"PLEASE WELCOME YOUR HERO, YOUR SAVIOR... AMON!" A loud voice booking through the speakers.
Korra could feel her heart hammering as she looked at him. He was flanked by two Chi- blockers. A chill ran down her spine as she glanced around the people. Pure devotion filled their eyes
Amon raised his hand for silence, and almost instantly the crowd went quiet.
He walked up to the microphone at the front of the stage and begin his speech.
"My quest for equality began many years ago. When I was a boy, my family and I lived on a small farm. We weren't rich. And none of us were benders. This made us very easy targets for the fire bender who extorted my father until every last yuan had was gone. Finally, my father summoned the courage to confront this man, but when he did..." Among voice broke. His head bowed slightly as if he couldn't bring him left to say the words.
Korra narrowed her eyes at him, something about that didn't feel right.
"When he did... That fire bender took my family from me."
Mako looked away from the stage, that story was devastatingly familiar to him.
"Then he took my face. I've been forced to hide behind a mask ever since, " Amon continued, "I know my story is not unique. For generations, bending has been used against us non-benders to oppress us, to control us. It has been the cause of every war in every era."
The crowed around the bending duo murmured in agreement.
"As you know, the avatar has recently arrived in Republic City." The crowed boos as Korra looks around uncomfortably, tugging her scarf up to cover her face more.
"And if she were here, she would tell you that bending brings balance to the world. But she is wrong. The only thing bending has brought to the world is suffering." Korra glared at him, Makos hand catching her wrist. The urge to punch him was strong.
"But that's about to change. I know you have been wondering 'what is this revelation?' You are about to get your answer. Since the beginning of time, the spirits have acted as guardians of our world, and they have spoken to me. They say the avatar has failed humanity, " Amon began to prowl around the stage as the excitement began to build up in his voice.
"That is why the spirits have chosen me to usher in a new era of balance."
"What?" Korra gasped.
"How will I accomplish this, you ask? The spirits have grated me a power that will make equality a reality. The power to take a person's bending away. Permanently!"
Korra eyes widen, "that's- that's impossible!" Her words were drowned out as the crowed around her numbered in surprise and disbelief.
"This guy's insane, " Mako hissed.
"And now for a demonstration!" Amin cried. He signalled to his chi-blockers and they brought out five bound gangsters onto the stage, including an extremely frightened Bolin.
"There he is!" Korra said charging forward. Mako grabbed her arms again.
"Wait, we can't fight them all. We need to be smart about this and come up with a plan."
While they hung back, thinking of a plan to save Bolin, Amon had the first gangster, Lighting Bolt Zolt untied and brought before him.
"Zolt has amassed a fortune by extorting and abusing non-benders, but now his reign of terror is about to come to an end, " Amon said. "Now in the interest of fairness, I will give the chance to fight to keep his bending."
The second the Chi-blockers released their grip on Zolt, he struck out with several blasts of flame and electricity.
The audience gasped as Amon easily dodged the attacks until he grabbed the benders wrist and redirected the blast until the bender had his back to him. His hand griping the back of the gangster neck he released his hold on the man's arms and places it on the many forehead.
The man's face went blank, his breath hitched as the lighting at his fingertips slowly began to decrease in size until it turned to flames that got smaller and smaller until nothing. Like someone had turned the tap off.
Zolt groaned as Amon released him and he fell face forward onto the stage. The crowed sat in stunned silence.
Zolt forced himself up and throws a punch into the air, before collapsing back onto the stage floor, the crowd mummering as he did so.
"What- What did you do to me?" He wailed looking up to Amon.
"Your fire bending is gone. Forever." Amon answered ominously, the audience gasp in awe at the man.
"The era of bending is over. A new era had begun!" He announced as Zolt was dragged off stage by some chi-blockers, while another few began to grab the next gangster.
Korra looked on in horror, the chill she'd felt before now blossomed into full-fledged fright. It brought back the fear on how powerless she felt when the Chi-blockers had grabbed Mako and how useless she had been from the black flames.
"Korra, " Mako whispers, breaking her out of her pit of darkness.
"Listen, I've got a plan. See those machines over there?" Korra turned to see where he was looking, a row of cast iron power turbines lined the wall next to the stage.
"They are powered by water and steam. If you create some cover, I can grab Bolin without anyone seeing and then we duck out of here."
"Works for me!" Korra agreed before slipping back into the crowed as Mako pushed himself forward, closer to the stage.
She slipped past the crowed and down an empty part of the factory. Her eyes studying the flow of water she could feel that were inside.
Seeing bright red wheel, she grabbed it and turned it. The metal groans as the pressure changes, making a crack open and water and steam came pumping out.
"No, that's not going to be enough." She mummers twisting another red valve.
"Hey, you." A voice exclaims to her right. It was the thug from doorway.
"Is there a problem, my brother?"
"What are you doing back here?" He said looking down at her with narrowed eyes.
"Uh, looking for the bathroom." She answered with a big grin. They both knew that was a terrible excuse. Her eye catches him pulling something large from his pocket. A work tool.
Her eyes narrow back at him as he lunges for her, pipes clanging as he stuck the pipes around him as Korra danced around him.
Yanking off Makos scarf she used it to wrap around the man's wrist and used some momentum to aim him into the metal work. His big build broke the pipes making more steam escape into the air around them.
"Thanks. This should be enough." She said to the man's unconscious form.
Korra guided the stream out and over the audience, covering the floor with on seconds. It was impossible to see more than a few feet in front of them.
Confused and unable to see the crowd began to panic and run for the doors.
Using that Korra quickly jumped into the mass of people heading for the door. She knew Mako would have to use a back door, so she separated from the crowed and ran for the back of the factory.
She pulled off her coat and hat as she ran but tucked the red scarf away into her pocket.
As she nears the back door heard Makos screams of pain.
Rounding the corner, she sees debris of stone every were and a small wall lying flat on the ground, Mako and Bolin lay unconscious at a Chi-blockers feet.
"You benders need to understand, there is no place in the world for you anymore."
Taking her chance Korra stomped on the ground making a slab of the patent hit him hard in the chest, making him fly back into the wall, breaking his electric pack on his back as he flopped to the floor.
He struggled up to glare at the new comer, "I wouldn't count us out just yet." His eyebrows furrow at the teen as she looked familiar.
"NAGA." Korra shouted before whistling, who came bounding down the hallway. She barked happily as Korra pulled Mako to his feet.
Seeing moment in the corner of her eyes, see spots reinforcement on their way. She hopped on Naga and dragged Mako and Bolin up onto the saddle.
"The Avatar! - that's her" the lieutenant shouted, Korra didn't stick around as she made Naga run at full speed down the street.
On the rooftop, the chi- blockers kept into action, ready to hunt the Avatar down but Amon held his hand to stop them.
"Let her go!" He said. His voice was eerily calm, "She's the perfect messenger to tell the city of my power."
Korra spent a bit of time going through different ally ways to throw off anyone pursuing them but evenly she stopped when she was sure no one was following them. But she did not spot the shimmer of a sliver mask in the shadows behind her.
XxxxxxX
Korra stood numb as the boat cut its way through the ocean. The air temple island gradually getting bigger into view. The air acolytes said nothing much to her relief as they sailed.
Her mind was a whirl, fear had been creeping into her stomach when she dropped Mako and Bolin off at the Pro-bending Arena. Like the shadows would pounce on her at any second and tear her apart.
Naga licked her hand reassuringly, without a thought she embraced Naga in a huge hug.
Her feet thudded loudly as she walked from the docks, she relaxed slightly as she spots white louts members milling around the place. She was safe here.
Korra made her way into the direction of the main house. The lights around her drew her attention to the open corridor, where she could see Tenzin talking to several white lotus members.
As she walked through the door and down the hall, she noticed that he looked very stressed as he was speaking to them.
His eyes caught hers and relief shone on his face.
"KORRA?! Thank goodness! I was just about to send out a search party. Are you alright?" He said hurrying over to her.
Korra shook her head. She was most definitely not alright. Ever since she had seen Amon's powers, she hadn't been able to shake the terrifying image from her head.
"Korra, what happened? Did you find your friend?" Tenzin pressed softly.
"Yes, but... I was at an Equalist rally. I saw Amon."
"What!" He breathed.
"He can take peoples bending away! For good!"
"That's... That's impossible. Only the avatar has ever passed that ability." As Tenzin looked at Korra he could see the fear in her eyes.
"But I saw him do it!"
"I believe you", Tenzin tugged at his beard in thought.
"I don't know how Amon has achieved this power, but it means that the revolution is more dangerous than ever. No bender is safe." He mutters as he looks back at the city shoreline.
"How'd the fire go?" Korra asked after a very long pause.
He sighed, "Not good. The fire went out with help from Yira but-"
***Flashback***
"Akari please tell me that was your stomach." Yira moaned.
From the pit of the ashes, red eyes shone from the darkness.
Tenzin shifted uneasily as a wolf emerged from the smoke. It looked like Akari but the colours we're all opposite. The white fur was black and the intricate blue patterns we're bright read. And not to mention burning crimson res eyes that stared into your soul. Its build suggested it was male.
Yira stiffened as Akari body language changed next to her. Her deep rumble of a growl and attention was all on the dark spirit.
Tension filled the air as both will began to stair each other down.
During the stare down, Yira slowly got to her feet and backed up behind her.
There was a momently pause before they lunged for each other. Yira went flying back as Akari's tail hit her on her chest.
Tenzin watched wide eyed as both wolves' began tearing into each other.
Yira clutches her chest as she struggles to her feet, she jumped back as the black wolf lunges for her, Akari recovers and tackles him away.
The police began to evacuate the streets as a fire truck got demolished by the fighting wolves.
Akari looked to be struggling with the fight and without thinking Yira jumped in.
"Leave my friend alone you overgrown furball!" She calls out sending several air blasts at him.
The dark spirit turned to her, it's red eyes boring in hers. In a flash it was gone.
Instinctively she rolled forward as a heavy body landed behind her, it's hot breath on her neck for a fraction. She swivelled around and delivered a right hook straight into the beast jaw, it stumbled back but prepared to attack again.
It let at her, jumping back she hissed as a claw caught her in a few places but Akari jumped in and tacked him again.
She looks down to see a few gashed on her stomach and arm, it didn't look to bad.
"Look out!" Her head snaps to Tenzin but a large tail hit her hard in the shoulder. She went soring back as it was much hard than Akari's jab and landed harshly onto the pavement several meters away.
With her breath knocked out of her, she barely had time to raise her hand as the Dark spirit lunged at her face. A strange sense of Déjá vu as the wolf's mouth camps over her left closes fist.
She screams as she felt her bones break from the pressure of wolf jaw, blood spurting from the punchers.
Her hand was released as Yira saw the blur of a shining blue coat of fur fight against the black and red before her eyes roll back into a faint.
"Teselo\ Yira." Lin and Tenzin shout, running toward the unconscious form of the duo bender.
It had happens so fast, both wolfs we're fast and Yira was surprising quick on her feet.
As they got to a few feet from Yira Akari appeared and snarled menacingly at them.
Tenzin felt the air flow so her grabs Lin and pulled her down, Akari leapt at them but tacked a huge body behind them.
Tenzin turned letting her go, Lin from her position on the floor sent out her cables to the girls uninjured arm, but Akari reappeared and grabbed the sand bender by her jacket collar. In flash Yira Teselo and Chief Beifong vanished.
"LIN! YIRA!" Tenzin cried out to the empty air; the other dark wolf had also disappeared too.
***Flashback end***
Korra looked agape as Tenzin concluded the recent event.
"I... I should have been there." She said clenching her teeth, "I'm the Avatar. It's my duty to be the bridge."
"Korra!" Tenzin put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Korra, you weren't to know what was going to happen. I've alerted the White louts and they've been tasked to look for them everywhere."
"Well what are we supposed do now. We're down one air bender and one Chief Of Police."
"MASTER TENZIN!" A voice of a man broke them out of their conversation as the arrival of a White lout's Sentry who was red-faced from running up to them.
"We-we g-got a call from the Lord Zuko?" He wheezes, clutching his side; a stitch from all his running no doubt.
"Lord Zuko? What happened?" Tenzin attention fully on the man. It was very odd for his father's old friend to call out the blue.
"There was a strange attack at the palace. It was something about giant Wolfs, Air bending and Chief Beifong."
Surprise filled his face as heard that. Worry still lingered in his gut, finally something on the two benders.
"From what he said, he was attending a meeting with the Fire lord and out of nowhere two giant wolves show up tearing at each other along with Chief Beifong and Miss Teselo who-" The white louts member was abruptly cut off as a loud screech echoed cut through the quite air.
"PEMA!" Tenzin cried as he recognized the scream.
Without a second thought he ran in the direction of Pema's scream, with Korra and White louts guy hot on his heels.
Bursting through the doors his heart sags in relief as Pema looked to be in no danger. His eyes follow her line of vision to see the light spirit wolf - Akari, from before and Lin who was looking back at him with equal surprise.
His breath hitched as he spots Yira who was being held up by one of Akari's tail, it was wrapped around her like a snake as it supported her back but held her firmly around the neck.
Blood dripped from the corner of her mouth and hands, her left one from being crushed by the dark wolf earlier but her right was missing half of it's sleeve but the bites scars on her other arm also dripped blood.
Scratched dotted her person, on her arms and legs from dodging the swipes of the wolves before.
Yira's jacket and vest was split up at the front but her binder had survived in one piece.
Korra ran forward as Akari dropped her into Korras arms, Akari's tail unwrapped from Lins waist before vanishing out of sight.
Lin let go of a spear she was holding, it thudded to the floor, but she held tight to the white pained mask in her other hand. Her eyes flicker to the unconscious Yira in Korra arms.
Her thoughts we're still reeling about that woman.
"Lin, are you alright?" Tenzin said as he got a close look at her. She was missing the armour on her right sleeve of her forearm and teeth marks in her left arm metal work. There were a few marks from claw swipes that had cut through the metal, he couldn't see past that though, she didn't seem to be in pain much to his relief.
"Let's just go inside." He suggested as Lin glared at him tiredly. Lin bent down to help Korra take Yira's right side as she took the left as she slid the blooded arm over her shoulder.
Pema held his hand highly as she rubbed her belly, her baby had kicked hard from the surprise in the garden.
But she was relieved to see the return of Yira. She was now glad to have put the kids to bed, where she would have scared them when the sudden arrival of the three showed up in front of her.
She wanted to see how Yira was doing but she trusted Korras ability to heal in the water bending arts, so she went to check up on her children.
XxxxxxxX
"Lin, I know you have had a long day but can you tell us what happened after you and Yira vanished?"
Lin scowled at Tenzin's question, as one of the white louts' healers finished patching up her scrapes and cuts, her armour lay by her feet, which was a relief. So, she sat in her tank top with a good cup of tea, and lots of people wanting answers.
All she wanted to do is go home and have proper food and sleep. She is physically and mentally exhausted, being missing for just over 24 hours in the spirit world, was not the novel that Tenzin and Aang use to make it out to be.
"Perhaps you could begin with that mask..." Tenzin said pointing to the mask on the table in front of her.
Lin glowered at it, her eyes flicker to the people around her. There were a couple of White Louts members. One being a grand member too. Nosey bastards.
Tenzin had called them, and they arrived while Korra was attending to Yira several rooms away. She particularly didn't want an audience but given events and spirits influence she'd let it slide, it was out of her jurisdiction and area of expertise.
She sipped her tea as she began to collect her thoughts on where to begin.
"Fine. The mask comes in later. The moment I grabbed Teselo, we were here one second and the next-"
XxxxxxxX
-Flashback-
Lin grunted as she felt the strong impact as she landed harshly on the ground.
Bright lights assault her vision as she gathers her bearings. Her armour weighed a tone as she forces herself to her knees, her fingers digging into the ground.
It felt wrong. The ground beneath her felt wrong. She couldn't feel it, she couldn't sense it. She felt strange energy pricking at her skin though.
A pit of dread began to creep it way into her stomach as the bright lights were an array of multiple colours and silhouettes.
Tall leaf plants that reach high into the pinkish sky above her and luscious green grass with a mixture of small flowers dotted around the place.
Lin flinched as a hand clasps her shoulder.
"First time to the spirit world can a little overwhelming." Yira said in a pained voice as she fought to keep her breathing steady. Clearly, she had recovered, well... To some extent.
Her right hand moved so it was clutching her left. It was bloodied up from the wolf bite which nearly taken off her hand.
Beifong scrambled to her feet, she felt slightly unbalanced as she stood at her full height. Too light but at the same time her armour was heavy, like she was floating but not.
"C-Can you bend?" Yira struggled out, bringing her broken fist close to her chest.
"No." Lin didn't need to test it to make sure. She could feel it.
"You?"
Yira took a few deep breaths through the pain.
"I-im not sure. Just let me-" she cut herself off as she through her arm out, Lins's eyebrows shot up in surprise as a blast of air came from her palm. Yira face also mirrored surprised too, clearly, she hadn't expected anything to happen either.
"Well that makes no sense." She grumbles. While she wasn't going to admit it she was glad at least one of them had bending in this world. Especially seeing as she knew next to nothing about the spirit world, only snippets from what Aang use to say and bits from Tenzin.
Lin gave the area another quick look around, her mind counting the strange spirits floating around the sky and air around them.
Yira in that time had been focusing on her broken hand, her breathing ragged as she began to push the pain aside. Perhaps her meditation with Tenzin was paying off.
With the pain dulling, see looked around to see which area Akari had taken them.
She relaxed slightly as she recognizes where they were. But that didn't stop the worry as she realises that Akari and the dark spirit wolf where nowhere to be found. She had questions too. How could she bend but Beifong couldn't? And would Akari be returning here soon? They had no supplies to last and she highly doubted that there was anything edible here.
Yira frowned as she began to look back on all trips to this world to find the best chance into finding a way back home.
With a destination in mind Yira cough for Lins attention.
"I- uhh. Think it's best we head this way." She said jerking her thumb into the direction that had towering fern trees and shrubs.
"You think? Do you know we're going exactly?" Lin scoffed, she was definitely out her jurisdiction here and they couldn't afford to get lost, especially here of all places.
"Actually, I do! I come to the spirit world quite frequently, and over there, where I pointed out is in the direction of Akai's hang out. I can't say she would be there but seeing as we have no other leads, I suggest we go that way." She snapped, waking off into the direction where she pointed out.
Lin stared at her back for a moment but decided it would be beneficial to follow. She had to admit it had been a while since someone had spoken to her like that.
Better to be stranded with some who knew where they were than on her own, even more so that she had no bending. Sure, she can still throw a mean punch and had her hand to hand combat but that would have little or none effects on spirits.
XX
Lin didn't know how long they had been walking but she was tired. A long day from what was already a long shift at work. And her armour was no help at all. She had never noticed the weight until now.
Yira hadn't spoken a word since there small conversation of direction, Lin was glad of it. Having someone fill the silence would have just aggravated her even further.
Lin stiffen slightly as she felt eyes on the back of her neck, subconsciously she rubbed her neck as they enter a clearing. A small cave entrance was there along with a few fallen giant trees that had teeth marks and broken branches dotted the clearing.
"Hello." Both turned to see a small green spirt sitting on the fallen log. Yira smiled when she saw him.
"Hey Kaho. Have you seen Akari recently?"
Kaho shook his leafy head, "Not since she came barrelling through with darkness on her tail." He shrugged.
"How long ago was that? Its very important we know!" Yira pressed, he cocked his head to aside in thought.
"Fraction, why don't to look for the light? That where you can find her!" He said. Stating like it was the obvious thing to do.
Lin brows furrow slightly. Fraction? Look for the light? Were spirits usually this cryptic?
Yira tenses slightly and stole a glance at Beifong who was lost in thought. She hoped Beifong wouldn't ask too many questions about the fraction bit.
"I...see. Thank you. I'll...do that.." Her smile vanishing as she closes her eye to focus. She could feel the energy within her stomach-churning, the familiar ice at her bones but a warmth in her heart.
For the first time in while she let herself get emerged with the warmth, she pulled that feeling out past her skin. Her head turn to the left.
"Over there! She's over there!"
"Right." Lin grumbled. Clearly not happy about more travel.
"Let's just go." Yira sighed as she stomps over some roots and mud.
Xx
Lin scowled to herself as they passed yet another group of spirits who were looking at them with intrigue. Some even had begun to follow them and a few times she nearly turned around to shout at them but Yira would cough loudly and shake her head. She knew they couldn't afford to piss off the kinder spirits. Kind ones could turn at a moment's notice if provoked.
Lin yelped as her foot sank into something. Yira turned to grasp her wrist but Beifong continues to sink into the ground.
"W-What the-" she gasped, her grip tightening on Yira's wrist. Yira tried to bend the ground beneath themselves but it wouldn't not budge, telling her it was not earth and most likely a spirit.
"Hold on- its not earth." She wheezes, inwardly kicking herself for not noticing the slight colour change of the grass.
"Something got me! I can feel it." Lin gasped, her other hand clutching Yiras arm. Her good one.
Lin was terrified, give her a hard case to crack or criminals she could do but this was on another level completely.
She was up to her knees as the ground was like quicksand, Yira's grip was impressive but irrelevant as she was forced down further.
Panic was all over Yira's face as the metal on Beifong wrist bent under her grip. Her chi enhancements had little effect on getting her out.
Lin felt the fabric of Yira jacket began to tear away as something gave her feet a final tug before she was swallowed up.
She barely got a breath in as darkness engulfed her.
Her chest ached and burned from holding her breath until finally, the darkness gave way.
But the feeling of being dragged was now the feeling of falling. Fresh air was heaven to her lungs, disoriented as the wind was whipping by her, taking any warmth away from her body.
She cursed to herself as the rocky ground beneath her began to focus. It looks to be a fogy pit.
"Shit."
She braced herself for impact.
Xx
"And then?"
Lin stiffens as she looks at her Ex,
"I'm not sure... Things got a little hazy after that..." She sighed rubbing her forehead.
Her ears twitches as Korra peeked her head through the doorway.
"Hey" Korra said softly, in her hands she held a bowl of red water and a cloth.
"How is she?" Tenzin asked standing up from his seat as she enters the room.
XxxxxxX%%%%%%%%%%%%
And that episode three done and holy shit I didn't expect my story to take this turn.
Originally I had planned something else simpler but it took off on a life of its own.
I'm always happy for construction criticism and helpful reviews so until next time….