had turned into a mother moose-lion, wielding the elements with ease. Her bending style had turned ferocious, controlled, and humming with unchecked power that neither boy had seen in their lives. Only when Tahno noticed a charged electric glove move to strike the Avatar from behind did he spring into action. With a fierce water whip he sent the Equalist flying away from the unsuspecting girl, and before he knew it he had joined the fray.
He could see his friends Ming and Shaozu fighting back to back, hurtling flame and rock at any Equalist that dared to come close. Moving to join the Avatar, he sent a punch into the gut of the Equalist she had in a headlock, causing the man to vomit into his mask in pain. He then swept his legs out from under him, and winced as the Avatar ground her fist into his temple, knocking him out cold.
"I won't let you out do me, Sweetheart", he said, the usual sultry back into his voice. She only chuckled before turning back to matter at hand.
It truly was a sight to behold. The former enemies had turned into a powerhouse of bending skill, sending chi-blockers to their demise left and right. It wasn't long before there were no more left. They had either knocked them out or sent them into the drink below. Breathing heavily, the Avatar turned to the Wolfbats and gave them her signature grin.
She couldn't see the horror on their faces, and by then it was too late.
"Thanks for having my back" – she began, but was cut off when a surge of painful electricity shot through her. Korra couldn't help the scream that erupted from her throat as she collapsed on the ground. Unable to move, she could only watch as more Equalists landed on the ring around her, seizing the Wolfbats and forcing them to their knees. Only when she heard a familiar dry chuckle did Korra allow a small lump to form in her throat.
Amon walked up beside her, motioning for the chi-blockers to lift her up to her knees before him. His mask was just as sinister as it was that night on Memorial Island, and it took everything Korra had not to show her fear on her face. I am not afraid, I am not afraid, I am not afraid! Amon gripped her chin with his gloved hand, lifting her face to his.
"It is so nice to see you again, Avatar Korra. In good spirits, too! I thought after our little chat, you would be filled with more fear. It pleases me to see the fight is still in your eyes. I cannot wait to break you under my heel", he said to her, voice void of emotion.
Korra blew fire in his face, which he avoided with a laugh. Another shock of electricity coursed through her, this time from a punch to her stomach, making her cough in pain. She watched with blurring vision as Amon walked smoothly towards the referee, taking the microphone from his trembling hands. His voice filled the room, silencing the screams of terror and the howls of conflict with only the sound of his voice.
Mako slowly slid back into consciousness, a sharp pain in the back of his head making him moan. The haze slowly lifted, and his amber eyes took in the scene around him. Chaos. He could see the many altercations between Equalists and the police force up above in the stands, as well as hear the hell Korra was raising back in the ring. The occasional charred chi-blocker would be hurled over the side, letting him know that the object of his confused affections was indeed, kicking ass. A groan sounded from beside him, and Mako turned and sighed in relief at the sight of his brother. Bolin had his head hung towards his chest, spit dribbling from his chin. Rocking back and forth, Mako successfully shook his brother awake.
"Ugh, wait, what happened?" the earthbender muttered.
He looked down to see thick ropes wrapped around his body, and turned to look at his brother. Bolin could see a bruise forming on the back of his brother's neck, probably from the blow the Lieutenant gave him to knock them out. He vaguely heard his brother exclaim that they had to get out of there, his mind was on one doe eyed waterbender. Why would she send them away? They could have fought alongside her, protected her from whatever threat came her way. But she sent them into the water instead?
Bolin tried to see it through Korra's point of view. Knowing her, she most likely figured out what was happening before it even happened. That's why she yelled for everyone to get down. The sound of her warning cry still sent a chill up his spin. Korra then had protected them from the destroyed ceiling fixtures with her ice shield. So really, his girlfriend was spending all her energy on protecting them while they had been frozen in shock. Even the Wolfbats had gawked at her for a moment before they turned tailed and run at her command. Bolin grit his teeth together in anger.
I won't be a burden to you, Korra.
"Bo, are you even listening to me? I said we have to get out of here and help Korra! Amon is up there!" his brother's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. The boys looked around for anything that could be used to cut the ropes, but could find nothing.
"Can't you just burn through them?" he asked Mako. He could hear his brother's exasperated sigh.
"I already thought of that. I'd burn us both at this weird angle my hands are in," he answered back, guilt in his voice. He truly wanted to save them, and then save Korra up above.
Bolin let out a shout of frustration as the sound of Amon's voice filled the Arena. The thought of him within an inch of his Korra had him seething in anger. Tuning him out, he tried to come up with another idea to get them out of there when he felt tiny paws at his neck. A warm tongue licked the shell of his ear playfully before a flash a red filled his line of sight. Pabu, his adorable and impeccably timed compadre had scampered onto his lap.
"Oh! It's great to see you buddy! Now, I need you to do me a big favor," he said before beginning to chitter to his Fire Ferret.
Pabu's head cocked to the side in understanding as his green eyed master chittered away. To anyone else, it seemed like the ravings of a lunatic. Pabu understood every word that Bolin said, and began using his teeth to cut through the ropes.
Mako watched in wonder as his brother's pet chewed through the ropes that bound them. Amon's voice trickled back into the forefront of their minds then, and they could feel their dread building in the pit of their stomachs.
"That is why, foolish Avatar, I must punish you for thinking that you could ever hope to stand in the way of my bringing of Equality. What better punishment is there, than for you to watch helplessly as I take someone's bending away? Someone you have sworn to protect. Watch, girl, as I administer the power of Equality on those you failed to keep safe," said the mad man.
Whatever was happening up there, they needed to be there. Fast.
They urged Pabu to chew faster, promising endless treats to the young Ferret for all his troubles. Spurred on by the prospect of delicious treats, Pabu worked through the ropes faster, until they fell away from the boys in a heap. Bolin swopped Pabu into his arms in a tight embrace before telling his friend that he had to hide somewhere safe. He watched as the red ferret scampered off into the shadows before he heard a sound that damn near stopped his heart.
A scream for help, along with Korra's defiant roar.
Held back by three chi-blockers, Korra could only watch and listen as Amon made his speech to the people left in the Arena. All was silent as he droned on about his plans for equality, how all her efforts were in vain. She tried to ignore the feeling of dread in her stomach, and instead tried to come up with a plan of attack.
Taking a deep breath, Korra calmed her raging heart and focused her eyes on her enemies. Besides the two holding her down, there were one assigned to each Wolfbat, half a dozen in between them and her, the Lieutenant, and the crazy dung beetle himself. She could feel the strength returning to her body from those repeated electric shocks. The hold they had on her was loosening as Amon continued to speak, the fools most likely caught up in the ramblings of their leader. But before Korra could enact her plan, rough hands gripped her hair and jerked her head up towards the light. What she heard next made her blood run cold.
"That is why, foolish Avatar, I must punish you for thinking that you could ever hope to stand in the way of my bringing of Equality. What better punishment is there, than for you to watch helplessly as I take someone's bending away? Someone you have sworn to protect. Watch, girl, as I administer the power of Equality on those you failed to keep safe," that cold voice penetrated her mind.
Korra watched with eyes wide as Amon motioned to the Equalist holding down the fire bending boy. Shaozu; that was his name. His brown eyes were dull with fear, and she could see his body lock up in fright. Twin streams of hot tears fell from his wide eyes as they landed on her, the loudest cry for help shattering his voice. This caused a damn to break in Korra.
She roared, "You get your hands off of him", so fiercely that Amon paused briefly before moving towards the prone boy once more. Korra leapt to her feet, fire propelling her into the Equalist at her right. She heard the crunching of his bone as she shoved him into the railing, breaking his wrist.
The noise of the Arena fell muted next to the cacophony of voices in Korra's mind. Cold ancient voices of her past lives whispered urgently to her, driving her instincts mad. Her body seemed to grow cold, as if she was back in the South Pole. Her limbs became as heavy as lead, her head filled with bending forms that she had never imagined. Korra ceased being herself, and became a vessel of pure power. A weapon honed in on the Equalist threat. The sight of Shaozu quivering in fear drove out the last bits of her mercy.
You must protect him, you must young Avatar!
She ignored her enemies' screams of pain, and brought earth disks to wrap around their legs. She earth bent them over the side. The voices in her mind didn't care that they would sink to the bottom of the pool below, and most likely drown. They didn't care about the other chi-blockers that moved to stop her, even as they used her to crush their ribs in their chests with the force of earth covered fists. As she gave them concussions with her lethal blows. All they cared about was the boy crying for her help, the boy that Amon was staring down at.
Before she could rush to his side, a familiar face stood in her path. The Lieutenant was by far the strongest Equalist under Amon, and acted as the second in command. He was tall and agile, armed with two rods that pulsed with electricity. He had given Korra trouble when she and Mako went to save Bolin. She would always remember his face. The two circled each other for just a moment before bursting into action.
He moved to strike her with his weapon, a cocky smirk on his face. The Avatar became as fluid as her birth element; she dodged his lethal attacks, feeling the heat from his electric rods as they barely missed her skin. Korra side stepped his right jab and kneed him in the stomach. As he was hobbled over, she bent water around his electric rods, encasing him in ice up to his forearms. His eyes widened in shock, just before brilliant orange flame took over his sight. Korra hit him with a strong fire blast that propelled the Lieutenant over the side of the ring and into the drink.
All was quiet as Korra turned back to look at Amon, who was looking back at her in that expressionless mask of his. Ignoring her, the madman turned back to gaze down into Shaozu's eyes, which were wide and full of tears. Ignoring the other two Equalists that held the remaining Wolfbats down, Korra charged Amon with everything she had. She watched as he placed those cold fingers she knew too well on Shaozu's forehead.
Got closer still as he met her eyes once more in a silent plea for her to save him.
Just before the light left his eyes, before he gave up hope, Korra wrapped her strong hands around the villain's broad shoulders and lifted with all her might. She took delight in his sound of surprise as she lifted this grown man off the ground and over her right shoulder.
At this sight, the other Equalists abandoned their prisoners and ran towards their leader, who was slowly getting to his feet. Shaozu collapsed into a shaking heap, his friends at his side at once now that the threat was gone. Amon watched a now feral Avatar as she growled so low and deep that even he felt that he had crossed a line.
Korra's head was filled with the voices of her past lives. Urging her to protect, to defend, to challenge. She leveled a cold look on the enemies before her and pointed a finger in their direction. Her hand was shaking with rage.
"You think you can come in here and threaten those that are under my care? I answered your threat head on. I told these people here, the entire city, that they had nothing to be afraid of. That you were nothing more than a coward on a power trip, hungry for something that is not yours to possess. I stood before them as their Avatar, and proclaimed that I would protect them. From you, and every piece of scum that works for you. That is a promise I intend to keep!" she yelled these words to him.
Korra could feel the adrenaline flowing through her veins as she faced the man she once feared. The desire to protect was so strong that she felt she would drown in it. It gave her the strength to break away from those who held her down, gave her the gall to lift Amon like a sack of flour over her head. Kyoshi's words rang in her mind as she zeroed her gaze on the masked man before her.
"Protecting the innocents is one of the Avatar's most pressing duties. It is time you learned this, young child of Yue".
She wished this lesson did not come at the cost of Shaozu nearly losing his bending. Spirits, she was almost too late. But when she had removed Amon from the boy's presence, he had given her a look of pure gratitude, borderline reverence that let her know she had made it in time.
"What you've brought down on this city is not Equality. It's pure terror. People, benders and non-benders, are afraid at the chaos you have laid down over their heads. You have divided families with your preaching that benders treat non-benders a certain way, when honestly, it's not true. People have the capacity to be many things, being a bender or non-bender has nothing to do with that. I was terrified of you for too long. But no more. I am no longer afraid of you Amon. You and your little army of chi-blocking misfits can go to hell! If you want to do any more damage to this city and its people, you will have to go through me," she hissed.
The Arena waited on baited breath, all eyes on the raging girl in the ring.
The spectators, even the disguised Equalists, were trapped in the rapture that was Korra. Standing tall, shoulders back, face alive with righteous fury; she was truly a sight to behold. The frightened boy behind her was still quaking in fear, but they could see that he was taking comfort in being behind the wall of safety that was Korra. All could see that he was counting on her to protect him. And that she was delivering it.
"I am Avatar Korra of the Southern Water Tribe, only daughter of Tonraq and Senna! I will stand in between you and these innocents, who are mine to protect. If you want to lay claim to this city as its ruler, you will have to dispose of me first. I will not make it easy for you," the Avatar proclaimed.
For a split second her voice had contorted with power. For the briefest of moments, the voices of the Avatars before her filled her own with their enormous Spirit. Fire of all colors erupted from her hands, brilliant hues mesmerizing all who were looking at her. With her right hand she drew a line in the middle of the ring, separating the Equalists from them with a wall of scalding flames.
She leveled her dark stare at Amon, channeling every ounce of her resolve into her eyes. She did not move as an airship hovered over the hole in the roof. Did not move as cords dropped down for Amon and his cronies to latch onto. Did not move as she followed them with her eyes as they escaped the Arena, and into the night. Korra wanted to pursue them, oh how she wanted to burn him alive in her rage.
However, the shaking hand that had gripped the back of her gear held her in place, held her tethered to the physical world. Shaozu's grip on her shirt was a reminder of who she was protecting, and that she couldn't leave him behind. Once Amon's airship was out of sight, Korra turned around and dropped to her knees. Without saying a word she lifted the helmet off of his sweat drenched head. She placed both hands on either side of his flushed face and looked deep into those brown eyes.
"You're safe now," was all Korra said before she gathered the frightened firebender in her arms and held him close. Held him tighter as he let out each heart wrenching sob into her chest. Ran her hands over his hair again and again as his tears stained her ferret uniform. She knew the people in the Arena were cheering for her, their voices rising in the chant that they were no longer afraid. She knew that Tahno and Ming were on their knees beside their friend, eyes wide in shock and fear at what they had just witnessed. She knew that Mako and Bolin had found a way back to her, and were silently standing at her side. She knew that Chief Beifong had appeared, covered in blood that was not her own, and was issuing out orders for the evacuation of the citizens. She even could feel the hand of her Airbending master, Tenzin, on her shoulder.
She could hear and feel everything that was going on in the Arena. None of that was her main priority though. The young man in her arms, the one crying his heart out as he thanked her in a voice choked with sobs, was the only person Korra was focused on. As she whispered soothing reassurances in Shaozu's ear, Korra could hear the hum of approval deep in the recesses of her mind. They finally released their hold on her, and Korra's body began to feel normal once again. She shuddered as the nights events briefly flashed in her mind, and wondered what else her ancestors were going to do to her. The hum of her past lives' voices filled her head with a phrase that made her grimace.
Well met, young Avatar.
Tenzin stood behind his young student, too shocked to utter a word. He did not know how this night had turned for the worst. He and Lin were standing sentry by their section of the stands. All had been well, so they had taken a moment to watch the battle out in the ring. Pride had filled his chest as he watched Korra dance on air, leading her team to stunning victories and picking them up when they suffered defeats. She had grown since first arriving in Republic City. He never had any doubt that the brash young tribal girl, riding atop her wild beast Naga, would turn into such a promising young Avatar.
He had just told Lin this, when she turned to him with the most interesting look in her eye.
"That student of yours is shaping into a scary young woman," she had said. Tenzin had initially laughed at his childhood friend, but turned solemn when he realized she was serious.
"Today, as we were patrolling the grounds to make sure there was nothing amiss, she had turned into someone else. Tenzin, it's like that fiery hothead turned into a pillar of stone so cold it chilled me. She then turned to me with insight far beyond her years. The Korra I have come to know would never doubt innocents, or even imply that enemies could come with the faces of friends. But there she was, telling me to use that seismic sense Mom taught me to detect anybody with an unusually slow heartbeat. That was the opinion of a war general, not an 17 year old girl," Beifong explained, her eyes back on the ring.
Tenzin could only sputter at this, but remembered how strangely she had been acting the last couple of days. She was very successful with her meditations, rivaling Jinora when it came to the length of time she stayed quiet. She had not run off in the middle off the night to explore, or even complained about his lengthy speeches about Airbending ideologies. Korra had actually been really attentive, painstakingly respectful, and insightful with her questions. He had chalked it up to her finally getting serious about her training. But maybe, just maybe, she had experienced something that made her change so rapidly.
Before he could answer Lin, he felt white hot electricity enter his body before everything went dark. He was shaken awake by Lin a few minutes later, surrounded by her metal benders and the ensuing chaos. He tried to get to Korra, but was stopped by all the chi-blockers that were trying to attack the masses. He could only keep an eye on her from afar. He watched as she bent that incredibly strong sheet of ice to shield her friends from crushing debris. Watched as she sent them away with a torrent of water just as she was surrounded by enemies. Watched as Amon himself had his hands on her face. That had him filled with anger, but Lin had held him back.
By then, they had controlled the crowds enough so that there was no more threat to the people. He could only watch as Amon threatened that Wolfbat boy, threatened to take his bending away to punish Korra for defying him. Before he could airbend himself into the ring, he watched his young charge explode into action. Never before had he seen her move like that. The expression on her face was more frightening than he had ever witnessed, and he had seen a furious Katara! Korra had used forms that he knew no one had taught her, wielding flames so strong it propelled Amon's right hand man quite a ways.
He had watched in shock as she wrapped dense stone around the limbs of her captures and sent them to die in the drink.
Lin had let out a whistle at that, sending a few metal benders to retrieve those Korra tossed to their demises. Even the Chief of Police had to give it to the girl for her ruthlessness. What really shocked him was how she raced toward the vulnerable boy, rushed toward a man he thought she was deathly afraid of, and lifted him clean off his feet. The words she bellowed at Amon will forever be fresh on his mind, that low growl she sent his way as she stood defensively in front of the Wolfbats is an image he will never forget.
Gone was the clumsy girl that failed to 'be the leaf'. Gone was the child he had come to think of as his own, the one that pouted when he woke her before dawn. The being that stood in the ring in that moment was the fearsome Avatar of old, claiming all in the city as hers to protect. The fire wall she erected was so full of color that he felt tears well in his eyes. It was the fire of Dragons, beings that almost went extinct during the 100 year war. Before Amon had vanished into the night, Tenzin was riding the wind to be beside her.
Tenzin used his Airbending to extinguish the flames on the platform, which allowed Lin and her metal benders safe passage onto the ring. He had placed a hand on Korra's shoulder, trying to send soothing vibes her way, but was stung by the amount of raw power that was raging through her. Korra had that boy in her arms, enveloped in a mother's protecting embrace as she allowed him to sob on and on. Tenzin had looked at Mako and Bolin then, worry etched on his face. He could see that they were shocked too, unable to explain the actions of the girl before them.
Whatever had spurred her change was lost to them too.
Now he was standing behind Korra once more as she stood inside a makeshift healing tent. Republic City General had rushed to the Arena as soon as Lin gave the all clear, and set up stations to heal the wounded. Thankfully, there were no casualties among the spectators of the Finals match or the Police force.
Tenzin had chosen to inform Korra of the number of Equalists she killed when they returned home.
His eyes fell on Korra's shoulders as she bowed to another person before gathering the water in her hands. She had insisted to be one of the healers in the tents, claiming that it was she that put them in danger so it was her job to heal them. There weren't many to treat, but Tenzin found the smiles of thanks on each one as Korra healed them lift his young charges spirit. They each thanked her for protecting them in their time of need, thanked her for showing them that it was okay to be brave. One little girl had even told Korra that she was her hero. That had made the young Avatar's eyes well with tears as she enveloped the girl in a hug.
Korra sent the last patient on their way before sinking into her chair. She let loose a sigh so ragged it shook her mentor's bones. She gestured for him to sit beside her, and she sat up straight as she felt his eyes on her. Expectant.
"Master Tenzin, there is something I need to tell you," she began, voice filled with exhaustion.
She could see the worry etched on his brow, see the hidden anger in the lines of his frown. She knew now that it was wrong of her to keep this from him. That she had robbed him of his chance to help her before she exploded. Korra could feel the tears pool in her eyes, but held them back by sheer force of will. She would not cry, not in front of her mentor.
So she began by telling him of the first vision, that afternoon after her appearance at the council meeting. She told him every detail of every fugue she had, even the dreams that plagued her as she slept. Korra told him of his father and how he felt imprisoned by the chains of being the Avatar. Told him of how he had created Air Temple Island so he could raise his family in peace and rebuild his fallen nation. Korra told Tenzin of how beautiful and supportive his mother was. About how Toph Beifong had sworn to protect the City her friends had built with her own two feet.
Korra paused as she came to the part involving Kyoshi. She allowed her Master to throw an arm over her shoulder as she recounted how it felt to have the powerful woman take over her body. About how cold she felt while Kyoshi gave her that valuable warning. She finally finished with the way her past lives had warned her about the impending attack, admitting that she didn't know that at the time. During the first round, she heard them chant that all was not as it seemed. That she would have to rise and become the Avatar. Korra shuddered, telling Tenzin the parting words they had left for her when she was comforting Shaozu.
"Well met, young Avatar," Korra recited, voice just as cold as theirs had been. Once everything was out, she wrapped her arms around Tenzin's middle and finally allowed herself to relax. She could feel him rubbing soothing circles into her back, just like her father used to do. It almost broke the floodgates, but his voice brought her back.
"Korra, why didn't you mention this before?" he asked. There was pain in his voice, and Korra felt hot shame rise in her gut at the thought of hurting him.
"I was so tired of disappointing you Tenzin! Every day I can't make progress in my training makes me feel like I am wasting your time. That I am a horrible excuse for an Avatar, and that I am not worthy of your instruction. So when the first vision happened, I wanted to make sure it wasn't a fluke. But when they continued, I became scared. Finally, when Kyoshi possessed me today is when I knew I had to ask for help," Korra explained, words rushing out of her like a river. Turning to her master, she bowed her head,
"I know now that I was so very wrong to keep this from you. That if anybody could help me, it was you! I don't know anything about this spiritual mumbo jumbo, and it's scared the Spirits out of me. Please Tenzin, I need your help," she said, voice small.
Tenzin stood up then, grasping his ward by the shoulders. He brought his hand up to her chin and lifted her face so he could look into her eyes. The girl he knew was back, none of that immortal rage he witnessed earlier. He sighed with relief.
"I could never be disappointed in you, Korra. I understand why you hid this from me, but please, know that I will never turn you away. We will get through this together. You are not alone, not anymore," he told her.
Korra could feel the large weight lift off her chest, and finally let out a shaky laugh. She allowed Tenzin to lead her out of the now abandoned Arena yard and onto his sky bison, as they left the destroyed building behind.
