When Korra walked into the gym three days later, she didn't have her crutch, despite the obvious limp that still made itself known. She tried to walk straighter, only to feel a small jolt of pain. Bolin smiled when he saw her, Mako narrowed his eyes at the limp.
"You're still limping," he commented. She dropped her gym bag on the floor, ignoring the Firebender, and started hanging pictures of Tahno up for target practice. She then walked over to the pool of water and sent a flurry of attacks at the pictures.
"Don't ignore me."
She turned to look at him, slightly annoyed. "I'll be fine," she replied.
"Are you sure you're okay, Korra? I mean, your leg doesn't seem like its healed enough to compete," Bolin stated, worriedly. Korra sent a glare at the Earthbender. "Never mind," he added quickly. Mako shook his head and continued to spar with his little brother. After a while, Korra called for a switch.
"Hey, Bo, think I could spar with you bit?"
"Sure thing. That alright with you bro?" Mako simply shrugged, but he looked slightly skeptical. He allowed Korra to take his place. The Waterbender sunk into her stance, immediately sending out a combo of water strikes at the green eyed boy. Bolin smoothly avoided each attack and even sent a couple of eathdiscs her way, which she blocked.
Mako had to admit, for someone who'd nearly died a week ago, she hadn't lost her edge. Bolin hurled another disc at the Avatar, she tried to dodge but it managed to clip her injured side. The Waterbender threw a powerful water whip at him, knocking him back, pausing to hold her side.
"Damn it, Bo!" she hissed at him. She prodded her side, checking to see the extent of the damage. She finally deduced there wasn't much.
"Sorry Korra," the boy apologized. Mako shook his head.
"I don't think you should be competing," Mako stated evenly. "You're still hurt."
"I'm in good enough shape to wipe that smirk of that arrogant slime ball's face," she replied, a look of pure determination in her cerulean eyes. She was going to knock his stupid hair off his stupid head. That was a promise.
Mako couldn't hold back a smile. "Fine then," he said. "Huddle up, Team." The three Fire-Ferrets came together as their captain spoke. "I know we are the underdogs, but I have a good feeling about this match." He looked over at Korra. "This is personal. No one messes with a Fire Ferret and gets away with it." Bolin and Korra nodded.
*** Lin, may I have a word?" The chief of police sighed, annoyed, but nodded.
"What do you want, Tenzin?"
"Korra is competing in the Pro-Bending tournament, as you are aware," he started.
"And this concerns me because…?" she rudely remarked. The Airbending master sighed.
"I didn't want her to compete today due to her injuries, but she is stubborn. Kind of like someone else I know." He looked over at the chief.
Lin rolled her eyes. "And your point is?"
"Amon's threat still hangs thickly in the air. I don't want any more harm to befall Korra."
Lin's eyes narrowed dangerously at him. "I gave my word that I would protect every person in that arena. Are you questioning my honor, Tenzin?"
"Not at all. I'm just making sure that your word covers Korra as well," he clarified.
Lin allowed another sigh. "Yes. It includes the Avatar."
"I'm just being cautious, Lin. Korra is my responsibility and I've come to think of her as family. It's nothing personal," he said. "And just so you know, I'll be accompanying you on patrol during the match."
"You don't need to babysit me, Tenzin!" she snapped. "I know how to do my job!"
"Like I said before, Lin, I do not question your abilities. I'm simply looking out for Korra."
"Very well," the chief finally replied, walking away from the Airbender. Tenzin sighed.
*** The arena was packed. More than usual. Korra had never seen so many people at a match before. She looked over at the two brothers as they all finished putting on their uniforms. "Ready?" Mako asked.
"Born that way," Korra replied with a smirk, as they stepped onto the platform that would glide them over to the ring.
"Introducing, the challengers, the Future Industries' Fire-Ferrets!" the announcer exclaimed, sending the crowd into an uproar of excitement. Korra, Mako, and Bolin waved at the crowd, not ashamed to admit that they were enjoying it, as they stepped into the ring.
Asami blew a kiss at the Firebender which he returned. Korra rolled her eyes, using all her self-restraint not to knock the poor boy out of the arena.
"And their opponents, the three time defending champs, the White Falls Wolf-Bats!" the announcer continued.
Tahno and his team entered the arena, wearing Wolf-Bat costumes and howling, their fans howled back. Tahno took off his mask, and his pale eyes met Korra's blue, and he winked at her.
"Argh!" Korra took a threatening step forward, but the brother's grabbed the back of her armor and held her back.
"Save it for the match," Mako told her. "Don't let him bait you."
She looked from Tahno to him and sighed. She nodded sharply.
"Round one!" The gong sounded and Korra barely managed to dodge Tahno's watery uppercut. And from there all hell broke loose. Mako and Korra were the first to be knocked back into zone two. Bolin managed a lucky shot when he ricocheted a disc off the ropes and hit another player in the back. Tahno stopped his attack on the Avatar long enough to knock the opposing Earthbender back into zone two with what should have been a hosing foul.
"Where's the call on that, Ref?" Mako yelled up at the official. The man ignored the Ferret and signaled for the Wolf-Bats to advance.
"Looks like the Ref's aren't going to call a foul, folks, as they advance into Ferret territory!" came the announcer's voice. Tahno smiled smugly at the Firebender.
"What's wrong, kiddies? Can't handle some real competition?" He then sent a sheet of water at Bolin only to freeze it and use the Earthbender's lack of balance for his team to hit him with a disc, effectively knocking him out of the ring.
"I don't know what to tell you, other than Tahno and the Wolf-Bats are playing dirty! And the Ref's aren't doing a thing about it!"
Mako and Korra were quickly knocked into zone three, Tahno managing to land a successful blow to Korra's side. The Wolf-Bats delivered a combo at the girl but Mako stepped in front of her. The impact sent them both over the edge.
The bell rang throughout the arena, and the Wolf-Bats smiled and waved at the crowd. "Folks, looks like it's a totally one round knock-" The announcer stopped mid-sentence noticing something. "Hold on a second folks! This match isn't over yet! The Avatar is still holding on for dear life!"
Korra strained as she tried to hold onto the edge of the arena, Mako hanging from her other hand. Her ribs were on fire as the strain was apparent. She felt like she was being ripped apart. But the Ferrets had a match to win. She didn't have time to be in pain. With a great deal of effort she launched Mako back onto the ring, finally allowing herself to release her grip and fall into the water.
"I can't believe it folks! The Ferrets are still in this!" Mako didn't waste any time launching a fire blast at the Wolf-Bats, knocking one of them back, just as a bell rang.
Mako mockingly winked at the leader of the Wolf-Bats. Tahno's eye twitched his anger and irritation showing through. The platform brought the other two Ferrets back over to the arena. Mako noticed Korra was wincing. "You okay?" he asked.
"My side hurts. But other than that I'm fine," she admitted. She looked over at the Wolf-Bats and then up at the refs. "So what's going on with all the crappy calls?"
"My guess is Tahno paid all the refs off." Korra narrowed her eyes.
"Then if they're going to play dirty, so are we."
"No. We can't. The refs are out to get us. If we want to win, we're going to have to play this fair and square." Korra shot a look over at their opponents, noticing Tahno watching them with a smug look still on his face. She growled but nodded her head.
"That's no fun…but fine." The teams took their positions across from each other, each element across from its counterpart. Tahno smirked.
"You're not looking to good, Avatar. Having trouble keeping up?" Korra ground her teeth together.
"Round two!"
The bell rang out and Tahno immediately went after the girl, aiming for her leg and side. She managed to dodge and block, but Tahno froze her foot. He slammed a torpedo of water into the Avatar's torso, sending her flying into zone three.
The Avatar staggered to her feet, narrowly dodging the gush of water that went past her. She landed on her left leg and recoiled, immediately shifting to her right. The round played out similarly to its processor, with the Wolf-Bats playing dirty and the refs not calling any fouls. But the Ferrets didn't go down easily this time. Eventually it was they, who won the round.
"I can't believe it folks! Round two goes to the Fire-Ferrets! Will they be able to pull ahead and steal the match? Or will the champions remain the champs?"
Korra was exhausted. She'd been dodging attacks more than she'd been throwing any. Tahno had managed to land a few lucky shots on her side. He was really pulling out all the stops for this match. The two opposing Waterbender's glared at each other, neither backing down.
"Round three!"
Tahno sent a powerful water kick at the Avatar, which she cart wheeled away to dodge. Tahno snuck another illegal move, launching water at the girl, only to freeze it at the last second. The shards embedded themselves into the armor on Korra's leg. She hissed, melting the ice.
"That looked like it hurt, folks! But the refs are apparently still watching a separate match!"
"You dirty cheating snake!" Korra yelled across the ring. She jumped and launched a whip at the opposing Waterbender only to have him sidestep. He then ducked, allowing his teammate to throw a disc at the Avatar, which nailed her in the torso. Hard.
She slid back into zone three, clutching her abdomen in pain. She looked up just in time to haphazardly dodge another shot of water. She rolled to her side and used her free arm to launch another attack.
The brothers held their ground against the cheats, even knocking two of them back, while trying to provide enough protection for their fellow Waterbending teammate. It seemed like an eternity when the bell finally sounded.
"Round three is a tie!" The announcer exclaimed. "Which means this will all be decided by a coin toss! What a nail bitter this has turned out to be folks!"
*** "Korra!" The Airbending master started to head towards the arena, determined to get her out of there, when Lin grabbed his arm.
"She'll pull through. That girl is as tough as nails." Tenzin looked from the chief of police, and back to the ring where Korra was kneeling on the ground, looking completely exhausted. He sighed.
"I can't believe your sweet tempered father was reincarnated into that girl. It almost doesn't seem real," she continued. Tenzin raised a brow at that.
"You two might get along if you'd just give her a chance."
"Hmph," she grumbled, looking away from him.
*** "Korra, you okay?" The Firebender asked as he headed over to his injured teammate. The Avatar tried to push herself up, but the pain in her side felt like she'd been hit with a sledgehammer. Mako held out his hand and Korra took it, groaning as he pulled her up. She swayed a little, flinching when she tried to stand straighter.
"I'll be fine," she panted.
"Korra, you can't keep pushing yourself," he said, placing a hand on her shoulder.
She shrugged off his hand and headed over to the center line. "What's the matter, Avatar? Can't take a hit?" Tahno mocked. Korra growled.
"Just watch me," she muttered.
"The Fire-Ferrets win the coin toss!" the ref stated. "Choose your element!"
"I'm taking this one," Korra said. Mako grabbed her arm.
"You're in no condition to take Tahno on," he whispered. Korra locked her eyes with his. In those cerulean orbs lay a fire, burning deeper than Mako had ever seen. Korra's fiery determination conveyed within those deep blues.
"I got this," she said.
"Hurry kiddies, I'm getting awfully bored," the opposing Waterbender commented. Mako reluctantly released his grip on her arm and nodded.
"Let's go, Pretty Boy. You and me," Korra said, stepping into the center ring.
"Thought you'd never ask," he replied with a sly smirk. Bolin looked over at his brother questioningly. Mako met his brother's inquisitive stare.
"It's personal," was all he said to answer.
The Waterbenders took their positions as the platform rose. Tahno had a smug smile on his face as they circled each other. Korra narrowed her eyes. She was going to wipe that smile right off his face.
"Come on, little girl," he taunted. "Give me your best shot."
Korra wasted no time sending a water punch at the snake. Tahno easily sidestepped and wrapped a stream of water around Korra's ankle, and then pulled the Avatar's feet out from under her; like he'd done three nights ago in the alley. Korra let out a cry as her back slammed against the floor.
*** Tenzin flinched. He ground his teeth together and shook his fist at the ring. "What was that? Ref! That was clearly an illegal move!"
Lin looked over at the Airbender, amusement on her face. "I didn't know you knew the rules of Pro-bending," she commented. Tenzin composed himself.
"I've been brushing up." Lin smirked and shook her head, returning her attention to the match. It was then that Tenzin noticed something out of the corner of his eye.
"Lin, look out!" He sent an air blast at the man, but didn't react fast enough as electricity coursed through Lin's body, her armor the perfect conductor. Tenzin moved to help her but was quickly subdued in a similar fashion. He crumbled to the floor next to the chief, unconscious.
*** "Ouch," Bolin said, flinching as Korra fell.
"Come on, Korra!" Mako yelled. Tahno prepared himself to send another water blast when Korra rolled to the side and nailed him with a watery uppercut that knocked his mask clear off his head. Tahno fell on his back but didn't fall off the ring. Korra smiled and stood with some difficulty.
"Chump," she said with a grin. Tahno recovered, his eyes gleaming with hatred for the girl in front of him. He made a move to attack but paused, noticing the small sparks of electricity that flickered throughout the entire arena. Korra followed his gaze.
What was going on?
Suddenly, Chi-Blockers landed in the ring and between the Avatar and Tahno. They both jumped backwards off the raised ring and Korra landed in front of the brothers. She hissed as pressure was added to her left leg. Mako and Bolin were by her side immediately. The group of Chi-Blockers started towards them. The Ferrets found themselves backed against the ropes. Korra looked down into the water.
"Jump!" She hauled herself over the ropes, taking the brothers with her as they fell into the water below. They quickly broke the surface of the water and swam over to the foundation of the arena. Korra looked up, and came face to face with Lieutenant, Kali sticks already alight with electricity. Korra's eyes widened as he placed the sticks in the water. The Ferrets screamed as the current went through their bodies, lighting them on fire from the inside out.
Seconds passed before the team was rendered unconscious.
*** Avatar Aang and Toph stood next to each other, Toph pointing vaguely at something.
A man, hands behind his back, smiled slyly.
The same man then stood.
Avatar Aang towered over a cowering man, his eyes glowing before they dimmed to reveal the anger in those stormy grays. The air around him, whipped around. He had been in the Avatar State.
*** Amon stood over the now former Waterbender that was quivering at his feet, having his followers throw the Wolf-Bats over the edge of the arena and into the water. The coward had actually tried to bargain his way out of having his Bending taken away. To Amon, he was merely scum under the boot of humanity, parading around as someone of worth. It sickened him.
He turned his attention back to the audience that surrounded him, the symbol of the Equalists hanging around the stadium. "Now that I have your attention," he started. He was met with dead silence. "I'm sorry for the interruption. But we all know how this match was going to end. The Wolf-Bats would have once again been your victors. And though they had cheated their way to victory, you would have cheered and agreed with a bunch of bullies being called your champions. It seems almost fitting.
"Because every day, Benders bully and abuse their fellow Non-Bending citizens. Oh, the irony is not lost on me. It is the same thing the Wolf-Bats proved tonight for all you to see. And these so called reigning champions were rendered useless by my men within a few short seconds. Cleansed of their impurities, as it were.
"Let this serve as my last warning to the Benders of this city. If you stand in my way, if you even entertain the notion of stopping me, I will do to you what I did to them. It is a promise that I intend to keep" There was an uneasiness that snuck through the crowd at these words.
"Now to my followers. You need not suffer any longer. Our numbers have grown. We now have the strength to create a new Republic City, one where we all stand on equal ground. No longer will we have an all mighty and self righteous bender standing over us, and pushing us down. The time for change has come. I plan to wipe out the unnatural and unfair advantage that Benders have possessed over us for centuries.
"My followers and I will not rest till this city has been purified. But it does not end there. We shall move on to purify the entire world! The Revolution has begun!"
The glass roof of the arena suddenly shattered as ropes dangled down for the leader and his supporters to be carried back up to the blimp that waited overhead.
*** "Korra…" The Avatar groaned; the vibrations around her shaking her to her core. What had happened?
"Korra…!" The Waterbender blinked, her senses slowly returning to her. Someone was yelling at her.
"Korra!" She turned her head to see the Firebender of her team. She groaned as she started to notice the predicament they were in.
"What happened?" she asked, straining against the ropes that bound her and her teammates to the pillar.
"Amon's lieutenant used the water as a current," he informed her. She furrowed her brow. Oh, right. They'd been electrocuted. Korra then looked over at Bolin, who was chattering his teeth at Pabu.
"What are you doing?"
"Saving us, what does it look like?" the Earthbender replied. "Come on, Pabu. Keep chewing." The little fire ferret obeyed and continued to chew on the ropes. A loud boom shook the arena and almost deafened the Ferrets down below.
Korra and Mako looked around to see burnt pieces of the ring above fall into the water.
"It's okay buddy! Just a little explosion. You're almost through!" the Earthbender assured, chattering his teeth again.
Soon enough the ropes were off and the brothers helped the girl stand up. She groaned and grabbed her side, staggering over to the water. "We need to get her out of here," Mako told his brother. Korra slowly took off her uniform top and raised her undershirt as she gathered water in her hands and applied it to her side, making it glow.
Korra flinched as the pain increased before slowly decreasing and diminishing. She quickly put her Pro-Bending armor back on, with the help of Bolin, and stood up straight.
"I'm going after Amon!" she said, turning water into ice, looking up to see the lunatic getting away.
"You can't take him on in your condition! You need to get out of here!" Korra shook her head, not taking her eyes off the retreating figure.
"Make sure the civilians get out of here!" she replied, ignoring his claim. She dove into the water, not waiting for his reply. Once submerged, she spun around and launched herself through the surface of the water and higher into the air, a whirlpool of water helping her along. She had almost reached the roof when the water suddenly died away, and she started to descend back to the arena far below.
Korra's fall was interrupted when a metal cable wrapped around her waist. Lin Bei Fong maneuvered around and launched the Avatar up toward the enemy blimp and through the shattered ceiling. The Equalists saw her coming but with one fire kick she knocked them all off their platform. Once she landed on the metal platform, it stopped. She looked up to see Amon staring down at her, and she could almost feel the smirk behind his mask.
She sent a large ball of fire at him, knocking several Chi Blockers out, but Amon stepped off the platform and into the blimp just in time, before disappearing from her sight. The Avatar growled but when she looked around she gasped.
All the Metalbender blimps…they were in the water and on fire! He's taken them all down!
A Chi Blocker took advantage of her distraction and kicked her in the ribs. Korra jumped off the small platform and rolled when she landed on the glass, groaning as the pain returned to her side. So much for being healed.
Lin came up and knocked the Chi Blocker away from Korra, allowing the Waterbender to rise. She then sent a metal strip at the blimp and was about to slingshot herself up there when Lieutenant came behind her and shoved his Kali Sticks onto her back.
Korra threw a fire punch at one of the three Chi Blockers who ran to aid Lieutenant, knocking them aside before using one of their backs as leverage and lashing out with a fire kick to his side. Lieutenant attacked the Avatar, but she moved before he could land a blow.
Lin quickly recovered and returned the favor when two Chi Blockers tried to intervene in the fight between Amon's right hand man and the girl by tying them up with metal chords and throwing them off the roof. (Spiderman style!)
Seeing an opportunity to board the blimp, Lin launched a few strips up and grabbed them, lifting herself up toward the ship.
Meanwhile, Korra was barely avoiding Lieutenant's attacks. The match had left her drained. Lieutenant saw an opening and shoved one of his Kali Sticks into her side and the other into her back.
Korra yelled and kneeled. He made to electrocute her again but she rolled to the side and sprang up, spouting fire from the soles of her feet. He sidestepped but she managed to kick a Kali stick out of his hand and elbow his face, knocking him onto his back. He got up and she ran towards him, jumped into the air and sent a volley of fire kicks at him, knocking him off the roof.
She landed on her injured leg and fell back, grabbing it. She heard something crack and looked down just in time to see the glass give way under her mass. She yelled as she fell through the air, back toward the arena.
Lin looked down to see the Avatar fall and then back up at the blimp. She sighed. "That stupid girl," she muttered. Without losing any time she sent four strips to attach to the glass and to speed up her descent toward the younger girl. She sent another strip at the Avatar, which the girl caught. Lin maneuvered in the air once again and sent yet another chord at an Equalist banner and threw herself and the Avatar into the stands.
The young Avatar landed with a thud and rolled on the floor. Lin ran to her to check and see the damage. "You okay, Kid?"
Korra groaned as she allowed the chief to help her stand. "I'm fine. Thanks to you," she replied with a small smile.
Lin smirked. "Don't mention it."
The Fire Ferret brothers ran to Korra, Mako hugged the girl, causing her yelp in pain.
"I'm so glad you're okay," he told her.
"That goes double for me," Bolin added, hugging the Waterbender too. Korra winced.
Tenzin ran toward the small group. "Korra, are you alright?" he asked.
"Just dandy. Just don't hug me," she warned. She leaned on Mako as he and his brother helped her over to the bleachers.
"Looks like we lost this one," Lin stated solemnly, looking over the ruined arena. "I can't believe Amon did this. And I played right into his hands," she added, her fists clenching. Tenzin placed a hand on her shoulder.
"He played us all. Republic City is now at war," he said with a grim frown.
"Uh, hello! Korra needs medical attention here!" Bolin stated. Korra rolled her eyes.
She was so sick of this.
**** Little bit of a different take on episode 6. (Which was freakin epic! Just FYI) We hope you enjoy. Oh and again, the more reviews the quicker the update!
I hope we see more of Tahno. He's such an interesting…jerk…I assume that he will be back…Hehe… Also...if Mako hugging Korra was Oc in anyway...blame Bryke. They wrote it into their version of the ep as well.
As always, We Out! PEACE!
