Chapter 9 – Legend of Korra part 3
One didn't need to search diligently in order to find a place that was under the control of one of the triads. And even less effort was required to find one of their many illegal gambling rings across town, especially in the seediest parts of town. Well that is if you kept your ear close to the ground.
Anyone with enough Yuans was welcome, as long as they knew the secret password of course. Once in, you could gamble away your money in many "games", but the most popular and profitable of them all was "Pro-Bending Gambling". During Pro-Beniding Season, millions of Yuans were moved all across the city, and people could win big time or lose it all.
So was the nature of these places, which attracted all sort of individuals. So no one raised an eyebrow when a bearded old man came with a briefcase into one of the many triad-owned buildings.
"Whatchu playing old man?" The man taking bets for the next bending match asked the approaching old man.
"I wish to bet it all, on the next bending match" The old man responded with a smile.
"How much you got?"
"One million Yuans." The old man declared as he opened the briefcase, making everyone turned their heads.
"O-One…million…?"The guy looked appalled. No one ever came with that amount of cash! But here it was right in front of his eyes. "I don't think…"
"All in for the Fire Ferrets." The old man said making the other man smile.
"Sure, I'll take it." He accepted. Sure the Ferrets were the dark horse of the season, but they previous match the other day was won by a miracle. There was no way they would win and there's no way he would pass up the opportunity to take this old geezer's money.
And soon enough the match was underway, and all the patrons listened carefully to the radio and the ever captivating narration Shiro Shinobi.
"The Platypus Bears know a green player when they see one, and they are focusing the brunt of their bending on this poor girl."
Apparently the Fire Ferrets got a last minute replacement for their waterbender, who sounded like she had never being in a match before. If the fierce opposition was enough, this greenhorn girl was the last nail in the coffin for the Fire Ferrets and soon that million yuans would be for the triad.
"Wait a minute? Did that Waterbender just Earthbend?"
"WHAT?!" No one could believe what Shiro just said. The entire place started mumbling between themselves.
"Did I see that right? Hold on folks, we're just waiting for the referees' official call, but I think this replacement player could be-"
What? What was happening?! Everyone was anxious, because whatever happened, it upset the odds of the bets.
"No, there's no way. You've gotta be kidding me, she's the Avatar folks, playing in a Pro-bending match. Can you believe that?"
The place exploded in an uproar.
Then the briefcase with the million yauns exploded sending sand everywhere.
"Watch out! It's the Sandb-" But the warning came a little too late because the place was soon inundated with sand which proceeded to move faster than the blinking eye knocking out each and every person in the room.
All except for the grinning old man.
"How's that for a little twist."
After the old man secured the patrons and triad members by sinking them into the ground, he went on to collect all the money and valuables he could get; and he did so he listened intently to the Pro-bending match.
"Knockout! The Fire Ferrets come from way behind and steal the win! What an upset folks! The rookies, Avatar in tow, have nabbed a place in the championship tournament. I cannot believe it!"
"The Avatar in the Pro-bending tournament…" The old man said amused. He knew that she was going to shake things up for all the "Major Players" in Republic City, and he wasn't referring to Pro-Bending Teams. "I cannot wait to see what your next move will be, Avatar Korra."
[ÔÔÔ] [ÔÔÔ] [ÔÔÔ] [ÔÔÔ]
A week later, Avatar Korra and her teammates Mako and Bolin were working out inside the Pro-Bending Arena training room, very early in the morning. Apparently because they were "The Rookies" they got the worst time slot for the gym.
"Did you guys hear about last night?" Bolin ask as he threw a medicine ball towards Mako, who caught it effortlessly. "They say the Sand Vigilante struck another illegal gambling ring of the triads. This time it was the Agni Kais."
"So what?" Mako responded throwing the ball back towards his bother.
"So what?!" Bolin caught the ball. "This is the 3rd one this week! They guy's on a hot streak against the traids! They say he already stole more than 10 million Yuans!" He then threw the ball towards Korra. "What do you think Korra."
"I don't know." She caught the ball. "Didn't they say he was a spirit?" She then threw the ball to Mako's direction.
"But why would a spirit care about money." He pointed out the obvious flaw in the whole spirit theory, as he threw back the ball back to Korra. "It is obvious it is just a man."
"What about the monster?" The one that was half beast-half Satomobile. "People still say they seen it around too."
"I have a theory about that!" Bolin then caught the ball from Korra. "If it isn't just one or the other then maybe it is the both of them!" he then returned the ball towards his brother.
"What do you mean?" Mako received the ball and sent it to Bolin again.
"That maybe the Sand Vigilante and the Monster are working together!" He exclaimed excited as the ball was thrown at Korra. "It totally makes sense."
"Not many people have the ability to speak much less command spirits." Korra said. And she should know she was the Avatar after all; the bridge between Human and Spirit World.
"By the way, what did you mean back in the press conference?" Mako asked as he caught the ball from Korra. "That you'll deal with him one way of the other."
"Exactly that." Korra caught the ball again. "When I meet him, I will do something." Whatever that something was, she was not certain.
"Before you do something to him, could you first get his autograph for me?" Bolin asked before the medicine ball sent him flying backwards a few feet.
"Sure, why not."
[ÔÔÔ] [ÔÔÔ] [ÔÔÔ] [ÔÔÔ]
"With this medicine you should be feeling better in a couple of days" Iggy said as he The Fool in human form was administering the medication.
"Thank you very much King Iggy." A hybrid catowl bowed its head in appreciation. "May you live a hundred years!"
"Thank you, you and your flock have served me well as eyes and ears on the city during the night sky." Iggy accepted the praise his humility while honoring the hard work they hybrid provided. "Now go back home and rest."
"I will, my king." With a final bow the hybrid took flight leaving the place. Said place was a warehouse that Iggy bought with some of the money he had "appropriated" from the Triads.
Iggy figured he needed a safe place from where he could better manage his "kingdom". Where he could stash all the money and valuables he got from beating up crooks and preserve food and medication for his subjects.
Iggy was a king and every king needed a castle after all.
After a long day, Iggy was prepared to call it a night, but like always life wouldn't be that simple.
"My king!" Stray came running up to him with the upmost urgent news. "We receive word from the lizard crows that the Triads are having a gathering! The Triple Threats, the Red Monsoons and the Agni Kais are to meet in two days, and they are hiring extra muscle in preparation." This was an event that could not be ignored.
"A turf war?" Iggy wondered, only for Stray to shake her head from side to side.
"There is talk about an alliance! Against the SandBending Vigilante."
"It seems that I've been yanking their chains for far too long." And after the attacks on their gambling rings and stealing millions of Yuans from them, they had no other choice but to band together and take him out before he managed to destroy any of them first. "Interesting."
"My lord?"
"How about Amon?" Iggy asked rather serious to his feline lieutenant. "Surely he already heard about it from his spies;" a congregation of Benders that size could never go unnoticed by him and his Equalists. "Has he made any moves already?"
"It seems he is preparing a attack squad, but it is not large enough to battle the number of benders the three triads will have." Even if Amon's Chi-Blockers were excellent fighters, the sheer amount of opponents would make his attack fail, even with the element of surprise.
Iggy closed his eyes and started humming, it was the dog's way to try and figure out what Amon was planning to do and several scenarios in which the whole thing was going to play. After almost 5 minutes, Iggy finally opened his eyes and looked at Stray.
"He is not going to attack the meeting." But that didn't mean he wasn't going to do anything either. A small squad only means one thing: a furtive hit and run. "If he won't attack the meeting itself, he will attack one of the three triads." And since it was a meeting for an alliance, the big shots would have to be present, meaning that they'll be vulnerable. "If Amon isn't stupid, then he'll go after the group that suffered the most lost these past months." And Iggy was pretty sure which one that was. "Amon is going after Lightening Bolt Zolt from the Triple Threats."
"What are your orders, my lord?" Stray bowed her head, ready to carry on his orders.
"Spread the word. Tell everyone to keep an eye and ear on Amon and his forces and report all of their moves!" For sometime Amon had not being considered a major player in Republic City by the Triads, the Police or even the government officials. But Iggy knew that he was about the turn the whole thing upside down and even change the rules themselves. And now after gathering his warriors and supporters, the opportunity to strike had finally presented itself.
Soon what will be in everyone's minds is going to be Amon.
"And the Avatar, sir?"
"Continue monitoring her." Iggy couldn't help but smirk. "Ever since she came here she's being a wildcard, doing things no one expected." Even if she was allied to Councilman Tenzin of the Air Benders, Avatar Korra was a player of her own right. "From what we've seen, she's going to end up being involved in this, one way or another."
[ÔÔÔ] [ÔÔÔ] [ÔÔÔ] [ÔÔÔ]
"So where we are headed?" Korra asked as she and Mako rode on Naga's back, the avatar's polar bear dog companion, through the streets of Repulic City.
"The Triple Threat Triads' headquarters. Hopefully Bolin's there and nothing's gone down yet." Mako urged. Apparently Mako's bother Bolin had gotten involved with the triads for money that the team needed for the Pro-Bending Championship pot.
"Triple Threat Triad? I beat up some of those yahoos when I got into town." Korra could still recall how she put a stop to some goons only to be arrested and taken to the Police Department where Lin Beifong berated for her actions. "Why would Bolin get tangled up with-?" but her question was interrupted when Naga barked and lunged forward perusing something. "Whoa, Naga!"
Korra then tried to regain some control as the polar bear dog chase excitedly after a very familiar looking ferret.
"That's Pabu!" Mako instantly recognized his brother's fire ferret pet.
"No, Naga! Pabu's a friend, not a snack."
"We gotta hurry." After picking up Pabu, they both hurried towards their destination knowing that if Pabu was around, then Bolin should be close by too.
No more than a few minutes later, the group finally arrived to the The Triple Threat Triads' headquarters.
"Something's not right. There are usually thugs posted out front." Mako said warily stepping cautiously towards the front door. "We better be cautious." Trying to remain as stealthy as he could, Mako moved with careful steps and pressed his back on the wall next to the door silently signaling Korra to follow his lead.
But the Avatar had other ideas.
Very nonchalantly, KOrra stepped up in front of the door and with one swift movement, she kicked the door open much to Mako's surprise, who could only follow her in now that the stealth option wasn't viable anymore. Yet to both Mako's relief and disappointment the place was completely empty.
"Bolin? You in here?" Mako called out hoping to get any response either from his brother or from someone that could lead them to him. Alas, the only response they got was the sounds from a motor coming from outside the building, surprising Mako and Korra.
Following the noise to the back of the place, both teens found a group of weirdly dressed men that only Mako recognized as a team of Equalist chi-blockers who were on top of motorcycles readying to escape with a truck. Inside said truck's back was none other than Bolin, tied up and gagged alongside many members from the Triad.
"Bolin!" Mako called out, running to catch up to the Equalist had had his brother hostage, but the motorcycle-riders quickly tossed canisters that release an obscuring cloud of bright green smoke, halting Mako's and Korra's pursuit.
After recovering from the surprise gas distraction, Korra ran outside the green smoke calling for Naga to pick them up and renew their chase to save Bolin. As they gained speed Mako and Korra used their bending abilities to try and stop the motorcycle riders, but the riders somehow managed to avoid their attacks seemingly.
The chase continued until they arrived to a wide open square and the rear-most pair of motorcycles turned and skid into a spin that allowed the Equalists to face their pursuers. This would let the others to gain more distance so they could secure the cargo for their leader.
One of the Equalist fighters pulled out a pair of bolas and threw them at Naga, trapping all her legs together making the beast trip, flinging Korra and Mako into the air. Both skid on the road after they landed, but they managed to recover in time to see the Equalists jumping at them with no intention to solve this peacefully.
Korra and Mako tried to stand up to the Equalist fighters, but no matter how much they tried, their opponents moved gracefully and with precision avoiding all of the benders attacks. After a flurry of fire, Korra tried Korra to perform a high fire-kick, only to have her opponent counter with a kick on their own that caught Korra's, twisting her around and exposing her for further retaliation. Said retaliation came in the form of a rapid flurry of light punches that almost looked like taps.
Despite the lack of power behind the attack, it was most effective because it rendered the side of Avatar Korra's body limp and out of her control. Meanwhile Mako too was having trouble with his opponent who, expertly avoided his firebending attacks and retaliated with the same type of jabs that rendered his arm limb and useless. Both Mako and Korra ended up being kicked and fell into the ground, half of their bodies unresponsive and unable to bend, making them easy pickings for the Equalists.
The Chi-Blockers pulled their bolas ready to finish off and restrain the two benders, already planning to take them along to their leader as a prize.
That is until they both heard a strange growl coming from behind them. Relying solely in their self-preservation instinct, both Equalists jumped out of the way as a came crashing down exactly where they were half-a second before they jumped out of the way, giving the downed Korra and Mako a better look at the beast.
It was hard to put into words, but the best way they could described it was as a strange hybrid between a dog and a satomobile; since it had a strong and muscled pawed front legs at the same time it had a car chassis and thick wheels for "hind legs".
Truly it was unlike anything they had ever seen before.
Korra and Mako had no more time to ponder about the beast's appearance because a second later, it had turned towards the Chi-Blockers who were looking at it cautiously. Before the Equalists could have a chance to think of even attacking the strange beast, another growl was heard and they saw the polar bear dog had managed to free itself from the bolas and was joining in to protect its downed master.
Seeing the odds against them, the Chi-blockers turned to look at each other both thinking the same thing before they leapt back throwing another pair of canisters that released green smoke, so they could make their escape on their cycles.
Both teens paid no mind to the fleeing Equalists since they were too preoccupied with the strange monster that was in front of them, not knowing if it was friendly or a dangerous menace.
Sensing her master's distress Naga jumped between the scary looking creature and Korra, ready to defend her in case of an attack.
"Whatever you are, stay back! Or else!" Naga growled crouching down and baring her teeth towards the monster in front of her. She wasn't alone either; Pabu too screeched along trying his best at an intimidating growl.
"Yeah stay back, you!" His bravado coming from the fact that Naga was bigger than the monster they were facing and therefore, in Pabu's mind, stronger too.
"Let me give you a bit of advice seeing as you are new around here." The Beast responded, much to the surprise of both Naga and Pabu. Even so, they decided not to show it in lieu of remaining alert. "You may think you are a big, strong, bad bitch! But this isn't the South Pole; this is Republic City!" It continued with a mocking tone. "And in this city, you don't mess with me unless you want to have your tail kicked."
"And what are you suppose to be, big shot?"The Polar Hybrid shot back, remaining wary but not afraid.
"My name may not mean anything to you, but it should be familiar to your little red friend next to you." The beast said looking at the Fire Ferret, who looked back confused. "My name is Iggy." When the ferret's eyes widen, he knew the guy recognized his name.
"NAGA! STAND DOWN NOW!" Pabu cried sounding utterly afraid.
"What are you-?"
"I said now!" the little ferret snapped back, not caring that he might offend the much larger creature that not long ago tried to turn him into a snack. Because in front of him there was someone who scared him even more than Naga did. "I'm sorry! Please forgive her behavior, she's new to the city and she doesn't know anything, and-!"
"Pabu! Tell me who the hell is this guy!" Naga asked somewhat offended that the little ferret had shout at her and now was apologizing in her stead.
"Watch your words!" Pabu warned angry at her. "You are in the presence of a King! Lord Iggy is the ruler of every animal and beast that resides in Republic City!" He explained before turning back to said King. "I'm truly sorry! I did not recognize you! You see I'm a companion to a human so I'm not very attentive to the on-goings of the streets, but I know of your name and your grand exploits so I –"
"I'm aware that not everyone is familiar with my appearance so there's no need to explain." Iggy interrupted, dismissing the ferret's worries. "Rest assured that I'm not mad at you or your companion." Iggy couldn't help but mentally sigh at how often he had to say those same words over and over again. His subjects loved him but often worried too much about upsetting him, so Iggy had to learn to speak softly yet firm to reassure them while maintaining an air of influence around him.
"Oh! You are as benevolent as the tales say!"
"Thank you." Iggy rolled his eyes at the display; he had no time for this. "If you excuse me I wish to speak with the Avatar."
"Of course! Whatever you want my lord!" Pabu bowed before turning to the larger animal behind him. "Naga! Stand aside and let him through!"
"But…!"
"No but's! When King Iggy commands something we obey!" Pabu may not be as streetwise as other animals, but he knew better than go against the "Top Dog" of the entire city! Even a human's companion like him had heard of Iggy's exploits of great power and unparalleled benevolence! "If you don't, then you'll have the entire animal population of the city against us!"
Not only did Iggy conquer all the animal clans, flocks, herds, companies, packs, gangs and posses, he brought them together into a more organized society. Not to mention despite his immense power, he didn't rule with an Iron Paw but with compassion and sheer animal magnetism. That's why everyone revered him and obeyed his commands. Heck, many would give their lives for him at this point!
"I really don't get it." Naga confessed. Living her live as the biggest fish in the "small pond" that was the South Pole; she was out of her depth in regards how Republic City's animal hierarchy worked. "Since you seem to know him I'll stand back, but if he tries anything funny…!"
"King Iggy would never-!" Pabu wanted to retort but he was interrupted by said king.
"I give you my word." The Invisible King of the Streets declared. "I just want to have a peaceful talk with your master."
"Ok, then." Naga backed down, although she kept her eye on the creature of front of her yet.
Meanwhile, Korra and Mako were completely unaware of the exchange that happened right in front of them, confusing the conversation with a bunch of growls and screeches between animals.
Suddenly, the creature started to crumble into a mountain pile of sand.
"What the-?!" Before any of them could process what they were seeing, from the enormous pile of sand, emerged a dark skinned man dressed in strange robes and with one of the weirdest hairstyles the teens had ever seen. Not to mention he had a dog hanging from his shoulders
"Greetings Avatar Korra." The man greeted with a smile. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you."
"Who-?" Korra barely uttered from the shock of everything that was happening in such a short amount of time.
"I believe your words at the press conference were that «You'll deal with me, one way or another », right?" The man smiled, enjoying the look of surprise on the Avatar's face. "Well, here we are."
"You're the sandbending vigilante!" Korra finally recovered her voice!
"Tch,tch. YES I AM! Tch, tch."
[ÔÔÔ] [ÔÔÔ] [ÔÔÔ] [ÔÔÔ]
Author Notes:
Another Chapter that became WAY LONGER than I expected, so again I'm forced to split it in two parts.
Next (and hopefully final) part: Iggy and Korra join forces to save Bolin from Amon forces.
BTW, I finally got my Archive of Our Own (AO3) account! You can find all of my stories over there too (under the same username).
Also if you're fan of the story RWBY watches Jojo's Bizarre Adventure you can find it over there too under the author's username standuser64.