"There's more Airships on the way," Korra said.
Aria rushed outside with her uncle.
She walked over to Bolin, her eyes glued to the two equalist airships now headed for Air Temple Island. She and Bolin could hear Tenzin talking to BeiFong and Korra about the plan to leave.
"Aria?" Bolin asked timidly, grabbing both her hands.
"Yeah, Bo?"
"I… I think it would be best if you went with them." He said, looking down at their joined hands.
"Bo, I can't leave you all to do this by yourself! I'm a master level airbender, you need my help!" Aria said angrily, ripping her hands from his.
"Its not that, Aria! You are a fantastic fighter, you've taught all of us a lot of fighting techniques that has saved our butts multiple times, but you are an airbender – you need to be kept safe!" Bolin said, cupping her cheek.
Aria pushed his hand off, "I don't give a crap about that! As a master of my element it is my duty to help others! You're worried about me, so you pull my cultural duty into this? I don't want you to fight! That doesn't mean that I'm going to try and keep you from fighting because I know you will do good for this city."
"Aria, please, your grandfather told you that you are in charge of your culture's wellbeing after Tenzin. Jinora's the next oldest, but she's only 10! If something happens to Tenzin, it's going to be a while before Jinora is ready to lead the airbenders and acolytes." Bolin said.
"Don't you dare bring my grandfather into this," Aria spat, "My grandfather knew that it was his duty to help people no matter the personal cost! Even if he had never been the Avatar, he would've always tried his best to help others anyways. You can't keep me from helping people!"
Bolin grabbed Aria and hugged her tightly.
"Let go of me!"
"Aria please just hear me out!" Bolin said, still holding her and beginning to stroke her hair, "There are two reasons I don't want you to fight. As I said, your heritage and culture and bending need to be kept safe. There need to be more airbenders in this world. And… speaking of that, I…"
Bolin sniffed, "I… I want to have a future with you in it Aria. If you died I would never be able to forgive myself. I would never be able to see how our future would end up."
Aria could feel her shoulder dampening with his tears and she felt her eyes sting with unshed tears, "Oh, Bo…" She threaded a hand through his hair and clutched him tightly, "You stupid boy…"
"Aria, Tenzin, if we're leaving, we'd better do it now," Lin said.
"Yes," Aria said, wiping the tears from her eyes, "I'm coming."
Bolin raised his head, "You'll do it?"
Aria smiled, despite her tears, "For you, yes."
He pulled her close, "I love you," Bolin said before he kissed her.
As they broke the kiss, Aria pressed her forehead into his, "If you die I will come to the spirit world and kick your ass."
Bo laughed, "I'll be fine. You run along. I'll see you after this is all settled."
Aria jumped up onto Oogi's back and they were off.
She sat beside Pema and her new cousin Rohan, "He's beautiful, Pema. He looks so much like his grandfather…"
"Thank you Aria, and thank you for coming to live with us. I know things have been difficult, but you are a part of our family and our people and I would not have it any other way," Pema said kindly, clutching Rohan tightly to her.
Jinora, Ikki, and Meelo crowded around Aria and Pema.
"Where are we gonna go mommy?" Ikki asked.
Pema put her free arm around the girls as Meelo settled in Aria's lap, "We're going somewhere safe – you remember grandma Katara?"
"But we didn't even have time to bring our coats." Meelo said.
"They're gaining on us!" Lin said as the two large airships drew closer.
"Faster, Oogi!" Tenzin rushed on the bison.
Lin blocked a net and looked at them all – the last airbenders – Aria saw something flash in her eyes, "Whatever happens to me, don't turn back!"
"Lin, what are you doing!?"
The former chief took down one airship and somehow managed to turn the second around.
Slowly the clouds enveloped them as they flew further and further from the ships.
"That woman is my hero." Meelo said, matter-of-factly.
They continued flying for about an hour, still covered in clouds.
"Aria, do you hear that?" Tenzin said in a hushed voice.
A faint humming noise could be heard coming from all directions, "Yeah. Everyone hold onto something."
Aria pushed her fists together and blasted a sphere of air outwards from Oogi, clearing the clouds around them.
Her eyes went wide. Small equalist planes surrounded them. Now spotted, the equalists began diving, shooting nets and electrified ropes. Aria tried to shoot them down with quick blasts, but there were too many, the remaining planes were closing in. Tenzin tried his best to help but Oogi had been electrocuted and was struggling to maintain altitude.
Pema and the children were huddled at the front of Oogi's saddle.
Aria and Tenzin were too busy trying to keep all the equalists away when suddenly a voice said, "Stop or the family goes first."
They both turned to see three equalists surrounding Pema and the kids with electrified batons.
They were all individually chained – with the exception of Pema and Rohan – and guarded as Oogi was towed through the air behind three of the planes.
"It's going to be alright, guys. Korra, Mako, Bolin, and Asami will help us. Even the United Forces are on their way with my dad – your uncle Bumi. And the Fire Lord's son, General Iroh! We're going to be ok." Aria whispered reassurances to her cousins as they were brought back to republic city.
They were brought into the former pro-bending arena in the dead of night and put in a makeshift cell. The guards put cuffs on their wrists that were wired to a box on the wall.
"If any of you tries to bend, we'll press this button," He held out a small piece of metal that also had a wire connected to the box and pressed the small button on top gently. A quick zap of electricity momentarily stunned Aria and her cousins, "So play nicely and nobody gets hurt."
Aria lay awake for the rest of the night, Jinora at her side. Ikki and Meelo were asleep with their mother and Rohan, while Tenzin had fallen asleep sitting up by the door.
So much for protecting the last airbenders… she thought, at least I was here for my family. Korra better have a plan to get us out of here. If they even know we're in here…
As she finally drifted to sleep on the cold, hard floor, she thought of Bolin.
Oh noes! I know some folks have been worried about Aria just sort of "being there" for this instead of being a part of it but there's not many ways to work in a new character in such a fantastically done story like the Legend of Korra (especially when I'm trying to keep it as non-AU as possible). Don't worry though, there's still more to come!
As always my beloved adored and, frankly, worshipped reviewers include: WulfLuvr22, Zane-Ice-Fairy, Brooke. Harrison, MindComplexity, patatachip, FloriBla23, sunflower13, icey, Polar8Bear, and silvermist1116 (lots fewer than last time!).
Love you all and see you soon with another update!