Chapter 2: Welcome to Republic City
"I don't care if you are the Avatar! You and your people will submit to me, or I'll destroy you all!" A short bearded man in ancient Earth Kingdom armor roared as he faced Avatar Kyoshi, who fearlessly opposed him and his immense army.
"You will not take a step closer, Chin." Kyoshi's eyes glowed white for a moment, and drawing her fans, she slammed one foot into the ground, causing the largest earthquake the Emperor or his army ever experienced. The land before Kyoshi fractured like cracking ice, and with her unstoppable air bending, the Avatar moved all land behind her away from the Earth Kingdom and Chin, who refused to move from his spot until the ground beneath him broke apart, and he plunged to his doom.
Kyoshi vanished, replaced by a man in his thirties with long black hair, copper eyes, and a small goatee. Avatar Wan bent all four elements against four approaching armies, each preparing to unleash their full fury upon each other. Wan did his best to keep the troops back, but their sheer sizes kept pressing them forward until they came within killing range, ready to consume the surrounding area in war and destruction.
"No! Enough!" Wan's eyes glowed white, and he rose up into the air, fire, earth, water, and air surrounding him.
Wan unleashed his full power, trapping each army in their respective element with bending to the likes of which they'd never imagined possible.
"This war ends here!"
Wan soon vanished, replaced by a thirteen-year-old Avatar Aang who unleashed the full might of his Avatar State upon a now seemingly helpless Fire Lord Ozai through a forest of rock pillars, until trapping the tyrant in a prison of stone.
However, rather than killing him, Aang placed his hand upon Ozai's forehead, and beaming blue light lit up the countryside. When it vanished, Aang released Ozai, who tumbled to his side, fruitlessly attempting to fire bend at the Avatar.
"What did you do to me!?"
"I took away your fire bending. You'll never use it to hurt or threaten anyone ever again."
Taking a deep breath, Aang reached out to the nearby ocean and bent in the tide to extinguish the flames engulfing the Earth Kingdom, ending the hundred years war.
Korra's eyes shot open, and she panted heavily, sweat forming on her brow.
Naga whined in concern and began licking Korra's face as she caught her breath.
"Sorry Naga, I just, I had a dream, is all. Or memories, I guess." When she was younger, seeing her past lives' incredible feats once filled Korra with pride and eagerness. Now, they were just another reminder of what she hadn't accomplished by that point, now on the verge of turning eighteen.
Despite how hard she tried, Korra couldn't fall back asleep, even with a few attempts at meditation. Unable to rest, Korra began to fantasize about Republic City and imagine the great deeds she'd accomplish there. Perhaps it would be the boost she needed to finally learn water bending.
"One day, they'll tell stories about Avatar Korra, Naga. I'll be seen as Aang, Kyoshi, and Wan's equal. Who knows, the tales might even talk about you." She chuckled while stroking the polar bear dog's head as she panted.
Moments later, they both felt the airship shift slightly. Korra got up and looked out the window, noticing other craft coming up and down from a series of docks with dozens of ships in the bay or harbor.
"We're here! Alright, we need to get off before someone comes down to check the cargo hold." Korra looked around for a good place to land with Naga safely. She had her gliding staff, but the polar bear dog certainly couldn't ride in it.
Finally, she saw it, the perfect landing spot, a colossal statue of Avatar Aang towering over a small island in the bay.
"Hmm, that'll work." She said with a growing smile. Korra very carefully opened one of the ramps and metal bent the crates away so none would accidentally fall out.
"Alright, be careful Naga." Korra started as she climbed onto the beast's back, but Naga barked and raced out, leaping almost recklessly through the air.
"Naga!" Korra furiously used every bit of air bending she could muster and lifted them atop Aang's head. The polar bear dog panted as Korra glared down at her for a moment.
"Bad dog." Korra got down from Naga and finally took in the whole of Republic City, and it didn't disappoint. The young Avatar stood in awe of the metropolis, immense skyscrapers, vast bridges extending to urban centers across the bay. Airships flew overhead, contrasting the mountains in the distance.
Korra looked down at the statue of Aang she stood atop and took a deep breath before her confident demeanor returned.
"I can do this! I will do this!" Naga howled in support.
Polar bear dogs were excellent swimmers, and it took Naga less than an hour to traverse the bay and reach the city streets. Korra rode Naga across Republic City and took in the atmosphere.
Businessmen, workers, craftsmen, and more went about their daily lives in suits, dresses, tunics, and more. Korra felt taken aback by some of the clothes, particularly compared to her sleeveless southern Water Tribe attire.
Yet this was nothing compared to cars. Korra had never actually seen one before, but now she witnesses dozens of the machines bustling down the streets alongside ostrich horse-drawn carriages.
The technology and industry in Republic city reminded Korra of the Fire Nation and Zaofu. However, she noticed that certain factories churned out immense black smoke clouds, while others only let out simple steam.
As Korra traveled further into Republic City, she noticed posters for various television and radio programs. The weeping Maiden, a radio drama. Harsh Days in Omashu, a TV show, and a second TV show, Yuan Wen, the Hero of the Hundred Years War.
This poster depicted a muscular young-man perhaps a year or so younger than Korra, with pale-green eyes and black hair fighting Fire Nation soldiers from the Hundred Years war.
"Maybe we should get a TV while we're here." Korra chuckled while petting Naga's head. However, Korra's amusement stopped as she noticed the streets grow dingier and the people with them. Some looked shadier, while others more destitute, their clothes worn and dirty as they begged for money.
"Machines will not replace us! Machines will not replace us!" Korra's eyes shot to dozens of people protesting before a massive factory churning out thick smog.
In their fury, the protestors revealed themselves as all benders, rocks, water, and fire flying through the air and at frightened individuals who tried to enter the factory. Whatever was happening, this was a chance for her to bring peace and balance to Republic City, to act as the Avatar proper.
"Machines will not replace us!" Korra rode up to the edge of the protestors.
"What's going on here!?"
A few of the protesters gave suspicious looks at Korra.
"We don't recognize you. Are you a bender?" One asked.
"...Yes, I am." Korra said, demonstrating some fire bending.
"Wonderful, you can join us!" Their misgivings instantly faded as they resumed protesting.
"Join in what?"
"She must be new to town. Look-" An earth bending woman started.
"Korra." She answered warily.
"Korra, these factories used to employ dozens of benders each. But now they're content with using new machinery to do our jobs for them at the expense of our livelihood and the planet's health!" She snarled, pointing to the smog.
"Coal is polluting the planet. Fire bending steam doesn't harm the planet and puts benders to work!"
"We won't be replaced by machines!"
The protesters nearly turned into a mob as many began attacking the planet itself or the workers trying to enter.
"Hey! Stop that!" Korra shouted as she bent walls of rock in front of the workers, allowing them to enter safely.
"Wait, we saw her fire bend earlier!"
"It can't be! Are you the Avatar!?"
Korra stood atop Naga with an imposing demeanor.
"I am Avatar Korra! I've come to restore balance to Republic City!" She proclaimed.
"Yes!"
"The Avatar is with us!"
"Praise the Spirits!"
Korra felt her heart soar as she heard the crowds cheer for her.
"Alright, so you're all upset that you've lost your jobs." Korra started, trying to comprehend the situation based on what she saw and heard back in Zaofu. So far, it seemed to match up.
"Non-benders think they can replace us with machines! Hundreds lose their jobs every year, and they pollute the planet to no end! But now that the Avatar is with us, the council will listen and restrict technology's expansion, harming our lives! They'll put non-benders in their place!"
"Hold, on, what do you mean by putting non-benders in their place?" Korra asked with narrowed eyes. Korra saw signs in several nearby shops, restaurants, and stands that said "Benders Only" to her horror.
"What's that!?" She almost roared.
"Benders helping each other. Craftsmen and farmers providing jobs for Benders only!"
Korra felt her mouth drop as she saw a couple approach a glass shop where two fire benders narrowed their eyes at them.
"That will be two-thousand Yuan." One of the fire benders said, a voice full of hatred as he pulled a glass figure back.
"What!? We can't afford that!"
"Well, we do have a bender discount. Prove to us you're benders, and my husband and I can sell it to you for five-hundred Yuan." The second fire bender said with similar resentment in his eyes.
The two went still and looked around at the protestors.
"We-"
"Aren't welcome here!" The first fire bender roared. He blasted the ground in front of them with fire.
"Hey! Enough of that!" Korra air bent the non-benders away to safety.
The protestors' expressions changed radically when they heard this.
"Listen to me! Dividing yourselves up between benders and non-benders isn't doing you any good! You uh, need to, uh, talk things out and-" Korra felt sweat grow on her brow in angst, for she had no idea how to settle this dispute between the benders and non-benders.
Korra went over and put her arm around one of the workers who was also of Water Nation descent, trying desperately to look firm.
"I mean, look at us. We don't look that different. We aren't that different." Korra continued before feeling the woman push herself a way, venom in her eyes.
"Get your hands off me, filthy bender!" She sneered.
"Filthy bender! I just protected you!" Korra snarled, rage steadily building up in her stomach. The woman ignored Korra and went inside the factory with her co-workers.
"See, Avatar! Their new machines make them arrogant! They think they're better than benders!"
"Benders will not be replaced!" Korra felt overwhelmed by the entire situation, and before she could properly react, Naga knocked Korra onto her back and ran off. Korra sighed, stroking her pet's head in frustration.
"Ok, that could have gone better." She admitted shamefully.
Naga eventually reached another series of neighborhoods with graffiti painted across building sides and alleyways. Policemen and women in gray uniforms with whistles, nightsticks, and custodian helmets tried desperately to keep order as unsavory figures watched Korra. A few with makeshift weapons approached, blocking Naga's path.
"Are you a bender?" One asked, his crooked teeth pointed in different directions.
"Yes, I-" Korra started.
"Bender! Get out! This is non-bender turf!"
"She's part of the triads, or worse, the Red Lotus!"
"We won't stand for your kind here and the violence you'll cause!"
"Look, I-" Korra started with an angry expression joined by Naga's growl.
"Wait! One of the policemen ran over, a frantic look on his face as he blew his whistle.
"Are you a bender?" He asked Korra.
"Yes, but-"
"Alright, look, wherever you need to get to, please take another path." He muttered with an exasperated expression.
"Why?"
"Please, just do it!" The officer moaned, looking on the verge of tears.
Naga moaned as Korra sighed, noticing the horrible way every non-bender looked at her, simply for the fact that she was a bender. However, as Korra turned, she saw many of the non-bender people in the streets with scars caused by fire, water, or earth. Similarly, homes and shops looked more or less the same, a few marked by graffiti of various triads or a Red Lotus.
Before either could think, Korra and Naga felt their stomachs growl together. Naga whined as hunger overtook her. Korra held her belly, realizing that not only had they eaten all the food she packed, but that she didn't have any money.
"Great." Korra sighed, feeling particularly stupid before taking a deep breath.
"Alright, stay calm. There's always a solution." Korra told herself. Naga began curiously sniffing towards another part of the city.
"Hold on." Korra drew her gliding staff and flew up high above the city until she saw what interested Naga. An entire section of Republic City disappeared into a grassy meadow of greenery surrounding a vast lake.
"That's it!" Korra's enthusiasm returned, and a few minutes later, she and Naga sat on the edge of the lake with over a dozen fish skewered over a small blue fire Korra bent. Despite her struggles with water bending, Korra still knew how to fish from her parents, and those in this lake were particularly slow.
"Bon appetit!" Korra exhaled in relief as several park goers looked at her as if she was insane.
"Hey lady, you can't fish here!" Korra wasn't paying attention, her hunger overpowering the other senses as she and Naga began feasting.
"Mmm, that smells good." Korra and Naga looked up at five individuals who approached from the shrubs. The young Avatar smelled them first, their unwashed and unkempt appearance mirroring that of many worse-off citizens she'd seen earlier. However, none of the men and women before her looked resentful. If anything, they were at total peace with themselves.
"Hello, miss. Lovely day isn't it." A wonderfully calm and peaceful voice said. Korra and Naga looked over at five very unkempt men and women. Their clothes were unclean or patched together, with their bodies quite similar. Despite this, all five appeared happier and less troubled than anyone Korra had ever met, save Bumi.
"Hello. Are you guys ok?" She asked, slightly worried for them.
"We're fine. We're always fine. We wondered if you wanted some of our fruit tea, made to help calm the nerves with over a dozen fruits we grow ourselves."
"Sure, thanks. I'll give you some of my fish for it."
"Oh no! We only want to share, not trade. The world would be a much better place if we all shared more."
They handed Korra a cup, and she warily drank it. Yet, it not only proved delicious, but the drink also seemed to ease some of Korra's anxiety.
"That is good. Thank you, please have some fish."
"Well, if you're sharing." Korra used a bit of fire-bending to heat up their fish.
None of them looked surprised at her ability to fire-bend, which intrigued Korra. However, she noticed one of the women who also appeared to have water-bender descent similarly fire-bent her fish.
"You can fire bend too?" Korra asked with intrigue.
"Of course, are you new to Republic City?" She asked, and Korra nodded.
"From the North or Southern Water Tribe."
"South."
"Well, here, people have lost their original cultural identities. We've become one people, fire, earth, water, and thanks to the spirits, air. We don't separate by native origins anymore. Most people you'll find have mixed parentage, and that's a good thing. We shouldn't separate ourselves. We're all the same on the inside." Their carefree tones and take on identity were very intriguing. However, Korra took a deep breath and sighed.
"That doesn't seem to be completely true from what I've seen so far. Half of the city seems to be at war with the others." The five hippies' calm demeanor changed slightly.
"We're sorry you have to see this. Benders, non-benders, we're all one people under the spirits. It makes me sad to see Republic city come to this. Our community is a mixed group, benders, and non-benders. We all have our strengths and weaknesses. Dividing among ourselves isn't helping anyone."
"What do we want!?
"Equality!"
"When do we want it!?"
"Now!"
Korra and the others turned to see another crowd gathered near the lakeside as a skinny man on a stage spoke with a megaphone between two banners that read "Equalists".
"Amon will bring us equality! With him, we will end the tyranny of benders forever!"
Korra narrowed her eyes in rage while Naga growled.
"Ahh, there they are. The Equalists."
Korra took a deep breath and tried to remain calm.
"So, do non-benders really have fewer rights?" She asked, almost nervously. Remembering the bender shop owners refusing service to the non-bender couple.
"No, not formally anyway."
"But bender shops can refuse them business."
"That and sometimes bad benders like the various triads abuse non-benders with their bending. It's wrong. Bending shouldn't be used to hurt people." The fire bender said in a soft tone.
"I wish someone could bring peace to the city."
Korra stood up tall and determined.
"Someone like the Avatar." She said.
"Yeah! The Avatar!" Korra glanced back at the hippies for a moment and smiled.
"Well, I'll do just that then."
"Woah! You think she could be-"
Korra mounted Naga and rode her over to the rally, overcome by raw emotion.
"Benders can't accept we don't need their oppressive power anymore! So they lord over us, and the council does nothing! We won't stand for it anymore!"
"No!"
"Not all benders want to oppress you!" Korra roared as Naga forced her way through the crowd. Korra bent some rocks up to make a stand taller than the scrawny man's and leaped atop it.
"Listen to me! I-"
"We don't want to listen to a bender!"
"Two weeks ago, an earth bender like you refused to sell me food from his shop, and my family nearly went hungry!"
"Benders like you wrecked my car because they claimed I stole their factory job!"
Korra felt her face muscles tightened as she struggled to remain calm.
"Look, I'm not defending these crimes against you, I'm just saying we need to work out our differences peace-"
"There will be no peace until the council makes bending illegal!" The rally head cried through his megaphone.
"What!?" Korra nearly breathed fire as she turned to face him.
"You can't make bending illegal just because some benders abuse their power! That would be like making pans illegal because someone uses theirs as a weapon to mug people!"
"Are you comparing pans to living weapons of mass destruction! Bending caused the hundred years war! We don't need bending anymore! It should go extinct!"
"Look, I'm the Avatar, it's my duty to bring balance to the world, and that's why I'm here!" Korra demonstrated this point by air bending around them, causing many of the flyers to shoot off.
The crowd looked beyond horrified at this, some hiding and others looking towards Korra with pure hatred.
"You're the Avatar! You're the worst bender of them all! You're oppressing us more than anyone!" The rally leader shouted as he tossed more flyers into Korra's face.
"Hey, stop it! I'm not here to oppress anyone, I-"
"You're oppressing us! Filthy bender! Filthy bender!" The man continued to throw a seemingly endless supply of papers at Korra, making Naga snarl as she tried to force a few members of the crowd back.
"Stop it!" Korra shouted, louder, her rage boiling up like a steam engine.
"Criminal!"
"Tyrant!"
"Monster!"
"Bender!" Korra couldn't take it anymore and punched at the two Equalist banners, incinerating them with jets of blue flames. With a powerful kick, she blasted the mountain of flyers behind the small man and burned them to a crisp. Breathing heavily, Korra slowly calmed a bit, only to realize the destruction and terror she'd brought on.
"Uhh, I-" She began nervously.
"See! You're oppressing us! You're a threat to us! Equality now!"
"Hey, what's going on over there!" A sharp whistle blew through the air as two police officers with nightsticks ran over to the now burning protest.
"Naga, run!" The polar bear dog raced away before the police could arrive, several crowd members jeering as she did so.
Eventually, they reached a street corner far enough away, and both rested on the curb. Korra held her legs in her arms with a slightly depressed look.
"Well, day one isn't going as planned." She sighed, Naga trying to nudge her head in a comforting manner.
Korra noticed a pair of policemen running to their car and nervously wondered if they pursued her for what happened in the park. However, they ignored Korra and got on the radio.
"All available units to fifth-street! Red Lotus and Equalists are engaging in a turf battle! We have wounded officers and civilians on the scene!"
"Unit 24 responding, en route!" Both got inside as the lights began flashing.
Korra felt her enthusiasm slowly rise again.
"Maybe I'm not a diplomat yet! But I can fight! Let's go, Naga!" Her polar bear dog eagerly ran after the police car towards the sounds of battle.
As they came closer, Korra saw frightened people running in the opposite direction and emergency workers trying desperately to heal wounded civilians and police officers. Damaged buildings, cars, and wagons similarly lined the streets until Korra saw them.
Ten water, earth, and fire benders, each with a tattoo of a Red Lotus somewhere on their body, battled three times as many non-benders. Some of the equalists wore gray uniforms similar to the policemen, though with brown face masks and goggles.
The non-benders used a variety of armaments, from more traditional weapons like hammers, nightsticks, and blades, while others tossed handheld explosives, bolases, or gas canisters.
"Stand down! Now!" All nearby police tried desperately to control the situation but stood no match with simple nightsticks, particularly against the benders. Any attempts to create a barrier similarly failed as one blew apart from two equalist bombs or launched boulders.
"We need backup now!"
"Copy, metal benders, and United Forces are on route!"
"Hmp, unnecessary!" Korra proudly declared as she rode up to a panting police sergeant.
"I've got this!"
"What!? Young-lady, get yourself to safety, now this is-"
"Relax, I'm the Avatar!"
"What!?"
Korra leaped off Naga and flew several feet, aided by her air bending before landing in the battle's center and causing a small quake with her earth bending that knocked several combatants off-balance.
"Listen to me! Benders and non-benders! I am Avatar Korra, and I order you to stop your fighting now or face the consequences!" The Red Lotus and Equalists alike gazed at Korra with intrigue before their aggression returned.
"The Avatar! Get her!"
Bolas, bombs, water, fire, and earth all came her way, and Korra frantically bent more earth and some metal around herself as a shield.
"That's it! You asked for it!" Two several Equalists ran at her from multiple directions, hurling explosives or wielding weapons. At the same time, one of the fire benders punched bursts of orange flame at her back, and an earth bender did the same with large rocks.
Korra fought with every bit of skill she'd gained from a lifetime of training. She used her air bending to avoid the incoming boulders and blow away the bombs, then used more powerful fire bending against the bursts of flames and approaching Equalists.
As a result, the fire bender and four Equalists screamed in horrific pain when Korra's blue flames seemed into their bodies, leaving horrible burns and hurling them away.
Unfortunately, in her zeal, Korra also sent fire into the surrounding area, and the blown bombs exploded against several buildings, causing debris to fall down.
"Ahh! Mommy!" Korra frantically turned to see a trapped little boy beneath some of the rubble.
"No!" Korra tried to do something, but it proved unnecessary, for a young woman, her age jumped off a motorcycle and raced in, picking the child up in her arms and jumping to safety.
She was tall and fair-skinned with long raven-black hair, light green eyes, and a gorgeous face, now slightly marred by dust and rage as she glared at Korra.
"Watch it! You're going to hurt someone!" She shouted while getting up and rushing the boy behind the police barricade. From the young woman's clothes and motorcycle, she was clearly well-off, and seeing someone so rich put their life on the line for a child surprised Korra.
Still, she had no time for that and resumed her battle against both sets of criminals. Naga joined in, knocking over or biting equalists and benders alike while Korra masterfully fought them off.
"Stand down!" A loud voice boomed from above.
Korra and Naga looked up at a police airship overhead. Four men and women leaped down, metal grapples flying from their wrists as they used them to swing from building to building.
"Metal benders!" Korra cried. They wore similar uniforms as the non-bender police, though with a distinct marking on their jackets.
"Cease and desist now!" The metal bending police using their whips to smash apart incoming bolas hurled at them and ensnared a few criminals on both sides.
"Great, I'll take the benders if you-" Korra started until she felt several whips ensnare her wrists.
"You're under arrest!"
"What!? Are you crazy!? I'm on your side!"
"Stand down!" Enraged, Korra snapped the whips with her metal bending and sent the policewoman stumbling backward.
Yet even as she did so, one of the uniformed Equalists ran off a wall and came at Korra acrobatically before striking her right arm with two fingers.
"Gahh!" Korra grunted as she felt a sharp pain for a moment before it went limp.
Korra couldn't bend with her right arm and realized what just happened.
"Chi blocker!" She growled, dodging incoming strikes from the Equalist as he tried to hit the rest of her body.
Unfortunately for the Equalist, back in the Fire Nation, a few Imperial Guard members were Kyoshi warriors who knew chi blocking, and Zuko thought it would be useful to prepare her for such a possibility. Thus, Korra had plenty of practice recovering from the technique, even without water bending healing.
After a few more dodges, she bent rocks up with her good arm, and the chi blocker jumped aside, coming for her right side. Korra smiled widely, enough time having passed.
"Big mistake!" Even with his face covered, Korra could see the shock and terror in the Equalist's demeanor as he saw her right arm move, and a burst of blue fire flew into his face.
"Ahhh!" The chi blocker collapsed to the ground and flailed about as if having a seizure, trying desperately to get his burning mask off. A few other Equalists ran over, some pouring any water they had while others looked for rags.
Yet as the flames subsided, water, earth, and fire knocked them away, more Red Lotus members moving in.
"Get back!" Two of the metal benders moved on yet felt their whips fly back at them. One of the Red Lotus earth benders grinned with terrible satisfaction as he flung them together.
"He's a metal bender!" One of the free metal bending policemen shouted.
"I told you that I've got this!" Korra angrily shouted at them as she air bent a small tornado, catching the metal bender off guard and hurling him into a building.
"Either help me or stay out of my way!" She almost snarled at the police, who returned her scorn.
"Look, miss, get out of here now!" The metal benders went to work on the other Red Lotus members, leaving an infuriated Korra to continue her battle against the Equalists, grumbling as she did so.
Just like before, the power of her attacks maimed many of the Equalists, leaving them with broken bones or grievous injuries, yet it also caused incredible destruction and came close to harming trapped civilians, Korra none the wiser.
"Where is that United Forces platoon!? We need back up to take this girl down!" One of the metal benders shouted.
"Take me down! Look, I-" Korra went pale as she saw two blade-like water slashes cut through the backs of both metal benders like a hot knife through butter. Their faces gave one final look of terror before collapsing into pieces with their bodies, blood oozing out onto the streets.
Even Naga yelped in disbelief as she came up behind a trembling Korra. The Red Lotus members reformed with cocky expressions as an eleventh figure approached.
"The Avatar, how interesting." She spoke in a sinister voice, revealing herself to be an armless water tribe woman with a skinny body and dark grey eyes.
Despite her lack of arms, the woman's appearance sent a shiver down Korra's spine and even more into the faces of the remaining police and Equalists.
"Ming-Hau!" One yelped, wetting herself.
"So the rumors are true then?" Ming-Hau licked her teeth while staring at Korra with frightening interest.
"Tarrlok will be so very pleased when I bring you to him on a silver platter."
"I don't think so! Stand down, don't make me hurt you!" Korra tried to sound confident, but the Red Lotus members laughed.
"Alright then." Ming-Hau chuckled, water bending from two gords on her belt and taking their places where her arms would be.
"Get her!" Ming-Hau unleashed a barrage of jagged icicles directly at Korra and Naga. The young Avatar quickly bent up a barrier of stone and steel which barely held back the power of Ming-Hau's ice. Several Equalists near Korra weren't so lucky and collapsed to the ground, impaled by the ice.
Ming-Hau continued her attack, using her water arms to slice apart Korra's barrier more efficiently than any blade. Korra bent fire, metal, earth, and air at Ming-Hau, yet she easily dealt with it all. Her water-bending impressive enough to impress even Master Katara.
Despite how frightening Ming-Hau's attack was, it also made Korra slightly frustrated, as now even an armless woman could water bend, and yet she couldn't. Naga tried to keep the other Red Lotus members back as they came at her master's side, but this became increasingly difficult.
Korra's heart raced faster as Ming-Hau's bending came closer and closer to striking, putting Korra in real danger for the first time in her life. Despite how much power she put into her bending, Korra's methods proved fruitless as the water bender almost seemed to redirect the energy back at her.
Korra's air bending helped her avoid the attacks, but so far, the armless woman provided no opening for her to exploit.
However, this changed when a massive burst of fire came from over Korra's head at Ming-Hau, who sliced it apart with her water arms.
The ground shook as two tanks rolled up with a trio of armored transports behind them.
The Red Lotus metal bender tried to crush them, but the metal contorted only slightly before reforming. Both clearly having a metal bender inside driving them. Between the armored assault vehicles came a single rider on a horse-ostrich.
The young-man wore a dark-blue army uniform with silver epaulets similar to the one Iroh wore. However, this army officer wore a black tarleton helmet with a dark plume and a matching colored cloth covering his mouth and a sheathed saber on his belt.
The United Forces, Korra had only ever seen Iroh and wondered what the rest of his military was like. Luckily, they showed up in the knick of time.
A few Equalists hurled bombs towards the tanks, but the rider began bending water at them, catching the explosives and sending them harmlessly into the air as his tanks began to scatter the attackers.
"Get the civilians to safety!" The officer barked out, and both vehicles began stopping in front of any stranded individuals before one of the crewmen came out and moved them away.
Finally, the transports stopped and let out roughly fifty men and women in similar military uniforms as their commanding officer, though none had epaulets, none wore the same helmet, and some wore green, red, or tan colors instead of blue.
"Form up! Phalanx!" The officer barked out, drawing his saber.
To Korra's surprise, the soldiers didn't join the melee individually but instead came together. The non-benders lined up large fiber shields with strange spears sticking out. The benders formed up behind them and began attacking scattered Equalists or protecting their formation from equalists on the rooftops.
Slowly but surely, the formation pressed forward, pushing the Equalists and Red Lotus benders back. Korra watched in amazement as she saw small bursts of electricity shoot from the spears though each one took almost a minute to recharge.
Even so, the way these soldiers fought amazed Korra. Even as Red Lotus members tried to disrupt the formation, military benders countered them masterfully.
Even Ming-Hau found herself unable to slice through, for the officer and two of his water benders forced her slices away.
"Grrr! Forget them! Get the Avatar!" The Equalists and Red Lotus alike seemed to follow Ming-Hau's command, and they all turned on her.
"Oh yeah! Give me your best shot!" Korra roared, bending like she never had before, sending more Red Lotus and Equalist members flying.
"Get out of the way!" The army officer ordered Korra, though she didn't listen. As Korra avoided another of Ming-Dai's attacks, she narrowly dodged two bolas from a group of equalists on a nearby rooftop.
Enraged by this, Korra bent up large blocks of stone from beneath the road and smashed apart the side of the building they stood on. The attack worked, knocking them away, but it also sent down debris just as the soldiers passed it.
"Look out!" The officer screamed, terror infesting his voice as he tried desperately to slice the debris apart with his water bending at the same time earth benders brought up a barrier, but too late.
Twelve or so of the soldiers groaned in agony, now covered in debris.
"Medics!" The two water benders sprinted over and began doing everything they could while an earth bender tried to free them.
Ming-Hau looked at the situation like a predator would and unleashed her blade arms at the healers.
"No!" The officer leaped off his mount and barely kept the water from his men. The remaining Equalists and Red Lotus members similarly came on the attack, focusing on the wounded soldiers.
"Shield wall! Protect the wounded!" Ming-Dau's sadistic smile grew, and she focused herself solely on the officer as his men attempted to protect their companions.
The waterbending officer was quite skilled but struggled to keep her arms from slicing him apart. Korra finally saw an opening with Ming-Dau's attention elsewhere.
Hurling away any nearby combatants with her air bending, Korra began moving her fingers in circular motions, separating positive and negative emotions until electricity formed.
"Taste this!" Korra roared, knowing well how effective her lightning would prove against someone with water arms.
Both water benders' eyes went wide, and only saw Korra's lightning a moment before she unleashed it.
The soldier jumped away just in time, but Ming-Hau wasn't so lucky. She screamed in horrific pain, the lightning unbearably coursing through her body.
The water bender crashed into a building, unconscious.
"Retreat!" One of the Red Lotus earth benders roared, picking up Ming-Hau in his arms while doing so.
He and six other Red Lotus benders fled out of sight, but the remaining Equalists soon fell to soldiers and Korra.
"Ha! That's what you get for-, ahhh!" Korra groaned in agony, a burst of electricity hitting her back from one of the soldiers. As she fell to her knees, the officer pinned her hands together with water bending then froze them.
For a moment, Korra tried to firebend it off, but the electricity still numbed her body. She looked up at the officer, who now loomed over her with tense eyes.
"Lieutenant, good news, the medics say our men should recover."
"Good, what about the police."
The soldier went silent.
"Sergeant."
"Two dead metal benders, three dead non-benders. A dozen wounded, and three times as many hurt civilians."
Pain filled the lieutenant's expression, even behind his mouth covering, but he maintained a firm demeanor for the sake of his men.
"Get the wounded inside our transports and to the nearest hospital. Make sure the Equalists and Red Lotus are under close guard."
"Sir, what about the Avatar?"
He turned his furious gaze back to Korra.
"She's coming back to the base."
When Korra's senses returned, she sat in an interrogation room with her hands bound by unique cuffs that made bending incredibly difficult. The lieutenant stood over her, his face now revealed.
The officer looked to be in his early twenties with a slightly lean body type. However, he was a bit more muscular than Korra, though not much. He stood around five-ten with a mixed skin tone, clearly matching his descent. His eyes seemed to mirror the uniform he wore, with short-black hair done up in a buzzcut.
"You can't do this! I'm the Avatar! I was doing my duty!"
The lieutenant's eyes lit on fire as he slammed both hands to the table.
"You're dangerous! That's what you are!"
"Me! I didn't cause that battle! I was trying to stop it! I helped stop it!"
"You're a civilian! Not only did you put yourself in danger, but your reckless actions caused far more damage to public and private property, nearly harmed countless civilians, wounded a dozen of my soldiers, putting us all in danger, and that's not even mentioning almost shooting me with lightning!" He roared.
Korra rolled her eyes.
"Pff, I wasn't aiming for you. I only fought the bad guys."
"As far as I'm concerned, you are the bad guy, and the United Forces is within its power to detain you indefinitely!" The water in Korra's cup shattered as his rage grew before he took a deep breath and bent the spilled water back into his jug.
"Sorry, ma'am." He said to a muscular woman beside him.
Korra looked at her in horror after hearing what might happen. She was roughly Korra's height though a bit larger muscle-wise and perhaps in the thirties. Her fern-green eyes were a lighter shade of green than the uniform she wore, a dark-green version of the lieutenant's, with gold-epaulets. Her black hair was very neat and matched a steel gaze that unsettled Korra. The young Avatar recognized her as Kuvira, a former ward of Suyin at Zaofu.
"Hold on. I'm the Avatar, and I can't sit in a military prison! Kuvira, your lieutenant is going too far!" The woman's gaze remained fixed on Korra, however.
"I've reviewed the situation and given Lieutenant Daigo's corroborated testimony of what happened on the street. I agree."
"What!?" Korra almost sprung up, her hand bidings preventing this.
"You're dangerous. My men were lucky to be alive!"
The lieutenant didn't look satisfied at his superior backing him up. Instead, Korra saw genuine concern and care in the young man's eyes for those under him and fear for what else Korra might cause.
"Please! You can't do this, I-"
"However, as much as I'd personally like to see you appropriately punished, you are the Avatar, and imprisoning you would create an international incident. Therefore, we've instead contacted the White Lotus. They'll arrive soon to take you back to Zaofu, where you'll remain under their supervision for the time being. You will not be allowed back in the United Republic until the Council deems otherwise. Consider yourself blessed, girl."
Korra frantically turned to Lieutenant Daigo, her anger vanishing into desperation.
"Please! I didn't mean to hurt your men! I was only trying to help! My past lives guided me here, and I'm meant to end the fighting in Republic City!"
His demeanor softened a bit as he exhaled. There was no malevolence or hatred in his eyes, only sorrow and subtle fear for what was to come for his Nation.
"Actions speak louder than words. What I saw today told us all we need to know. I wish you well, Avatar Korra."
She opened her mouth to plead again when there was a knock on the door.
"Colonel Kuvira, ma'am. We a visitor." A voice said.
All three turned and saw an older woman come inside. She looked even sterner than Colonel Kuvira, who narrowed her eyes at the new arrival. This woman looked to be perhaps fifty with a strong body, short graying hair, pale green eyes, a distinct scar on her right cheek and wore a black police uniform with a golden badge.
"Hmp, so you do have the Avatar then. I thought she'd be taller." The woman's voice matched her appearance perfectly, and Korra wasn't sure what to say next.
"Chief Beifong, what are you doing here. This is a military installation." Kuvira growled with bitter resentment.
"Beifong, as in, Lin Beifong! Your Toph's older daughter and Suyin's sister!"
Lin grit her teeth and shot a look at Korra that made her shiver.
"I didn't come here to talk about my mother and sister. I came to collect you."
"What!?" Korra felt herself tremble again.
"All due respect, Chief Beifong. The Avatar isn't going to prison. The White Lotus is coming to take her." Lieutenant Daigo said in a humble but firm tone. This surprised Korra, who looked back at him in confusion. Lin herself raised an eyebrow upon hearing him say this.
"Really? Aren't you the lieutenant who apprehended the Avatar for wounding your men, and yet you don't want to see her locked up?"
Daigo tightened his fist for a moment but then exhaled.
"Regardless of how I feel, this was the decision made by my superiors. As such, I will do my duty."
"Really, you'd stand between the Avatar and me?" Lin tried to sound as intimidating as possible, but Daigo didn't move.
"Yes." He said.
"Hmp, you've got a dedicated soldier, here Kuvira. But I'm afraid it doesn't matter. I'm not taking Korra to prison." Lin handed the Colonel a signed document before bending the key from Daigo's belt and unlocking Korra's shackles.
"Ma'am?" He asked cautiously as Kuvira's face lit on fire, and she ripped up the document.
"How did you pull this off!?" Lin smirked, making Kuvira's rage grow uncontrollably, and bits of metal around the room began to bend.
"I have my ways."
Kuvira punched a hole in the wall before destroying Korra with her eyes.
"She's going free under Beifong's supervision."
Daigo opened his mouth to speak but then clenched it shut and moved out of the way.
"Thank you, lieutenant." Lin said, taking Korra by the arm. As they walked out, Kuvira continued to glare while Daigo watched cautiously.
"Please, Avatar. This city is in crisis already, don't make it worse." He sounded sincerely concerned for the Republic, and as Korra looked back at everything she'd done that day. Shame filled her, but Korra tightened her resolve and stood firm against him.
"I've come to save Republic City, and I will. I'm the Avatar!"
Lin pulled Korra away as Daigo took a deep breath.
"Lieutenant!" Kuvira growled. He turned to face her.
"Yes, ma'am."
"I don't trust Cheif Beifong."
"Ma'am, all due respect, she's an excellent police Cheif and has distinguished herself more than once. I-"
"I don't trust her! Or the Avatar, for that matter. If she is staying, we need to ensure she can't cause the city or its people. We're soldiers, and it's our duty."
Daigo nodded.
"Of course, ma'am." His eyes grew slightly wary of Kuvira's almost malevolent expression.
"Colonel, what exactly do you want me to do?"
"The Avatar, you proved you could apprehend her if necessary."
"One of my men caught her off-guard, I simply."
"Lieutenant, from this point on, any trouble with the Avatar will be handled by you and your men. I want you to keep a close eye on her."
Daigo thought back to his wounded men and nodded with a fierce expression.
"Yes, ma'am."
Lin drove Korra away from the base, which resided on a small island on the city's western edge. Naga took up the entire back and slept while Korra anxiously glanced over at Lin, who kept her eyes focused solely on the rode.
"Lin, thank you for getting me out, I-"
"Chief Beifong! You will refer to me as such." Her voice rang through Korra like hard-steel, silencing Korra instantly.
"Let's get one thing clear, girl, if it were up to me, I'd lock you up in prison for what you did today! All those people hurt because of you, five police officers dead, including two metal benders." Lin fought back a painful expression as she spoke of the fallen police.
"I didn't start that fight, and I didn't kill those police!" Korra retorted, her voice rising to meet Lin's despite her imposing presence.
"You might as well have. Lieutenant Daigo is right. You're reckless and dangerous."
Korra hardened her expression and huffed out a bit of fire.
"If you feel that way, then why did you free me?!"
"Hmp, my wife made me do it."
"Wait, who's your wife?" Korra asked, her curiosity returning.
Korra only then noticed they arrived at the docks. Yet instead of going to a boat, she drove them to a pair of people near the edge with a Sky Bison.
Korra instantly recognized one as Tenzin, who looked more frustrated than she'd ever seen him. Standing behind the air master was a woman a year or so older than Tenzin with Korra's skin tone, long-graying hair, and teal eyes.
"Kya!" Korra shouted as the car stopped.
"Hello Korra, it's been a long time." Kya was Bumi and Tenzin's sister, between them in age and the only water bender. Korra met her once many years ago. Wait, was she Lin's wife?
Naga leaped out and began happily licking Kya's face, much to her approval.
"It's good to see you too, Naga."
Lin got out and crossed her arms as she walked beside Kya.
"I want you to know that I'm not making dinner for the next month."
"Thank you, dear." Kya kissed Lin's cheek as the police chief's expression softened slightly.
"Kya, you freed me?" Korra asked nervously as the water bending master approached with a comforting look.
"I know why you came here, Korra." The young Avatar hardened her demeanor.
"I-"
"I understand." Kya placed a comforting hand on Korra's shoulder.
"I can't imagine how much pressure you must feel, the expectations of a thousand lifetimes, the weight of the world placed on your shoulders. You did what you thought was best."
Korra fought back tears.
"I only made things worse. I'm a failure of an Avatar. I can't bring peace, I hurt anyone I try to help, and I can't even water bend, my native element." Korra practically collapsed into Kya's arms. Upon seeing her break down, Tenzin and Lin's expressions softened into sympathy.
"It's alright to admit your shortcomings, Korra, but you're still young."
"Aang was thirteen when he saved the world!"
"You're not my father, Korra, but you don't have to be either. You define what Avatar you'll be. I think I know why you can't water bend." Korra wiped away her tears and slowly looked up.
"Korra, you are passionate, determined, and always willing to put in hard work. But this also makes it difficult for you to keep control of yourself. Water bending is all about change, controlling your energy, and that of others. I'm going to help you."
"You, you are?"
Kya nodded.
"I'm going to be your new waterbending teacher. We're going to try less than traditional ways to make you into the Avatar you envision yourself, and together we'll restore balance to Republic City."
"Kya, I, thank you!" Korra hugged her tightly.
"Now, let me explain how this will work. You're going to stay with Tenzin and the other air benders on his island."
Korra turned to Tenzin, who nodded.
"Why?"
"Because you're going to help me. Korra, there are less than a handful of fully trained air benders in the world, and you're one of them. More air benders are being discovered across the globe, and I need more teachers."
Korra hesitated, remembering her struggles to help Opal.
"I also believe that teaching air bending will help you become more patient and in control, which is what you need to master water bending."
Taking a deep breath, Korra stood tall again.
"I'll help teach air bending."
"That's it. I'll see you tomorrow for lessons."
Tenzin climbed into his sky bison's back before she lifted up and flew towards air bending island. Korra mounted Naga as she followed them.
Kya smiled and watched Korra depart with sincere optimism.
"You really think she can save this City?" Lin asked skeptically.
"No, Lin, I know she can." Kya took her wife's hand and walked back to their car.
A man slowly entered a chamber in a hidden location, closing the door behind him as he did so.
"Amon, it's confirmed, the Avatar is in Republic City. She interfered in one of our turf wars with the Red Lotus."
Across the room, a hooded man didn't react as he diligently looked over a map of Republic City.
"Thank you, Lieutenant."
A minute of uncomfortable silence fell, and the first man grew anxious with each passing moment, cold sweat forming across his back.
"Sir, what are your orders? This could be very bad for us. The benders could unify around her, she already proved herself hostile to us, we-"
"That will be all, Lieutenant." The first man bowed his head respectfully and left, leaving Amon to stare at his map.
"So she's here already. Very well, all things remain in motion, all things change. I will merely adapt. I will use her arrival to my advantage." Amon turned from a picture of Republic City to one of the world.
Author's note
So yeah, quite a few changes from the show in characters and plot. I wanted to make the conflict between benders and non-benders seem more mutual hatred rather than one side being against the other. The Red Lotus in this story are bending extremists who want benders to be on top of society.
Korra will be teaching air benders and learning water bending from Kya. However, will all these changes, that doesn't mean Korra's team Avatar will be diminished. However, expect certain characters like Kya to have more significant roles.
So until next time,
Please review, comment, suggest, or ask (VIA PM)