Greetings, benders from across the Verse and welcome to Avatar: Duality.
I hope your all going to enjoy it as much as I had writing it and now on to the review.
girani4: ...It was suppose to be a secret? I thought it was pretty obvious Soshi was the Vigilante. Still thanks for the compliment.
Now story time.
At night, the sleeping form of Korra's is laying in her room on Air Temple Island.
She quickly shoots up in her bed, alarmed. Soon after, an Equalist chi blocker breaks through the window, while two more break in through the door. Korra jumps out of her bed and kicks a downward fire arc through the air.
She kicks another arc in the air toward them. The chi blockers dodge it and come at her, but Korra blasts two shots of fire to keep them at bay. The chi blockers avoid her attacks, while one leaps up in the air while spinning like a top in an attempt to kick Korra's head, but Korra blocks the hit with her arm, and fires several fists of fire.
While Korra is distracted from keeping two of the chi blockers away, the other somersaults and uses chi blocking on her back, before kicking her to the ground on her knees while she lets out a shout of pain.
Fatigued, Korra sees Amon walking toward her.
"After I take your bending away, you will be nothing.", Amon said, reaches hand toward Korra's face as she watches with fear.
Korra wakes up with a frightful scream, beads of sweat running down her face and gasping for air. She looks around, seeing she was in the sitting room of the Shuang Mansion, light, happy music plays from the radio, having taken a quick nap when she visited Soshi.
"Hey, you alright?", Soshi asked, just entering the room.
"It's... it's all right, Soshi. I just had a bad dream. I am fine Soshi, really!", Korra said, as her friends leans against the fireplace. He raised an eyebrow at her, but decided to drop the subject, "Can I ask you something?"
"You may ask me anything.", he said.
"Can I ask what happened to your parents?"
Soshi let out a deep sigh, knowing this question was coming ever since Korra had come back into his life. Pushing himself off the fire place, he walked around the table, taking a seat next to her, he began to speak.
"It was a week after our last visit to your parents. We left the theater after one of my favorite plays, we where mugged, by a firebender.", Soshi mumbled, the memories still fresh on his mind even after eleven years, "My father tried to stop him, but he cut him down, then he burned my mother... He would have killed me too if it wasn't for the timely arrival of the police..."
"Soshi...", Korra said consolingly, petting him on the back, "A tragedy like that, at such a young age..."
He didn't look at her, he didn't say anything, he merely staring out in front of him. The music becomes static and soon after, Amon's voice is heard.
"Good evening, my fellow Equalists.", the voice of Amon said, Soshi's gaze sharpens, "This is your leader, Amon. As you have heard, the Republic Council has voted to make me public enemy number one, above a bender who takes the law in his own hands, proving once again that the bending oppressors of this city will stop at nothing to quash our revolution. But we cannot be stopped. Our numbers grow stronger by the day. You no longer have to live in fear. The time has come for benders to experience fear."
The radio returns to static.
Soshi's face darkened, someone had to play a tape of Amon's recording at the radio tower, meaning someone in there is on Amon's side. Looking over at his friend, he noticed her fearful expression.
He places a hand on her shoulder. "W-What?", Korra said not looking at him.
"Don't be afraid...", Soshi said softly, "I won't ever let him harm you."
But Korra didn't seem very reassured, trying to hide this by smirking at him, "I am sure you will. Next the big CEO takes down Amon all by himself.", Korra teased, giving him a playful punch to the shoulder.
Late that afternoon, Soshi was giving a Korra a ride back to the island in his red sport's Satomobile.
"So you where telling me about that diner with Tenzin's family.", Soshi said.
"Well we where about to have dinner when this Councilman came in.", Korra began to explain.
"What's so unusual of Tenzin attending diner in his own home?", he asked.
"No, not Tenzin. It was this Northern Water Tribe representative Tarrlok.", Korra said, "He was putting together a task force to take Amon down. He has read all about my adventures in the papers. I think he's the first authority figure in the city who's happy I'm here."
"I am happy your here!", Soshi protested, stopping for a red light.
She laughed at his remark, "And I am grateful for that. But he wanted me to join that task force. He said he needed someone who will help attack Amon directly, someone who is fearless in the face of danger."
"That someone does sound like you.", Soshi said, as the lights turn to green, "So what did you say?"
"I refused.", she admitted. Surprise lights Soshi's faces, Korra looks out of the side window.
"Really?", he said surprised, "I thought you'd jump at the chance to help lead the charge against Amon."
"I came to Republic City to finish my Avatar training with Tenzin.", Korra said, "Right now, I just need to focus on that."
"I think you did the right thing.", Soshi said, "I don't know Tarrlok personally, but I have met him a few times and he seems a bit fishy to me. And that's not because he is a waterbender."
Just as they pulled up at the Air Temple Island dock, they noticed Bolin stepping off the ferry coming from the island.
He waved at them as he approached them, "Hello fellow teammate and friend!", he said, the fire ferret, Pabu, sitting on his shoulder.
"Hey, Bolin.", Korra said, as they got out of the Satomobile.
"Good afternoon, Bolin.", Soshi said.
"I went to visit you at the Air Temple, but I heard you where hanging out at Soshi's.", Bolin said, "Missed you at practice this week, but it's alright, we're probably out of the tournament anyways unless some money miraculously drops out of the sky by tomorrow."
"Your team needs money?", Soshi asked, leaning against the hood of his car.
"Yeah, the Fire Ferrets need to ante up thirty thousand yuans for the championship pot.", Bolin said.
"Thirty thousand yuans?", Soshi said, turning to Korra, "Why didn't you tell me any of this? Is this the reason Bolin was with the Triads?"
"It was... and the reason I didn't tell you because... Because I didn't want to make it think I only use you for the money.", Korra said.
"I would never think you would only use me for the money.", he admitted, both having a soft smile as they looked at each other.
"A-Anyways, the reason I came by was to give you this.", Bolin said, walking up to Korra holding out a cupcake and a rose, Pabu climbs off his shoulder.
"What's this for?", Korra asked, taking his gifts.
"I can't remember now...", Bolin said, rubbing his chin, "Oh yeah, now I remember. You saved me from Amon!"
"Oh, that?", Korra said, shrugging, "It was no big deal. That Vigilante guy did more than me."
"Sure, but I don't know where he lives, so your the next best thing", Bolin said, but Soshi could figure why the young earthbender was really giving her those gifts, and he was not sure if he liked that. "But it's a big deal, I was totally freaking out when he was coming at me with his creepy mask all, 'I will take away your bending forever'.", he tries to comically replicate Amon while Korra looks at him with a worried expression.
It was then that they were approached by Tarrlok's assistant, carrying a large basket of items surrounded by flowers and sets them next to Korra. "Delivery for Avatar Korra. Tarrlok sends his compliments and urges you to reconsider his offer."
"Tell him I haven't changed my mind.", Korra said.
"I was also ordered to give you this.", he said, taking an envolpe from the inside of his pocket, "It's an invitation."
"To what?", Korra said surprised, grabs the papers out of his hands and starts reading them.
"Tarrlok is throwing a gala in your honor. All of Republic City's movers and shakers will be there.", the assistant said, "The councilman humbly requests your attendance.", he bows and walks off.
"Who's this Tarrlok guy? Is he bothering you?", Bolin asked, "Because I could have a word with him.", punches fist into his other hand.
"It's not like that, I hope...", Soshi said, "He's just some old guy who works with Tenzin on the council."
"That sounds better.", Bolin said with a smile, "I like that better."
Later that night at City Hall with two huge banners with the picture of Korra on them.
Korra, Soshi, Tenzin, Pema, Ikki, Jinora, and Meelo enter the City Hall building dressed in gala clothing. The kids run off. The other attendants start clapping as they notice Korra walking in.
Pema starts wandering off and socializing with the people. Tenzin starts looking around and notices Meelo. His head turns blue in surprise and he gasps, "Meelo! No, that's not a toilet! Oh dear.", he walks toward Meelo in shame while covering his eyes, leaving Korra and Soshi alone.
Korra looks around stunned, "I can't believe this is all for me.", she said.
"I'm not sure what Tarrlok's plotting, but stay on your toes.", Soshi said, crossing his arms, "It's not like him to throw a party just for the fun of it."
"Well it's good your going to be at my side the entire evening.", she said, looking him up and down, "You know Soshi, you look pretty nice in a suit.", as the two went to get something to drink.
"You look stunning in that dress yourself.", Soshi said with a smirk, "You actually look like a girl for once.", this earned him a playful punch to his shoulder.
"So glad you could make it, Avatar Korra."
Turning around to see the tanned dark brown haired man with three ponytails standing behind them.
"Tarrlok.", Soshi said.
"Soshi Shuang! Glad to have you here, my boy. How are we?", Tarrlok said with a tone of voice dripping with fake enthusiasm, shaking hands with the young man, "If you'd excuse us, the city awaits its hero."
He was about to lead Korra away, but Soshi grabbed her upper arm, "Korra is not going anywhere with you.", he told him, "Not without me. Right, Korra?"
"Right.", she nodded.
Tarrlok seemed a bit taken aback by this, but recomposed himself quickly, "Very well.", he said gesturing them to follow him.
Mingling in the party, Tarrlok walked them over to a table to the side where a man with graying black hair and a thick mustache was sitting.
"Soshi, my boy!", the man said.
"Hiroshi.", Soshi said with a slight smile, shaking his hand, "Korra, this is Hiroshi Sato, owner of the second biggest corporation in Republic City and one of the most famous and brilliant industrialist the world has ever seen."
"Nice to meet you.", Korra said with a bow.
"Your giving me too much credit, Soshi.", Hiroshi laughed, before turning to bow at Korra, "We're all expecting great things from you."
From the crowd behind Hiroshi, Soshi spotted a person he was expecting to be at this party, with two people he wasn't excepting to see at this party.
It was the beautiful raven black haired, green eyed Asami Sato, the only daughter of Hiroshi, with Mako and Bolin.
What surprised Soshi the most was that Asami was holding Mako's arm as if they where a couple. Next to him Korra frowns and narrows her eyes when she notices this little detail as well.
"Hey, Korra! Soshi!", Mako said.
"What this party has suddenly become much more excited.", Soshi said happy to see the two benders, before turning to Korra, "This is Asami, Hiroshi's daughter."
"Its great to see you again, Soshi.", Asami said with a smile, turning to Korra, "It's lovely to meet you. Mako's told me so much about you."
"Really? Because he hasn't mentioned you at all.", Korra said in a clipped tone, "How did you two meet?"
To answer this question, Bolin leans over toward Korra and speaks quickly, "Asami crashed into him on her moped."
"Really?... Maybe I should play in traffic.", Soshi said, "You didn't sustained any damage, Mako?"
"I'm fine. More than fine.", Mako said, "Mister Sato agreed to sponsor our team; we're back in the tournament!"
"Now Soshi doesn't have to pay!", Bolin said.
But then Tarrlok, who Soshi had forgotten was there, called over Chief Beifong. "I believe you and Avatar Korra have already met."
"Just because the city's throwing you this big to-do, don't think you're something special." Beifong said in a harsh tone while glaring at Korra, "You've done absolutely nothing to deserve this."
"So Lin, what's the status on the Vigilante?", Tarrlok asked, trying to keep things light at the party.
"It's going fine.", Beifong told him, "It won't be long before that maniac is sitting behind bars."
"Why? He's a hero!", Bolin said, "He saved me from the Equalists."
"I have to agree with, Bolin.", Asami said still smiling, "The Vigilante is fighting against the injustice of the Triads in the city. He gives hope to people suppressed by them. What do you think, Soshi?"
"I think someone who goes out at night to beat people up clearly as issues.", Soshi said with a chuckle, "Perhaps he had a bad childhood, but then everyone has had one or else your not normal appearantly."
"Well I think the Vigilante deserves a medal.", Hiroshi added, agreeing with his daughter.
"Yeah, and a straitjacket to put it on.", Soshi said, realizing that Korra and Tarrlok where gone.
Looking frantically around, he noticed the two standing on top of a stair, where a lot of reporters are waiting downstairs. Many guests are present in the background. As soon as the media notices Korra, they rush for the stairs and start bombarding her with questions.
"Oh, shit.", Soshi said as Tarrlok pushes Korra forward, who was bombarded with questions.
"Avatar Korra, you witnessed Amon take away people's bending firsthand. How serious a threat does he pose to the innocent citizens of Republic City?"
Korra clears her throat, "I think he presents a real problem.", she sounded slightly confused while saying this.
All Soshi could do was stand and watch as Tarrlok's plan to force Korra into his task force seems to be working.
"Then why have you refused to join Tarrlok's task force? As the Avatar, shouldn't you be going after Amon? Why are you backing away from this fight?"
"What? No!", Korra said offended, "I've never backed away from anything in my life!"
"You promised to serve this city, aren't you going back on that promise now?"
"Do you think pro-bending is more important than fighting the revolution?"
"How do you think Avatar Aang would have handled this?"
Korra is clearly starting to get confused, annoyed, and intimidated by this bombardment of questions.
"Are you afraid of Amon?"
"I am not afraid of anybody!", Korra shouted, "If the city needs me then... I'll join Tarrlok's task force and help fight Amon."
Tarrlok rushes forward to put his arm on Korra's shoulder and yells, "There's your headline, folks."
Soshi looks down, feeling powerless to stop this. Bolin and Mako look at each other, confused. The other guests also look confused except Asami, who is still smiling and looking forward while holding Mako's arm.
Tarrlok smiles mischievously as Korra looks down with a sad expression when she realizes that she has been tricked.
It had been a few days since Korra joined the task force and despise the successes of the raids against the Equalist movement, Soshi couldn't help but worry about her safety.
Soshi was sitting in his living room, the tip of his fingers pressed against each other as he was listening to the radio, where Tarrlok and Korra where being interviewed.
"Miss Korra is doing great work.", Mitsuzo said, placing Soshi's cup of tea on the coffee table.
"She does, but I can't help but worry about her.", Soshi said, placing a single sugarcube in his cup.
"I know the feeling, Master Soshi.", the butler said, completely understanding the feeling he was going through, "The worries when a young person goes out into the night to bring justice, to fight for those who can't fight back, the worries if they don't come home in a body bag. It can make their loved ones worried."
"...Avatar Korra has bravely answered the call to action. With the two of us leading the charge, Republic City has nothing to fear from Amon and the Equalists.", the voice of Tarrlok said.
Soshi's expression darkened at the councilman's voice.
"Question for the Avatar!", one of the interviewers said, "Amon remains at large. Why have you failed to locate him?"
"You want to know why? Because Amon is hiding in the shadows like a coward.", Korra's voice said. But what she said next nearly gave Soshi a heart attack, "Amon, I challenge you to a duel! No task force, no chi blockers, just the two of us tonight at midnight on Avatar Aang Memorial Island. Let's cut to the chase and settle this thing, if you're man enough to face me."
Soshi stood up, dropping his cup of tea, spilling it all over the carpet. "That idiot!", Soshi shouted, walking past hist butler.
"I guess you are going to need a lot more exploclay, and a fresh set of your evening clothes.", Mitsuzo said, walking after him, "And of course an extra refill of the water in the wristbands. Not sure how useful it will be, but I have also made some improvement to your mask."
"I am only going to need righty and lefty when Amon so much as touches Korra.", Soshi growled, "She is going to be walking into a trap, if I can't talk her out of it, we will set a trap for Amon himself."
That evening at the Republic City dock. Soshi's sport Satomobile comes to a halt. Stepping out he saw Korra, Tarrlok, Tenzin and several others are. From the looks of it, the airbending master had attempted to talk Korra out of this, but hadn't much success.
"Korra! What do you think your doing?", Soshi said, briskly striding to his friend.
"Don't try to stop me Soshi, I have to face Amon alone.", Korra said, not facing him as she wraps rope loosely around her arms and hands.
"Can't you see this is madness?", Soshi said, angrily, "What are you trying to prove here?"
"I am not proving anything! This isn't about me!", Korra yelled, becoming just as angrily, before facing him, "This is about bringing him to justice!"
"This isn't about justice!", Soshi yelled back, "This is about you proving your not scared of Amon!"
Korra didn't say anything, but angrily turning away from him stepping into a boat and guiding it away from the docks and towards Avatar Aang Memorial Island using waterbending.
Turning to Tarrlok angrily, "This is all your fault!", Soshi shouted, feeling the hand of Tenzin on his shoulder.
"I tried to talk her out of it too, but she's made up her mind.", Tarrlok said, crossing his arms, "We'll be watching the island closely. If anything goes wrong, I have a fleet of police airships ready to swoop down."
Soshi huffed at this, ignoring Tenzin as he went back to his car before driving off.
Korra stands at the base of the statue of Avatar Aang's, with her hair being blown by the wind. At slight provocation, Korra gets into a battle stance.
As the clock sounds midnight, Korra is startled, she sighs in relief as soon as she realized it was just the clock that startled her. She takes a deep breath to recover her focus and stares at the skyline as the lights start to dim. She sits down, tired and exhausted from waiting in fear.
"Guess you're a no-show, Amon.", Korra yawned, "Who's scared now?", she stands up and walks away while stretching.
As Korra walks past the base of the statue, a bola is thrown at her feet and Korra is dragged into the base of the statue. As soon as she reaches the center, she finds herself surrounded by a circle of twenty chi blockers.
She quickly spins and bends fire around her in an attempt to defend herself, but she is quickly overwhelmed as two whips entangle her hands from both sides, preventing her to move away, she uses her legs to kick some fire and earth around, but she is ultimately hit in the back by several punches from multiple chi blockers.
Korra lies down on the ground with several chi blockers behind her. Two Equalists take her by the arms and force her to sit on her knees. She looks up and notices Amon entering the area.
"I received your invitation, young Avatar.", Amon said.
Korra is frightened as Amon reaches out his hand in order to touch her face; she turns her face away. Amon bends his wrist so his hand is now with his palm facing upward as he grabs Korra by her chin and forces her to look at him.
"Our showdown, while inevitable, is premature.", the white masked man said, "Although it would be the simplest thing for me to take away your bending right now, I won't. You'd only become a martyr. Benders of every nation would rally behind your untimely demise, but I assure you, I have a plan. And I'm saving you for last, then you'll get your duel, and I will destroy you."
He moved to jab at her shoulder, only for multiple explosion's went off around the, knocking a four Equalists out, surprising the others when water floods the room and freezes, with the remaining Equalist's yelping in surprise.
A smoke pellet was dropped from above, the Vigilante dropping from the ceiling, using one of the Equalists to break his fall.
Through the smoke, the eerily green glowing eyes of his mask pierced through it as he took on the remaining fifteen Equalists. Three of them had their bodies burned by a massive blast, two others where smacked against two others before being throw into a pillar using a water tendril.
The smoke cleared, when one of the Equalist attempted to grab him from behind, only to find his leg being frozen, setting him up for a fiery uppercut from the Vigilante.
Evading the jabs from two others, he kicked them against the wall using waterbending two freezes their head to the pillar.
A chi blocker leaps up and tries to grab the Vigilante, who counters by jumping up kicking a large fire blast, hitting him in the chest. Landing back with a spin, he sends a fire blast taking out three more.
When he was still kneeling from the movement, another chi blocker comes from behind him swinging a bola, only for the Vigilante blasting a stream of water at the chi blocker and freezes him to the wall.
Standing back up, he saw Korra sitting on the floor, scared but unharmed. But his attention was turned away by the sound of slow clapping.
"Amazing. I knew you where a bender, but I never thought you would be a Dual Bender.", Amon praised, placing his hands behind his back, "It's a shame, we are not so different you and I. Had you been born a non-bender, I think we could have been great allies and even greater friends ."
"I am nothing like you, Amon.", Vigilante growled, dropping into his stance.
"Not? We both hide our face behind a mask, we are both wanted man, we both inspire and give people hope and fight the injustice of Benders abusing their power.", Amon summed up, "Except I have an army to help me fight this war. And while I applaud you for taking the fight to the Triads, you should be going after the biggest gangsters in Republic City, maybe even the entire planet."
"And who would that be?", he growled.
"If you really want to save this city, you should go after the Shuang's.", Amon said, dropping a smoke pellet of his own, "If you want the reason you can bend two elements, the Shuang's have your answer."
The smoke filled the room, and once it cleared Amon had disappeared. Keeping his emotions under control, he went over to Korra, taking his sword out and cutting her lose from her binding.
Grabbing her by the shoulders and sits her up. "Are you all right?", Vigilante said, placing the sword back on the holster on his back.
"Y-Yeah...", Korra said, suddenly starts crying. Vigilante embraces, allowing her to continue cry on his chest, putting his arms around her, "I was so terrified, I felt so helpless."
"It's all right, the nightmare is over.", Vigilante whispered gently.
She backs away a little, yet still crying, "S-Soshi was right... I've been scared this whole time. I've never felt like this before and I don't know what to do!", she said wiping tears away, "Please don't believe Amon about what he said about Soshi."
"Admitting your fears is the most difficult step in overcoming them." the Vigilante said, "And I take everything a man in a mask tells me with a grain of salt."
Korra gave a sad chuckle at his remark, seeing the irony him the masked Vigilante telling her this.
Well there ya go, another chapter, hope you enjoyed. Many thanks to everyone who reads, reviews, favorite or follows this story, you beautiful bastards!
If you liked what you read, don't forget to leave a review, for now I wish you all a fantastic day and I hope to see you ladies and gents, next time.