Turning The Tides
Tenzin and I walked into him room, where Pema and the kids lay curled up on the bed. I sat down on the edge while he kneesed and placed his hand on Pema's stomach. They opened their eyes at our presence.
"Daddy! Zumi! You're home!" Jinora wrapped her arms around me. "Did you find Korra? Is she okay?"
"Yes, she's fine," he said, picking up Ikki and hugging her.
"I was scared, I thought she wasn't coming back," Ikki murmured, her tone revealing the fear she had felt.
"I'm sorry, Ikki, but everything is going to be okay now. I promise."
I kissed Jinora on the forehead and held her close as she nuzzled into the crook of my neck.
"Would you feel better if you slept in my room tonight, Jini?" I asked. She nodded.
"Me too!" Ikki said, jumping onto my back. I smiled and carried them to my room.
"You two can stay in my bed. I'm staying in Korra's room so I can keep an eye on her." I grabbed a mat from my closet and went to Korra's room, only to find Mako was still there, watching over her intently. "I got it from here, Mako," I said, relieving him of his duties. "Get some rest."
/
"This food is amazing, Pema," Korra said between bites.
"Well, it's been a while since you've eaten and you've been through a lot," Pema said bashfully.
"Don't be modest, you're a great cook!"
"Thanks, Korra," she smiled, "I'm just glad you're home safe."
"Here, let me help," Asami offered as Pema reached for Korra's empty plate.
"I know it's been tough, but I need you to tell me what happened," Tenzin said gently.
"Well, first of all, Tarrlok is Yakone's son," Korra said.
"It all makes sense now," Lin said, over her shock much more than my open-mouthed parents. "That's how he bloodbended without a full moo."
"But how did you escape?" I asked. "And what happened with Tarrlok?"
"Amon captured him and took his bending."
"What?" Tenzin asked, shocked.
"Yeah, he came out of nowhere. He almost got me, too."
"Taking out a councilman, almost capturing the Avatar... I fear Amon is entering his endgame."
Bolin, Korra, Mako, and I exchanged looks of concern. Something big was about to go down, but what was he planning?
"You're out of tea, i'll go get some more hot water," Mako volunteered, taking the teapot.
"Ooh! I want some too!" I said eagerly.
"I'll get enough," Mako said, heading for the kitchen.
"We can talk more later, just rest for now," Tenzin said and placed his hand on Korra's shoulder as he stood to leave.
Instead of Mako with a teapot, Asami was the one who returned from the kitchen, and she looked pissed and... heartbroken.
"I'm going to go for a walk in the courtyard," I said, standing to make an escape.
"I'll come with," Bolin said, following in my footsteps. "Whew, that could have been bad," he said, once we were in the clear.
"Shhh," I said, pulling him behind a bush.
"What?" he whispered. I pointed discreetly toward Tenzin and Lin, who stood not far from us.
"Lin, um, I- I need to ask you a favor. It would mean the world to me... although it may be awkward..."
Bolin and I leaned forward eagerly, waiting to hear whatever juicy secrets were about to be spilt.
"Just spit it out!" Lin barked.
"Will you stay here and watch over Pema and the kids while I meet with the council?"
"I can't believe you're asking me to do this," she said, turning enough for her face to be out of view.
"I know you said you didn't want anything to do with her, but she'll be safe with you here. There's no one I trust more with this than you, Lin."
"I'll do it," she said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "She isn't so bad."
I couldn't see their faces, but it seemed to be a pretty intense conversation. I guess that they really did date, back before Tenzin and Pema were together.
"Thanks. I think you and Kazumi are more alike that you think," he smiled warmly. My eyes popped open, Bolin's jaw dropping.
"No way, you don't think...?"
"I didn't realize you two were out here," Pema's voice startled me. Every muscle in my body froze at once. We were caught spying.
"Pema! Yes, Lin has agreed to help out around here and keep an eye on things while i'm away," Tenzin said, startled. I relaxed a little when I realized she was talking about Tenzin and Pema, not Bolin and I.
"Great! Meelo could use a bath," Pema said, dropping my stinky brother into her arms. Tenzin leapt onto Oogi, ready to go.
"Thank you Lin! Yip yip!"
"Hey! This is not what I signed up for!" Lin protested as Meelo farted.
"I gotta poo!" Lin held him farther from him, "Really bad!"
Lin quickly metalbended a cable around his waist to avoid touching the soiled child, hurriedly carrying him away.
Bolin spoke softly, but I wasn't listening to his words. I was staring at my father as he flew farther and farther away. Could it be that all this time...?
"Kazumi... Kazumi... Kazumi," Bolin shook my shoulder.
"Hm?" I said, blinking back from my thoughts.
"Let's go inside, I think we should have a Team meeting"
"A Team meeting?"
"Yeah, you know, Team Avatar," Bolin said as we headed inside.
"Yeah, sure." I said as we entered the dining room again to find Korra and Mako drinking tea.
"Hey guys, where did you two run off to?" Mako asked.
"We overheard a conversation between Tenzin and Lin and... well..."
"Spit it out, Bolin. What did you hear?" Korra asked.
"Well... Tenzin and Lin, they used to be a thing, right?" he asked carefully.
"Yeah, so?" I asked.
"Well, they were talking about how Lin and Kazumi are really alike and..."
"You think they're related?" Mako asked.
"My dad did not cheat on Pema!" I snapped.
"Calm down, I didn't say he did," Mako reasoned.
"It sure sounded like it!"
"Well, there is a big age gap between you and your siblings. Maybe it happened before they got together?" Korra suggested.
"That's ridiculous! You're all crazy!"
"Think about it Kazumi," Mako said calmly.
"There's nothing to think about," I said through gritted teeth, walking out without another word. I heard the sounds of explosions in the distance and became alert.
"Kids, get inside, now!" Lin shouted. I ran outside, passing my siblings as they hurried inside.
"What's going on?" I asked, all feelings from before replaced with the overwhelming duty of protecting my family and home.
"Republic City is under attack," Lin said, watching as Equalist airships approached the island. It wasn't long before everyone ran out to see what was going on.
"Where did you say you parked the car, Korra?" Asami asked.
"It's right around... there!" Korra said, pointing toward a Satomobile wrapped around a pole. It wasn't that bad, but apparently Korra's driving was.
"Wow, nice parking," Asami said sarcastically.
"Hey, you guys got arrested and left me alone with the car! I made it very clear I don't know how to drive." she said innocently.
"Considering, you did a great job!" Bolin congratulate, "but what about all these parking tickets?"
"The city is under attack. There are more important things to worry about." Mako said, brushing it off. Asami jumped into the driver's seat, Mako following.
"Why don't you sit in the back with Korra?" Asami said, glaring disdainfully at him.
"I think I will," he said, turning away. I could feel the tension in the air and I really just wanted to run away. They were like a ticking time bomb.
"Come on Kazumi," Bolin said, sitting in the passenger seat. I climbed in and he shut the door behind me. Asami slammed on the gas, her emotions clearly coming out in her driving. I hope dad is okay, wherever he is.
We pulled up to city hall right in time. We jumped out of the car and took on mecha tanks and Equalists alike. My eyes were peeled in search for Tenzin. I narrowed my eyes when I saw him, being carried into a truck by Equalists. "No way is Amon getting him," I growled, leaping forward. I came lunging down from above, taking out two of the Equlists instantly. They didn't know what hit them.
"Dad!" I shouted, shaking his shoulder. Asami appeared behind me, fighting off Equalists as I tended to my dad.
"Kazumi? What are you doing here?" he said groggily, rubbing his head.
"Saving your butt, now get up!" I pulled his arm, helping him up. He leapt into action, airbending a mecha tank off of the ground.
"A little help, Kazumi?" Bolin yelled as five Equalists surrounded him. I leapt into the air and landed by his side, airbending a dome around us that expanded, sending the Equalists flying off into the air.
"Uh, Kazumi?" Bolin tapped my shoulder. I turned and saw what he was looking at- an airship, heading straight for Air Temple Island. They were going after my family.
"Dad!" I shouted. When he saw, he called for Oogi at once. I ran at the mecha tank, the last remaining obstacle that prevented us from leaving, and leapt in the air. I pulled my fist back as I approached the glass face shield, punching through it and knocking out the operator. I cut up my hand pretty bad, but it was the only way to get it done quickly, and there were more important things than avoiding a few lousy cuts. Oogi landed nearly and we all hopped on, dad steering us off toward the island.
"Kazumi, your hand..." Bolin said softly.
"It's nothing," I said, pulling it behind my back.
"It's not nothing," Korra said with concern, "let me heal it."
I pulled it out and cautiously held it in front of me. She pulled out some water and began healing it, shards of glass falling as my skin began to heal.
"That was a pretty rash move, that mecha tank could have shot you out of the sky," Asami said. I just looked down with a scowl on my face. Why was everything blowing up in my face recently?
"Can't he fly any faster?" I snapped, standing up.
"Kazumi," Korra said sadly. I took a running start and leapt off of Oogi. I could get there faster by myself. I wasn't just being headstrong, I was right. I got there just in time to save Lin from the mustache man. She had been knocked to the ground, the mustache man standing over her with his electrified weapons.
"Stay away from her!" I shouted, my feet connecting with his face. He went down hard and cold.
"Get off our island!" Jinora chimed, flying out on a glider and blasting the mustache man off the island completely.
"You shouldn't be here, it's dangerous!" Lin shouted, rising to her feet. "Get back inside!"
"No way!" Ikki said, taking out an Equalist.
"Taste my fury!" Meelo said as he fart-bended down on an Equalists face, knocking him out instantly.
"Be careful!" Lin shouted, worried about the little airbender. He sent out three more blasts of air, sending the remaining equalists flying. He had a drip of snot on his nose and was making an awkward slow-motion face whilst doing so.
"Never mind..." she said, not wanting to interfere.
"Let's get these scum tied up," I said, dragging them over to Lin, who used metalbending to restrain them. I took their weapons away and gave them to members of the White Lotus, who had gathered once the fighting was over. "Take these to defend yourselves with. I'm sure more are coming."
Oogi landedd and Tenzin jumped off. "Kazumi! Thank goodness you're alright. Kids, what are you doing out here? I can't believe you let them fight, Lin!"
"I couldn't have stopped them even if I tried. They saved me, Tenzin. You've got some great kids."
"We caught the bad guys," Meelo said, climbing onto dad's head and tugging his ear.
"Go on, your wife is inside," Lin said, back on her feet.
"Pema!" he shouted, running inside. I followed, following the sound of a newborn's cry.
"Tenzin," Pema said warmly, her face softening as he entered.
"I'm here, Pema," he said, nothing but pure love in his eyes. Pema handed the baby over to him.
"Come meet your new brother, Kazumi"
"My brother," I whispered to myself. A smile formed on my face as I ran to ward them, looking down at my new baby brother.
"Hi baby!" Meelo cheered.
"I'm Ikki, this is Jinora, Meelo, and Kazumi. We're your family and we're so happy that you're here!"
"What's his name?" I asked.
"Ooh! Can I pick?" Jinora squealed excitedly.
"We already chose a name," Pema chortled.
"Say hello to your brother, Rohan."
"I'm sorry," Korra said from the doorway, "but more airships are coming."
"What do you want to do, Tenzin?" Korra asked as we headed outside.
"I need to protect my family," he said with a strong, resonating tone. "I'm going to get them as far away as possible. If Amon gets his hands on my children..."
"If you're leaving, then i'm going with you," Lin said determinedly.
"But-"
"No buts. You and your family are the last airbenders. There's no way in the world i'm going to let Amon take your bending away."
"Thank you. Korra, I want you and your friends to leave and go into hiding."
"I'm not giving up!" Korra protested.
"I'm not asking you to. I'm asking you to stay safe, to live and fight another day. We can't win this battle now, but with reinforcements, we can."
"So, we need to wait before we strike," she sighed, disappointed, but understanding.
"Tenzin, we need to leave." Lin said urgently.
"Onto Oogi, quick!" he said, hopping onto his sky bison.
"Bye Bolin," I said as he held me tight, not wanting to let go.
"Stay safe," he whispered.
"You too," I gave him one final squeeze before turning to Korra.
"Good luck, Korra," I said and gave her a big hug. She, of course, squeezed me a lot tighter than I squeezed her.
"See you soon," Mako assured me with a determined smile. I nodded, but threw aside formalities and hugged him.
"Bye Kazumi," Asami said, hugging me quickly before I jumped onto Oogi.
"Yip yip!" we took off into the air, flying away from Air Temple Island and its invaders. I hoped the monks would be able to figure out how to use those weapons I gave them.
"Uh, Dad... they're following us," Ikki said, nudging him.
"Did you think they wouldn't notice the sky bison?" I asked sarcastically. Still, I was nervous.
We sped up, but they were hot on our tail. I stood and airbended a tornado, attempting to throw them off our course, but the giant metal ships were too dense. My airbending had no effect. Lin looked down sadly, then stood, a determined look in her eyes.
"Kazumi... I'm sorry," she said softly. My eyes widened as I realized she was going to sacrifice yourself.
"Don't! You can't!"
"Whatever happens, don't turn back!"
"Lin, what are you doing?" Tenzin turned his head just in time to see her take a running leap off of Oogi. I fell to my knees, holding on to the edge of the saddle so tight that my knuckles turned white.
Lin landed safely on the airship's surface, took her stance, and ripped off a large section of the airship's metal skin. There was an explosion and it began to fall into the harbor below. Lin metalbended a panel to catapult herself to the other airship. She was too small to see in detail, now, but I knew what happened as soon as the ship turned around. She had been captured.
"Kazumi, I need you to fly ahead to Commander Iroh's fleet. Fly fast and don't stop for anything."
"Same goes to you," I said solemnly, knowing that they'd just send more airships after them. "I'll see you all soon," I said, hugging the kids. I gave Rohan a kiss on the forehead and hugged Pema goodbye. They were my family. All of them.