AN: Hello, everyone! I just realized: Asami kind of looks like Meg from Disney's Hercules lol. I'm glad that some people actually enjoy this story. We are still in the first few chapters and I'm sorry to say that it will get a lot messier and more angsty in the middle.
I'm currently taking engineering in college and it's sucking out all the creativity out of me lol. Writer's block sucks, but, fortunately, I recently found out about this series called Faking It. It is really good and I feel like a lot of people could relate to it. It awakened the sleeping artist inside of me. Anyways, here's the next chapter!
Disclaimer: I do not own Legend of Korra and any of these characters.
Yaddah, yaddah, yaddah. Blah, blah, blah.
That is all what Korra is hearing in the meeting they are currently having. President Raiko, Tenzin, Councilman Tarrlok, Chief Beifong, Suyin, Kuvira, and some other government officials are present. At first, they were just discussing different plans on how they can capture the Equalist leader, Amon. Korra got bored the moment it got more political and they started talking about the different sides of the political spectrum. She is here to defeat that masked rebel, not figure out who belongs in the right wing and who belongs in the left wing.
Korra rested her chin on her palm and let out a hard sigh. "Can we please get back on topic? Your, uh, opinions are very interesting, but Amon is more important right now. Does crazy, bending-stealer, psychopath ring a bell?" She asked as she flailed her arms around dramatically.
Kuvira smirked at the Avatar and then gave the group a serious look. "As childish as the Avatar may have sounded, she is right. We need to have a battle plan as soon as possible. The Equalist movement has also reached Zaofu and the Earth Kingdom, which is why we are here," she gestured to Suyin, who is sitting right beside her. "The radical leader needs to be stopped immediately. The longer he stays out there, the more he becomes more influential and more powerful. It would be harder to stop him if there are more people supporting him and fighting along his side."
"And what do you suppose we should do?" Chief Beifong questioned, but her eyes are set on Suyin with a glare.
The leader of Zaofu cleared her throat. "Kuvira and I have talked about this and we think we should go raid one of their meetings. Find out when their next meet-ups will be and then attack, but we have to make sure Amon is there so we can take them all down at once."
"An Intel from our police force said that, in two weeks, there will be a huge secret Equalist gathering. We just don't know where it will be held," Chief Beifong stated as she leaned back on her chair and crossed her arms in front of her chest.
After a few seconds of silence, Councilman Tarrlok stood up form his seat. "My... sources told me that their next meeting will be in the underground fighting arena."
"How did your source find that out?" Tenzin asked with a raised eyebrow.
President Raiko stood up from his seat. "That doesn't matter. At least now we know our next move and I have made my decision," everyone in the room turned to look at him. "Chief Beifong, Councilman Tarrlok and Councilman Tenzin will be staying out in public and making it seem like you are suspicious of what is going on around the city."
A member of the cabinet raised his hand. "But, sir, if the main people who are handling this case are above ground, then who will take the Equalists down? They are three of our best benders. Surely, they can capture Amon with little difficulty if they work together."
Chief Beifong stood up and banged her fists on the table. "Haifu is right. No one else will be able to take that scum. Don't tell me we are just going to be diversions?" She asked with a scowl.
"That's exactly what you are going to be, Chief Beifong. The Equalists will be expecting the best and most experienced people to go after them this time. After the attack at the probending arena, they will be expecting the three of you. You and Councilman Tenzin, because they easily disabled you during the competition and Councilman Tarrlok, because he was attacked personally. They could be thinking that you have figured out their tactics, so they are expecting you." President Raiko stated monotonously.
Tenzin cleared his throat and put a hand on Lin's shoulder to calm her down, but was brushed off. "Then who do you plan on sending?"
The water tribe councilman walked over to the President's side and grinned at the room. "He will be sending my task force, which will be led by the Avatar and General Kuvira."
"What?" Tenzin asked in disbelief.
"What?!" Lin Beifong exclaimed in anger.
"I didn't sign up for this." Kuvira grumbled under her breath.
Korra just sat there, thinking about the new information. "...okay,"
"Korra, you can't be serious! You've barely learned air bending. How are you supposed to defeat Amon with only three elements?" Tenzin asked the young Avatar, his voice slowly rising.
"Master Tenzin, though not ideal, I understand President Raiko's plan. The only way we can put a stop to this revolution is if we divert their attention to something else. We can pretend that the police, along with you and Councilman Tarrlok, are doing a search across the city. This will give an illusion to the Equalists that they are safe from being caught," Korra said professionally, which made the water tribe councilman smirk.
President Raiko clasped his hands together. "I guess it's settled then. We will move next week. I expect you all to be ready by then. You are all dismissed."
After being lectured by Tenzin about the dangers that could happen due to her decision, Korra decided to walk around the city for a while to clear her head. She knows her air bending skills are still below average, but Tenzin could at least believe in her. I bet Uncle Unalaq and Zaheer would believe in me.
"So the savage from the South can be political too," a voice from her right cockily said.
The Avatar rolled her eyes. "Kuvira, I'm not in the mood for your bitchiness."
The general laughed. "And she also barks!"
Korra stopped walking and turned to face the earth bender. "What do you want, general?"
Kuvira shrugged her shoulders and gestured for them to walk together. "You will be my partner in capturing Amon. It would be smart to get to know you."
"Oh." The alpha is now confused. The vibe she has been getting from Kuvira is not exactly pleasant and now the general is acting civil.
"Don't act so weirded out. I just think it would be beneficial for us both is we knew each other's quirks and body movements."
Korra tripped at body movements. "What?" She corrected her footing before she fell face-first on the ground. Uncle Zaheer would have punished you by now because of your clumsiness, Korra. Get your self together!
The beta sighed. How immature can the Avatar be? "What if we're already facing Amon? Say, you're doing this weird thing with your eyes. How will I know if that's some kind of code or hint that you need my help or something?"
"Oh." Once again, Korra is speechless.
The two continued walking until they stopped for some food at Narook's. They are currently sitting in a booth, facing each other. Korra is eating seaweed noodles and Kuvira is eating dumplings.
"I heard you're very good friends with Asami Sato," said the earth-bending general before taking a drink of her kale.
Korra settled for a nod, her mouth full of noodles.
"Just friends and nothing more?"
The Avatar quickly swallowed her food and groaned. "Ugh! Why is everyone asking me that? Asami and I are just friends." She pushed her empty bowl away. "Why are you even asking me that? My, uh, relation-, I mean... friendship with Asami doesn't concern our partnership."
The metal-bender just raised an eyebrow and finished her dish. "You two look like you are lovers." Korra sighed and shook her head. "Do you want to be?"
The master of all elements' eyes widen and she gaped at the person in front of her. Did this person, who is practically a stranger, question her bluntly? She is the Avatar. People should have more tact when talking to her!
When Kuvira did not say anything, the water tribe just slammed her face on the table and grumbled "I sort of like her."
"What was that?"
Korra looked up, frustration evident on her face. "I said I sort of like her, okay!"
Kuvira smirked. "That wasn't so bad, now was it?"
"I really don't like you right now." The alpha is getting the urge to shove Kuvira's face to her now-empty bowl.
Korra has finally accepted that her feelings for the CEO of Future Industries are growing more and more each day. She is just unsure whether or not she should act upon said feelings. I really don't think she's funding the Red Lotus' enemies, but pursuing a relationship with her would be a huge distraction to my training.
"Let me guess: you're not chasing after her because you think she's way too good for you?"
The alpha rolled her eyes. "Sure, let's go with that."
"Well, personally, I think you're too good for her. With all the rumors about her family associating with rebels..."
"Hey! Those are just rumors! Asami is the nicest, most intelligent, prettiest, smartest, most beautiful, most amazing..., um,... what I'm saying is that she would never assist in the destruction of multiple government properties and the death of thousands of people. She is the nicest person I know. She's practically an angel sent on earth to save the human race. Did you know that, without the Future Industries, there would be numerous amounts of people who would be living in poverty? Asami is basically the reason why a lot of people have jobs and income to provide for their families," Korra explained passionately.
"You have it bad, Avatar," Kuvira is now really intrigued about Korra's friendship with the businesswoman. If Korra is this passionate about her, why aren't they together yet? This girl put the CEO on a pedestal! "I can't believe I'm about to give an alpha, who is the Avatar, an advice, but you should tell her."
Korra snorted. "Psh. She's busy with Future Industries and I'm busy doing Avatar stuff. We're about to raid an-"
Kuvira quickly reached across the table to cover Korra's mouth with her hand. "Will you stay quiet about that?" She whispered angrily. "What the f- Ugh! Did you seriously just lick my palm?"
"That's what you get for touching me," the Avatar said cockily before leaning on her seat.
"So if I touch you, you'll lick me?" Kuvira retorted with a smirk.
Korra's eyes widen. Instead of countering with a witty retort, she just gulped huge amounts of water. She is just thankful their conversation about Asami is over.
Kuvira took a quick glance outside the window. "It's getting dark outside. We should get going."
"Are all the weapons ready to be distributed?" The masked Equalist leader asked his new right hand.
"Yes. I have also made some minor adjustments towards the electric gloves and batons. I tweaked them so they will produce more current, which could surely disable any person- bender or not," Asami stated. Her thoughts suddenly drifts towards the Avatar. She may be your friend, but she represents all the things that oppress us non-benders. In this fight for equality, I should not let my ideologies get swayed just because I have gotten to know the Avatar.
The engineer knows that the Equalists need all the power they can have. After seeing Korra dispose of the Lieutenant that easily, she could not take any risks. Asami no longer plans on killing the Avatar. They have become friends now, after all, but that does not mean she is just going to forget what happened to her parents. She is still with the Equalists because they are fighting for equality between benders and non-benders.
If she wanted, she could have made her weapons into something much more dangerous- something that could easily annihilate the most powerful bender in the world. But the CEO did not want that. She just wants to disable Korra if ever she tries to end their movement, which she surely will. After the Avatar has been stopped, Asami will be the perfect friend and take care of the alpha. Asami will finally see the equality she wanted, and she will retire from being Amon's right hand. She could be Korra's friend and there would be no secrets between them.
Amon clears his throat. Apparently, his right hand is no longer listening to him. "I apologize. It has been a long day. What was that?" Asami tried to get the Avatar off her mind.
"I asked if we could give out the weapons tonight? So for our next meet-ups with other people, who share our beliefs, we will be ready. We also need to start training new and old recruits as to how your inventions work," he said monotonously. He takes his time to assess the black-haired beauty in front of him. This girl- no, woman- has contributed a lot in making sure the Equalist movement happen. And now it is. They have hundreds and thousands of followers from different nations and he is proud of how far they came.
None of that would have happened if it were not for this Sato woman. She has truly lived up to her father's expectations. Her intellectual ability, her money, and her influence makes her the Equalists' most valuable asset. Her beauty and her charm would make her the perfect omega for the Equalist leader. That thought made something flutter inside of Amon. He has never bothered thinking about relationships because it could be trivial most of the time. Now, a fitting partner is presented in front of him and he is not sure what to do about it.
"Of course. I could have my men bring the crates of weapons in our hideout. We can start training our Equalist soldiers tomorrow. We only have two weeks left before the main meeting, where even some leaders from different cities and nations will attend. I have to cut this meeting short though. Councilman Tenzin has requested my presence in the Air Temple for dinner. Have a good evening," Asami stated professionally, before giving a small salutation and exiting the room.
A small frown made its way towards Amon's face. His right hand is getting closer and closer to the Air nomads. If Asami actually makes a connection with them, it might be harder for him to take down benders, since Tenzin is the son of the former Avatar Aang.
And do not let him get started on their new water tribe Avatar, who has been having different kinds of rumors about her relationship with Asami Sato. Once their movement has officially started, he will have to get rid of the Avatar. She is a distraction to his right hand and future wife. She is also a competition that does not fit anywhere in the world he has dreamed of making. Benders and non-benders will never be equal until the master of elements is still alive. Granted, the Avatar will just reincarnate after Korra has been killed. But Amon will make sure the Avatar cycle ends. True equality will be achieved at the demise of the most powerful bender.
It is midnight and no stars could be seen from the Air Temple. It is pitch black outside, and Korra feels as though the darkness is trying to eat her alive. The alpha tosses and turns in bed, but she could not bring herself to sleep. She would close her eyes and it would suddenly feel like she is drowning and she could not breath. Then there is this burning sensation in her chest. It is way stronger than the last time and she is in pain, but she does not want to get help from any of the people in the island.
"Avatar Korra..." The malicious voice made its presence again. Korra is starting to get frustrated by this mysterious being. She wants answers.
"That's it! I've tried to hold it in for a while, but I can't control myself anymore. Who are you?" she seethed at the nothingness in her room. Her eyes darted around, trying to see if there is someone, who is foolish enough, to break in the place of the powerful alpha.
The... being let out a booming laugh, which Korra knows should have waken up the entire island. "I am you."
Korra's eyes widen. "Raava?" So it was Raava who has been talking to her- guiding her.
The invisible figure chuckled cynically, and Korra suddenly feels like her whole body is being burned. She clawed on her skin, but she could not get rid of the burning feeling. "Not quite."
"Make it stop!" She screamed, even her lungs feel like they are burning.
"Avatar Korra! Korra! Wake up!"
Korra got up from her bed with a startle and let out a breathe of fire, which burned half of her room. Fortunately, Jinora made a wind shield to make sure she does not get burnt. The Avatar eyed her surroundings. She is still in her room, but it is morning now. Her eyes widen in surprise when she sees the damage she has done to her room. "Oh crap!" Then she looks at the scared face of the young air bender. "Jinora?" She does not know why, but a small part of her feels satisfied that she is being feared.
"A-are you okay, Korra?" The young air nomad asked hesitantly. She was on her way to the training grounds so she can practice her bending, when she heard voices coming from the Avatar's room. Yes, she also heard another voice in there, but she is not so sure.
Korra rubbed her face with her hands. The visions... dreams...? nightmares... are happening more and more frequently and she does not know how to stop them or deal with them. Unalaq and Zaheer never said anything about having visions. She thought about writing them a letter and letting them know of what has been happening to her, but she decided against it. They taught her to be strong and to learn how to deal with obstacles. Surely, this is just another Avatar-related thing that she has to surpass.
"I'm fine, Jinora. Just had a bad dream about, um, Amon taking my bending away," she lied. She is a hundred percent sure that the Equalist leader will not even be able to touch her, but she knows she could not share something so personal with this air bender. She is just with them to keep up the charade. They do not need to know anything about her or what is going on with her.
"If you say so," Jinora said, her eyes squinting in suspicion. She knows something... spiritual is going on with the Avatar, but Korra seems to just want to keep it to herself. The air bender could feel a negative presence in the room, but she dismissed it for now. She will just look into it later. "By the way, Meelo and Ikki want to train with you today. That is, if you're up to it."
Korra gives her a nod. "Sure, I'll be there. Just give me a few minutes to get ready. I'll meet you guys outside!" She said, trying to sound as cheerful as possible. The Avatar does not want this girl in front of her to start prying about her life. The Red Lotus ordered her to eliminate anyone who tries stop her from getting what she wants in Republic City. If this young air bender starts asking questions and being suspicious, she might just get rid of her.
"Cool!" Jinora said gleefully before running out of the room to go to her siblings.
Korra cradled her head. She is now wondering whether or not last night happened at all. A small sensation filled her chest. It is not as painful as last night's, but it still stings.
"Don't worry, Avatar, I will never leave."
