CHAPTER 12: PROGRESS

"Alright we have some intel on a small equalist rally that's being held in a warehouse not far from City Hall," Chief Beifong informed her metal bending officers. She had lost a good chunk of them to Amon, but she still had a few left. "You'll find the exact location in the notes Miss Asami is handing out to you now."

"Why so many of us to take down a small rally chief?" asked one of the benders, his hand half-raised in the air.

"Because I am not underestimating these equalists again! In case you've forgotten my finest metal benders were wiped out thanks to Amon!" Beifong snapped as she got nose to nose with the man.

"Of course chief," the man managed to choke out through a gulp. His hand now slowly lowered back down to his side. Despite no longer having her bending, Chief Beifong could still make grown benders tremble.

"We'll rendezvous at the station tonight at eight. Dismissed!"

"Wow Lin you're so inspiring!" Asami praised her superior, as she readjusted some sheets on the elder woman's desk.

"I hope one day I can command the kind of respect you do."

"Actually Asami, I've gained a lot of inspiration from you these past few days," Beifong admitted as she squeezed the bridge of her nose in exhaustion. "Watching you spar with the officers in the training rooms has been really encouraging for me. When I lost my bending I thought my career as an officer was over, but you showed me that you don't need bending to be powerful, or useful. I still have my training even if I can't earth bend anymore."

Asami smiled brightly at the praise. The Chief offered her her own little smile, but then hardened her face again, getting back to business.

"Why don't we go to the training rooms and see if we can track down Bolin. I want to see if he's made any progress with his metal bending."


MEANWHILE

Korra slowly began to move her body in forms that were characteristic of the soft flowing movements associated with water bending. She was at the pool of water located at the bottom of the waterfall she had been at a few days before to unlock her water chakra. Korra wasn't trying to bend the water however; she was just performing the movements that came second nature to her. After her mastery of her seven inner chakras Korra had been disappointed to find that she still couldn't bend water, earth or fire.

After a day of frustration Korra had finally calmed herself and was now trying to work her way through all of the basic forms of each element. She had decided she would start at the beginning with water. The element she had been born into.

Mako and Naga watched lazily from the shade of some spindly trees. Earlier that morning Gen had gone down the mountain to get more supplies, leaving Korra and Mako to watch over the temple in his absence. Korra let out a deep breath feeling much calmer than she had yesterday.

"Still nothing?" Mako asked from his lounging position a few feet away.

Korra moved to the water's edge and slowly swayed her body, trying to manipulate the water to her will, but it was no use. Her brow furrowed, but she tried to keep her frustration down.

"Why don't we go back up to the main temple area?" Korra finally suggested, as she tried to keep her voice neutral. "I'd like to practice my earth bending forms." Mako nodded and the two hopped on Naga's bare back to make the trek back up to the main area above.


MEANWHILE

"You're still not feeling the earth!" snapped Beifong from the doorway of the bustling training room. Bolin was training with two of Beifong's former metal benders, in training room three, which was one of the larger training areas in the building. The former benders were attempting to give Bolin some pointers when it came to metal bending, but to no avail.

"That's what we've been telling him, Chief," one of the men piped up, as he scowled at Bolin. Bolin glared back at the man and stuck out his tongue. Asami stifled a giggle when she saw Beifong's face contort in anger.

"That's enough for now! Why don't you take a break Bolin, I need you fresh for a raid tonight."

"A raid? Cool!" Bolin exclaimed, his annoyance with his trainers forgotten.

"Hit the showers, and I'll fill you in over lunch," Lin commanded.

"Your treat?" Bolin raised an eyebrow.

"I suppose," Lin said through a sigh.

"Ok! Pabu, let's hit the showers!" Bolin called as the little fire ferret scurried after its master.


MEANWHILE

Korra took a rooted stance in the main courtyard of the temple and began to perform the strong rooted style of movements associated with earth bending. Mako couldn't help but watch Korra in amazement. One moment she could be light and flowy like water and then solid and rough like earth. She truly was a bending master, well minus the actual bending, but that was only a temporary set-back, he was sure of it. Korra's relatively quick mastery of her chakras had to indicate that she was getting the hang of being the avatar, didn't it? Mako furrowed his brow as he pondered this.

The sun was now directly overhead and a light sweat broke out on Korra's forehead. She wiped at it, but continued with her training.

"It's starting to get pretty warm. Maybe you should take a break," Mako instructed.

"No, it's the perfect time to switch to practicing some fire bending moves. After all, fire benders draw their power from the sun. Want to join me?" Korra asked as she wiped some sweat from her face again.

Mako didn't really feel like training out in the blazing midday sun, but he wanted to spend time with Korra and he had come along on this journey to help her, so he nodded and took up a spot beside Korra in the spacious courtyard.

Soon Korra and Mako were performing the sharp quick movements of fire bending. Since Korra was unable to produce any fire for these exercises Mako withheld the urge to let flames burst from his limbs, as he'd been taught. He knew it would only make Korra feel worse than she already did.

Mako chanced a glance at Korra now, as he wiped his already wet brow, and he saw that Korra was smiling at him and watching him more than she was actually focusing on her own movements.

"Thanks," Korra finally said, realizing she had gotten caught staring at him. It was obvious Korra knew Mako was holding back on purpose to make her feel better. Mako just nodded and the two continued their training in silence.


MEANWHILE

"Sounds pretty intense," Bolin said as he began to stuff his face with food.

"Yes, in order for everything to run smoothly you must follow my orders exactly. If you don't I can guarantee that this will be your last raid!" Beifong informed the boy sternly.

Bolin nodded and gave an exaggerated swallow as he downed the food in his mouth. "Do you think Asami's father will be there?"

Asami nearly dropped her fork at Bolin's question, but she had secretly been wondering this too.

"Probably not. It's only supposed to be a small equalist get-together, but you never know," Lin said at last. Bolin nodded and the meal continued in silence.


MEANWHILE

"Looking good guys," Gen called as Korra and Mako finished their fire bending practice. Mako had removed his jacket and scarf earlier and went to fetch them now since he and Korra were done training, at least for the time-being.

"Thanks," Korra called. "Want help putting those supplies away?"

"Sure," Gen called back obviously pleased with Korra's offer. Korra fixed her damp hair as she followed Gen into the temple.

"Any improvement?" the young guru asked tentatively as they stepped into the kitchen area of the temple.

"Not really, but I definitely feel more balanced than I ever have before. If that makes any sense," Korra answered honestly.

"Well, while I was getting supplies I visited my old teacher. He's responding well to the healer's treatments, but he is old and he'll never be exactly the same. Anyway, his replacement should be here tonight though. He left word with the healers in case I dropped by. Maybe, he'll have some advice for you," Gen offered.

Korra nodded glumly and the two continued putting away the supplies. Mako joined them a few minutes later and helped too.


MEANWHILE

"A girl matching Korra's description was seen recently in a nearby town, and a farmer claims a neighbour of his borrowed a trailer for his satomobile and that it was used to carry a large white creature, which is undoubtedly the avatar's polar bear dog. I have men currently trying to track down this neighbour," the White Lotus guard reported to one of the order's elders.

"Good work. We'll find Korra in no time, I'm sure of it."


LATER

Korra had found the perfect training ground to practice her air bending. The training area was located on the outskirts of the temple grounds and consisted of a large hole at least 30 feet deep, and the length of a pro-bending ring, which had been dug out of the ground, and tall wooden posts, which had been pounded into the bottom of the hole, with various thin sticks between them. This allowed Korra to weave and manoeuver the obstacle course using the circular stances and movements associated with air bending. There were also various spinning gates like the ancient air bending device on Air Temple Island in Republic City.

Korra sent another burst of air through the course, sending the various mechanisms spinning again and began her trek across the terrain. She stumbled occasionally, but she was getting better at using her air bending to balance herself. She was also learning to be lighter on her feet and more agile, worrying less about creating a rooted and solid base like fire and earth bending required.

Korra drifted to the end of the course again and wiped some loose strands of hair out of her face. She tightened her pony-tail and got ready to go another round. She didn't want to quit until she could pass through the course perfectly.

"Looking good out there."

"Mako," Korra said in surprise as the fire bender approached. He climbed down the last few stairs and approached her.

"Why don't you come up for some dinner? Gen saved you some stuff. It's warming over the fire now."

"I'd rather keep practicing."

"Everyone needs a break."

"I don't need a break," Korra replied quickly.

Mako sighed, "Korra, I know you want to keep practicing but-"

"Stop! I don't want to hear it! No more advice and pep talks please. Honestly, despite the situation I'm in I feel great! I feel more at ease, and more at peace than I ever have in my life. Working through those chakra exercises with Gen really was something I needed to do and now I need to keep practicing my air bending!" Korra was firm, and sounded in control of her emotions, despite the outburst.

"Okay."

"I'm sorry. I know you want to help, but right now I'm just feeling very focused on this," Korra indicated the air bending training ground now.

"Maybe I can distract you?" Mako asked suggestively, or maybe that was Korra's imagination, she wasn't sure.

"I don't need to be distracted," she responded quickly, before a blush could creep to her cheeks. She focused herself back on the course now, and sent a burst of air through it causing the gates to swing wildly again.

However, Mako closed the short distance between them quickly and silently. He reached for Korra pulling her around gently to face him and kissed her. Korra's eyes widened in surprise and then she melted into the kiss. She moved her arms slowly to wrap around Mako's frame as his were already around her. However, the sound of a deep grunt broke the moment and the two pulled apart quickly.

"Gen said I'd find you down here young avatar," said the unfamiliar elderly male.

"Uh," Korra gave a fake cough as she tried to buy herself some time to regain her composure. "Yes, you must be the replacement guru."

"Indeed. I'm Guru Hanji."

"Very nice to meet you," Korra declared with a bow, allowing hair to fall into her face to try to mask some of her embarrassment.

"And you are?" the guru asked as he turned his attention to Mako.

"Uh, Mako, sir." Mako wore a sheepish expression now, as he bowed slightly at the waist too.

The guru's face broke out into a grin now and he gave a Mako a knowing wink. The wink wasn't lost on Korra either who blushed even more furiously now. Mako just averted his gaze awkwardly.

"I was uh just practicing my air bending," Korra said quickly to try break the awkwardness.

"Well, enough training for now. Come back up to the temple. I'll have Gen prepare some onion and banana juice for us" said the guru as he turned to head back up the stairs. For an elderly man he moved surprisingly quickly.

"Seriously, what is with these people and their onion and banana juice?" Korra hissed into Mako's ear as they followed the guru back up the steps and towards the main air temple. Mako just shrugged.


MEANWHILE

"Okay, in three, two, one!" At that moment the metal benders of the Republic City Police Force shot their long metal lines through the windows of the warehouse. They slid down the lines from the air ship above and each metal bending officer was carrying a non-bending officer into the building with him.

"Watch out equalists Bolin is in the house!" the young earth bender chanted as he and his metal bending companion charged through one of the southern windows of the warehouse.


A/N: I do not own The Legend of Korra, surprising I know. Also, a big thanks to my good friend InsanelyHappy for reading this chapter. It's nice to have another pair of eyes trying to scan for errors. If you have time go check out her stories they are amazing! Also, be sure to review this chapter. I love getting the feedback.