Author Notes: New chapter! I hope you all enjoy it!

EM ;)

CH 4- Secrets Revealed

Asami POV

They hear the crying grow louder as they step through the door, but they still don't see the source of the noise just the experimental Mecha Suits her father keeps down here.

"Asami do you what these things are?" She hears Mako whisper as they pass one of the suits.

"I read about them in one of my father's journals, they are used for the country's defenses in case of attack."

"Emperor Hiroshi thinks of everything doesn't he?" She hears Bolin chime in with awe in his voice.

As we walk through the lines of Mecha Suits a row of cars come into view, but it wasn't the cars that caught my attention, but the door that was hidden behind them. It seemed the crying was coming from the other side.

We walk cautiously towards the door as the crying continues. I place my hand gently on the knob and begin to turn it, but as the door clicks open the crying stops.

Mako, Bolin, and I look at each other, but it didn't stop us from slowly entering the dark hallway.

Where exactly was this hall leading us to?

I then noticed the lone door at the end of the hall.

The hall was so quiet that the only noises we could hear were our soft footsteps and light breathing as we walked curiously to the door.

After reaching the door and trying to turn the knob the stiffness of it lets me know it's locked.

I turned to face Mako when I see him point to the wall.

On a hook, there was a key, but what I didn't understand was why they would keep the key right by the door if they wanted to keep people out… unless they wanted to keep someone in.

I grab the key and begin to rub it between my fingers.

I begin to wonder for a moment if it really was a good idea to open the door, but suddenly we hear voices coming from the warehouse.

I face the boys as we all realized it was one of the patrols. I quickly scan the hall for any place to hide, but there was none.

I quickly turn back to the locked door as we hear the footsteps stop in front of the entrance and without a second thought I force the key into the lock throwing the door open.

I feel Mako and Bolin rush inside behind me as I close the door as quietly and quickly as possible.

I place my ear on the door and hear the two guards still immersed in their conversation. They must not have heard the noise we created.

I can feel Mako and Bolin on each side of me listening to the other side of the door when I hear a few sniffles behind me.

My body turns slowly to see a figure that begins to stand up slowly in the darkness followed by the sound of chains scratching across the floor.

My hands dart to Bolin's mouth because at that moment I know he is about to scream at the top of his lungs when he turns towards the noise.

"Don't scream, the guards are still in the hall," I whisper into his ear and I feel his head nod.

Before the figure steps into the small light in the room, a voice is heard from the other side of the door.

"No crying today?"

I watch as the figure walks closer to us. I quickly feel as Mako steps in front of me and Bolin protecting us from the unknown person across the room, but as it slowly emerges into the light it's not the ghost we feared by just a girl.

She wore blue tattered clothes that covered only her torso and legs, her hair was up but slightly in a messy ponytail, and she also had two wolf tails puffs on the sides of her face. Her blue eyes seemed to glow in the dim light. As she came into full view I could see how she stared at us untrustingly, but at the same time, she hadn't revealed to the guards we were there.

"No, sir."

"Good, I will report the good behavior to Zaheer."

I hear as the guards continue their conversation and eventually the sound of the door shutting echoed in the hall.

I finally release Bolin's face and he dramatically starts to gasp for air, and as I turn to face the girl again she asks the question we all have.

"Who are you?"

She sniffs again as she wipes the remaining tears from her eyes. My heart aches at that sight for her.

"My name is Asami. What's your name?"

We all stayed were a safe distance from each other, but I also knew she wouldn't hurt us or she would have already.

"My name is…" I watch as she bites her lip with a look of uncertainty. "I don't remember."

How long was she in here that she doesn't remember her own name, or maybe she doesn't even have a name?

"Well, what do they call you?"

The girl walks forward a bit more but then sits cross-legged on the concrete. I look behind her towards her chains and realize she can't come forward anymore and decide it's safe for me to sit as well. I lay my hand on Mako's shoulder as I walk pass him sitting in front of the blue-eyed girl. I watch as she takes a few breaths.

"Well…" Again I see flashes of fear go across her face. What could be so scary about a name?

"You can call me, Korra."

I smile as I hear her whisper the name as if she let me have something that was precious to her.

"Well, Korra it's nice to meet you. These two lug heads with me are Mako and Bolin."

A quick 'Hey' is heard behind me, but my eyes are glued to the blue sapphires in front of me.

She didn't speak much as we tried to get to know her, and I could sense the defensive wall she had all around her.

The most I got out of her was that she wasn't allowed to leave her cell and that Zaheer was in charge of her.

Something about Zaheer had always put me on guard and I never liked him being my father's advisor, but being just a child I could never voice my opinion to my father.

She did, however, ask about the outside. The city and the machines she wasn't familiar with, like cars. Her eyes glowed with curiously as I describe some of the newer inventions my father had made.

Now, Bolin spoke enthusiastically about the food and the adventures we would go on and it seemed to fascinate her too, well, she was more interested in the foods.

Before we knew it, time was flying and I knew it was time to leave. We get up to leave the cell and as I am facing the door my heart skipped a beat.

We were leaving Korra in this place, alone, and I clenched my fists and turned quickly around.

"Korra, I promise we will visit. Wait for us. We won't forget and if it takes a few days its cause we have to sneak in here, ok?"

I see a small crooked smile on her face.

"Ok. I won't forget about you either."

I can't help but walk up to her and stick out my hand.

"Friends?"

The chained hand slowly raises and takes my hand.

"Yeah, friends."

We finally left the warehouse and we were walking back towards Mako's and Bolin's room when Mako finally decides to say something.

"Are you sure we can trust her Asami? I mean she's in that cell for a reason."

She hears Bolin stop as he places his hands over his mouth.

"What if she killed someone?! Or maybe she is a serial pastry thief!"

Both Mako and I stop and stare at him in disbelief of either scenario.

I shake my head and turn to continue down the hall.

"First off, there is no way someone her age could have killed someone. She's probably the child of a traitor to the Empire."

"Exactly, why we shouldn't be talking to her, Asami."

I stop at the boy's bedroom door and turn to stare at Mako.

"Do you really believe a child should be punished for their parent's bad choices?"

"Well… what if she wants to follow her parents' footsteps."

"And when she does she will suffer the consequences of that action, but I refuse to judge someone before I get to know them and what I can tell is that she is nothing more than a scared girl. Honestly, I would have been more scared if I was in her position in that dark cell, wouldn't you?"

Mako bows his head in shame.

"Yeah."

"Plus she seemed pretty interesting and I want to get to know her better. Maybe she is a pastry thief."

She looks over towards Bolin who is looking at her with his mouth open wide and pointing.

"See I knew I wasn't the only one to think that! She really wanted to eat the pastries I was talking about!"

I burst out laughing at Bolin and his gullibility.

Eventually, I get out of Mako's clothes and take a bath in my large tub.

I sit there in the warm water as the maids wash my back and I can't help but wonder where did that girl come from? Did she have a home? A family? The more I wondered the more I wanted to help her, but how?

It hadn't been particularly hard to see Korra especially with my father visiting Zaofu regularly lately. I would silently sneak out at night when the maids thought I was asleep and wake up Mako and Bolin to go with me. Even with Mako's strict personality he always seemed more eager than me to see her.

The timid girl I had first met was gone and replaced by an outgoing, outspoken and competitive girl. I would find myself staring at Korra as she would arm wrestle with the boys and being victorious the majority of the time.

I would bring her plenty of sweets which seemed to be her favorite and talk mostly about the boys' or my day, but like every other time, it seemed that the time to leave always came too quickly.

Mako escorted me back to my room and when I finally got into my night attire I found myself staring out my window.

The view overlooked the palace's grounds, and I could barely see the outline of the warehouse in the distance, but as I stared at it I began to notice something.

A small light was coming from the warehouse… no, it wasn't a light it was fire.

THE WAREHOUSE WAS ON FIRE!

I jump away from the window and dash down the hall towards the exit.

I could feel my heart pounding through my chest as I ran through the courtyard grass, and I was so focused on getting to the warehouse that I didn't notice that all the guards weren't at their posts.

At the moment I didn't care. All that was running through my head was that Korra was in the burning warehouse locked in a cell without a way out.

I bursts open the door to feel the flash of heat slap my face, but instead of backing away I cover my face with my arm and run in.

I run towards the secret door as I hear the crackling of the fire roaring around me and I try my best to avoid the burning equipment along the way.

I finally find the door that leads me to the stairs and as I run down them two at a time I can already feel my lungs beginning to burn with the smoke and my throat constantly coughing to expel the toxins, but my thoughts are focused on reaching her.

I finally enter the secret warehouse and notice only the room above was on fire, but that meant the ceiling above me was on fire too causing pieces of debris to fall around me. As I reached the second door that leads to the hall I was almost struck by a falling beam, but throw myself at the door hitting my head a little harder than expected, but I get up and keep going.

I open the door and I feel my burning eyes begin to blur my vision. I take a few steps towards Korra's door and the key hanging on the hook, but my legs finally give out underneath me.

My chest heaves for air and I can't stop the convulsing rising and falling of my chest and the almost soundless coughing.

If only I can open the door. If only I can just open the door she can get out.

Since I could no longer get up I begin to crawl towards the door, I go a few more feet, but I'm still too far away.

My body finally collapses and I know this is it. I wasn't able to save Korra and now I have put myself in this situation. I'm useless. I'm useless because I am weak and because I am weak now my friend and I will die in this prison.

A shriek of metal draws my attention towards the door in front of me and I watch as door twists and turns unnaturally till it is thrown to the side. I see Korra running towards me her hands and feet free from the chains and the only thought that comes to mind is, how?

Darkness engulfs me as I hear her say my name and the tugs as she places me on her back.

How?

Korra POV

I'm sleeping in my cell when I hear a weird noise, a large cracking noise.

I walk towards the door, but I am unable to see anything, but when I smell it I know.

Smoke.

I knew then the building was on fire and I stared down at the chains linked to my wrists. I give them a hard yank, but they are strong and don't even bend slightly at the harsh movement.

I run towards the wall and begin to pull at the chains linked the loop, but no matter how hard I pulled the loop would not budge.

I can see the room is slowly beginning to fill with smoke and with a few deep breaths I manage to blow the majority of it out with air bending, but I am still trapped.

I begin to try to hit the loop with the cuffs on my wrists, but it didn't seem to work and after a few more attempts I was beginning to run out of ideas.

The thought of dying didn't scare me anymore, not after spending two years in this prison. There was nothing left for me to do and if that was what the universe had for me, so be it. I went back to bed and sat at the edge waiting for the fire to claim my life, but then I heard it.

I hear the door to the hall open and a large amount of smoke enter the room. I bend it out of the way as I stand up and stare at the door to see who had come to set me free, but I never hear the key turn in the door.

I wait a few more moments and still see no one has come, so I plop onto my belly to see if I can see through the slot and I see her, Asami.

She is coughing uncontrollably on the ground and for a few moments she stops and I watch as she outstretches her hand towards me.

She was the only person willing to risk their life to save me.

I regain my strength and I try to fire bend one of the chain's links but even at red-hot it was taking too long to break. I know Asami can't last long inhaling all that smoke and with a fit of anger I grab the restraint on my wrist and pull.

I can feel the small pieces of earth within the metal as my hand tightens around the restraint and it crumbles in my hand.

Not having time to think I do the same to the other restraints and one after the other they fall to the ground freeing me.

I run towards the door trying to open it, but it is still locked. I quickly throw my body against the door, but it doesn't move an inch. I look back towards the restraints and then at the door. I put my hands together in front of me taking in a calming breath and with a quick hit; I hit the metal door with my hands.

Nothing.

I take another breath and do it again, but this time I feel a shift under my hands and open my eyes to see the metal morphed.

I reposition myself and with another breath, I force my hands into the metal gripping it within my hands and begin to twist the door out of its hinges and eventually throwing it out of my way with air bending.

I run towards Asami and I can see her barely breathing.

"Asami, it's ok. I'm going to get you out of here ok. Just hold tight."

I brush a loose lock of her hair out of her face as I kneel down pulling her arm over my shoulder, but she can't walk. So with a deep breath, I pull Asami's body completely onto my back and I grab a hold of her legs piggy back style and begin running out of the hall.

As I run I try my best to blow the smoke out of way and fire bend the flames around us smaller and just enough for us to run through the debris to get out here.

I reach to the top warehouse and the entire building is on fire. I look for the exits, but they are entirely engulfed in flames.

I have nowhere to go and the heat was almost overwhelming, even though my firebending allows me to be more tolerant of it.

As I search frantically for an exit I see a small window 5 feet above us and I know it's our only way out.

I lower Asami onto the floor and grab a jacket that was left lying around and place Asami back on my back and cover her with it. I run towards the window and, with a gust of air, throw us high into the air angling us to hit the window with our feet.

With a loud crashing sound of glass as we hit the window, I try my best to control the air around us as we fall, but I was too late and instead I quickly turn. The air is knocked out of me as I hit the hard ground face first, but I manage to get up with my shake legs and remove the jacket and see that Asami is ok.

I begin to run away from the warehouse when someone runs in front of me cutting me off.

I prepare myself to fight the person standing there until I recognize her.

"Nita!"

"Oh my gosh! You're alive! I thought I was too late!"

She grabs me and is about to hug me when she sees someone is on my back.

"Who is that?"

And as she lifts the hair to see the girl her eyes widen in fear.

"Why do you have the Princess!?"

Princess?

"I…I…"

Nita grabs my shoulders and looks me straight in the eyes.

"It doesn't matter the Palace is under attack. I'll take the Princess and take her to safety and you run."

I look up to meet her eyes.

"Run?"

"Yes, Korra. This is the perfect time to escape. They will believe the invaders took you or killed you and won't harm your parents! So hurry and run away!"

It takes a few moments to process what she is saying and questions begin to pop into my head.

"How do you know my…"

"There is only one person who can bring balance…"

How did Nita know the phrase? Had the white lotus infiltrated the ranks of the

Empire? These were all the questions that are racing through my head.

"Now, hurry, Korra, give me the Princess and ru…"

Before she can get the final word out three metal blades exit from her chest and blood sprays from her mouth with a cough.

I can feel my eyes widen as I watch her eyes begin to lose focus and her body fall to her knees.

In that instant, I see two men behind her with green uniforms and metal straps all along their bodies.

I'm frozen there staring at the men until I feel a hand grab my shirt. Nita.

"Run…"

Without another moment of hesitation, I take off running as her grip loosen around my shirt.

I can feel tears stinging my eyes as I run at top speed towards the palace. I'm about to turn the corner when pieces of metal wizzes by me and forces me to change direction. I begin to run zig zag to avoid the metal shards that are meant to kill us. Since I'm carrying Asami on my back I am unable to defend us and the only thing I can do is run.

I manage to run around a few corners and enter a large garden. As I run I see a large bush full of flowers and throw Asami and myself into it just as the men turn the same corner.

I hear Asami moan unconsciously, but they don't hear her as they stop close to the bush we are hidden in.

"Jasko, stop, we have to fulfill the mission and destroy all the warehouses. Forget them they're just kids anyway."

"But, sir, they saw us metal bending."

"After tonight I'm sure Emperor Hiroshi will become very aware of metal bending, so forget about the kids and let's complete the mission."

"Yes, sir!"

They take off running out of the garden and I wait a few moments before picking Asami back up and heading towards the palace.

If the palace is under attack I can't just leave her anywhere. I have to take her to Mako and Bolin, and then I'll run away like Nita told me to.

Tears begin to swell in my eyes, but I rub them away with my shoulder quickly.

"No time to cry Korra. Not yet."

I enter the palace to see that it is almost deserted and dead bodies lined the floors. It was a mixture of green invader and palace guards, but there was no one left standing.

I begin to walk the halls when I feel Asami stir on my back.

"Korra?"

"Shhh…Everything is ok."

"What happened?"

I reach an empty hallway and lower her.

"The palace in under attack and I need to take you somewhere safe."

I don't mention the part of running away after.

Still dazed I see her look around the area and finally nod.

"Yeah I have a secret room that I am supposed to hide in. The entrance is in my room."

"You're sure you will be safe there?"

She nods her head.

"Where's your room?"

She gets up determined, "This way."

She grabs my hand begins to lead me down the hall and we are about to pass a room when she stops.

"That's my father's voice," she whispers and she looks into the crack of the door. I quickly look through the crack above her head.

I see the room is filled with men in green uniforms and realize that the Emperor and Zaheer are surrounded.

Someone breaks the circle walking up to the Emperor.

The metal mask the person wears is removed and a woman with two long scars reveals herself.

I quickly notice that the Emperor recognizes her.

"Lin, why have you attacked my palace?"

She walks proudly up to the Emperor only to be stopped as Zaheer steps in front of her.

"You may have convinced my younger sister to submit to you, but I am not afraid of you or your Avatar. We will have our independence and we will take it by force if we have to. You can no longer use your scare tactics against me because our strength has gone farther beyond what our ancestors could do!" She raises her hands as two strips of metal turn into small balls rotating and hovering above her hand.

I watch as the Emperor stares at the woman in shock.

"I am sure by now my soldiers have your daughter and will kill her if I give them the order. So now all that is left is to complete the final task of executing you so I can finally reveal the truth of our past and benders can finally be free!"

I watch as all the metal on the woman's clothing shifts to her arms and transforms into long blades covering her forearms and rushes the Emperor.

Zaheer quickly counters to protect the Emperor but he is also attacked by the other benders in the room.

She hears the whipping sound of metal in the air and watches in amazement as the metal benders manipulate the metal cables coiled around their backs.

Zaheer is able to avoid many of the metal bender's attacks with the swift movement of his feet, but there are too many of them and too many cables to dodge. They eventually subdue him, but not after he had already brought down at least half of them.

The Emperor is left defenseless as the woman walks towards him blade raised aimed towards his throat.

"Father…"

Is all hear before Asami faints next to me.

I quickly pick her up, setting her against the wall, and as I stand there I know I must do something. Emperor Hiroshi deserves to pay for his crimes, but not like this.

I stand up and rush into the room with the help of my air bending, and I manage to push Lin back briefly as I place myself between Lin and the Emperor.

"I won't let you harm him!"

My voice is small as I speak looking directly into Lin's green eyes.

"So I see it wasn't a bluff. You do have the Avatar."

I engulf my hands in flames to show her I am not afraid of her.

"Leave," I growl.

A booming laugh comes from the woman.

"You're nothing, but a mere child and you think you can challenge me? Avatar, you are on the wrong side of this. You are meant to protect the benders, not this man who is trying weaponize them!"

I knew what the Emperor was doing was wrong, but something inside me was telling me this was the wrong way to go by it. There has to be another way.

"No, as the Avatar I don't pick sides and I won't allow you to kill him even if has committed wrongful crimes."

The woman looks at me confused.

I see her face furrow in anger.

"You don't even know the half of what this man is capable of! But I promise to stop that now so you may never have to experience it!"

With the last word leaving Lin's mouth, pieces of metal begin fly at me, but I manage to control the critical ones bending them away from me and the Emperor. A few manage to pierce my skin, but as I yell in pain I continue to throw fireballs towards the woman.

I look towards Zaheer and takes note of a few coils holding him down and redirects a few pieces of metal towards them giving him enough leverage to release himself.

We begin to fight in unison as the metal benders fight fiercely not only to kill the Emperor but all of three us. It didn't take long for the metal benders to be taken down one by one leaving Lin the only one standing.

I look back when I hear the strong voice of the Emperor.

"Lin you have failed! Leave my palace and you can keep your life."

I can hear the growl emanating from Lin's throat as she looks around seeing all her men unconscious on the floor.

"I will return one day."

I watch as the woman stomps and the ground seems to swallow her and her men.

I take a breath of relief as I see we have survived the ordeal with only small injuries, but then I feel the full extent of mine. My body weakens under the weight of fatigue and I feel I will collapse when my thoughts run back to Asami. I must make sure she is safe because if it wasn't for her I wouldn't be alive.

I hear the Emperor clear his throat and as I turn to face him I see a cruel smile on his face.

I had revealed to him what he was been waiting to see for the past two years.

End of Chapter Notes: I hope you enjoyed it please leave a review let me know how your liking it!

EM ;)