And welcome back here we go.
So I think I have all of Book II in my head, but if you have ideas please tell me.
Also forget about the previous tattoos, I've drawn them all and none fit Kanan, I'll come up with some other ones.
I've added him a long blood-red bead bracelet around his entire left arm over his biceps long gloves.
Crystalheartlover17: Ah good you like it, thanks.
Lelouch-Strife: I... I never played any Kingdom Hearts games and I know nothing about them, no idea what the Heartless are. I'm not sure if that will fit here. Sorry, hope you continue reading. But I had something similar in mind for Kanan, but you'll have to wait.
emoryjmorrill: You're awesome.
I don't own anything aside from my OC's and some other stuff I might add.
Here we go again.
Kanan watched the ships, now forming a blockade half a mile across, a few of which also had waterbenders form gigantic ice walls to seal the port, each ice wall about ten feet wide and at least thirty tall. Aside from that, the soldiers marching through the streets had been ordering people back into their homes to clear the streets.
Kanan sighed. The last few days had been rough, at best. Why was he always involved in wars, he hoped history wouldn't repeat itself. He turned, slipping into the hut where the Southern Water Tribe adults were having a meeting about what to do, along with Varrick, his assistant and Korra.
"I know that it's...troubling, to have Unalaq's troops here." Korra said, standing. "But, we all have to remain calm. Unalaq says he just wants to show us how to restore balance with the spirits so that they'll stop attacking. We should at least give him a chance before we do anything rash."
"The only spirit I'm interested in restoring is our spirit of independence!" Varrick, a man so rich he could claim to be floating and his employees would believe it, said, shouting the last word. "Am I right people!?"
The men gathered around the hut began to voice their agreement.
"People please, we need to remain calm so that we don't start a war." Korra said.
"Now, what we should do is show our strength!" Varrick said. "If Unalaq doesn't pull his forces out then we have no choice but to fight for our freedom!"
People began to shout their agreement with Varrick's insanity.
"You want to start a war!?" Korra shouted. "Are you crazy!?"
"Unalaq started this." Tonraq said standing. "Not us."
Kanan let out his ear piercing whistle as everyone quieted down.
Standing up Kanan began to talk. "I've been trying to get some ideas about what Unalaq's brought over the last few days." Kanan said.
"He has about a hundred troops to a ship, give or take. Most likely predominantly waterbenders. When they arrived, I counted multiple hundred ships. That's thousands of troops. If you want a war, you need to understand your position first. We're not defending against an invading force, because they're already here. They've sealed our port, and they have close to a hundred fifty troops patrolling this village alone at any given time. The Southern Water Tribe is smaller, with less benders and even less warriors. If you start a war, Unalaq would crush you in a day. We can't leave the port, to escape or fight, we have less troops on land than he does, and from what I've seen he's more than willing to crush every one of us. If you start a war, you, your friends, your family. You will lose everything. Our only viable option is to bear with it and learn to make peace with the spirits again, that way Unalaq will leave without anyone having to die. And if things get worse, if it's clear he has no intentions of leaving peacefully, well you have a Hitokiri here." Kanan said emphasising the you before sitting down again.
"Perhaps you could speak with your uncle." Tonraq said, turning to Korra. "Tell him how frustrated we all are. He will listen to what the Avatar has to say."
"I'll try." Korra said. "Please, take Kanan's advice. Don't start a fight you can't hope to win."
"We'll try." Tonraq promised.
Korra left to find Unalaq as Kanan sighed.
"I cannot stop eating these things." Varrick said, swallowing a mouthful of cookies, before pointing the rest of it at Tonraq. "Look, we all know where this conflict is heading. We need to start preparing for war."
"And what'll you be doing during it, Varrick?" Kanan asked. "Fighting for the South's freedom? Or selling them weapons, and bargaining shipping and handling fees with them? And what about the North? You going to make a little side money selling to them too? Wars are profitable, aren't they?"
Tonraq glared at Varrick. "Stop instigating Varrick. You have my answer. We're not doing anything unless there's no alternative. Preparing for a war simply removes options for negotiations."
"Fine, fine." Varrick said. "Don't say I didn't warn you."
Kanan sighed again, walking past him and out of the hut. He strode through town, not even a minute later he found Bolin running a cart around with Eska and Desna riding in it. Bolin all but flung himself at Kanan, who stepped to the side as Bolin sprawled on the snow.
"I can't take anymore!" Bolin sobbed. "Please save me! I don't want to live in icy bliss with Eska!"
"First off: You're not Korra or my family so don't try and hug me. Second: If you want to stop dating her, just tell her." Kanan told him.
"Oh no. I don't think she'd like that." Bolin said.
Kanan laughed. "I know, that's why I'll be watching from afar as she tears you to shreds."
"Spirits Kanan, you're so cruel." Bolin pointed at him, as Kanan simply shrugged.
"This relationship is like a blood-sucking leech. Tear it off hard and quick and get it over with. Then run screaming like a bitch and find someone to hide behind." Kanan advised him.
"Do you not like leeches?" Bolin asked.
"They're leeches Bolin." Kanan said. "Nobody likes them. Now go break your girlfriend's heart."
"Okay." Bolin nodded. "I can do this. How bad could it be?"
Kanan laughed knowing it wouldn't end well. He then went for the palace that Unalaq kept in the south. He figured that's where Korra would have gone to talk to Unalaq, and he figured he should probably be there in case Unalaq decided to pull a Tarrlok, or in case he made Korra mad and she needed to release it. Just as he reached the stairs, she stomped down them.
"What happened?" Kanan asked.
"He refused to pull any of his troops out, or to open the port." Korra said. "He said even we're not allowed to leave. That this is the only way for him to "unite the tribes". He said I'd have to remain neutral to keep a war from starting."
"On the last point, he is correct, unfortunately." Kanan added sighing. "You do have to try to stay neutral to avoid a war. However, the parts about us staying here, and about him unifying the tribes are bullshit. Whether it's what he wants or not, his actions are going to start a war."
"We should try patrolling on our own then." Korra said climbing Naga. "Try to make sure no one starts a fight."
Kanan nodded getting on Byakko as the two left the palace and rode through the village. Within minutes, they saw a group of soldiers waterbend three children off of a roof for throwing snowballs at them.
"Pick on a waterbender your own size!" One of several Southerners said, both sides preparing for a fight.
"Stop!" Korra shouted, slowing to a stop between them, Kanan dropping down in front of the Southern Water Tribe people.
"You don't want to be the ones to start a war, do you?" Kanan asked.
"Tell these thugs to go back to the North." One of the three said. "They're not welcome here anymore!"
"Everyone calm down!" Korra said. "You're all part of the same tribe, start acting like it!"
"You're taking their side!?" The Southerner who had spoken to Kanan asked. "We thought you were one of us!"
"I'm not taking anyone's side!" Korra said, only to be hit by a flying snowball. "Hey!"
"You're the worst avatar ever!" A young Southern Water Tribe girl said, forming another snowball and hurling it with her waterbending.
"Enough!" Kanan snapped forming a massive water tornado that circled them all. "You're all adults FUCKING ACT LIKE IT!" Kanan turned to the Northern soldiers. "You're seriously attacking children for being children."
"Starting fights will only cause even more trouble." Kanan said dispersing the water tornado.
"Everyone!" Tonraq snapped, everyone looking over. "Walk away from this. Kanan is right. We shouldn't be starting fights. They're not worth our trouble. Go back to your homes."
The Southerners all let their water fall and turned, walking away. Tonraq and Kanan turned to the Northerners, who remained as they were for several minutes before dropping their water as well and turning, continuing their patrol. Kanan sighed, resting his face in his hands.
"Varrick's still causing trouble, isn't he?" Kanan asked.
"He is." Tonraq nodded. "I'm trying to limit it, but...well."
Kanan nodded. "The peace isn't going to last at this rate. The Northern troops are too pissed off about having to be here to make nice, our people are too pissed off about the Northerners being here to play nice, and Varrick's just making everything worse. Varrick needs to go. At a minimum."
Tonraq nodded. "For now, we'll just have to hope nothing happens that they can't be talked out of."
Kanan nodded getting back up on Byakko as Korra climbed Naga as they both began riding through the streets again.
"We're going to have our hands full." Korra began. "I'm sorry I dragged you into this. Into another war."
Kanan laughed. "Right now there's no where I'd rather be than here." Kanan said, leaning over and kissing the top of her shoulder.
Korra smiled. "Thanks."
Kanan nodded and they kept riding around for a few more hours, thankfully without any more incidents, before heading to their hut just outside the village. They lay against Naga and Byakko inside the hut. Korra sighed, resting her head on his shoulder.
What are we going to do?" Korra asked.
"I'm going to go and have a talk with Varrick tomorrow." Kanan began. "During our training session, maybe see if you can get Varrick released from port so that he will stop trying to cause unnecessary trouble."
"Alright." Korra sighed. "I'm glad my dad's willing to help us. You'd think a former general would be ready to go to war instead of deal with this."
"Your father's a smart man." Kanan said. "He knows there are other ways of dealing with things than violence."
Korra nodded, snuggling into him for warmth and closing her eyes.
"Want food?" Kanan asked before she could fall asleep.
"Yes please." Korra grinned.
Kanan smiled and they stood up heading back into the village to a noodle restaurant. However, about ten seconds after they sat down, Bolin sat across from them, Eska and Desna sitting beside him, both already having plates of food. Kanan let out an irritated sigh as he stared at Bolin, Korra restraining her irritation at the twins being there, and possibly Bolin, and Bolin pretended to be happy.
"This is great!" Bolin lied. "We never get to spend enough time together, just the...five of us. This is fun. Isn't this fun?"
"Excuse us while we retrieve more sustenance." Eska said, she and her brother walking away.
"You gotta save me!" Bolin pleaded.
"Couldn't tear it off, could you?" Kanan asked.
"I tried!" Bolin said. "But any time I bring up the subject of breaking up with her, she threatens to freeze me in a block of ice and feed me to dolphin piranhas!"
"So it was more like you tugged at the leach." Kanan added.
"Yes!" Bolin said. "Over, and over, and over, but it won't come off! Why didn't you warn me your cousin had the power to reach into my heart and crush my soul with her bare hands!?"
"Well, because I thought it was pretty obvious?" Korra stated.
"No no, not to me it wasn't!" Bolin said. "I'm very bad at reading people! You should know that by now!" He began to sob dramatically. "Man! Oh...do something Avatar!"
"That's not her job." Kanan said. "Fortunately, I got you. Just go along with it."
Bolin's eyebrows furrowed just as Eska and Desna sat down again.
"Bolin, that's disgusting." Kanan said recoiling back in disgust. "Why would you not tell Eska about that?"
"Tell me what?" Eska asked.
"Bolin has some kind of skin disease he already infected his Pro-Bending teammates." Kanan said. "You might want to stay away from him, for your own sakes."
"What do I have to hear there!" Eska exclaimed.
"The ticking of your biological clock, that's telling you you will die alone as an old virgin." Kanan snarked, he just had to say it, he didn't miss Korra trying to hold her laughter.
Eska glared at him before turning to Bolin. "Bolin, I have reconsidered our relationship. You bore me."
Then, she and Desna stood up walking away. Bolin watched them go with his mouth hanging open before looking back at Kanan, tears running down his face.
"Thank you so much!" Bolin whispered.
"Yeah Yeah. Now get outta here so me and Korra can enjoy our date in peace."
Bolin was out a side door like a shot, taking off to hide somewhere, probably.
"Impressive." Korra said. "You made it look easy."
"Thank you." Kanan smiled. "I try."
She kissed him for a moment before laying her head on his shoulder, the waiter arriving a few moments later to take their order.
A waiter came by with a pitcher of water and a platter of fresh-baked Fire noodles in three different levels of spiciness separated by dividers, each redder than the last, the air above the spiciest of all making the air waver like a mirage.
Kanan grabbed the spiciest and started downing them with a straight face. Korra eyed the tasty snack warily, then, in a typical fit of competitiveness, grabbed a larger amount and tossed them back as though in challenge.
Korra's face went beet-red a moment later, steam pouring out of her ears, and she wound up downing half of the pitcher in one go.
"I can't…! *PANT* Believe…! *PANT* You can eat those…! *PANT* Straight!" Korra panted out, sweat pouring down her brow as she fanned her tongue.
"You get used to it." Kanan said cooling Korra's tongue with a milkshake he ordered, before giving her other noodles that weren't as spicy. Korra seemed to enjoy these ones as she like Kanan ate bowl after bowl.
Kanan smiled as they walked through the streets. Dinner had been great. It had tasted amazing, the service had been excellent, and now that they had food in their stomachs, they were on their way back to their hut to forget about the impending war and just go to sleep.
"I can't wait to go to sleep." Korra smiled. "It's been such a long day."
"And now it's finally over." Kanan smiled just as they rounded a corner and saw a masked man with a Southern Water Tribe jacket drop over the wall of Unalaq's palace grounds, disappearing from sight. "Or maybe not."
"Let's go!" Korra said, both sprinting forward and through the gate, reaching the palace within two minutes, only to find three unconscious Northern Water Tribe guards tied to a pillar in the first room.
"Those idiots!" Kanan snarled. "This is going to start a war!"
They ran up the stairs on either side of the room toward the hallways leading to Unalaq's chambers, only to stop at the beginning, both looking around the corner, seeing four Southern Water Tribe men standing guard outside Unalaq's quarters as a fifth, large man with Tonraq's build, carrying an unconscious Unalaq out of the door. Unlike the rest, who had black hoods and masks, this one wore white, singling him out as their group's leader. Kanan grit his teeth. He hoped it wasn't Tonraq. That would inevitably cause irreparable damage to his relationship with Korra.
"Dad?" Korra breathed.
Kanan glanced at her just as she stepped around the corner. He sighed, stepping out after her.
"Dad, don't do this!" Korra pleaded.
"Turn around Avatar." One of the other four said. "And pretend you didn't see anything."
"We can't do that." Kanan stated. "We're trying to avoid a war. We're trying to keep the Northerners from crushing us all in an instant."
"You underestimate us." The man said.
"No." Korra said. "Leave Unalaq and go. I'll tell him I tried to stop you but you escaped. We can still avoid a war."
"No, we can't." The man said, then swung his arms, around before punching the ground, a wall of ice tearing across the ground at Korra.
She dove out of the way as Kanan destroyed the wall with a simple kick, walking toward the four men calmly.
"This is your last chance." Kanan said. "I don't want a war. I don't want to fight any of you."
The man sent a wall of ice at him, as did three more, but both Kanan and Korra simply smashed the walls with their fists. seeing the five of them rounding a corner. He and Korra followed, the hallway looping back around to the entrance. Korra froze the railing of the stairs and slid down it, flipping and landing in front of the other four, the one that had been doing the talking ordering the one with Unalaq to leave them. Kanan slid down as well, landing beside Korra and both readied themselves.
"We're all part of the same tribe!" Korra pleaded. "We don't want to hurt you!"
The waterbenders began to hurl blasts of water at them, Kanan and Korra began to block and dodge the strikes. After several moments Kanan blasted one of them with a electrified vortex of water backwards into the stairs the lightning shocking him unconscious as Korra took off to the side, two of them following. The last sent a continuous stream at Kanan who simply flicked it away with a flick of his wrist. The man threw several projectiles at Kanan who weaved around them before ramming his fingers at his neck the lightning coursing through the man's body knocking him unconscious. He looked over as Korra used airbending to wrap her two opponents up in a banner, knocking them to the ground and running over as they both followed the side hallway the other man had taken. As they got outside, finding themselves at the top of a staircase, the man sped off with Unalaq on a snowmobile.
"Dad, stop!" Korra shouted, running after him for a moment before forming an ice ramp into the air, making the snowmobile stop and fall to the ground.
Kanan flickered in front of the man ramming his fingers at his neck lightning coursing through the man's body as he fell to the ground, Kanan ripped his mask off. "Thank the spirits. Its not Tonraq."
"No. He wouldn't help us. He's a traitor! Just like you!"
"What did you do, I can't move." The man said. "I ruptured your nervous system, you won't be moving for a couple of hours." Kanan told him before kicking him in the face knocking him out.
He glanced at Unalaq, who was stirring finally. He turned to Korra, resting a hand on her shoulder but she shook her head.
"I'm fine. I was just afraid it was my Dad." Korra stated.
"You saved me. Thank you for saving my life." Unalaq spoke.
Kanan nodded, offering him a hand up, which Unalaq accepted. "I urge you to pull your troops out before things escalate any further."
Unalaq ignored him, walking back toward the palace. Kanan sighed irritably as he and Korra dragged the unconscious man along behind them in a block of ice from the shoulders down as they walked inside, both again restraining the ones they had fought. After a few minutes, more Northern Water Tribe soldiers arrived, unfreezing the attempted kidnappers and cuffing them.
"Find Varrick!" Unalaq said. "I want him to freeze in prison with the rest of these traitors!"
"Wait, you can't just lock them away." Korra said. "That will only make the South angrier."
"They should be tried." Kanan thought. "Half Southerners, half Northerners. Let them decide by majority rule what to do with them. Me and Korra will tell what happened, that way it's seen as some semblance of fair."
"He's right." Korra nodded. "Let them stand trial for what they did. Every Water Tribe citizen deserves that right."
"Unfortunately, that includes Varrick." Kanan sighed. "If Varrick isn't found guilty and arrested, I urge you to let him leave with his ship and assistant. If he's not here to cause trouble, things may be a bit less...tense."
"Very well. I will respect the Avatar's wishes in this matter." Unalaq stated.
"Thank you Uncle." Korra smiled.
"Do you agree about Varrick?" Kanan asked.
"I do agree that he is causing trouble." Unalaq nodded. "I'll consider allowing him to leave."
"Thank you. We'll take our leave, then. Goodnight." Kanan added leaving with Korra.
"Goodnight." Unalaq spoke leaving.
They headed back to their hut, finally after a long and stressful day falling asleep in each others arms, cuddling together.
Kanan waited outside as Korra went to see her family to tell them what happened. He looked around, seeing Unalaq walking toward the house, several soldiers following. He swore, ducking in the house just as Korra and her family hugged each other.
"I hate to interrupt this family moment, but Unalaq is outside coming to arrest you Tonraq." Kanan exclaimed just as Unalaq stepped through the door.
Korra was on her feet in an instant.
"Tonraq, Senna, you're under arrest and will stand trial." Unalaq said as four Northern waterbenders stepped into the room, surrounding them and preparing themselves for a fight.
"What did they even do. They're both innocent." Kanan snarled.
"For what?" Tonraq asked.
"For conspiring to assassinate me." Unalaq stated calmly.
"They had nothing to do with it." Kanan said as Masamune materialized in his hand just as he pressed it against Unalaq's neck.
"If you do that now, you have no chance of escaping and will be crushed." Unalaq stated as the blade drew blood from his neck.
Kanan laughed in a soulless manner. "You call that an army outside? I call it a morning warm-up. In ten minutes I'm done with your "army"."
"I knew you couldn't be trusted." Kanan added.
You can't do this!" Korra shouted. "They did nothing wrong!"
"It's alright, Korra." Tonraq said, standing up. "Kanan please, put the sword down."
After an agonizingly long minute Kanan lowered his weapon.
"We'll come quietly, just leave Kanan alone." Tonraq said.
"As you wish." Unalaq said, the waterbenders stepping forward and freezing Senna's hands, leading them out of the building.
"No, stop!" Korra shouted. "You can't do this!"
She stepped forward but Kanan caught her, holding her in place as she fought to go after them, finally breaking down into sobs against him. Outside, Senna and Tonraq were further restrained before being loaded into a truck and driven away.
"It's gonna be okay." Kanan said stroking her hair. "They're gonna be alright, Unalaq has no proof."
Korra nodded, continuing to sob.
"Rest assured." Unalaq spoke, ignoring Kanan's scathing look. "I have appointed judge Hotah to oversee the trial. He is the most fair and honorable man I know."
"They had nothing to do with the men who attacked you and you know it!" Kanan snarled.
"I'm sure you're right." Unalaq added. "So we should have nothing to worry about. The trial will be held tomorrow at sunrise. I hope this matter will be settled then."
Kanan grit his teeth, holding Korra a little tighter as he felt her sobs beginning to grow stronger again.
Unalaq turned, getting on his pet camel, but before riding away he looked back to see the transparent demon appear behind Kanan. The demon took the tanto it held in it's mouth and dragged it across its neck while pointing at Unalaq. Disturbed Unalaq rode away.
After a few minutes, Korra pulled back, wiping her eyes.
"Tell me. Please tell me it's going to be okay." Korra almost begged.
"It is." Kanan said, kissing her. "You just have to stay strong. Everything's gonna be fine."
Korra nodded, kissing him again, and they stayed like that for several minutes before finally pulling away.
"Come on. Let's go find Bolin and Asami. Maybe they know what's going on." Kanan stated.
Korra nodded and they left, heading for Varrick's office, where Asami, with Bolin as her assistant, was supposed to close a deal with Varrick.
Southern Tribe Court Hall
Kanan grit his teeth, struggling to keep his temper in check. The trial had been a scam from the beginning. Despite Unalaq's promise to allow Kanan and Korra to tell what happened, neither were allowed to speak freely. Unalaq gave a very dramatic speech about being attacked in his sleep and waking up to find that Korra and Kanan had saved him. Then, Kanan and Korra were given time to speak in which they were only allowed to answer the questions the judge asked.
Was there a meeting that Varrick tried to use to start a war.
Were the men at the table there.
Where was the meeting.
Who led it.
Korra and Kanan tried to tell the judge, and the courtroom, that the man carrying Unalaq had specifically said that Tonraq had refused to help them and had forbidden them from doing exactly what they did, but the judge had cut them off and dismissed himself to decide the outcome of the trial, which took all of a minute and a half.
As soon as he sat back down, he had found Senna innocent. Only Senna. Everyone else he sentenced to death.
Korra and Kanan had instantly, and furiously, threatened to kill the judge if he executed the men. Unalaq had stepped in, volunteering to speak with the judge on their behalf. After asking for mercy as the chief, the judge changed their sentence to life in prison. Then, the men were led away.
Some hours later Kanan was waiting outside the prison. He could have went inside but he could have also slashed the prison apart, not wanting to cause more problems he waited outside. If everything failed he would bust Tonraq out of prison.
Yes, he would start a war. It didn't matter, entire armies couldn't stop him. He was known as the Shinigami for a reason.
Finally, the door opened and Korra and Senna walked out, Senna barely holding together. Kanan met them both with a hug, knowing both needed it, and both hugged him back, Senna nearly breaking but holding it in.
"Let's go home." Korra said after a moment. "We'll figure out what to do from there."
They made their way back to Senna's house quickly. The three of them headed inside and Senna went to the kitchen, seeming to be planning to busy herself doing the dishes, only to start crying into her hands. Korra went to comfort her as Kanan sat down to think of a solution. One that didn't involve him slaughtering everyone. Not really easy.
Finally, he thought of one: Prove the trial was a scam.
"I'll be back." Kanan told the two as he went outside.
Climbing on Byakko. "Byakko, Naga. Find the judge. Find Hotah."
Byakko roared and Naga barked as both took off, quickly going to the palace, then sniffing around before starting down a road away from the village at a sprint. Finally, he spotted a green satomobile driving away. He could see the back of Hotah's head in the window. Hotah looked up at the mirror, adjusting it, then sped up, kicking up a cloud of dust behind him. Naga and Byakko charged after the satomobile, still slowly gaining. Finally, they caught up and Naga rammed into the side of the vehicle, sending it out of control. It crashed into a chunk of ice on the mountain they were racing alongside of. Byakko ran over tearing the door open with his sabertooth before throwing it to the side. He reached inside and grabbed Hotah with his teeth, throwing him to Kanan.
"You're gonna start talking, or I'm gonna let him have his fun." Kanan said pointing to the transparent demon behind him, who licked the blade of the tanto dagger. "You have thirty seconds."
Please!" Hotah pleaded. "I have a family! I...I'll do anything! I can pay you!"
"Wrong subject!" Kanan snarled. "Fifteen seconds."
"I was just following Unalaq's orders!" Hotah pleaded.
"Keep talking." Kanan said.
"I've said too much already." Hotah said trembling.
"That's unfortunate." Kanan stated as the demon stabbed the judge through his clothes pinning him to the ice wall behind him.
"Okay!" Hotah relented. "I've worked for Unalaq for years! He said he needed everyone to think the trial was fair!"
"Why?" Kanan asked. "And why spare Senna and have you change your sentence?"
"He wants to keep you and the Avatar on his side, but he wants Tonraq out of the way!" Hotah said still trembling. "Just like when he got Tonraq banished!"
"What does he want with me?" Kanan asked.
"He claims you're powerful enough for some goal of his." Hotah said.
Kanan thought for a moment before turning back to Hotah. "Now you're going to tell me everything you know, starting with the banishment. And you'd better not lose my interest."
Hotah swallowed, beginning his story.
Kanan threw Hotah to the floor of Senna's house, Senna and Korra gasping harshly. Hotah looked up at them and squeaked, dropping his eyes back to the floor.
"Tell them what you told me." Kanan snarled. "Pray you don't forget something!"
Hotah remained silent until Kanan stabbed Masamune into the ground beside his head, getting the point across.
"Unalaq hired the barbarians that attacked the Northern Water Tribe years ago, then told them to hide in the spirit forest so that Tonraq would go after them and get himself banished!" Hotah said. "He wanted Tonraq out of the way so that he could become chief! Then during the trial he gave me orders to let Senna go and to sentence everyone else to death! That way Unalaq could pretend to make me change my decision to life in prison in order to keep Tonraq out of the way while keeping the Avatar and The Shinigami on his side!"
"Why?" Korra demanded.
"I don't know!" Hotah sobbed. "I swear I don't know! I just know he has plans that he needs Korra and Kanan for! And that Tonraq will try to stop him!"
"Is it a war he wants?" Kanan asked.
"No!" Hotah said. "He says that if there's a war it'll just be a temporary setback!"
"We should turn him in." Korra stated. "And this coward too."
"No." Kanan began. "We need to close that spirit portal. I have no doubt that's part of Unalaq's plan."
"We will." Korra said. "But first we need to get my father out of jail. At this point, a war's inevitable."
"I agree." Kanan nodded turning to Senna. "We'll need the others. Senna, can you handle-"
Senna swiped a hand, water exploding up from below Hotah, pinning him to the ceiling and freezing him there, only his head exposed.
"I'll be fine." Senna said in a eerily calm tone. "Go."
"Alright." Kanan nodded. "You might want to silence him as well."
Senna nodded, freezing Hotah's mouth and leaving his nose uncovered.
Kanan and Korra rode to Varrick's office where they quickly told Asami and Varrick, who was hiding in a platypus bear's taxidermied body, what Hotah had told them.
"I'm busting my father out of jail." Korra said. "I need your help."
"Are you sure?" Asami asked. "If you do this, there's no going back. It'll be a war."
"I know." Korra nodded. "Will you help me?"
"Of course I'll help you." Asami said.
"Count me in!" Varrick said.
Just then, the door opened and Bolin and Pabu walked in, Bolin wearing a robe identical to Eska's with his hair combed into a bowl and a black version of a betrothal necklace, complete with a skull on the front and spikes around it. Beside him, Pabu was also in a robe, his fur and ears flattened into something vaguely resembling a bowl cut.
"Oh you've gotta be kidding me." Kanan said barely keeping his laughter in. "How."
"She asked how my skin disease is. I said it fine, so she said it was safe to get married now." Bolin said grumpily, a bit of hair on the right side of his head popping back up like a cat ear. "Save me."
"I'm pretty sure the guy is supposed to give the girl a betrothal necklace." Korra said, smiling half sympathetically and half trying to restrain a laugh.
"I guess Eska didn't get the memo." Bolin said.
"Look, the only way to deal with crazy women is to lie big and leave fast." Varrick said. "Lucky for you, Varrick's got your back. Now, gather around Ping Ping. Let's talk plan."
They all stepped closer to Ping Ping, the platypus bear, and Varrick began to tell them his idea. Kanan had to admit, it was a decent one. Risky, but decent.
A guard was patrolling in front of a cell. Just as he turned he was knocked unconscious by Masamune. Kanan took the keys handing them to Korra.
She unlocked the door and froze, staring at the empty room, just as Unalaq stepped around a corner down the hall.
"Where is he?" Korra asked.
"I'm sorry Korra." Unalaq said. "You'll never see your father again."
"Where's my father!?" Korra demanded.
"On a ship, headed to the Northern Tribe." Unalaq said. "He'll serve out his sentence there."
"Bring him back!" Korra snarled. "Or I'm taking you out, and the rest of your army."
"Remember who you are!" Unalaq said. "As the Avatar, you cannot threaten war. You must remain neutral. Or our tribes will never find unity."
"When both sides are acting according to what they believe is right, and not trying to start a war intentionally, that's true." Kanan said. "But not always. My grandfather fought a war."
"You don't want unity!" Korra spat. "You want power! You've always been jealous of my father, haven't you? You got him banished to become chief and I bet it just killed you to learn that he was the Avatar's father. No wonder you kept trying to take me away from him!"
"All I've ever wanted was to help you realize your destiny." Unalaq said.
"Well, I don't want your help anymore," Korra said. "That fancy light show you can do isn't worth dealing with you."
"If you start a war, the dark spirits will annihilate the south." Unalaq said. "And even I will be powerless to stop them."
"I'm done being manipulated by you." Korra said. "You're going to bring my father back, and then you and your troops will return to the North."
"And why would I do that?" Unalaq asked. Kanan stepping forward.
"Because you have no idea who you're dealing with." Kanan threatened.
Try me." Unalaq said.
Kanan fired several lightning coated water bullets from his mouth at Unalaq, only for him to suddenly have a massive amount of water defending him from somewhere in his coat. He blocked several strikes before sending out a rapidly extending spike of ice that tore into Korra's shoulder.
Enraged Kanan instantly appeared before him digging his lightning coated claws into Unalaq's chest. Pulling them out he spun around firing his blades of blood.
"Hijin Kessō!" Kanan shouted as the blood blades tore through Unalaq. Korra rips the ice spike from her shoulder charging forward and punching Unalaq in his chest with all her might. Several ribs crack as Unalaq is sent flying through the wall of the prison into the streets below.
"If we get to Varrick's boat we can still save your father!" Asami said.
"Let's go!" Korra said, all three turning and sprinting out of the prison.
They ran into exactly four guards on the way, all of which Kanan blasted into a wall wth his water then got outside, getting on Naga and Byakko, taking off. About twenty minutes later, they reached Varrick's boat as he was preparing to take off, he and his assistant, Zhu Li, still wearing the platypus bear costume.
"Where's your dad?" Bolin asked.
"On a ship headed North." Korra said, walking over to look around the bear costume into Varrick's face. "Think we can catch up to it?"
"Sure." Varrick said. "Once you get us past our friends from the North."
They all looked out at the half-mile-wide blockade and Kanan looked to Korra.
"Can you do this?" Kanan asked.
"I don't have a choice." Korra said. "If only we had a plane to get us close to those ships, we could waterbend them out of the way."
"A plane?" Varrick asked. "Well why didn't you say so?"
He pressed a button and a hatch in the deck of his ship opened, a plane like the Equalists had used rising out of it, painted blue and with the wings folded upward to fit in the ship. The wings folded downward. The plane had two seats, both with steering controls.
"Um, why do you have a plane on your boat?" Bolin asked.
"Why?" Varrick scoffed. "In case the boat sinks of course!"
"There's no runway," Asami said. "How do you plan to take off?"
"Zhu Li!" Varrick said. "Take a note! Build runway."
"Yes sir." Zhu Li said from somewhere in the bear's belly.
"I have an idea." Korra said.
"And I have a better one." Kanan exclaimed using his waterbending he created a gigantic long runaway by lifting the ocean water and freezing it.
"Yeah that's better than mine." Korra exclaimed.
The plane shot forward and into the air. Korra went to work, entering the Avatar State and swinging her arms rapidly, the sea below them seeming to come alive, raging around below them before suddenly rolling into a massive, semi-sphere wave that shot across the water, slamming into ships and shoving them out of the way.
"Too slow Korra!" Kanan exclaims as he creates a gigantic tsunami that washes all the ships away.
Korra looks shocked. She in the Avatar State couldn't create such a large tsunami, and here Kanan does it with one hand, barely breaking a sweat.
"That's true bending!" Kanan loudly exclaims. The plane passes above the blockade, or what's left of it.
When they were close, the three of them leapt out of the ship, splashing down in the water before the plane bounced along, exploding beside the ship after a moment. Kanan and Korra ran across the water, Kanan easily jumping on the ship and with insane speed knocking everyone aside one guard out. Korra launches herself with waterbending up on the ship ready for a fight only to notice everyone unconscious and Kanan interrogating a guard.
"Where are the prisoners?" Kanan demanded.
"In the brig!" The man said. "Three floors down at the front of the ship!"
They turned, running inside and to the brig, freeing her father and the others quickly.
Kanan ripped the door from the wall as the prisoners all exited.
"Korra this is crazy!" Tonraq said as they reached a gangway on the side of the ship, waiting for Varrick's to pull up alongside them. "You promised me you wouldn't do anything rash!"
"I had to, I'll explain later." Korra said, just as waterbenders began to hurl blasts of water down at them from above.
Kanan jumps up dealing with the attackers.
After he's done he leans against the railing and turns to the others. "Unalaq set the whole thing up. He wants to control both tribes."
"How do you know?" Tonraq asked.
"I...convinced Hotah to explain everything to me." Kanan said. "It's actually a pretty interesting story."
"Unalaq hired the barbarians to get you banished in order to become chief, then he ordered Hotah to play the entire trial out the way it did." Korra said.
"So, once I knew the truth, I couldn't just sit by and do nothing." Korra said.
"My own brother betrayed me." Tonraq growled. "And our entire tribe!"
"What's our next move?" The waterbender that had Tonraq's build asked.
"I've been running from my past for too long." Tonraq said. "It's time to put my brother in his place."
"You have our support, Chief Tonraq." The waterbender said.
"Me too." Korra said. "I'll be proud to fight alongside you Dad."
"And you have mine." Kanan added. Great another war.
"Thank you." Tonraq said. "You're right about our chances of victory. The South can give Unalaq a good fight for a while, but without help, we're finished. Korra, you and Kanan have to get the President of the United Republic on our side."
"Alright." Korra nodded.
"Why?" Kanan asked confused. "I could decimate that "army" by myself."
Korra ingnoring Kanan's statement looked back at Tonraq. "I'll get you all the help you need." She wrapped her arms around him, Tonraq doing the same. "I love you Dad."
"I love you too." Tonraq smiled.
After a few more minutes of saying goodbye, the waterbenders all formed a chunk of ice and dropped onto it, using their bending to ride it back to the South Pole. After a few minutes of watching them leave, Bolin decided to open his mouth.
"I really need to thank you Korra." Bolin said.
"For what?" Korra asked. "I started a civil war!"
"Exactly!" Bolin said. "Now Eska and I are officially broken up."
Kanan laughed, watching something speed across the water at them. "You might want to think again."
"What is that?" Bolin asked looking through a telescope he had borrowed from Varrick, mouth falling open.
Speeding toward them was a massive wave of water, Eska speeding along in front of it, murder on her face and makeup running from under her eyes in streaks.
"That would be my darling Eska." Bolin said. "Quick question. Is this boat fast enough to get away from my crazy waterbending ex-girlfriend?"
"Why do ya think I built this boat?" Varrick grinned, shoving the throttle, the boat surging forward instantly, speeding away from Eska rapidly, Eska failing to keep up.
Kanan sighed, leaning back against the wall, Korra leaning against him. "How long until we're back?"
"About a day." Varrick said. "There are some rooms downstairs you can sleep in. Just don't break anything."
"We won't." Kanan said, he and Korra leaving to find a room. "I'm so tired."
"So am I." Korra agreed.
They found an extravagantly decorated room and all but collapsed onto the bed, climbing under the covers. Korra kissed Kanan goodnight before laying her head on his chest, both almost instantly passing out.
See told you it would be longer.
If you have any ideas tell me.
See ya next time.