Riko laid flat on the ground, letting the pain finally reach her brain. She could feel herself slipping away too when she suddenly heard sirens getting very close. Everyone was running to Korra's side. 'Of course they are,' Riko thought. 'Korra's the Avatar of this city. She's our great leader. I'm just the Chief who everyone always thought was going to fail.' She sighed. 'And I have failed…'
"Korra!"
'Oh no!' Riko cringed. She recognized the voice. The Avatar was dead, and Riko knew Asami wouldn't be able to handle it. "KORRA!"
The whole family went quiet. Riko carefully approached the two steaming waterbenders. "Um, I don't mean to interrupt this wonderful reunion, but we need to get out of the public's eye."
Nami scowled. "Fine. Get in. We can talk in private."
The waterbenders hopped into Nami's car. Kohaku jumped up and ran after them. "Wait! You're my ride back!" He rushed into the car before they drove off.
Karina leaned over to her wife. "Don't you think you should go with them?"
Riko chuckled. "Nah, they'll settle it themselves just like last time. I'll check on them later. We need to leave now, though."
The family then hopped into Riko's car and returned home.
Flashes of lights and snaps of cameras erupted when they pulled to the coffee shop. Riko groaned as she shut the car off.
"Make a run for it?" Karina joked.
Riko shrugged. "They'll cool down once the dust settles."
They then threw open the car doors and dashed inside. Karina slid to Riko's side once they made it to the staircase. "You know that's not true."
Riko sighed and hung her head. "I know, but don't tell them that." They made it up to their cozy apartment and began helping them unpack. "So how was the South Pole?" Riko asked.
Olivia sighed. "It was a nice break. After the initial shock of the attack wore off, we actually were able relax some."
Riko frowned. "I'm really sorry about that by the way. The Chief of the South is keeping me updated with the interrogations. We'll figure out what he wanted."
Karina had stopped moving when a thought hit her. "He knew Tadashi was the Avatar."
Riko stopped rummaging through the luggage and looked at her wife. "What're you talking about?"
"He said something about Tadashi being good for such a young Avatar. He knew! Ugh, I was just so mad I didn't realize it until now!" Karina yelled, running her hands through her hair. "He was after Tadashi!"
Riko laid a hand on her shoulder. "It's okay dear. The world already knows about Tadashi now. *Sigh* I need to get the Chief on the phone."
Olivia chuckled. "It's funny hearing you say that. That's what we always call you."
Riko smiled tiredly. "Well, you might not call me that for very much longer. I'm going to check on the Nami and Hikari and then I'm headed to work. I'll see you tonight, Karina."
Both Olivia and Karina froze in shock. The younger earthbender looked to her mother. "Did she just…?"
"Say that we might not call her Chief anymore? Yeah, I heard it…" Karina sighed. "I'll ask her about it later, but this is the first time I'm hearing anything about retiring."
Olivia frowned, but continued unpacking with her son.
"I hate you!"
"We don't really talk that much to really say such things do we?"
"You're supposed to be my mom! What happened to that?!"
Kohaku was starting to sweat nervously when Riko finally walked in the office. "It's about time you got here! They've been at it nonstop! I can't jump in without getting my head chopped off!"
"Chill, bro. I'll see what I can do, but you know how they get."
"I'm a busy person, Hikari! I can't just hop on a boat and stay in the South!"
"Why not?! I heard the old CEO did it all of the time!"
"Okay, that's enough!" Riko yelled as she stepped up. The two waterbenders huffed and crossed their arms. Riko gulped and stepped in between them. "I know things didn't end well the last time you two saw each other, but I think it's time we worked that out."
"Why is she here anyway?" Nami asked.
Hikari looked over Riko's shoulder. "If you kept up with the family you would know why I'm here!"
Riko sighed and rested a hand to her forehead. "Nami, Hikari came to Republic City to help us solve this case involving the ship attack. But it would be awfully nice if you two could reconnect while she's here. Ya know, put this whole thing behind us."
Nami rose a brow. "She's the one who keeps bringing it up."
"Because it bothers me that I don't see you anymore, mom! You raised me with dad in the South for years. Then one day you just left us!"
"I had an obligation to take care of the family company."
Hikari's face scrunched up. "Yeah right! I know Grandma Asami passed on around that time, but you were already trying to leave dad before that!"
"Your father and I didn't work out! You were 15 when Asami passed on. You were old enough to be aware of what was happening."
Riko watched carefully from in between them. "It seems you both are bitter about the same thing. That should make you both more understanding towards each other."
Hikari scoffed. "Aunt Riko, I think this is something mother and I need to work out."
Riko laughed sarcastically. "Yeah okay, the last time I did that you both nearly destroyed the mansion! I'm not leaving until this is solved."
Nami decided now to speak up again. "If you want to see me more, you can always make a trip to Republic City. You have more free time to sail than I do."
"No I don't, mother. Dad is teaching me how to lead the tribe. You do remember I'm next in line to the throne, right?"
Nami rolled her eyes. "If it wasn't for me you wouldn't even be princess. I was next in line to Korra's throne, but I was also the only one who could take over Asami's work."
Hikari grit her teeth. "You were the only one for both jobs."
Nami's stare steeled. "Yes I was and I made a conscious decision to stay in Republic City. I only married so that I could choose who I wanted to lead the tribe."
Hikari's eyes were starting to water. "Do you even love me? Or is everything about tying loose ends?"
Nami looked like she had just been punched in the gut. "H-Hikari, of course I love you. I'm so proud of you for leading the tribe! I knew I would never be able to do it. I'm not even from the South, you know that."
Tears finally fell from Hikari's eyes. "I think I need a break from talking. I'm gonna head back to my hotel."
Nami frowned. "Of course, dear. We'll talk again later."
And with that, Hikari walked out of the office. Riko and Kohaku carefully approached their sister. "I think you finally got some much needed words out today, for both of you." Riko commented.
Nami ran a hand through her hair. In an instant Riko saw a spitting image of their mother. She closed her eyes for a few seconds.
"Yeah, I think we did… Um, I need to go head to the factory now. Will you two find the way out on your own?"
Riko opened her eyes. "Yeah, we'll be fine sis. Go do your work stuff. I'll drop Kohaku off."
Nami smiled sadly. "Thanks."
Tadashi was hiding behind a tree on the playground, trying to avoid his classmates. Ever since he returned to school yesterday, his peers kept asking him questions. He couldn't really blame them though, it has been awhile since there was a kid Avatar.
"Hey!"
"Gah!"
Tadashi fell to the ground in surprise. He turned over and saw one of his so-called friends standing above him with a smile. She was taller than him and had two brown pigtails, but she was two years older than him. "Abby! You scared me!"
"I know!" She laughed. "It was pretty funny. You've been avoiding everyone lately, but you can't get rid of me that easily!"
Tadashi stood up and dusted himself off. "How'd you find me? And where's your brother? He's in my year so he should be out here."
"Tch!" Abigail turned and crossed her arms. "You two never let me play with you! It's not fair. But he's waiting over there."
Abigail turned and waved to the swings. A small boy with shaggy brown hair stood leaning on the steel pole of the swing-set. He saw them and began walking over nonchalantly with his arms behind his head. "Hey Tadashi, we missed you all week. Where've you been?"
Tadashi smiled. "Hi Leroy. Grandma Riko sent us to the South Pole to keep us safe."
Tadashi spent the rest of recess talking about the trip.
"Wowww…" The siblings said in unison. Suddenly the bell was rung for students to return to class.
Then Abigail smirked and punched him in the shoulder. "Ow!"
"I knew there was something special about you kid! Who knew you'd be the Avatar, though?"
Leroy agreed. "Yeah, especially since Avatar Korra is your great-grandma."
Tadashi hung his head. "Yeah…"
Abigail noticed and blinked. She slowly smiled and leaned over to the young Avatar. "Hey, watch this."
She slowly inched up to her brother who was walking in front of them. She stuck her tongue out as she moved her index finger closer to the end of his hair. Then a small but bright flame erupted from her finger. She extinguished it as quickly as it happened.
"Gah! Abby! Again?!" The boy yelled and quickly patted his neck.
"Well maybe you should learn to cut your hair!" She yelled back, but smiled down at Tadashi. He blushed and turned away, laughing with them.
Riko sighed at the phone. She slouched in her chair and ran a hand over her face. The Southern Water Tribe Chief wasn't able to get any information out of the attacker. He was set on protecting his boss. The only information they did get was from his boat ticket. It came from the Republic City docks.
Riko sat up and rummaged through some papers. Her eyes started getting heavy and she looked outside to see that it was completely dark out. Her chair screeched against the hard floor as she stood up. Just then someone opened her office door. She looked up and rose a brow.
Karina smiled down at her. "I came to drag you home. Sometimes you need a little push out of that chair."
Riko smiled and shook her head good-naturedly. "Thanks, dear. Let's go home."
