Let me explain the chapter names real quick, I'm going to start naming the chapters after the episode they are based off of and or take place in.
Enjoy and please review!
Xoxo ~MM
It was no secret that Korra was having nightmares. The past few nights have been an endless cycle of her falling asleep only to wake up screaming a few hours later. Korra was having nightmares and I wasn't sleeping at all.
After the first hour of tossing and turning in my bed I often gave up and decided to get some extra training in. I'll need to be in the best shape possible in order to stop Amon.
"48...49...50" I count the pushups under my breath as I do them. Then I roll over on my back and do the same amount of sit ups, next are jumping jacks, then I run through forms and techniques until the sun beings to rise, then I shower, eat something light for breakfast if I even feel like eating, and then brush my teeth before retreating to the meditation pavilion. Tenzin joins me like most mornings and if he notices the dark circles beneath my eyes he doesn't say anything.
I throw myself into teaching Korra as well. She needs to be prepared, which means she needs to get over her air-bending block.
"Again." I order as I sit cross legged on the steps leading into the sparring ring. Korra groans;
"I've been doing this same form all day! I'm exhausted, can't I take a break?" she asks, I raise an eyebrow slightly;
"No," I reply simply, "Again."
With a deep sigh she begins to go through the movements once again. Her block is stronger than I thought. Only she can break it but its like she isn't even trying. Eventually I stand and and begin to walk away.
"Um where are you going?" Korra asks,
"Out. You're dismissed." I say over my shoulder. I take a ferry over to the City with one destination on my mind. Police Headquarters.
I walk in and right up to the desk.
"Can I help you?" the man behind the desk asks dully;
"Yes I need to see the Chief." I say, he perks an eyebrow;
"What's your name?" he asks;
"Ayla." I reply,
"Ayla who? And what makes you think you can just walk in here and demand to see the Chief?" he asks rising from his seat, I open my mouth ready to give him a real taste of my attitude when another sharp voice does it for me;
"Because I called her in myself." he immediately turns round to find my mother in the arch way with her hands on her hips.
"C-chief Beifong..." he begins to stutter;
"I have some questions for Ayla regarding an Equalist rally she witnessed, so if you would be so kind as to let her back it would be much appreciated." she says rather with a hint of snark in her voice. Ayla smirks as the man leads her through the back towards the Chiefs office. Once inside the door slams shut.
"Ayla this sure is a surprise finally find time from almost getting yourself kidnapped with the Avatar to visit your dear mother?" My mother hisses. I sigh;
"Tenzin told you?" I ask, she nods;
"He thought I should be aware of Amon's new ability so my men could know what they're facing." She says; I cringe thinking of the look on Zolts face as his bending was taken from him.
"You saw it all didn't you?" She asks her tone almost gentle. I give a small nod and plop down In a chair.
"Korra's training has hit a wall. She's blocked and I don't know what to do. I was brought here to help but I feel like i'm failing." I say pinching the bridge of my nose.
"Oh please you haven't failed anything. You can't do anything for Korra to help her get rid of the block so you'll need to be her back up. Fill the gaps, Cover her blind spots, learn to fight with her. Until she learns to air-bend for herself you'll have to do it for her." My mom says. Her words make sense and I find myself staring through her window at the statue of Avatar Aang.
"Have you gotten any leads regarding Amon?" I ask, she shakes her head;
"No. But I learned just before you came in that Councilman Tarrlock is starting a task force targeting Amon and his chi blockers." She informs me. The idea unsettles me.
"Wouldn't that raise the tensions between benders and non-benders?" I ask, she shrugs;
"Probably, knowing Tenzin he more than likely fought tooth and nail against the task force but got overruled. You got a lot from him you know. Some of the things you say remind me of him." She says, I give her a small smile;
"We can't hide the truth from him forever Ayla..." she starts, I shake my head,
"I got your temper and determination." I say standing up. She follows and I give her a tight hug;
"Be careful." My mom warns, I nod;
"I will, Goodbye mother." I say before opening the door and walking out.
At dinner that night we all joined hands and bowed our heads for prayer, when we were interrupted by Tarrlock who decided to just walk right in uninvited.
"Tarrlock this is my home. We're just about to have dinner." Tenzin says annoyed by Tarrlock's interrupting, a grin spreads across Tarrlock's face;
"Good I'm starving!" he says, Tenzin opens his mouth more than likely to tell him to leave but Tarrlock cuts him off;
"Air-benders never turn away a hungry guest right?" he asks with a smirk; Tenzin sighs;
"I suppose." Tenzin grumbles before sitting back down next to Pema who glares at him he gives her a helpless shrug and I turn my attention to Tarrlock who approaches Korra,
"Ah...You must be the famous Avatar Korra. It is truly an honor, I am councilman Tarrlock from the Northern Water Tribe." he introduces with a bow, Korra stands and bows politely.
"Pleasure to meet you." she replies before sitting back down. He sits down beside her and Ikki starts questioning him immediately. I share a look with Tenzin its obvious neither of us care for Tarrlock very much.
After brushing off Ikki's questions, Tarrlock begins the discussion on why he's really here. He wants Korra on his task force. Korra seems to consider it for a moment before shaking her head and denying the offer in the nicest way she could. Everyone's jaw drops at her refusal, we all thought that she'd jump at the chance to take action.
"I came here to finish my Avatar Training with Tenzin and Ayla, I really just need to focus on that. I'm sorry." At the end of her statement Tarrlock turns his gaze on me as I just now noticing I was in the room.
"Ah Ayla, the mysterious dual bending girl from the earth kingdom. Perhaps you would like to join the task force? Gifts like yours could be of great use to us." he says with a grin, I look around to find everyone staring at me intently.
I look at Korra and my mothers words from earlier replay in my head. I know my answer.
"I accept."
You could hear a pin drop, but only for a moment before Tarrlock's grin broadens and he chuckles clearly pleased with my decision.
"Excellent! We'll talk soon with the rest of the force... we'll need to-" he starts to launch into something about armor but Tenzin cuts him off;
"I think its time for you to leave." Tenzin says, and the look he casts me almost made me think he was talking to me. Tarrlock holds up a hand in surrender;
"Very well," he stands and looks down at Korra; "But i'm not giving up on you yet Avatar, you'll be hearing from me soon." he says before turning towards the exit, but then he pauses and looks over his shoulder;
"Oh and Ayla," I look up, "I look forward to working with you." he says before leaving. I lower my head and continue eating, no one says a word.
Eventually the room clears out and I stand to leave;
"Ayla." he says almost disappointingly, I freeze;
"Yes?" I ask, he sips his tea;
"Sit down." he orders. I sit without argument and wait for him to speak, but he just sits there.
"Are you mad?" I ask quietly, he sighs;
"No, i'm not. I just want to make sure you joined for the right reasons." he says; I look down at my hands folded in my lap.
"Sir, I joined so I can help the city take care of Amon and his followers. I've seen what he can do. Someone needs to help the public while Korra masters Airbending." I explain;
"Yes and what about Korra, you are supposed to be helping her train after all." he reminds me;
"I've tried everything with Korra sir, if she wants to get rid of this block, she's going to have to do it alone." I say before standing up and walking towards the door.
"Ayla one more thing." he says standing up and walking over to me;
"Be careful around Tarrlock, I don't exactly trust him." he says; I give a bitter smile;
"I'll watch my back." I tell him before retreating to my room.
The next morning I walked into police headquarters.
"I heard you joined the task force." My mother says as the door to her office closes behind me; I look up at her with a dark expression;
"I need every file you have on Amon. Witness statements, Rally busts, the equalists, every document that relates to him."
