It is time for Barasu Yojo to step onto the pain train and go for quite the ride. This won't be the last time he takes such a ride either. Oh yeah, is time to learn a little something about his connection to the Red Lotus.
Frozen Prison, P'Li
Zuko flew back to Tonraq, Desna, and Eska.
Tonraq asked, "Did you see Zaheer?"
"The only thing I saw was a snow storm heading our way." Zuko reported.
"That's not a snow storm. That's him." Tonraq said before charging at the snow storm.
Inside the snow storm Zaheer was atop a Satomobile generating the storm while Ghazan and Cheng were inside the vehicle. Ming-Hua, Sukka, and Li were in the open trailer in back.
"Ming-Hua, when we get to the prison I want you to leave the twin chiefs to Sukka while you go after P'Li." Zaheer ordered.
Zaheer, Ming-Hua, Sukka, and Li all charged at the leaders.
"I put you away once Zaheer, and I'm going to do it again. He flung water at Zaheer, but the Air Bender jumped over it. The group then split to fight the four leaders.
Zuko vs Li
"Zuko, mother once wanted to rule the Fire Nation while I have no desire to do so." Li stated as he shot blue flames at Zuko.
Zuko dissipated the flames. "Li, you may have no desire for the throne, but your just like how your mother was in every other way that matters."
"Uncle, I'm truly touched you think that. It makes beating you all the better." Li stated as he gathered electricity.
Zuko prepared to redirect it. "You know full well how this will go if you launch it. I'm sure your mother told you as much."
Li fired it at the ground beneath Zuko's feet creating a mist and blocking Li from view. "I'm no fool nor is my mind as fragile as mothers." He shot fire into the mist hitting Zuko. "I'm completely sane."
Sukka vs Desna and Eska
The twins flung ice at Ming-Hua and Sukka, but Sukka sliced through all of them as Ming-Hua turned her arms into ice jumping over twins and burrowing into the ground. Sukka then sheathed her blade and dodged the ice exactly how Amon taught her.
"You two are far slower than the Earth Avatar." Sukka declared as she rapidly jabbed Eska sending the bender to the ground. "You don't have a proper way to avoid the effects of Chi Blocking like him either."
She ducked as Desna launched ice at her. Sukka then swept his legs, and Desna rolled to his feet ready to continue the fight.
Tonraq vs Zaheer
Zaheer was able to avoid everything Tonraq sent at him and he eventually knocked the Southern leader off his feet.
With Ming-Hua
She got to the bottom and iced the two guards to the wall before icing the door off its hinges and entering the cell.
Ming-Hua said, "Let's get you out of here."
She used her water breaking the chains that bound her third eye. P'Li then stood and removed the binding over it revealing messy black hair. Ming-Hua began climbing out with P'Li on her back.
Topside
They reached the top and Zuko's dragon came in breathing fire at them.
P'Li bent the fire protecting them. "I've waited 13 years to feel this warm."
She sent out a combustion shot at the dragon knocking it out of the sky.
Zuko vs Li
Li knocked is uncle out with a few well aimed shots.
Desna vs Sukka
Sukka soon got in close disabling the last chief.
Tonraq vs Zaheer
Tonraq was putting up a good fight, but then he saw P'Li who was preparing a shot. He put up an ice wall, but it wasn't enough. The combustion shot hit his wall and exploded knocking him out.
Inside the Vehicle
Everyone loaded up with P'Li sitting on Zaheer's lap. "I thought I'd never see you again."
Zaheer said, "I never doubted it."
They kissed, and the others had to watch.
"Really, right now?" Ghazan asked.
Upper Ring, Early Morning…
Everyone had just gathered around as Korra and Barra finished explaining everything. Before anyone could speak, the doors burst open as Mako and Bolin ran in. With Mako closing the door behind them
Bolin was panting. "We found family. Grandma tears. Mako's scarf. Earth Queen lying."
Bolin fell to the ground and Korra looked to Mako. "You know what he said?"
Mako replied, "The Earth Queen has been secretly taking Air Benders and forcing them into an army."
"Now we know what she's been taking them for. All we need to do now is determine where she's taken them to." Bara stated.
"Good, you guys are on top of it. They may be under Lake Laogai." Mako offered.
"That's one of the places we suspect." Bara began.
Korra finished. "Though it's unlikely given what Aang and his friends did."
"I could project myself at the various points of interest until we find them." Jinora offered.
"Wait, that thing Bara and Korra said you did in the battle against Unalaq." Bumi stated.
You can still do that?" Tenzin asked
"It's not as powerful as it was during the convergence, but if we get close enough, then I think I can do it." Jinora stated.
"It's worth a shot, but we should probably start at the more likely location." Korra stated.
Just then was a knock at the door.
"You think it's the queen?" Asami asked.
"Just in case." Bolin had recovered and opened his shirt. "You need to hide little buddy."
Pabu jumped in.
"Everyone act normal." Korra stated.
Tenzin opened the door to reveal Iroh, Beifong, and Yu.
They entered the house and Bara ran up to his uncle concerned. "Uncle Yu, I haven't seen you in months. What happened to your arm!?"
Yu looked at Bara sadly, "Kid, you remember that secret I couldn't tell you?"
"Yeah, I assumed it was why I couldn't Water Bend." Bara replied. "Uncle Yu, what is going on? Why did you come here with Beifong and Iroh?"
"Come with me upstairs. That secret has just become priority for you to know, and it'll explain my arm." He closed his eyes and sighed. "Something else to."
"Uncle Yu, this secret, if it's really that big, then I want my friends and girlfriend to hear it as well. There's no point in hiding it from them." Bara firmly said.
Yu took a deep breathe. "Tenzin, get those kids out of here."
Tenzin nodded, "Bumi, take Jinora and Kai to the backyard, and don't come in until I say so."
Bumi nodded and ushered the children out.
Once they were gone, Yu began. "I'm going to start at the beginning and lay it all on the table, but first a question for anyone. Is it easy for a young mind to suppress something truly awful?"
For a moment, everyone was silent until Asami said, "In most cases a toddler has been shown to suppress their memories to forget something frightful in some case completely forgetting some years of their life."
"That's what happened to me?" Bara questioned.
"Like I said, I'm starting at the beginning with your parents. Your biological mother and father." Yu stated.
Bara shook his head. "What? My dad and mom aren't…"
Yu shook his head. "No, there your dad and mom. That was just to say the people who gave birth to you. Though your 1st mother genuinely loved you. For the sake of clarity.
Torin is father, Tenka will be his wife, your biological father will be called by his name, Ghazan, and your first mother will be called mother. Another thing you will come to understand is that Ghazan is a monster. Now, I'm going to begin.
Ghazan was a member of a divergent group from the White Lotus. They go by the Red Lotus and are led by a man named Zaheer. Your mother was not a part of this organization.
Anyways, there was a precaution among the members. If any of them had children, regardless of what Bender they were, they were tested to see if they were the Avatar. Just a simple test.
I don't know how he got them, but Zaheer rolled out a blanket filled with toys before you. He told you to pick four, and you picked the exact same ones Avatar Aang picked which belonged to other Avatars before him."
Bara was already having a tough time processing all of this. "The test? The Air Nomad's test!?"
Yu nodded. "Exactly, and as impossible as it seemed, at the time, you were the Avatar. Ghazan and Zaheer took you away leaving your mother. She assumed you had both been kidnapped, and there was no way she'd just sit around.
The only people she could get to help her was Your father, who was Ghazan's brother, and your father's best friend, me. I took a leave of absence from the White Lotus and we spent a full year tracking the two of you.
Along the way, we unraveled the truth and learned what really happened. It quickly turned into a rescue mission for you. The chase would have gone on longer, but the Red Lotus got greedy.
They learned of another Avatar who people believed to be the official one. I'm talking about Korra. They stopped for too long, and we caught up to them. What we saw sickened us to our core.
You were in a sphere of water passed out, malnourished, and had bruises all over your body. They had been trying to turn you into their ideal Avatar. Your mother used her Metal Bending shooting forth her cables and freeing you from the sphere."
Bara ran his hands along his arm guard. "Yes, that's where you get your Metal Bending from." Yu shook his head. "She passed you to Torin and ordered us to get away while she held them off.
Your mother lost her life." Yu took a deep breathe. "Bara, you were in bad shape. They had pushed you, a barely three-year-old kid, to his limits. You were lucky to live.
Lucky that we found a Water Bending healer in the Fire Nation. After you were healed and rested, you came to unable to do anything a kid your age should have been able to.
The healer informed us, since we didn't tell him anything, that whatever trauma you endured forced you to forget everything up to that point, so your father decided to take you and raise you with his wife. He wanted to give you a proper life.
He returned to Omashu, and I returned to the White Lotus. I doubled my training after that, so I'd be ready when they came. A few months after, you were back to being a kid and able to function like one.
At four, you showed signs of being the Avatar shortly after Korra. That enabled me to reenter your life as Uncle Yu. I was able to gain full control over your training. Then around 5, for both you and Korra, the Red Lotus made their moves.
Zaheer, a Non-Bender at the time, P'Li, a Combustion Bender, and Ming-Hua, a superb Water Bender with no arms, tried to capture Korra. On that night Zuko, Tonraq, Tenzin, and Chief Sokka were waiting.
At the same time, in Omashu, you were targeted by Ghazan, a Lava Bender, Cheng, a Metal Bender with broken legs, and Li, Azula's son and a man gifted with great control over his lightning Bending. They were there to kill you
Just like with Korra, there were people lying in wait. Me, Su Yin, your father, and a squad of Metal Benders from the Metal Clan. In the end all six Red Lotus members were captured and locked away.
You and Korra were unaware any of this had transpired. Korra was safely out of the village with Katara at the time, and you were with the Metal Clan. We had hoped they would never surface again.
Then Harmonic Convergence came around giving Zaheer Air Bending. At the same time a woman with Chi Blocking, a black bladed sword, and water tribe boomerang began freeing Red Lotus members.
Me and your father caught wind of this early on. We went to head off Zaheer and Ghazan." Yu let the tears he'd been holding fall down his checks. "We put up as much of fight as we could, but it wasn't enough.
Ghazan killed your father and took my arm. I was lucky. We were surrounded by ocean, so I was able to get away. Now all 6 of them are free and joined by a 7th. That's it Bara. That's what I and so many others have hidden from you all this time."
Everyone stood there in stunned silence until Bara fell to his knees. He cried. He cried for the mother he couldn't remember. The mother that had loved him so much she'd give her life for him. He cried for his father. The man who raised him.
Korra dropped to her knees and wrapped her arms around Bara letting him cry into her shoulder and comforting him. The others just gathered around him as Yu fell back against the wall.
He never wanted this. He never wanted the nephew he loved so much to go through this pain, but he had no choice. Iroh, who stood the closest to his longtime friend. Felt terrible. He'd never fully heard this story, and he knew it just crushed his friend.
For Bolin and Mako, it was strange sight. Bara was one of the strongest people they knew. To see him break down like this. It didn't seem right. For Asami, it was a departure from how he'd been yesterday.
Beifong, who'd known this story, would never have wished this pain on him neither would Tenzin who also knew the truth. For Korra, she just wanted to be there for him like he was went she confessed that she was afraid of Amon.
Soon enough, Bara passed out after crying everything out. Korra picked him up carrying him to his room. She then pulled up and chair and sat beside his bed side wanting to be their when he woke up.
Down Stairs, Some Time Later…
Bara and Korra were still upstairs as the remaining people had gathered around the table. The mood was monotone
Yu had his head in his hand. "I never wanted to put my nephew threw any of this."
Tenzin sighed, "It couldn't be helped. He had to know the full story."
"Did he? I'm not so sure." Iroh said.
Mako slammed his hand on the table. "I agree. Why? Why did you have to tell him everything? He's been crushed by this."
Yu looked everyone in the eyes angry. "Yes, I did. Imagine if he ran into any of them, and they told him. What if that bought his memories back?"
"He would have reacted like he did just now, and they'd finish what they started." Asami replied.
"Trust me, I never wanted him to go throw any this. I wish it had been me and not Torin who died. I wish Ghazan had been a better father and that his first mother was still around.
Never doubt my love for nephew or that I had to tell him. I needed to remove what could have been a fatal flaw." Yu firmly stated. "I think no matter what, the fact that I had to tell him this will be a regret I have until the day I die."
"You really love him?" Mako asked.
Yu said, "If I didn't, would I feel this terrible right now?"
Tenzin sighed, "All we can do is try to give him as much time as possible."
The group sat there silently until they walked away.
Bara's Room, Next Day
Bara opened his eyes and looked to his right seeing Korra who warmly smiled at him even though her eyes were baggy and dark. "Are you feeling okay?"
Bara looked at the sealing. "I feel like someone took an earth disk and sent it clean through my body. That crying I did… I think it only closed the wound a bit." He took a deep breathe.
"I should have been smart enough to see that the one thing my uncle couldn't tell me would be something that made me feel this terrible. At the same time, I find that I can't hate him for keeping it from me nor for telling me.
Through it all, I still love him as much as I did before I heard what he had to say. Then, where does the pain truly come from? Is it the loss of my father who I cannot fault like my Uncle?
It could be the loss of a mother who loved me so much that she'd give her life for me, yet I don't remember a single thing about her. In the end, I think it is a combination of the two that has left me with this feeling."
Bara sat up. "What do I do now? How do I learn to live with their deaths because I know they are not people I should get over?" He looked at the bed. "Should I kill these monsters who've caused this pain?
Korra hugged Bara, "I'm not sure. All I can say is something along the lines of what you once said to me. You Bara are one of the strongest people I know. You're clever, sweet, smart, and strong. I'm lucky to have meet you. I'm lucky you confessed that you loved me."
Bara laid back down and asked, "Would you please lay with me?"
She laid next to him blushing slightly and Bara couldn't help but smile. "You will always be cute every time you blush."
He closed his eyes drifting back to sleep.
Korra said, "You jerk."
The comfy bed, the fact she stayed up all night worrying, and Bara's warmth was enough to lull Korra to sleep.
The Next Day
Korra woke up to find Barra missing. She was about to run from room to look for him when he entered the room having showered and put on some fresh clothes.
"Bara?" Korra questioned.
"Everyone's gathered downstairs Korra. You're the last one." Bara stated as he grabbed her hand and lead her down.
He led her to the table and had her sit with everyone. The table was covered with breakfast. Everyone just stared at Bara as he came to stand before them.
Bara said. "Yesterday I woke for a bit and spoke with Korra. I posed questions that she couldn't answer, yet she still made me feel better. I then woke up in the middle of the night and thought about what I asked.
In the end, I came to my own conclusions my questions. That helped me decide what I need to do. How can I live with my father's and 1st mother's deaths? I can remember that they both loved me.
I can remember all the good times I had with my father and how he was my first Earth Bending teacher. What do I do now? The answer is obvious now. I'm one of the Avatars, and the Air Nation will not reform itself.
Lounging around in bed isn't an option, and I don't have the luxury of days on end to move on. That's why I've been thinking of those I still have with me. My mentors, my uncle, my 2nd mother, all my friends here and across the world, and my girlfriend.
That inspired me to think and act as myself. Should I kill these monsters that have caused me so much pain? Yes, but only after giving a warning or in self-defense because I am not them nor Ghazan. I am me not a monster.
I now know that I'm ready to continue what we began and to face the Red Lotus when they show. I may not remember what they did to me, but I know that I'm no longer the kid they did it to. I'm a man that will put up a fight."
"That's out of the question. You and Korra need to return to Republic City, so that I can protect you." Beifong firmly stated.
"You can say that as much as you want Beifong, but I agree with Bara. We're not going to run. Now, we're going to free the Air Benders." Korra firmly shot back.
Tenzin looked at Bara. "Bara, are you sure you're okay?"
Bara smiled, "I appreciate the worry." He looked at everyone. "From all of you, but I am good to go. Those Air Benders need us."
Tenzin nodded, "Jinora was able to locate them under the Earth Queen's Temple."
Mako added, "And we already have a plan that we can implement tonight."
Outside the House
Bara looked at the blue sky as his uncle approached him. "Bara, I'm…"
Bara stopped his uncle hugging him. "In the end, I'm glad I heard the truth. Now I know a bit about my 1st mother and where my Metal Bending comes from. As for my father, I know you would have done everything you could had you been able to get to him. Uncle, thank you for helping shaping me into the man I've become."
Yu wrapped his arms around Bara. "Kid, you've turned into a fine young man, and I know for a fact that your father was proud of you. His only regret was that he didn't spend nearly enough time with you or your mother."
They parted.
"Uncle Yu, during the rescue I want you with Beifong and Asami on one of the air ships. When we split ways, I want you to go with Tenzin." Bara stated.
Yu nodded "I understand." He clenched his only fist. "I need to learn how to bend now, and I think I have an idea of where to start. I'd only get in the way if you came up against the Red Lotus."
"Uncle Yu…" Bara looked at the sky once more. "Do you think you could tell me about my first mother?"
Yu smiled. "I'd be glad to. She was the head guard in Omashu. A strong woman and very beautiful only ever losing to Su Yin and Beifong when it came to a fight. The day you were born was the happiest day of her life…"
Earth Queen's Temple, Night…
Jinora waited around the corner as two guards came around. "Hi."
"Hey, what are you doing here?" One of the guards asked.
The other said, "Oh, it's just the little Air Bender girl that came with the Avatar."
The first guard said, "You shouldn't be walking around here all alone."
She pointed, "I'm not alone."
Korra, Bara, Mako, Bolin, Iroh, Kai, Tenzin, Bumi, and Bumjun all stood ready to fight. They made quick work of the guards leaving them tied up before making their way inside the temple.
They hid as they saw Dai Li agents and waited for them to walk by. The group continued down the h on the hunt for the Air Benders. They soon found them behind a door. The Air Benders were roused by the light as Tenzin, Korra, and Bara entered the room.
"What's going on?" one of the Air Bender's asked. "Who are you?"
Bara replied, "I'm going to make this quick. "Me and her are Avatars and he's an Air Bending Master. We came because we're going to get you out of here. Away from the Earth Queen and this city."
The Benders all understood and began walking out the door as Bumi spoke into the radio. "Top side this is papa bear. The breezies are in the hole. Cue the balloons."
"What!? Are you in trouble?" Beifong asked.
"Nooooo. We got the Air Benders and we're heading out. Bring the Air Ships."
Beifong said. "Copy that. Asami, Yu, and I are on our way."
Outside
Korra scanned the area before leading everyone out. "Come on, it's clear."
The Dai Li were hanging above them, and they jumped in front of the group with more appearing behind them.
"So, you discovered my elite army." The Earth Queen walked through the agents. "I see their loyalty still needs some work."
Korra firmly said, "These Air Benders shouldn't be used as weapons. They have a right to choose their own paths."
"These Air Benders are Earth Kingdom citizens, and I am their queen. Taking them will constitute an act of war." The Earth Queen warned.
"So, you would declare war on all parties involved. I implore you to reconsider. The Fire Nation would not like to go to war with the Earth Kingdom, but we will if you make the first move." Iroh stated.
The Earth Queen said, "I made no mistake. I will declare war on every nation if it means getting the Avatars."
She simply walked back and waved her hands signaling the beginning of the attack. The Air Benders jumped to their defense fanning out and maintaining a stream of air with even Kai and Jinora lending their help.
The air ships appeared in the sky and Bumi said, "Come on."
The air Benders slowly began to climb with Bara, Korra, and Tenzin taking their places in the stream. Soon it came down to just Tenzin, Bara, Korra, Kai, and Jinora.
"Tenzin, hold the stream for a moment." Bara stated.
Tenzin nodded, and Bara coated himself in air. He then ran into the stream and right at the agents. Once he got close, he gave them all an elbow to the gut. They doubled over in pain and the maintained Air Stream sent them flying into the far-off wall.
Once everyone was dealt with, the stream stopped, and Bara said, "Alright, let's get out of here."
Tenzin whistled and Oogi landed. Jinora, Korra, Kai, Tenzin, Bara, Iroh, Bolin, and Mako all climbed on and ascended into the sky leaving with the air ships of Air Benders and their remaining friends.
The Earth Queen angrily yelled at the Dai Li. "You are all worthless! I want those air ships brought to me now!"
Somewhere in Earth Kingdom, Day…
Tenzin, Korra, and Bara stood before the Air Benders they rescued.
"I know none of you chose to become Air Benders, but now you do have a choice. We can relocate you somewhere safe, or you can come with me to the Northern Air Temple to live in peace. You are no longer anyone's property. Whatever path you decide is up to you." Tenzin declared.
One by one they decided to go with Tenzin and got on his air ship.
"Good luck at the Northern Air Temple." Korra said. "We'll be sure to send more Air Benders your way when we find them."
Tenzin looked at Korra and Bara. "Be careful out there." He then addressed Bara. "Bara, you are a strong person. Not just anyone could or would have stepped up the way you did." He hugged them both. "I'm proud of the growth you both make every day."
They hugged him back with Tenzin and Korra boarding their respective ships.
Kai ran over to Bara. "Hey uh, I didn't get a chance to say thank you, so thank you for everything. I probably would have been captured by the Earth Queen if I hadn't stopped stealing."
Bara rubbed his hair. "Repay me by holding up your end of the bargain, Become a fine young Air Nomad."
"I said I'd give it a fair shot, right?" Kai said as he made his way to the Air Nomad's ship.
Bara smiled. "I suppose you did."
Yu walked up to Bara and smiled. "You really have grown from that kid I first sent to Republic City."
Bara smiled, "I met a lot people and went up against a lot of challenges to get to where I am today." He hugged his uncle. "Train yourself back up, so I can show you how much I've really grown."
Yu smiled. "Take care of your friends and especially that girlfriend. She's a keeper."
They parted and walked to their air ships. The ships then went their separate ways.