Republic City; Reylea

Korra POV...

"It is a glorious day, my Equalist brothers and sisters. Amon has torn down the tyrannical bending government. He has declared bending illegal and he has the Avatar and her brother on the run!" Hiroshi declares.

From where me and Mako are standing behind the crowd, I let out a scoff and cross my arms, glaring up at Hiroshi. I'm not running!

"Our great leader has a vision for the future. One day soon bending will no longer exist and we will live in a world everyone is finally equal!" he continues.

Hiroshi was currently giving a speech to a large crowd of people, with the Lieutenant and the Messenger standing behind him. The area surrounding the stages was lined with Equalist chi-blockers to guard from any attacks. And right now they might need to go into action if Hiroshi keeps running his mouth any more.

"The United Forces are on their way right now to try and stop that dream but we will prevail!" he declares confidently.

Hiroshi opens both his arms out, and the crowd cheers and raises their arms up in support. I turn towards Mako and give him a brief nod, doing my best to keep myself calm. Hiroshi is just annoying!

We star heading away from the rally and head through the bushes and foliage, back towards our secret entrance. Coming across a large boulder, I earthbend it to the side and then jump down. Mako follows after me, and I seal the entrance once again with the boulder.

Now that the coast is clear, Mako and I both pull off our masks and start walking through the sewer tunnel back to the hideout.

"Can you believe Hiroshi? 'The Avatar and her brother are on the run,'" I repeat mockingly. "I'm not running from anyone!"

I come to a stop and then get an idea, bashing my knuckles together eagerly, a grin on my face.

"Let's go back up there and knock some heads. They'll never know what hit 'em!" I exclaim.

I turn around and start heading back towards the exit when Mako responds.

"Korra, we can't start a fight there, especially with the Messenger present," he reasons, and I come to a stop with a frown. "Besides. General Iroh's coming with an entire fleet of battleships. Then Amon and the Messenger will be the one who's running."

I let out a defeated sigh, knowing that he's right. I'm just being impulsive again.

"I hate this being patient stuff," I complain.

3rd person POV...

For the last few days, Team Avatar has been hiding out in the sewers with a group of homeless people. Most of what they've been doing has been mainly reconnaissance and sneaking around, with not too much action going on aside from ambushing a few Equalists to steal their uniforms. Caran however, was busying himself with the holocron, trying to figure out more about how it worked. He did manage to open it just before the attack happened, but since then he's been struggling to get it to do more.

So while Bolin was playing with Pabu, Asami and Luon sitting nearby to watch, Caran had the holocron in his hands, eyes narrowed intensely at it. He brings a hand up and holds it close to the holocron, frowning as he reaches out with the Force. He feels its energy react to his call and watches as the crystalline mechanism swivels and slides into place, but nothing happens. He attempts to bring up that message from before, recorded by Obi-Wan Kenobi, by focusing in on his memory of it, but to no avail. Sighing in frustration, he lets go of the Force with it to allow the holocron to close back up, and pockets it.

"You're not able to get it working?" Asami asks him.

"Apparently not," he replies with a grumble. "Why did the Jedi have to make things so complicated?"

"Guess you can ask them when they arrive," Luon says with a shrug.

"Maybe," he says, a little doubtful.

Looking over at the entrance to their hideout, the three watch as Korra and Mako return. Standing up, they head back over to greet them, and Caran immediately senses the bitterness steaming from Asami.

"You two were gone a while," she states, a hint of accusation in her voice.

"We were doing reconnaissance," Mako replies defensively.

"Whatever," she replies, turning her head away dismissively.

Luon glances at her in concern, Korra looking a little confused as well, while Caran fiddles with his hands nervously. Before anyone could respond, Gommu suddenly pops in between the group with a wide grin on his face, causing Caran to jump with a startled yelp.

"Welcome back!" he exclaims, dancing between Korra and Mako before hugging them both. "Hope you worked up an appetite 'cos dinner is served!"

"Yes!" Bolin says cheerfully.

As Team Avatar gathers around the makeshift table, Gommu stirs up a large pot of some sort of soup. He takes a few bowls and spoons it out, passing them around to the others. Caran takes his bowl with a hesitant look, glancing down at in a small amount of disgust. Beside him, Korra pays it no mind and talks to Gommu.

"Thanks so much for letting us hide out with you the past few days," she says gratefully.

"Honored to oblige!" he says cheerily. "My associates and I heartily oppose Amon's so called 'Equalist policies.' We got benders and non-benders living together down here, but do you see us fighting? No siree! We figured out how to harmoniously co-exist."

Caran takes a spoonful of the gruel and hesitantly takes it into his mouth, frowning for a moment. He shrugs in response, not finding it too bad. Weird and not great of course, but not bad either.

"Not bad," he mutters to himself. Hearing Gommu's words, Caran perks up thoughtfully, finding a good amount of truth in them.

"You are a wise and noble hobo," Bolin replies, eating his own spoonful of gruel. "Mmm... This is the best tasting street gruel I've ever had! Seriously."

"I culled it from the finest dumpers the city has to offer!" Gommu says with a grin.

Caran widens his eyes, the spoon halfway to his mouth for another bite, and he hastily, but carefully sets it down. Nearby, Asami's reaction is much worse, as her eyes go wide in horror, and she then spits the gruel in her mouth back into the bowl, her face turning a shade of sickly green. Sitting beside her, Luon glances over with an amused look, smirking as she places her bowl on the ground behind her.

"Not, a word," Asami threatens him quietly with a glare.

Luon snickers to himself but continues eating, while Pabu scampers forwards and starts licking up the gruel from the bowl Asami placed on the ground behind her, squeaking happily.

*:*:*

After the strange dinner, Caran sought out Asami before she could move off by herself, tapping her on the shoulder to get her attention. She turns around to face him with a questioning look, and he glances around them to make sure no one was listening, and then faces her.

"Could we talk for a moment?" he asks her.

"Yeah, yeah it's no problem," she replies. "What's up?"

He hesitates for a moment before answering. "I just wanted to let you know that... if it's any comfort, Korra doesn't realize the problem between you and Mako."

Asami widens her eyes in surprise, confused and a little wary. "How did you-"

"I can sense it," he replies, tapping his head. "Your emotions have been pretty clear through the Force."

"Oh... right," she realizes, a little embarrassed, before turning glum again. "Well, doesn't mater anyways. The two are all lovey-dovey with each other."

"Uhh... can you keep a secret?" Caran asks her.

She frowns in confusion but nods her head. "Sure. What kind of secret?"

"Korra... doesn't actually have romantic feelings for Mako anymore," he reveals, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. "She's more into Luon now."

"Wait, really?" Asami asks quietly in surprise. "You're sure about that?"

"Yeah. And since neither of us really grew up in a 'social setting,' we're both completely oblivious to noticing when someone likes us, in that way," Caran tells her.

"Then how do you know it?" she asks him.

"I only noticed it because of the Force. Otherwise I'm just as clueless," he explains with a shrug. "I'm just not sure how's she's gonna tell Mako she isn't into him when she realizes that he likes her."

"Well, I'd say that has to be Mako's problem," Asami states. "If she doesn't like him, then he can't really change that."

"I guess," Caran replies, unsure.

"Does Luon know?" she asks.

"Maybe. I can't tell if they both realize how they're acting with each other, or if they - Luon at least - are just playing it off," he admits.

"Don't worry. I'll try and see if I can... give them a proper 'nudge,'" Asami reassures him with a smile.

*:*:*

Later that night, everyone was gathered around in a group to sleep. Asami and Bolin were in their sleeping bags dozing off, while Caran and Korra were leaning against Naga, who was also asleep. Caran was leaning against Naga's side next to her forearm, eyes closed as he slept while Korra sat next to him, unable to do more than stare and think, occasionally glancing at Caran.

"Can't sleep either?" Luon asks.

Korra looks over to see Luon approaching, and he sits down on the other side of Korra as she responds.

"No, I have this awful pit in my stomach," she admits quietly.

"Me too," he says in agreement.

"It's so crazy. A few months ago me and Caran were in the South Pole where I was practicing for my firebending test," Korra says with a fond smile, before becoming grim again. "Now I'm in the middle of an all out war."

"I know. We didn't even know each other then," Luon says in agreement, glancing at her nervously. "If I'm gonna be honest with you, at first I thought I could never imagine a life without my mother in it. And while I still miss her... it isn't so bad. You're in it."

Korra glances over at him, slightly gaping as he continues, giving her a fond smile. "You're the most loyal, brave and selfless person I've ever known."

"I think you're pretty incredible too," Korra admits sheepishly, trying to hide her blush. "I mean, withstanding being a prisoner of the Messenger, and other things? I don't know if I could ever do that."

"I wouldn't consider myself really 'withstanding' him," Luon replies quietly. "They never asked questions... just kept me locked up. Framed me to look like a monster..."

"I'm, really sorry that all of that happened to you Luon," Korra says sadly.

"You have nothing to be sorry for Korra," he tells her.

"I can't imagine how hard it must be. If I ever lost Caran..." she trails off, looking at his sleeping form in concern.

"You won't," he says firmly. "I don't think I speak for myself when I say that none of us would let that happen."

"Thank you," she replies, looking up at him with a grateful smile, blushing a little bit. "Everything you said about me... I can say the same for you. You're really brave, and such a great friend."

Korr and Luon both stare at each other fondly, small hints of a smile on both of their faces, and begin leaning closer to each other. When they're a few inches away Korra suddenly backs up, looking more hesitant and nervous.

"I should probably try to get some sleep," she says.

"Me too," Luon replies in agreement, also nervous and a little embarrassed. A small part of him couldn't help but feel disappointed though... "Good night."

"Good night," she replies.

Korra watches him stand up and go, and then leans against Naga's side. She sidles up to Caran again, the instinctive need to protect her little brother still there as long as the Messenger is a threat as well. As she begins to fall asleep, Caran carefully opens an eyelid to glance at her, having heard the whole conversation. He could sense their emotions no problem, and felt really touched and a little emotional about what was said, especially with Korra's concern for him. CLosing his eyes again, he shifts slightly to snuggle up against both Korra and Naga, allowing himself to fall to sleep.

Across the hideout from his own sleeping bag, Mako had also noticed Luon and Korra's conversation, feeling a little bitter and confused. He was originally planning to go talk to her, but then Luon had walked over before he could. Uncertain and confused, he tries to nod off to sleep for tomorrow.

Air Temple Island...

3rd person POV...

What was once a peaceful monastery and home for the airbending family, was now the headquarters of Amon's Equalist revolution. Airships patrolled the skies above the island, while dozens of Equalists lined the grounds. Below the main staircase was a stage, where Amon was standing, along with the Messenger and a few others. They both watch as the Lieutenant deposits a police officer on the ground in front of them, pulling off his blindfold. The officer looks up fearfully as Amon approaches.

"You will now be cleansed of your impurity," Amon states with cold satisfaction.

He moves behind the officer and then raises his hand, slowly lowering his thumb down onto the officer's forehead. Within moments, the officer's bending is gone, and he slumps to the ground with a groan, falling unconscious. Amon glances up at the Lieutenant afterwards.

"Next," he orders.

The Lieutenant nods and then turns around to bring forward the next prisoner, one of many dozens, probably hundreds of benders that have lived in the city. The Messenger watches the procedure with triumphant satisfaction, pleased with the outcome. This is all a part of his plan... although Amon doesn't know it. For the Messenger, the goal was never to help the Equalists, never to defeat and kill the Avatar, not even to destroy that Force-wielding brother of hers. That is just a special treat.

The real goal behind his plan is to let Amon and his Equalists think they're doing the right thing by eradicating the existence of bending from the world. What this is actually doing, is removing any potential powerful enemies, leaving Reylea completely defenseless in the face of an attack from beyond. With the Avatar and bending gone, the final goal will be achieved for the Messenger.

Nobody on Reylea will be able to stand in the way of his lord and master, Supreme Leader Snoke, from conquering the planet for his own. Everyone's bending power will be gone, leaving them helpless. The Knights of Ren and their Supreme Leader will gain control of Reylea, and seize the tremendous power it carries. Once that is accomplished, Snoke will harness that power. And then no one... not Luke Skywalker, not even Jarik Shan and Ahsoka Tano Shan, will be able to ever defeat the Supreme Leader.

The universe, will be theirs.

Caran POV...

I slowly blink open my eyes, looking around groggily as I sit up. Yawning, I stretch my arms behind my head and then rub my eyes, attempting to wake myself up. Once I do open my eyes, all of my exhaustion instantly fades, replaced with complete shock and confusion.

Somehow... I'm no longer in the hobo hideout in Republic City. Surrounding me is some sort of misty, strange looking place, covered with large trees and rocky terrain, mountains in the distance. And unless my eyes are deceiving me, some of these mountains, or landmasses, were floating in the air!

"What the..." I say to myself in bewilderment. "Am I in the Spirit World?"

"Not exactly my young friend," someone says.

I whirl around behind me, widening my eyes upon spotting a tall man a few feet away. His face is very kindly, smiling gently down at me with long brown hair, a beard and mustache, and he is wearing long brown robes with his hands clasped in front of him. What's stranger is that his body seems to be giving off some sort of blue glow, looking a little transparent. Even still, it doesn't take me more than a second to realize who I'm facing.

"Qui-Gon..." I breathe out in awe.

"It's good to finally meet you young Caran," he replies with a chuckle.

Yeah, shorter chapter I know, sue me.

Even still though, there is so much to think about within this chapter! We've got some more insight into the relationship troubles between Team Avatar, and a love feud going on. Would it be considered a... 'love square?' Because it's mixed up with Korra, Luon, Mako, and Asami. So technically it isn't a love triangle, although maybe it is since nows it's mostly between Korra, Luon and Mako.

Qui-Gon has also finally met Caran in person, contacting him through the Force! And the true, ultimate plan of the Messenger has finally been revealed... and it doesn't sound good. Reylea desperately needs a new Watcher to look over it.

Thanks for your continued support guys! I love reading your reviews, it's so fun! :D