The next morning Emi and Lin got up earlier than everyone else. Lin said that she wanted to do a perimeter check, but Emi knew that she just wanted some fresh air. The sun was just about over the horizon of the ocean as they walked on the gravel paths around the Temple, their armor clanking slightly in their step. The island was a very peaceful place, and Emi knew that's what Lin needed. Years of being the Chief of Police and being in that noisy, stuffy Station was really starting to wear down on Lin's energy and health. She already seemed better than she had when Emi first met her, but she also felt something missing from her life now that she didn't have a job. Emi wished she could help, but it was a problem she knew Lin would have to handle herself.

After their silent walk, they entered through the backdoor that lead straight into the kitchen. Pema was already there, getting breakfast ready for when everyone woke up. Pema looked up when she heard the door opening, and her eyes immediately narrowed.

"Lin," She said with slight irritation.

"Pema," Lin responded with her own bite.

"Emi!" Emi cried, trying to defuse the tension.

It worked a little since it made both Lin and Pema laugh, but the laughter died down after only a couple seconds and Lin moved out of the room to the sitting room. Emi watched her go sadly. It hurt Lin to be here, but it was their base of operations right now. Emi thought she was dealing with it very well. After the door shut behind Lin, Pema asked:

"How can you stand her?"

"Excuse me?" Emi asked in shock, "What do you mean?"

"How can you stand the negative personality, the scowls, and the scars?" Pema asked, clearly angry, "She's so selfish! How can you like her?"

Emi was lost for words. Lin had always been the smiling, protective, and tough person that Emi loved, not what Pema was talking about. No scowl or scar ever crossed Emi's mind when she thought of Lin. All she thought of was her protecting the innocent, laying down her life for people who needed her, and always being there for her. That's when she knew the answer.

"I think the Lin I know is different than the Lin you know," Emi answered, "The one you know is the hating one because she doesn't like how every time she looks at you she is reminded of her failed love story with Tenzin, but the Lin I know is courageous one who jumps off of 50 story buildings to save a hurt, falling wolfbat. The one who puts her life on the line to protect Republic City. The one who would never stand for any injustice. The one that loves me, and the one that I love."

Pema was silent for a minute, her hands having stopped with their task. Her lifted her head, and Emi realized that there were tears in her eyes.

"That was beautiful," She said as she wiped her tears away with the back of her hand, "I guess I never really wanted to know a different Lin than the one I already knew because I thought that one was the only one there. It's hard to forgive her."

"Oh, she tried to throw you in jail didn't she?" Emi asked.

"Yes, she did," Pema laughed, "I stayed in there for 30 minutes before Tenzin got me out. It was a funny event by itself, but I guess I was angry about how she overreacted like that."

"Well I don't know if she overreacted," Emi said truthfully, "If I had seen Lin walking downtown with some other woman or man, I would have probably beat them up or thrown them in a cell. Lin actually did the less violent choice of action. Just tell me this. Weren't you angry about Lin being with Tenzin for so many years?"

"Yes," Pema confessed, "But I never threw anyone in jail."

"But answer me truthfully," Emi said, "We're you the one in the end that got them to split ways?"

Pema looked down at the floor with a little smile on her face.

"I might have been pulling the strings behind the scenes," Pema answered, her hands rubbing against each other nervously.

"Thank you," Emi said to Pema's surprise. When Emi saw Pema was surprised, she said:

"Oh come on! If you hadn't made them break up, I wouldn't have Lin now," Emi said, "It would have been different if they might have been happy together, but let's be honest, they would have never worked out. In some ways, you actually helped Lin."

"Hmm, I never thought about it that way before," Pema said before turning back to her cooking, "Do you want to help me?"

"Sure!" Emi said before she helped Pema roll out the dough for her rolls.

A couple of hours later, everyone was awake and in the dining room. Korra was chowing down on anything she could get her hands on. Emi was happy to hear that she liked her spicy fish stew. It was one of her mother's favorite recipes. Emi had to tell her mother next time she saw her that the Avatar liked her stew.

Lin was sitting to Emi's left and Tenzin's right, and was perfectly quiet. She had heard Emi's conversation she had had with Pema, and was in a brighter mood. The doors in Air Temple Island weren't exactly sound proof. Emi's first thought when she thought about Lin was how courageous and loving she was. It was true that Lin reserved one part of herself for Emi only, but she never knew Pema hated her that much. At first glance you would think Pema was a sweet, calm Air Acolyte, but she had a lot of covered emotions. Lin was happy Emi showed her a different side to the situation that happened many years ago. Emi was right about everything Lin had felt on that day. It was hard not to act when she saw Tenzin strutting around with another woman, but Lin realized later she had been foolish. Tenzin didn't deserve a moment of her time.

"Korra, I realize you've been through a lot."

Speak of the devil.

"But I need to know everything that happened," Tenzin said.

"How about we need to know everything that happened," Emi corrected, "Can you stop being selfish for one gosh darn moment, or is that too hard for you?"

Tenzin gave a huff before Korra butted in.

"Easy guys, I'm telling everything to everyone," Korra chuckled before she continued, "First off, Tarrlok isn't who he says he is. He's Yakone's son."

"It all makes sense now," Tenzin said.

"That was how Tarrlok was able to bloodbend us without a full moon," Lin agreed.

"But how did you escape?" Emi asked with concern, "And where's Tarrlok?"

"Amon captured him, and took his bending," Korra answered.

"What?!" Tenzin asked in shock.

"Yeah, he showed up out of nowhere, and he almost got me too," Korra said with a defeated sigh.

"But he couldn't handle Avatar Korra and all her might, right?" Emi said with a confident smile, "He must have run away whimpering to his mother."

Korra laughed. "I wish that were the case, but no," she said, "When his henchmen came to get me, I played dead."

"That is also a good strategy," Emi said as though she were an art critic looking at a painting.

"This is very disturbing news," Tenzin said, ruining the fun mood that Emi had been creating, "Amon is becoming emboldent. Taking out a Councilman, almost capturing the Avatar. I fear Amon is entering his end game."

Everyone dispersed after a "cheery" breakfast except Tenzin, Lin, and Emi.

"Lin, I'm heading to a Council meeting. Can we talk for a minute before I go?" Tenzin asked, casting a suspicious look at Emi.

Lin sighed before saying:

"Whatever you say to me you can say to her. Stop being so mean to her."

"I'll only stop if she stops," Tenzin said with another huff.

"Well that's never going to happen, but I'm still coming," Emi said, "I don't trust you either, Airhead."

Tenzin, knowing he had lost this argument, lead the two of them outside where Oogie was waiting for Tenzin. Tenzin then turned to Lin, and suddenly looked nervous.

"Lin, I… um… need to ask you a favor," he stuttered, "It would mean the world to me, but I know it could be a potentially awkward situation furthermore…"

"Spit it out already!" Lin barked, making Emi extremely happy. It was so cringy watching Tenzin try to form words.

"Will you stay here and watch over Pema and the children while I meet with the Council?" Tenzin asked, "With everything that has happened lately, I want to be sure they're in safe hands."

Emi knew that Lin didn't like the little Airbenders all that much, and she knew she wouldn't want to be a babysitter, but Emi knew what Lin's answer would be.

"Of course I'll help, old friend," Lin said before placing a comforting hand on Tenzin's shoulder. Emi rolled her eyes. The last thing she would give Tenzin was sympathy.

"I didn't realize you all were out here."

Uh oh. It was Pema, and she didn't look all that happy. Meelo was snuggling soundly in her arms, but Emi knew he wouldn't be for long. That kid had more energy than a Saber Toothed Moose-lion cub drinking coffee.

"Pema," Tenzin said a little too quickly for comfort which made Emi narrow her eyes on thought. He still had feelings for Lin! Even after everything he put her through. That bastard! He won't be able to get her back that easily. He would have to go through Emi for that, and it would be extremely painful. "Ah… yes! Lin has agreed to help out around here and keep an eye on things while I'm away."

Although Emi was glaring at Tenzin, she still saw the glare that Pema was giving Lin. Emi turned her glare over to Pema. Pema saw the glare and was reminded of the conversation they had had in the kitchen this morning. The one where Pema agreed that Lin was only showing one side of her personality, and that she shouldn't treat Lin badly just because she didn't exactly trust her.

"Thank you," Pema told Lin, trying to be nice, "I could use the extra pair of hands."

Pema couldn't help herself. She and Lin just didn't get along, and it would probably stay that way. She knew when Tenzin said "help", he meant for Lin to protect them with her bending abilities if Equalists attack. But she needed to help with other things. She handed Lin Meelo who immediately started squirming and blowing raspberries.

"Would you mind giving him a bath? He's filthy," Pema said, with a sly smile.

Pema walked away, and Emi shook her head in disappointment. She should have guessed that it would take more than one conversation to change a person's mind. Pema raised three children, and had a fourth one on the way. Emi should have known she would be stubborn. Tenzin walked towards Oogie while Lin struggled with the energetic child.

"This is not what I signed on for!" Lin shouted at him, clearly aggravated.

"Thank you Lin," Tenzin said like nothing was wrong before taking off on Oogie's back towards the city.

Emi immediately swooped in, and took Meelo into her own arms. Lin thanked her for it. The little airbender took a lot of energy to just hold let alone give a bath. He looked up at Emi with his thumb in his mouth looking extremely innocent which Emi knew he wasn't.

"I got to poo!" Meelo said suddenly as he pulled his thumb out of his mouth, "Really bad."

"Are you sure, or are you trying to get out of a bath?" Emi asked with a raised eyebrow.

"No wonder you're a police officer," Meelo said, looking sad, "Do I have to take a bath?"

"Yes," Emi said, taking Lin's hand as she started walking out of the courtyard towards the Airbender family's private bathroom that Jinora had pointed out to her the night before, "Your mother's orders."

Meelo gave a huff that sounded a lot like his father's which made Emi smile. This little, happy, destruction-causer had something in common with the stern, pouty Councilman. It was hilarious.

After giving Meelo a bath and putting some clean clothes on him, Emi released him to go play airscooter with his sisters. Lin had followed her the entire time, in awe of how Emi was able to control the child. In fact, she was very good with children in general considering the Airbender kids had fallen asleep against her while she was reading them a story.

"How are you so good with children?" Lin asked Emi as they sat on a bench overlooking the airscooter paths that the children were using.

"My brother's are six years younger than me," Emi said, "I had to help my parents take care of them with my dad having a police job and my mom going to her studio every now and then. I was more of a parent to them than my actual parents were."

"Hm, that reminds me," Lin said as she looked out at the field that declined down into the bay's water, "When you said that your brothers worked for the military, what branch do they work for?"

"Oh, as far as I know they're working for the United Forces."

"Really? That's pretty impressive. Do you know who their commander is?"

"Commander Bumi," Emi answered, "I believe he's Tenzin's brother."

"Yes, he is," Lin confirmed, "He is the craziest man you will ever meet. He asked me out on a date while I was battling the Creeping Crystal Triad a couple of years ago, and almost got killed in the process. He said it was worth it, but it definitely wasn't."

"I want to meet him," Emi laughed, "He seems like a fun guy!"

"More like reckless."

Boom!

Lin and Emi both jumped up when they heard the sound of an explosion. They turned their heads towards Republic City, but they couldn't get a good view from where they were standing on the back side of the island.

"Come on kids," Lin shouted at the Airbenders who had also heard the explosion and had stopped playing, "Let's move!"

The five of them ran to the front of the island where there was a better view. Smoke was rising from Republic City as more bombs were being set off. Emi could only see smoke and hear the bombs, but she knew it was really bad.

"Alright kids, time to go inside," Lin ordered and the children surprisingly and immediately obeyed.

"We heard explosions," Korra cried as she, Mako, Bolin, and Asami ran out of the temple, "What's going on?"

"Republic City is under attack," Emi said as she pointed to the smoking city across the water.

"We need to get over there," Korra cried, gesturing to her friends behind her, "Let's go!"

"Woah! Hold up!" Emi said as they were about to run off, "Aren't you supposed to stay away from the hazardous city?"

"Yeah, we can't let you go," Lin agreed, "If the Avatar gets captured, we officially lose. You'll just be playing right into Amon's hands."

"Maybe you've forgotten," Bolin said pointing to the former police officers, "She's got us, and no one takes down Team Avatar!"

The rest of them cheered as they ran towards the docks, leaving behind an angry metalbender.

"If you get your bending taken away, don't come crying to me," Lin shouted after them. She crossed her arms over her chest like a sulking child which Emi had to laugh at.

"They're teenagers," Emi said, "They have to be rebellious."

"Well it's extremely foolish of them," Lin answered, "Why would you run towards the enemy without a plan? It's idiotic."

"They tend to be slippery," Emi said confidently, "They're not going to get hurt."

"I hope you're right," Lin said as she looked on at her beloved city which was getting hammered with explosions. She saw one of the Police Airships crash towards the ground, and the crowd of people heading outside the city limits. This was a nightmare.

"Um, is that Amon Airship coming towards us?" Emi asked, pointing to an airship with Amon's symbol flying over the bay.

"It is," Lin said, "And it's coming fast."

"I'll warn the White Lotus guards," Emi said, running off in the direction of the White Lotus dormitories.

"I'll keep an eye on it," Lin called after her as she watched the Airship, "You aren't getting these Airbenders you freaks."

It took 10 minutes for the Airship to fly to Air Temple Island, and it had taken Emi 30 seconds to warn the White Lotus guardians that were now stationed on top of the Temple Hill. Lin and Emi watched as the airship's cargo hold opened and a wire cable was fired into the ground of the island. Chi-Blockers started sliding down the wire towards the ground of Air Temple Island.

"Everyone," Lin called to Pema, Jinora, Ikki, and Meelo who were behind her, "Hide inside and remain calm."

Pema's cry of pain made Emi jump a foot in the air.

"Pull it together Pema," Lin scolded, turning around to face her, "Didn't I just say remain calm?"

"Mommy?" Ikki asked with concern, "What's wrong?"

"The baby's coming!" Pema cried through her contractions.

"Oh no," Emi said, shaking her head, "Could this day get any better?"

As if on cue, another Amon Airship came on top of Air Temple Island and fired another cable that Equalist slid down.

"You've got to be kidding me!" Emi grumbled as Air Acolytes came and lead Pema into the Temple.

"We've got to be ready," Lin told her girlfriend as she got into her bending stance, "After some of them get through the White Lotus, they'll come here. We're this Temple's last line of defense."

"Give me some Equalists to punch," Emi said enthusiastically as she punched the air.

As if the universe had heard her, dozens of Equalists ran up the hill towards them. The Lieutenant, who was leading this branch of the Equalist evasion, grabbed his electrical rods as he ran towards the two metalbenders.

Lin shot out her cables that wrapped around two of the Equalists. She pulled them back, and they hit each other in mid air. Emi stomped her foot against the ground, and sent fast, powerful boulders at every Equalist she could see. Equalists cried out as they were knocked backwards into the sea. Lin pounded the palm of her hand against the ground, and sent columns of rock into the air that flung Chi-Blockers sky high. Emi punched the nearest Equalist in the face, and kicked him just underneath the belt. He doubled over in pain, and she bent him back down the hill. Lin extended her cables at the Lieutenant who was one of the last remaining Equalists. He stretched out his electrical rods, and Lin's cables accidently hooked around them. He sent volts of electricity through the cables that went straight to Lin. She screamed out through the electricity before crumbling to the floor.

"Lin!" Emi cried before being pounced on by a Chi-Blocker from behind. She elbowed him in the ribs, grabbed him by his shirt, and lifted him high above her head. She flung him to the ground as she bent the ground to meet her. Emi turned to Lin only to see that a little Airbender had it covered.

"Stay away from my dad's ex-girlfriend," Jinora shouted as she descended from the air on her glider. She hit a strong gust of wind at the Lieutenant who hit the roof of the Temple before falling into the trees behind.

"Jinora, shouldn't be out here," Lin shouted as she tried to get up. Emi was immediately there to lift her up.

"Get off our island!"

Both metalbenders turned to see Ikki hitting countless Equalists into the air with her airscooter.

"Girls, you need to go back inside this instant," Lin commanded as she found her footing.

"Taste my fury!" Meelo shouted as he farted a gust of wind straight in one of the Equalist's face.

"Meelo! Be careful!" Emi cried out in alarm as Chi-Blockers ran at him. He however wasn't fazed. He airbent Equalists this way and that. He shouted battle cries through his missing teeth as snot came out of his nose like the little boy that he was.

"Nevermind," Emi said in amazement. For bringing mostly nonviolent, Airbenders were great fighters.

They rounded up all the Equalists that they could find and tied them up as the White Lotus finally came up the hill after winning their own fight at the docks.

"Take these Equalists, and lock them in the temple's basement," Lin told them as they immediately got to work with their new task.

"Nice work kids," Emi said, as an flying bison landed in the middle of the courtyard. The airbender kids ran over to Tenzin as he, Korra, Mako, Bolin, and Asami jumped off of Oogie's back.

"Oh thank goodness you're alright," Tenzin said as he hugged Ikki and Jinora, and Meelo hopped onto his shoulders.

"We caught the bad guys," Meelo said like it was no big deal.

"You let them fight?" Tenzin asked in alarm, "Do you realize what could have happened?"

"Hey! They saved the day," Emi said with a smirk at the master Airbender, "We would have been on our way to Amon if it hadn't been for these little guys."

"They outnumbered us a least a 40 to 2," Lin agreed, "We would have been toast if it weren't for your kids. You should be proud."

"Well no harm, no foul I suppose," Tenzin said as he looked down at his children with admiration.

"Oh by the way, your wife went into labor while this battle was going on," Emi said quickly with a laugh at Tenzin's fearful face.

"What?!" He shouted before bolting into the Temple with his children following closely.

"What, really?" Korra asked in shock, "Or are you playing a prank on him."

"I wish I was, but I'm telling the honest truth," Emi said with a smile, "I'm glad to see you got out of that city safely."

"Yeah, sorry about running off," Korra apologized with a sheepish smile.

"A little bit late for that don't you think?" Lin said with her bright green eyes glaring at Korra and her friends. Emi rolled her eyes as the group of teenagers ran towards the temple in an effort to get away from Lin's harsh gaze. When they were gone, Emi turned to Lin and cupped her face with her hands.

"Are you alright?" she asked with fear, "That last shock looked bad."

"I'm fine," Lin said, leaning her cheek into Emi's hand, "It wasn't nearly as bad as last time."

Emi was sorrowfully reminded of Lin's ugly, bloody burn she had gotten during the Probending Arena battle. She definitely didn't want to see Lin in pain like that again. Emi looked at Lin's beautiful face, and couldn't believe that she was hers. It was mind-blowing. Something over Lin's shoulder caught Emi's eye, however. She looked a little closer, and she face went a couple shades paler.

"What?" Lin asked before turning around before going still with fear.

Two more Amon airships had just crossed over the Republic City harbor and were heading toward Air Temple Island.

"We need to warn the others," Emi said. Lin nodded before following Emi into the Temple. They enter the mostly quiet room (the only noises were new baby Rohan's gurgles and coos), and immediately drew everyone's attention.

"Sorry to interrupt," Emi said, for once no biting sarcasm was directed at Tenzin, "But more airships are coming."

"Everything's not going to be fine, is it daddy?" Ikki asked. Tenzin didn't answer, but instead looked down at his new son. They needed to move, now.

Everyone ran outside to see the two airships getting closer.

"What do you want to do Tenzin?" Korra asked the airbending master.

"I need to protect my family," He answered, "And get them as far away from this conflict as possible. If Amon got his hands on my children, I hate to even think of it."

"If you're leaving, then I'm coming with you," Lin said, much to everyone's surprise including Emi's.

Tenzin looked like he was going to argue, but Lin held up her hand.

"No arguments," Lin ordered, "You and your family are the last airbenders. There is no way in the world that I'm letting Amon take your bending away."

"If she's going, I'm going too," Emi said, cracking her knuckles, "I've grown rather fond of your children, and I'm not going to see them get hurt. Not on my watch."

"Thank you, you two," Tenzin said before directing his attention to Korra and her friends, 'Korra I want you to leave this island and hide for the time being."

"I'm not giving up," Korra retaliated, clearly not happy with this plan.

"I'm not asking you to," Tenzin said like he was again talking to one of his children, "I sent word to the United Forces. They'll be here soon, and once my family is safe I will return. With the reinforcements, we can turn the tides in this war."

"What you're saying is we need to be patient," Korra huffed like she had heard it a hundred times before. Emi guessed she probably had.

"You're learning well," Tenzin said as he placed his hand on her shoulder.

Everyone went into action. Tenzin called Oogie, Emi helped an exhausted Pema onto the Sky Bison's back, and Lin helped the Airbender children gather supplies. When they were all packed, Lin and Emi hopped onto Oogie's saddle. Tenzin and Korra gave each other a goodbye hug that was taking a little too long.

"Oi, Tenzin! Let's go!" Emi called down to him.
"Tenzin, if we're leaving, we better do it now," Lin agreed.

As Tenzin bent his way onto the back of Oogie's neck, Emi took Lin's hand. Lin squeezed back, showing her that she understood. They were both here to protect, and they would do it with their lives if they had to. No one was getting near theses airbenders.

As the started to fly east, towards the boundaries of the Earth Kingdom, the two Amon Airships turned their course to follow them. They were big, bulky war machines that could fly, and, Emi had to admit, were terrifying especially considering they were chasing them. They continued to fly east, trying to ignore the fear that was building in their hearts. Those airships were getting closer by the second as machinery began to beat the bison's pace.

"They're gaining on us," Lin called to Tenzin from her position in the back.

"Faster Oogie," Tenzin encouraged the sky bison as one of the airships fired a netted cable at the flying bison. Lin immediately bent out her cable to slice the net in half. She then bent out her other arm's cable, and wrapped it around the cable that was connected to the Amon Airship. Emi's eyes widened as Lin got up from her seat to a standing position. Oh no.

"Lin?" Emi asked worriedly. Lin looked down at Emi with sorrow before turning to shout at Tenzin.

"Whatever happens to me, don't turn back!"

Tenzin turned around to look at Lin in shock.

"Lin what are you doing?" he shouted back, but it was too late.

With one final kiss on Emi's forehead, Lin jumped off the flying bison.

"LIN!" Emi screamed as she watched Lin swing her way over to the airships. Lin retracted her cable enough to give her a boost onto the top of the airship. She then continued to aggressively bend a good sized hole in the top of the airship. With a fiery explosion, the airship started to to fall towards the sea below. Lin took a running start before bending the piece of metal under her to give her a boost onto the next airship. Lin immediately got to work to do the same thing to this airship, but she was stopped. Equalist came up onto the airship's flat top, and threw electrical wires at Lin. With a cry and a scream, Lin fell down hard onto the metal surface with a electrical shock that knocked her out.

Emi watched in horror as the one flying airship turned around, and began flying in the other direct with Lin unwillingly aboard. Everything was silent atop the Sky Bison.

Lin, Emily thought weakly. She's on her way to Amon, and there's nothing I can do. She just sacrificed herself, and I can't do anything! I'm so lost. Lin, I'm sorry!

"That lady is my hero!" He said with his goofy, toothy smile, breaking the silence. Emi, on the verge of tears, gave the little airbender a hug that he returned.

"Yes, she is," Emi agreed as she let her tears fall.

They had been flying for at least an hour, and Emi had regained her composure. She now started to think. Something didn't quite settle with her. The airship caring Lin had just turned around and stopped pursuing them. No offense to Lin, but aren't the only Airbenders in the world more important than one earthbender? Why take the one earthbender, and leave the grand prize to fly away? It didn't make sense.

Emi rested her arms on the edge of the saddle, and her chin on top of her arms. She looked over the side of the saddle and down at the ocean below. It was so cloudy that she could only get a glance at the blue ocean before it disappeared behind fluffy whiteness. She left sick. Not air sickness, lonely sickness. Lin was going to get her bending taken away, and Emi couldn't help her. She couldn't comfort her, or hug her, or kiss her. She could only wait. Why is waiting so hard?

Emi's head shot up when she caught a glimpse of a different color underneath the clouds. It hadn't been the blue of the sea, or the white of the clouds. It had been dark grey. Emi went pale and motionless. She knew something wasn't right. The Equalists had been following them. There had been a third airship there the entire time, but the clouds had kept them undercover! Lin had sacrificed herself for nothing. They were still being followed.

"Tenzin!" Emi called to the master Airbender making everyone jump, "We need to go higher!"

"Why?" Tenzin asked but Emi saw his eyebrows knit together in worry, "What's wrong?"

"We're still being followed!" Emi called back, pointing below them, "They're using the clouds as cover!"

"Oogie, higher!" Tenzin yelled, and the sky bison obeyed. Everyone looked behind them, and that was when the third airship came into view. It was following them up, out of the clouds. The airbender children shrieked, and backed up into their mother's arms. Pema was breathing heavily as she clutched her children, and Emi was afraid she would start hyperventilating.

"How far until we reach land?" Emi asked Tenzin as she kept her eyes on the airship. The airship was at its max height right now, and it couldn't get any closer to them. They had the advantage as of right now, but Oogie was starting to get tired. At least on land they would have a better chance at fighting them off.

"We're above land!" Tenzin called back over the howling wind. Emi looked over the side of the saddle, and past the huge airship. Emi could now see mountains, trees, and grass below them. They were now in the Earth Kingdom, but they were still running.

"We need to get down to the ground before they have the chance to try to catch us in one of their nets," Emi shouted at Tenzin, "Down there we can at least get some cover, and hopefully win a battle with strategy."

"That's a better plan than I've got right now," Tenzin said before he directed Oogie towards the ground. Oogie, like the airship, got some cloud cover coming down. The only thing that was different was that the clouds were now a dark grey. Emi felt the water droplets as they made their way towards land. This storm was moving west towards Republic City.

The airbending family landed and got off Oogie quickly. They were standing in a forest on the side of a mountain. There was a straight, tall cliff next to them that went up the mountain side. Emi bent a Sky Bison sized hole in the cliffside for Oogie to hide in while he rested.

"We need to move before they dock their ship," Emi said to the family, "We have a little more time since it's hard to dock an airship in a forest."

They started to walk through the forest, trying to make as little noise as possible. They didn't need to attract any unwanted attention. When they dark clouds over head started to drop their rain on the forest, Emi metalbent her armor's metal foot-coverings off the bottom of her feet. She had been practicing her Seismic Sense whenever she could find the time, and now it was time to put it to the test. With every foot fall she tried to see what was around her without her eyes. She saw a pond, lots of trees, and a beating heart. Emi froze in her tracks.

It was too slow to be that of an animal. It had two feet, and it was standing perfectly still. When Emi froze, so did the Airbending family. Tenzin looked wildly around, trying to spot what Emi was sensing. Emi was trying to pinpoint where she was sensing this supposed human. Her Seismic Sense still wasn't very good, so everything was kind of fuzzy (not that there's anything wrong with fuzzy). She could feel a heartbeat, however, from all her years practicing to be a Truth-seer. Emi took her Equalist glove that she still had attached to her belt, and stuffed it in her armor out of sight. She could sense the heartbeat, and now she was starting to feel something made of earth on the person. A flat piece of ceramic covering their face.

"Not very good at hiding are you, Amon?" Emi asked into the silent forest. Amon stepped out from behind a tree to their right, and Emi stepped in between the family and Amon. If Amon was here, it meant that he wasn't near Lin which gave Emi all the confidence she needed.

"Hiding has never been my specialty," Amon said in his eerie voice as he stepped forward on the rain-splashed ground. Emi got into her earthbending stance threateningly, "I never did like hiding when my revolution was in its starting stages. Having to walk around under the tyranny of benders without being able to act. It was painfully slow, but my wait was worth my while. I can now eradicate any bender that stands in my way, and you and your Airbender friends are next on my list."

"That's not going to happen, trust me," Emi said with her teeth clenched as she heard thunder roll in the sky. Lin got captured trying to defend the last of the Air Nation, and Emi was going to continue her work, "You and your crew of deranged lunatics will never win as long as there are people in the world who don't believe in you. They will continue to fight and fight until their dying breath to see you brought to your knees. You will always have enemies, and I'm one of them. Even if you take my bending you can never take my fighting spirit. All the lives you have ruined will come back to haunt you, and then you'll be sorry for everything you've done."

"I'll take my chances," Amon said before raising his hand. Chi-Blockers sprang from the treetops all around them. Tenzin started flinging them backwards with his bending, and his children followed his lead. Emi went straight for Amon. If she could keep him busy or even defeat him, she would be keeping him away from Lin and the Airbenders. She charged at him, and used her earthbending to propel herself forward. Amon sidestepped out of her way, but not before she extended her cables and hooked them around his forearm. She sent him flying through the trees, away from the fighting Airbenders. She ran in the direction she had thrown him, trying to find him.

"Come on Amon," Emi taunted as she whirled around in circles in order to see everything while the pouring rain made her hearing useless, "I thought you said you didn't like hiding."

Amon jumped at Emi from behind, but not before she had a chance to jump away herself. She jumped against a tree trunk, and then another tree trunk, and then another. She jumped around Amon in circles, waiting for him to make the next move. He jumped at her with lightning fast reflexes, and hit her out of the air. She fell to the ground, but got up quickly. She earthbent herself straight at him which caught him off guard. She punched him straight in the nose cracking his mask. His mask crumbled off of his face as he too crumbled to the ground. Emi looked down at her hands. They were covered in red paint. She raised an eyebrow in confusion. Where had this come from?

Amon, shaking, got to his feet. Emi's eyes widened when she looked at his face. She now knew where the paint had come from.

"A firebender didn't take your face away," Emi realized, looking at the smudged makeup on his face, "you don't have a disfigured or injured face. Your face is perfectly fine! Your entire revolution was built on a lie! Wait until your loyal followers hear about this."

Amon wiped the blood from his bleeding nose, and growled at Emi.

"You will do no such thing," He whispered menacingly as if he were afraid that his followers could hear their conversation even through the heavy rain.

Emi sucked in a deep breath like she was going to shout out to the world about his lie, but she was stopped. Amon raised his hands, and Emi was raised in the air. She felt all her muscles contracting uncomfortably as if they had a mind of their own. Emi had only felt this type of pain once before…

"You're a… bloodbender," Emi struggled to say through his tight grip on her throat. He didn't want her to speak the truth, "You're a waterbender, you bastard! What was all of this… you were talking about… hating benders?"

"My father, an unloving waterbender, taught me to be nothing but a monster," Amon said, and Emi thought it was weird how she could now see his mouth moving when he talked, "He failed at his destiny, so he trained me to avenge him. He never gave me a choice. He was a bender, and he ruined my life. Bending ruined my life."

Emi's eyes widened when she figured it out.

"You're Tarrlok's brother," Emi said, "You're Yakone's other son."

"Very observant," Amon said with anger clear in his voice, "But you're not going to tell anyone about any of this. You and you're bending will disappear."

He bent her to the ground on her knees. He walked around her and placed one hand around her neck and his thumb on her forehead. She felt everything being clogged up. She felt her energy vanish. She felt the earth becoming numb before she fell unconscious on to the unresponsive forest floor.

Lin groaned as she woke up. She was laying on her side in a room. She could hear the sound of rain outside, but her vision was blurry. She tried to sit up, but found she was too tired to do so. Her muscles screamed in agony as she tried again. She couldn't even move her arms which she realized were handcuffed together with her own platinum cuffs. Lin shuffled over to the wall so she could lean against it to help herself up. Lin immediately recognized the room as one of Air Temple Island's many guest bedrooms. The floors were wood, the walls were covered in wallpaper and plaster, and nothing in the room was metal. Lin thought about going to see if she could unlock the door, but she wouldn't have been able to.

The door opened, and two Equalists in their glowing, yellow-eyed masks came in. Their lifted Lin to her feet by her arms aggressively, and started to pull her out of the room. Lin couldn't move her feet even if she used every last bit of strength. She had no strength left.

They dragged her outside in the pouring rain. Lin looked up to see a newly docked airship was hooked to the ground of the courtyard they were in. There was a crowd of Equalists gathered underneath the airship in the middle of the courtyard. The Equalists carrying her dropped her down in the middle of the group of people on her knees. Lin felt her knees and shins protest, but she didn't show it. She lifted her head enough to see Amon in his (new) mask, looking down at her. The Lieutenant was standing to his right, and other Equalists gathered behind him.

"Tell me where the Avatar is, and I'll let you keep your bending," Amon said which just made Lin angrier. She didn't have to think about her answer at all.

"I won't tell you anything you monster," She growled with the last bit of strength she had.

"Very well," Amon said like he had already known what her answer was going to be. Lin couldn't see him anymore because he had walked around behind her. She gave an exhausted sigh as she closed her eyes. Even if she was going to lose her bending, at least she had Emi. She hoped that she would be able to see her again. She hoped that that last kiss wouldn't be their last encounter.

Amon wrapped his left hand around her neck to make her look up. He then pressed his thumb to her forehead. She felt her armor become ten times heavier as she fell with exhaustion to the ground.

I always found Amon to be the scariest out of all the Legend of Korra villains. I've always had a fear of losing stuff, but the thought of losing a super power you were born with just makes my skin crawl. I know Lin handles it well in the show, but I would have been crying my eyes out. I didn't want to write it out so that both of our favorite police officers got their bending taken away, but I could see no good plot twist around it. Curse you Bryke, and your amazing story! Ugh! Anyway... this chapter was a little longer than most, but I couldn't find a good stopping point! As always, comment your opinion. It is greatly appreciated!