Chapter 3: Another Way Author's note: Optional soundtrack when you see (xxx) we own it
Korra slept soundly in her room on air bending island, exhausted from her strenuous days since arriving in Republic City a few weeks prior. By now, her eighteenth Birthday passed, and her parents visited. Neither was particularly happy that she'd run off but didn't force her to leave with them back to the South Pole.
"Huh?" Korra felt Naga's tongue across her face and slowly got up.
"Ahh, alright, Naga, I'm up. Geesh, you really are on Tenzin's payroll now." Korra groaned as she got up and stretched her aching muscles. The young Avatar took a quick bath and put herself together before walking towards the dining hall with Naga.
Bumi once took Korra to visit each of the Air temples during her years training under him. Air acolytes now restored each site to their former glory and used this knowledge to model Tenzin's home off their beauty.
If Korra was honest, she preferred Fire Nation architecture but couldn't complain about the air bending island itself. Several dozen air acolytes worked as laborers to maintain the temple as they did the others, cleaning the halls, tending the plants, and preparing food.
"Avatar Korra." Several greeted her with soothing and peaceful voices.
"Good morning." She greeted them back. The men had shaved their heads just like air nomads had and wore attire similar to that she saw Aang wear in her memories.
"Avatar Korra." A stronger voice said. She glanced at a white Lotus guard patrolling that area of the temple.
Korra did her best not to look resentful as she passed him. Over two-dozen White Lotus Guards kept a close watch on Air Bender Island. Tenzin claimed they were there to help protect the few air benders left in the world, but Korra suspected their real purpose was to keep an eye on her.
Finally, she and Naga reached the dining hall and ate a large breakfast of fish, meat, and rice. Despite the air nomad diet not allowing some of those foods, the air acolyte cooks still knew how to make them delicious.
Korra savored the rich taste and felt Naga whine a little while as she gazed longingly at Korra's breakfast, having finished her own.
"Come on, Naga, I need to eat too."
"Here, you can have mine." Otaku said, placing his fish and meat down beside the polar bear dog, who happily began eating.
Otaku was Korra's age and a bit pudgy. He was a former Air Acolyte whose air bending abilities awoke two months prior. According to Jinora, he cried for three days in joy.
"I shouldn't be eating meat anyway."
Opal and a few other air bending students of various ages Tenzin assigned to Korra sat with her.
These pupils nervously glanced around at the other new air benders, who ate curried vegetables and rice, in contrast to the meat and fish Korra had the cooks prepare for them since arriving a month earlier.
"Come on guys, eat up. You're going to need your strength today. We're training long, and we're training hard!" Korra declared very loudly, earning a sigh from Tenzin, who sat at a nearby table with Jinora, his pregnant wife Pema, and their youngest child, Milo.
"Korra, you eating non-traditional air nomad food is bad enough. But the others-" Tenzin started.
"Calm down, Tenzin. Eating that food isn't necessary to learn air bending. Bumi didn't have me do half the stuff I see you guys do here, and I turned out fine." Korra demonstrated this by leaping up and bending a sphere below her.
Opal and Korra's other students' eyes glistened in wonder, while many of Tenzin's pupils did the same.
"Wow! Daddy, when are you doing to teach me that!" Milo shouted with an uncontrollable sense of excitement.
Korra noticed a muscle spasm in Tenzin's head when he heard Bumi's name and training methods mentioned.
"Bumi isn't training these air benders. I am."
Korra, however, smirked.
"Well, I learned from Bumi, and if you want me to teach my students air bending, it's the only way I know how."
Pema placed her hand on Tenzin's as he clenched his eyes shut.
"Fine." The air bending master sat back down and resumed eating, only then noticing that his second daughter wasn't beside them.
"Where's Ikki?" Jinora very calmly ate food her food and pointed towards Korra's table as an air bender boy her age with brown skin, hair, and green eyes did the same.
Korra glanced to her side and saw a little girl with brown hair and gray eyes smiling up at her.
"Korra, your air sphere is so much better than any I've made! Can I train with you today!? Can I!? Can I!? Can I!?" Korra's confident expression wavered slightly as she nervously looked at Ikki.
"I don't think your dad wants you learning my style of air bending."
"You mean Bumi's style." Tenzin muttered under his breath.
"Come on, Korra, she loves you. I say a different perspective could be good for her." Opal said as she patted Ikki's head.
In truth, Korra found Ikki to be very overwhelming at times, always asking her intimate questions and sneaking into her room at night. Unfortunately, Naga had grown to like Ikki and didn't stop the little girl.
"Dad, can I train with Korra today, please!" Ikki leaped into the air, aided by her air bending, and clasped her hands in front of Tenzin.
"I don't know, master. She doesn't seem like she's in the mood for meditation practice." The boy beside Jinora said, earning a grateful smile from Jinora.
"I see, perhaps you're right, Kai. Very well."
"Yay! Thank you!"
Korra grit her teeth and took a deep breath.
"Alright, fine." She glared at Opal for a moment as her old friend laughed a little.
The next few hours saw Korra taking her students through a series of training techniques Master Bumi used with her. This included moving through air bending gates, obstacle courses, and even avoiding boulders. Korra earth bent at them.
"Come on, avoid them! Move freely, like a leaf!" She shouted, trying desperately not to sound angry while doing so. Ikki, oddly enough, showed the most promise, dodging all of her attacks while the others took hit after hit.
Korra felt her frustration boil over but then took a deep breath, remembering what Kya said. The last month certainly proved an exercise in patience, yet Korra knew it was necessary.
"Alright, take a break." She said, beckoning over two White Lotus guards.
Opal and the others, now covered in sweat, bruises, and dust, panted while sitting down as a White Lotus water bender tended to any injuries they had.
Korra now took the position where her students were and faced the two White Lotus guards.
"Stay flexible, find the path of least resistance. Free yourselves." Korra took a stance, and both guards unleashed the fury of Earth Bending at her.
Korra, however, masterfully evaded the incoming rocks without even bending air, using purely agile and evasive moves away from or off each rock. She didn't challenge the stone but found a way to most past it.
"Amazing!" Ikki squealed while Opal and the others gazed in awe, particularly when Korra then began bending air and made her evasions look effortless.
Nearby Tenzin was meditating with Jinora, Kai, and a dozen other students when Ikki's shouted caught his attention. Opening his left eye slightly, he saw Korra's technique and, more importantly, the way her students reacted to it.
Tenzin took a deep breath, for he recognized his brother's moves and their effectiveness. The air bending master fought off the feelings of difficult emotion and detached himself, though not easily.
"Alright, let's try again, slower." Korra resumed her earth bending, but slower and more manageable. Opal and the others still had some difficulty, but to Korra's growing pride, their evasion improved, and their air bending with it.
Opal used a burst of wind to leap over two rocks acrobatically while Otaku blew himself forward through a narrowing gap.
"Yes! Good! Good!" After thirty more minutes, the students panted heavily, but their success elevated them more than a cool drink of water.
"Well done, students. I'm very proud of you."
Korra heard a familiar clapping behind her, and judging by the looks on the students' faces, she knew what it meant.
"Well done, and Lin laughed when I told her you'd make a good teacher." Kya said with a very eager smile on her face as she approached Korra.
"Master." Korra said respectfully, bowing.
"Korra, it's been a month. You don't have to keep doing that."
"Sorry, force of habit. Students, that's enough for now."
"Yes, master." Opal said.
"What!? But we didn't get to air spheres!" Ikki whined.
"Ikki, we've been training for five hours. Take a break, have some lunch, then you can show the others how to make air spheres."
"But yours are so much better!" She pouted while stomping the ground.
"Come on, Ikki, Korra has to train too. See you at dinner." Opal said, taking Ikki by the shoulder.
"Oh, Ikki, always so eager to learn. Once, she asked if I could teach her water bending."
Korra sighed as she stared back at Republic City, a place she'd barely seen since arriving weeks earlier.
"She'd still do better than me." Korra sighed before feeling Kya smack her shoulder.
"Enough of that. No self-pity, Korra. We've talked about this."
"Right, let's do this!"
They went down to a small beach on the island's southern side and began very slowly moving a bit of water back and forth between each other.
"That's it, feel the water's changing form, don't try to force the energy, guide it." The water barely held itself together whenever Korra took control, but still, even this was better than anything she'd been able to do with water bending before Kya took over her training.
The older water bender still saw tense frustration in her pupil's face and demeanor.
"You'd very much like to shoot some fire now, wouldn't you?" Kya asked mockingly.
Korra tightened her fists for a moment, and the water came apart, at least until she relaxed and reformed it.
"Very good. We're getting your temper under control too."
Korra didn't answer, not wanting to give Kya the satisfaction. Despite how frustrating her new master's techniques were, Korra couldn't deny that they brought results.
Kya narrowed her eyes and, with a swift motion, bent a second bit of water from the ocean and crashed it into Korra's face knocking her down. Korra roared, breathing fire from her mouth and hands as the sand burnt to a crisp.
"Though I see we're clearly not there yet."
Korra sighed, slightly ashamed for once again failing to control her raw emotion. Kya offered her a hand, and she took it, the two women resuming their water movements.
"Water bending isn't like fire or earth bending. You must allow the energy to flow through you. This means being in control of yourself."
Kya moved through the water and bent it around her seemingly effortlessly as Korra watched with a longing gaze.
"And yet when I try that, I get soaked." She sighed, resting her head on both hands.
"That's because you still don't have full control over yourself, Korra." Kya said, placing a hand on the Avatar's shoulder and looked into her eyes with deep sincerity.
"This is about more than just your martial arts. It's your life. We've covered the forms, but it's only going to get you so far. Water bending will come when you have opened yourself up to change and allow yourself to truly be in control."
Korra gave a somewhat annoyed look.
"Great, because I haven't heard pretty words like that before. Seriously what am I supposed to do with that!?"
"You've made a start by becoming more patient with your students." Kya offered, easing Korra's expression slightly.
"As for further progress, I have a few ideas. Ones I think you'll like. But we'll get to that later. We have more work to do." Korra spent the next few hours training with Kya until her muscles ached. Usually, that feeling filled Korra with a sense of pride and accomplishment, yet after water bending, she only wondered if she really achieved anything.
"That's enough for now. I'll be back after dinner for our next training session."
Korra took a deep breath and tried to look strong.
"Alright, I'll have a light dinner and some coffee then." However, her expression changed when she saw Kya's smile widen while shaking her head.
"It's not training like we've been doing. However, I would recommend going light on dinner and having some coffee. I'll see you at seven-thirty, I've still got a few more days of making dinner, and Lin eats even more than you." Kya chuckled before departing.
Korra stretched her arms as she walked back through the temple with Naga beside her. As Korra continued, she heard a distinct sound coming from a gazebo where three White Lotus guards drank some coffee and watched a small brown box with moving pictures, a TV, Varrick's unique invention selling out across the world in record numbers.
"The Fire Nation's infamous Rough Rhinos have invaded the helpless Earth Nation village of Senlin! The people cry out for salvation, but the Avatar won't return for another twenty years! Wait, who's that coming over the horizon? He's shaking the very ground as he moves! It's Yuan Wen! The Hero of the Earth Kingdom!" Korra saw a few test tv shows made by Varrick but never had much interest in the strange contraption. She knew nothing on television was real, particularly shows like Yuan Wen.
However, as Korra passed the gazebo, Naga looked with interest at a bush behind the White Lotus Guards. Korra soon realized what caught Naga's attention and smirked as she saw Opal hiding behind the shrubs.
Opal blushed with a very excited look on her face as she watched the TV show and listened to the narration.
"Enjoying the show?" Korra whispered, now crouched down directly beside Opal with Naga.
The young air bender nearly yelped and leaped up, but Korra quickly held Opal down while covering her mouth.
"Shhh, Tenzin doesn't like you guys watching TV. I wouldn't want to get you in trouble." Korra said with a smirk as Opal sighed.
"I just really miss technology, is all. It reminds me of home." She said with a very evasive expression. Korra and Opal both looked at the flashing screen as it showed the character Yuan fighting off a group of very intimidating group of Fire Nation soldiers on Komodo Rhinos while a village cheered him on.
Korra recognized the actor from the TV show's posters across Republic City. He wasn't much older than Opal and perhaps even a year younger than Korra. But from what Korra saw, his earth bending was more than impressive, even if the fight itself was staged.
"His earth bendings not bad, but your grandmother would have a few pointers for him."
Korra glanced back at Opal, who looked lost in Yuan's fight. The Earth Bender fought shirtless with a very muscular body on full display. Korra noticed this as well, but she wasn't that interested.
"You know that Yuan Wen wasn't a real person."
Opal didn't seem to hear what Korra said and continued to gaze at him with enraptured eyes.
"I suppose he's real to you, though." Opal nearly yelped again, and Korra struggled not to laugh.
"I watch it for the plot!" She pleaded.
"Of course you do. He is rather handsome, though, don't you think."
Opal nearly trembled.
"I mean, he's not ungly."
"All that muscle. Imagine what it must feel like if you embraced him." Korra whispered in a certain tone. Opal's face turned so red it looked like steam might shoot from her ears.
"What do you think you're doing?" Korra, Opal, and Naga all grit their teeth before looking up at a frustrated Tenzin with his arms crossed.
"Master Tenzin, I-" Opal began with a terrified expression. However, Tenzin turned his gaze onto Korra.
"Why do you keep making this so difficult, Korra? I want my students to detach themselves from earthly distractions."
Korra rolled her eyes.
"That's your way of air bending. It's not the only way." Tenzin grit his teeth and struggled to maintain his composure.
"Just because some air benders aren't willing to preserve our ancient culture, which teeters on the brink of extinction, doesn't mean I have to sit by idly and watch the air nomad's ways die!"
Korra knew well he wasn't referring to her, and Opal trembled.
"Master, I'm sorry, I-"
"Opal, I'm not mad at you. We all make mistakes, go on, dinner is almost ready." Tenzin said in a calmer tone, and Opal walked off, leaving the air bending master with Korra as their exchanged fierce glares.
"Look, my students are learning air bending just as well as yours. The deal was I teach them air bending, not the ways of the air nomads themselves."
"I'd hoped you'd realize by now that bending and the cultures that gave birth to them cannot be separated. Though I suppose I shouldn't blame you, it's not how you were trained." Tenzin sighed.
"Fine, I suppose I can't ask you to live like this, nor make my students. All of them came here of their own free will...I just hoped." Tenzin lowered his head, and Korra felt a growing sympathy for him.
"Look, I'm sorry. I can't imagine how it must feel to have your civilization wiped off the earth and now see a way to restore it. I could-"
"No, it's fine. You're right. Opal and the others are learning air bending. You aren't a bad teacher." Korra slowly smiled.
"Your sister's helping me with that." Tenzin chuckled.
"It's ashamed Kya didn't become a teacher like mom. She's better than she realizes." The two began walking towards the dining hall. The sun began to set over Republic City, and the young Avatar gazed longingly at the great metropolis with orange light transcending over the horizon. She imagined the countless people living there, trapped in the violence between benders and non-benders, and felt an ever-growing sense of guilt that she lay secluded on Air Bender Island, unable to help them.
"Tenzin, how are things going in the city?" She asked cautiously. Tenzin sighed just as warily.
"Not good, I'm afraid. Amon and Tarrlok's war is escalating. The United Forces have had to break up two more battles this month alone." Korra thought back with shame to her own encounter with the Republic's military and how she'd only made the situation worse.
"What about the council?"
"Well, we've been doing our best. Kya says Lin's been working herself to death trying to keep the streets safe."
"I know." Korra said, nodding, her teaching mentioning that a few times. During one training session, Kya tried to have Korra use water bending to heal some of Lin's tense muscles, and it ended with the police chief angrily whipping chains at her.
"Councilman Raiko is pushing us towards executive reorganization."
"What?" Korra asked with growing intrigue.
"Well, he claims that the council is too divided on issues to effectively deal with the crisis. Some of us want to ease the tensions between the Benders and Equalists, and others want to crack down harsher and enact martial law. Raiko says the Republic needs a single leader with the power to resolve this mess."
"Let me guess, him." Korra said cynically, though Tenzin didn't seem to disagree.
"Oh, I'm sure he'll try. He's nothing if not ambitious."
"Maybe the Republic needs a single leader. Maybe a wise and humble air bender."
Tenzin sighed as Korra's smile widdened.
"That's very kind of you. But I wouldn't want that kind of power. Besides, I have too many responsibilities here, between rebuilding the air nation, raising three kids with a fourth on the way."
"It sounds like the city needs the Avatar." Korra said, her tone growing serious as she gazed back at Republic City. Tenzin placed his hand on her shoulder with a sympathetic look.
"Korra, I understand the weight you must feel. Being told your entire life that the world would look to you for hope, to restore balance. But you must be patient."
Korra lowered her head in shame.
"So I don't mess up like I did my first day."
"We all make mistakes, Korra. It's how we learn from them that defines us."
"How will I know when I'm ready?"
"You'll know. But you've also got Kya to help you with that." Korra's smile grew slightly.
"That's true."
An hour later, Korra finished dinner with Opal and her other students before noticing Kya enter the dining hall.
"Aunt Kya's back!" Ikki ran over from her table and into the water bender's arms, followed by Milo.
"There's my favorite niece and nephew."
"I'm your favorite!" Ikki shouted in glee as Kya winked at Jinora, who gave a slight smile towards her aunt.
"Sorry I interrupted your training today. But the Avatar needs to learn too."
"It's ok. Korra promised me she'd teach me tomorrow."
Kya turned to Korra, who nervously stared at what was left of her coffee. She'd eating lighter than usual per Kya's instruction, though the coffee helped ease her hunger a bit.
"Is that so? Do you think you'll have time for that, student?"
Pema chuckled slightly with Jinora, Kai, and Opal as Korra felt a nerve in her head twinge.
"I'll find the time. The Avatar keeps her promises."
"So do I. We have some special training tonight, it involves staying up much later than usual, so I hope my little brother doesn't have you getting up too early." Korra gave an exhausted expression as Opal giggled slightly.
Upon seeing this, Korra's face turned sinister.
"Master, do you think this type of training might be beneficial for air benders too?"
Opal didn't miss what Korra was getting at and froze, turning sharply to Kya.
"Well, I'm not an air bender, but I think it could be helpful to anyone."
"Yeah, especially someone who feels homesick away from technology." Korra's malevolent smile towards Opal grew, and the air bender's exhaustion overtook her.
"Wait, I shouldn't. Master Tenzin wants us to stay on the island!"
Tenzin looked over at Opal and then Kya.
"I don't suppose it could hurt for you to have a night away from the island. Air is the element of freedom."
Opal's face turned crestfallen, and Korra placed an arm around her shoulders.
A few minutes later, the two sat in a boat as Kya drove them towards Republic City, which glowed like a sea of stars at night.
Despite their fatigue, both young women became lost by the beauty of these lights.
"That never gets old for me either." Kya said, carefully splitting her attention between the bay and city.
"So what exactly is tonight's lesson, master?" Korra asked. Kya's smile grew as she turned the boat further to their left.
"Well, like I said. My methods won't always be traditional, and sometimes you learn by watching instead of doing. So tonight, I thought we'd watch a pro bending match."
Korra and Opal's mouths dropped when they saw the colossal stadium build on the water's edge. It gleamed as if made of gold with massive lights shining around it with hundreds of people trying to get inside.
The water-bending master smirked as she saw the looks on Korra and Opal's faces.
Once inside, Korra, Opal, and Kya sat in the center of an indoor stadium's western side, giving them a perfect view of the fighting stage. A massive hexagonal playing field split into two sides, one red and one blue, divided into three zones with ring ropes on the sides, but not the back. The platform itself rose up from a deep pool of water.
"And Duan Wu take a heavy hit, knocking him back to zone three." Korra watched in awe as a green disk made of earth crashed hard into a water bender's stomach, nearly hurling him off the back end.
Both teams had three players who wore protective padding, and each bent one element against the others as they tried to gain territory. Korra felt her adrenaline surge every time the benders clashed, or one team gained ground. Yet nothing beat the dramatic turn arounds.
"It seems the Eel Hounds are taking the fight to the Rhino Lions! Qiao Xiulan is giving her opponents more than they can take! She's stopping her water bending just short of hosing! Hold it, what's going on here!"
Korra stood up with dozens of others across the seating as the Rhino Lion Earth Bender bounced two disks off the ropes and blind-sided the Eel Hounds Fire and Earth benders. With their stances broken, both quickly flew backward from fire and water counter attacks.
Within another minute, the match ended with all three Eel Hounds sent into the pool below.
"That's it, folks! The Rhino Lion's come back for the win!"
"Yeah!" Korra shouted with so much excitement she accidentally fire bent a little.
Opal didn't quite share Korra's enthusiasm but still enjoyed the match with a growing smile.
"This is the greatest sport ever! I want to try it one day! Heck, maybe we could add air bending to it." Korra said, nudging her arm against Opal, who now grimaced in fear.
"I don't know, Korra. It looks kind of dangerous."
"Ha! This is nothing. I played for the Polar Bear Dogs when I was younger. Back then, we didn't wear protective pads. Things got really interesting." Kya chuckled.
The crowd cheered louder as the Rhino Lions came to the center stage and took in the applause.
"Best training session ever!" Korra declared.
"Well, we have a few minutes before the next match. Korra, go get us some food. Opal, do you want anything?" Kya asked as she handed Korra some money.
"I'm ok, thank you."
"I'll be quick!" Korra almost shouted. She sprung up and tried to force her way through a thick crowd of spectators moving about to use the bathroom or get some refreshments.
Korra's feeling of thrill from the last match made her forget all the stress of water bending difficulties and the Avatar's responsibilities. She didn't even mind waiting in line for food, which took longer than one might hope.
Eventually, Korra got her and Kya's food, but she accidentally bumped into someone, knocking all the food over as she made her way back.
"Ahh, watch it!" Korra grunted.
"Sorry, I-" Korra nearly froze in place, for she recognized the voice and looked up to see him, Lieutenant Daigo.
"You!" Both of them shouted while pointing at each other with fierce gazes. Lieutenant Daigo wasn't in uniform but a blue tunic.
"What are you doing here!?" Daigo watched Korra with an incredibly suspicious look and even bent up some spilled water as if ready to fight. Korra did the same, getting in a stance to use fire bending.
"I'm here to watch some pro-bending! I'm allowed to do that!" Korra growled very defensively, still remembering how Daigo detained her a month earlier.
Daigo narrowed his eyes and kept the water ready to defend himself.
"Is that the Avatar!?" Someone shouted
"I think it is!" A crowd gathered around them before harsh laughter caught Korra off guard.
"Daigo, you're not really trying to capture the Avatar again, are you!?" The young officer cringed as he glanced back at a few young men and women his age, all with military bearings and hairstyles. Each looked at him with amused expressions and continued laughing.
"Stay back everyone, Lieutenant Daigo here wants to cement his reputation as the man who captured the Avatar!"
"Please don't hurt him, Avatar! He's so young!"
Korra noticed with immense satisfaction as a nerve twinged in Daigo's forehead.
"Meet us back in the seats if you survive."
Daigo grit his teeth and glared back at Korra, who crossed her arms with a smug expression.
"This is all your fault!" He growled.
"It's all I've heard from almost every other officer on base for the last month!"
"Hmp, well, maybe you shouldn't have detained me then, Daigo."
"You were out of control! A dozen of my men went to the hospital because of your recklessness! I'd do it again!" Daigo proclaimed, louder than he intended.
"You arrested the Avatar!?" Someone shouted.
Daigo looked half-embarrassed, half infuriated when he saw the looks and heard the murmurs. Korra wanted to savor every moment of it, but the guilt of what happened a month ago made it difficult.
The young officer took a deep breath with a slightly defeated expression and dropped the water.
"Fine, but if you're going to be here, please don't cause any trouble. Look around. This is one of the only places in Republic City where benders and non-benders can enjoy themselves together. No hatred or division, just good entertainment."
Korra did as Daigo said and gazed around at the countless people around her. Only then did she realize he was right. Benders and non-benders chatted with each other like old friends, made bets, and shared food while cheering for their favorite teams. The only conflict came from disagreements over the game or players. Yet those who argued didn't divide themselves between benders and non-benders.
Korra's smile grew wider as a warm feeling filled her heart.
"Don't worry. I wouldn't do anything to mess up something so wonderful." The sincerity in Korra's voice seemed to convince Daigo, and he exhaled in relief while nodding.
"So, what are you doing here?" She asked with growing interest.
"I'm off duty. A few of us lower-ranked officers like to come here in our free time. Enlisted men and women sometimes come too."
"So you like pro-bending then." Daigo smiled with a growing passion.
"Of course, aside from bringing the city together, I love watching the strategies each team uses."
"Strategies?" Korra asked, slightly confused.
Daigo chuckled a little while shaking his head.
"Strategies, tactics, plans they use to gain an advantage and win the match. It's not just all about raw power and overpowering your opponent." Korra felt a bit sheepish as during the last few matches, she'd mostly focused on the individual battles rather than anything like Daigo talked about. Yet now that he mentioned it, Korra realized that it might've been something Kya wanted her to pick up on, given their talks earlier about being in control.
"Yeah, I knew that."
"Of course you did." The amusement in Daigo's voice grew.
"But since we're talking about it, why don't you explain it to me so I can make sure you've got it right." Korra said, trying to sound sure of herself, though Daigo easily saw through it.
"Very well. You noticed in the last match how Luo Bo took advantage of the other team's focus shifting away from him. The best teams don't just rely on their skills with bending but work together to maximize their capabilities. This is the basis of strategic thinking, particularly when it comes to warfare: surprise, security, concentration of force, economy of effort, flexibility, and co-operation."
Korra looked lost, and Daigo took a deep breath.
"Do you remember our battle with the Red Lotus and Equalists?"
"Hard to forget."
"Well, do you recall how my soldiers didn't just rush in but formed up in a shield wall." Korra thought back and realized he was right. She found it odd at the time but even more surprising in how effective it proved.
"Yeah, your men worked together and pushed the others back despite being outnumbered."
"Exactly! I prevented the enemy from singling out any of my men and allowed us to defeat the enemy in smaller groups. That was until you broke our formation, but this is in the past." He said, earning a slight glare for Korra.
"Anyway, when I watch a pro bending match, I try to study the strategies each team uses and learn from them. In one match, I saw the Badger Moles' fire bender unleash a barrage on all three opposing players. They weren't incredibly powerful, but he forced all attention onto himself long enough for his teammates to knock them out. They diverted an enemy's attention, forcing them to commit themselves where you want them to and free up forces elsewhere." Korra noticed a deep passion in Daigo's voice and expression as he lost himself in the strategic thinking.
Although she didn't personally have much interest in such topics, Korra found his sincere love for it a bit enticing and couldn't help but smile.
"Yeah, well, my master thinks I might be able to learn a thing or two about water bending from watching the match, I think-" Korra's face turned a bright red as she covered her mouth and anxiously looked up at a slightly confused Daigo.
"Learn something about water bending? Why would you?" His eyes went wide in understanding, for the Lieutenant recalled he hadn't seen her water bend at all during the battle a month ago.
"You, you can't water bend?" Korra sprung forward, frantically placing her hand over his mouth.
"Please! You can't tell anyone! After what happened in the streets, people already have little faith in me already, if they found out I can't bend my native element." Korra shuttered at the thought.
Daigo slowly nodded, moving Korra's hand from his mouth.
"I won't tell anyone if you promise not to cause any trouble here."
Korra sighed.
"I won't."
"Thank you. I should get back to my seat."
"Me too." Korra and Daio parted ways, both carefully glancing back, hoping the other wouldn't notice.
"There you are. The match is about to start." Kya said, quickly waving Korra to her seat.
"Sorry, I got a bit sidetracked."
"Is that where the food went?"
Korra's face turned slightly red in embarrassment again.
"Damn it!"
"Our match will pit the Hog Monkeys against the Fire Ferrets!" Two more teams took the stage, and Korra instantly knew which team was which, as a small fire ferret rode on one team's earth bender's shoulders.
He set his furry companion down and said something to him before the fire ferret began walking around on just his front legs.
"Awwww, it's so cute!" Opal nearly shouted while clasping her hands together.
Korra rolled her eyes, knowing Naga would likely try to eat the small creature if she had the chance.
After a minute, the two teams took their position, and the ref blew his whistle, starting the match.
"And we're off folks, brothers Mako and Bolin are fighting with their usual cohesiveness, putting the Hog Monkeys on the defensive right off the bat."
Korra's excitement returned as she watched the fire and earth bender from the Fire Ferrets coordinating their strikes precisely. As soon as one made an opening, the other went for it, pressing all three Hog Monkeys hard.
"Well, folks, if Hasook can take advantage of his teammates' pressure, this match might end early!"
"Man, those two are good!" Korra proclaimed before feeling Kya's hand on top of her head.
"Perhaps, but look at their water bender." She said, though still in a vibrant tone.
Korra and Opal did just that, both watching in horror as the young man water bent sloppily, not working in unison with his teammates and missing several opportunities to land a decisive blow.
"Come on, Hasook!" The Fire Ferret's fire bender shouted in frustration.
"Go, Mako! You've got them!
Korra heard people across the stadium cheering each bender's name, but something about the last one caught her attention.
She carefully looked around until seeing a private box not far from their seats. To Korra's utter shock, the young woman she encountered during the battle a month ago, the one who saved the little boy, sat there. She had similar excitement and enthusiasm in her expression as Korra, but not for the match itself, rather the fire bender on the Fire Ferrets.
Korra glanced at her and then Mako with interest.
The water bender continued his behavior until the bell rung, signaling the end of the round.
"Well folks, the Fire Ferrets all but had the match in the bag but failed to see it through. Let's see if what round two holds!"
Korra couldn't make out what they said but saw Mako arguing fiercely with Hasook as Bolin tried to calm his brother down.
"Oh no, they're fighting each other." Opal said, her face growing wary.
"It happens. I remember knocking Luo off myself once after she kept bumping into me." Kya chuckled.
Korra struggled to hold in laugher while Opal moved away, slightly frightened at the idea. Finally, the ref blew his whistle again, and both teams went at each other.
"The Hog Monkeys are on the offensive now as the Fire Ferret brothers try to hold their ground. But it looks like Hasook is acting on his own again, and the Hog Monkeys are making him pay for it."
The Fire Ferret water bender strayed further and further from his companions, eventually taking too many hits and flew off the back end.
"And there goes Hasook!"
Korra tightened her fist slightly. She didn't know why, but she wanted the Fire Ferrets to win. Maybe it was the fact that because they were now undermanned that they became the underdogs.
"Come on Fire Ferrets smash their heads off!" Korra roared, standing up a little.
"Aren't headshots against the rules?" Opal asked.
"Unfortunately." Kya sighed.
"Mako and Bolin are doing their best, but the Hog Monkeys are pressing their numerical advantage."
Korra felt her heart race faster and faster when she saw the water and earth benders from the Hog Monkeys push Bolin further and further from Mako.
"No! Get back beside him!" Korra barked out as if commanding him but to no avail.
Bolin groaned in pain when water and earth hit his chest, hurling him back into the water.
"And there goes Bolin! The Hog Monkeys only have to deal with Mako now."
Korra grit her teeth as Opal sighed in disappointment, as she too was rooting for the Fire Ferrets.
"Don't sit down yet, Korra. The match isn't over." Kya said with a growing smile.
"Mako, stay strong! Show them who you are!" The young woman screamed with a burning passion in her voice.
Korra's eyes widened slightly as she saw the sheer determination and willpower in Mako even from the seats. Despite being on his own, the fire bender unleashed a frenzy of continuous strikes with his hands and fists.
Fire flew into the Hog Monkey's faster than they could bend, and Mako's defiance began to push them back.
"Hold on, folks. It looks like Mako isn't going down without a fight!"
Mako spun himself on the ground, kicking his legs around and unleashing a wave of fire below the Hog Monkey water bender's blow. The stream of flames knocked all three Hog Monkey's off-balance, and Mako seized the moment. He leaped up and unleashed a heavier blast of fire, shattering an earth disk the Hog Monkey bent up, then continuing on to hurl him all the way into the water.
"Incredible folks!"
"Yes! That's it, baby!" The young woman screamed. Kya glanced over at her with an interested expression.
Korra hadn't heard the young woman this time. Mako's incredible counter-attack enraptured her and Opal. The rest of the crowd joined them with growing cheers as Mako kicked a ball of fire through the opposing fire bender's blast, sending him to a watery defeat.
"I don't believe it, ladies and gentlemen! We're down to one on one!"
Despite his fatigue building up, Mako kept the pressure on the Hog Monkey water bender, focusing on attacking him before he could bend a significant amount of water. Korra admired that kind of fighting, fire bending at its best.
She was so caught up in the thrill that Korra almost fire bent out of sheer excitement.
Fire a final effort, Mako slammed another wave of fire dead into the water bender's chest, sending him tumbling off the stage.
"That's it, folks! That's it! The Fire Ferrets have won in the greatest turn around I've ever seen!"
An uproar of applause filled the stadium, with Korra and Opal adding their voices.
"Not bad." Kya said. However, as the Fire Ferrets left the arena, she noticed another fight break out between them as Mako yelled at Hasook while Bolin tried desperately to calm them down again, but to no avail.
The water bender angrily hurled his helmet into the pool before storming off. Kya's smile grew as she looked at Korra.
"What do you two say about us meeting the Fire Ferrets?" Korra and Opal shot at her in disbelief.
"You can get us back there!?" Korra shouted.
"Probably not, but you can. After all, you're the Avatar." Kya said mischievously before guiding the two young women up.
Korra was somehow a bit surprised Kya's plan actually worked as the guards let them through immediately after seeing Korra fire and air bend. Opal shook a little with an increasingly anxious expression, for the Fire Ferret's locker room lay just ahead.
"Why are you so nervous? Your family runs the most prosperous city in the world. These are just athletes."
"I'm not nervous. Do I look nervous?" She muttered.
"Just relax, and enjoy yourself." Kya said. Opal took a deep breath and nodded.
"You're right. They're just athletes." In a moment of bravery, Opal stepped forward and knocked on the door first with a confident expression.
However, that confidence melted away into trembling bashfulness and terror when they saw who greeted them. Korra's mouth dropped when she saw none other than Yuan Wen with Bolin's fire ferret on his shoulder.
"Oh hi! We weren't expecting more company." He said in a very cheerful and almost laid-back tone.
"Ahhhh!" Opal stumbled backward, so overwhelmed by the situation that she couldn't stand.
Korra came forward to catch her, but Bolin frantically reached out and pulled Opal into his arms.
"Woah! Are you ok?" Opal felt Bolin's muscular arms around her, and steam finally shot from her ears. The young earth bender realized what he was doing and blushed slightly with a bashful expression.
"Sorry, I, uh didn't mean to, uh." He said, nervously trying to stand Opal up, but luckily Korra took over for him.
"You're Yuan Wen!" Korra shouted in disbelief.
"Oh yeah, that's me, well my name's Bolin actually. Yuan Wen is the character I play. Acting is my day job, but pro bending is my passion, right Pabu." Bolin said, stroking the fire ferret's cheek as it let out a soft sound.
Open's trembling got so bad that Korra felt herself shaking too. But despite this, she smirked.
"Maybe you can ask him about the show's plot. That's why you watch it right." Korra whispered into Opal's ear.
"Sorry to barge in on you, but we were interested in meeting the Fire Ferrets after your incredible win." Korra said.
"Oh, well, I can't take too much credit. Mako's the one who really won it for us. He's inside if you'd like to meet him, then again he's a little, well, indisposed." Bolin said, slightly embarrassed as he looked back inside.
"Well, if you're busy, that's fine. Being the Avatar, Korra here is pretty busy too." Kya said, patting her shoulder.
Bolin's mouth dropped, and his eyes went wide as he hunched forward, both arms dangling.
"Avatar, you're, you're the-" He stuttered.
Korra smiled slightly and bent up some earth before fire bending it into pieces.
"Ahhh! You are the Avatar! Oh my gosh, this is so exciting! I never thought I'd actually get to meet the legendary Avatar!"
"Opal's an air bender too." Kya added, pushing the young woman forward, despite her almost glowing red face.
"You're an air bender!" Opal couldn't muster words and simply nodded.
"Ahhh! This is the greatest day of my life! Mako, Asami! The Avatar and an air bender are here!" Bolin threw the door open, revealing two more young adults.
Korra recognized one as the young woman from earlier and the other as a tall young man with fair skin, black hair, tangerine eyes, and a very handsome face, Mako it had to be.
Korra, Opal, and Kya soon understood what Bolin meant by Mako being indisposed. For the three saw him and the young woman locked in a very passionate kiss.
"Gahh, Bolin!" Mako grunted when he and the young woman turned. However, she seemed looked shocked by the interruption and chuckled a little.
"Friends of yours, Bolin?" She asked before noticing Korra. Her eyes went wide, and all the happiness vanished into a harsh expression.
"Asami, she's the-"
"Avatar! I remember the battle a month ago! You almost killed that little boy!"
All eyes turned to Korra, who sighed deeply in shame.
"Glad to see you're doing ok." She said almost quietly.
"Oh right, that battle between the Equalists and Red Lotus you told us about, oh my gosh, you met the Avatar then!" Bolin shouted as Mako shook his head.
"What are you doing here?" The young woman asked with a tense expression.
"...We just wanted to come down and meet the Fire Ferrets. You guys were awesome out there tonight. I'm Korra. This is my master Kya and one of my air bending students, Opal."
"Hi." Opal said softly.
"Pretty impressive moves out there, though your footwork could use some tweaking." Kya said to Mako, who narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind."
"Mako, don't be rude. Avatar Korra, this is my big brother Mako and his girlfriend Asami." Bolin said, trying to calm the tension between them. However, it didn't seem to help.
Clearly, Asami hadn't forgiven Korra for almost crushing her and that little boy. As for Mako, his perception of Korra would've certainly followed his girlfriend's.
Bolin now stood on the side with Opal as the uncomfortable tension grew.
"Well, I clearly wouldn't make a good diplomat, do I, Pabu?" The fire ferret began sniffing at Opal with interest. After a minute, he jumped onto her shoulder. However, despite Opal's nerves, she remained calm.
"Aww, I think you made a new friend Pabu." He said, smiling as Opal giggled a little while stroking the fire ferret's cheek.
"He's so cute."
"Well, you can probably guess he's our mascot. Mako originally wanted to be the Rhino Lions, but that name was taken, and I convinced him Pabu could do tricks before we went on."
"I saw him." Opal said, still stroking Pabu's cheek.
"Hey, wait a second, where's your water bender?" Opal asked, much to Kya's relief, as she'd been eagerly waiting for this to be brought up.
"Yes, where is Hasook?" She asked, matter of factly.
Mako tightened his fist with growing resentment in the fire bender's face while Asami held his shoulder in support.
"He's gone." Mako growled.
"Gone?" Korra asked.
"Yeah, well Mako and Hasook got into another fight about Hasook not showing up to practices. Him making things harder during matches. You know, drama between friends." Bolin said, trying to sound nonchalant.
"He was a deadweight, never contributing, always making excuses. He's off the team."
"Wait a minute. You guys don't have a water bender anymore?" Korra asked with a bit of concern.
Mako and Bolin nodded, neither looking particularly happy.
"We still have time before our next match to find a replacement." Mako said, trying to sound confident.
"I don't know Mako, most of the good water benders will be on teams by now." Bolin retorted with a bit of anxiety.
"I'm sure we can find you guys a-" Asami started.
"Well, if it's a water bender you need, look no further." Kya grabbed Korra by the shoulder and pushed her forward.
"What!?" Korra, Asami, Mako, and Bolin all shouted at once.
"Korra loves pro bending, and you need a water bender. I think this is fate." Kya said confidently.
"Hold on. She's never even played before!" Mako almost shouted.
"She's a fast learner. I can help her learn the basics in no time."
"Kya-" Korra started with a frantic expression.
"Oh my gosh! This is amazing! We get to have the Avatar on our team! Mako, this could be our big break!" Bolin nearly squealed.
"She can't just-" Asami started.
"It's settled then. When do you practice?" Kya asked.
"Four, after our day jobs end." Bolin said eagerly.
"Perfect, she and Opal will be there."
"Me!" Opal almost gasped.
"Yes, I think you could learn a thing or two from practicing with them as well."
"No problem, you're more than welcome to hang around." Bolin said, making Opal's face turn bright red again.
Korra tried to speak, but Kya grabbed her and Opal by the shoulders before dragging them off.
"They'll see you both tomorrow!"
Bolin continued his enthusiastic gaze while Mako and Asami facepalmed.
"Kya! Are you insane! I can't join their team! I can barely move water!" Korra screamed after making sure the Fire Ferrets couldn't hear her.
Kya's smile didn't waver, and she narrowed her eyes at Korra.
"I told you my methods wouldn't be traditional. This is another way Korra."
"All I'm going to do is embarrass myself in front of countless people, ruin their reason, and reveal to all of Republic City that I can't water bend!" Korra held her head with a horrified expression. Republic City had little faith in her already after they discovered her inability to water bend-
"Korra, you have to trust me."
The Avatar sighed before noticing Opal's goofy smile as she thought about spending time with Bolin.
"...At least someone will get something out of this." She sighed.
The next day, Korra and Opal joined the brothers in the pre-bending arena's back training area for their allotted time.
"Alright, let's see what you've got, Korra." Mako said, trying to sound optimistic. The young Avatar took a deep breath, for her muscles already ached from a long day of training her air bending students and water bending lessons from Kya.
Still, she refused to show any weakness before Mako or Asami, who glanced at her from the corner. The young woman practiced with a fiber bow and arrow three moving training dummies on a conveyer belt while Korra did the same on another.
"Focus, be in control." She told herself. Korra tried desperately to appear competent as she lifted up small pieces of water from a pair of buckets and hurled them into two moving training dummies, hitting them in the chest.
Korra felt a rush of excitement and relief upon seeing her hard work finally paying off. The two collections of water she unleashed stayed together and obeyed her command reasonably well.
Korra began to move around as Kya taught her earlier how a pro bender water bender would.
"Well, what do you think?" Korra asked somewhat eagerly.
"That's really good for someone who's never pro bent before!" Bolin said. Asami rolled her eyes and unleashed another arrow.
Mako, however, watched Korra with a somewhat dubious look.
"Is everything ok?"
"Huh, what do you mean?" Korra asked, slightly nervously.
"You're only bending small amounts of water." Mako said with a hint of suspicion in his voice. Korra's stomach began knotting up tightly, particularly when Bolin and Asami turned on her.
"I, uh-" Korra nearly trembled.
"You haven't seen her really water bend. She doesn't want to damage the equipment." Opal answered for her.
Korra didn't miss a beat and nodded.
"Yeah, this equipment looks expensive. When I get into it, I bend water like a tsunami!" Korra lied in a desperate attempt to sound convincing.
"Woah, well, that makes sense, you being the Avatar." Bolin said. Mako, and Asami, however, still looked a bit skeptical.
"Ok, just watch it in the ring. The last thing we need is for you to get a hosing foul." Mako said.
Korra sighed a bit in relief but noticed Asami's suspicious expression all but burning a hole in her face. Still, the young Avatar tried to ignore this and turned back to Opal, who now stared at Bolin as he practiced his pro bending.
"Opal." Her voice almost made the air bender jump.
"Yes! Are we going to do some more training?" She asked, quickly turning to Korra when Bolin looked back her way.
Korra smirked as she glanced between the two.
"I've already taught you the techniques for today. I'd like you to keep refining them. Bolin, if you wouldn't mind helping her practice." Opal's face turned red, and even Bolin looked a bit bashful, stroking the back of his head.
"Well, I uh, I suppose I could. I mean, I'm not an air bender so uh-"
"It's fine. All I need you to do is earth bend some disks at her. Opal, use the techniques you learned today and avoid them all."
She trembled while looking at Bolin, whose face turned slightly red.
"Ummm, ok. I'll try not to hurt you."
"Don't go easy on her. She's tougher than she looks." Korra's smirk grew, and even Mako looked slightly amused when he saw his little-brother so flustered.
Bolin began bending earth disks at Opal, who evaded them with air bending techniques, including bursts of air to direct them away. Both started a bit slow but steadily increased as they grew more comfortable with each other.
Bolin watched Opal with awe, for he'd never seen movements like air bending before. She, too, grew very excited with her progress, bending more and more air before unleashing a powerful gust of wind directly into Bolin. This attack caught him off guard, and he yelped while spinning in the air before hitting the ground.
"Ahhh!" Opal frantically ran over with Pabu close beside her.
"I'm so sorry, I-" Opal knelt down beside Bolin, but he held a hand up.
"No, I'm ok. Air bending is just new to me."
Mako chuckled slightly and shook his head.
"So, you and Bolin are from a mixed parentage I take it. Fire bender and earth bender and all." He nodded, though Korra noticed a bit of pain in Mako's expression when she asked.
"Yeah, as far as we know."
"Korra, do you have a moment?" From the tone in Asami's voice, it wasn't a request but a command. Korra narrowed her eyes at the young woman and slowly walked over. Asami drew another arrow and masterfully unleashed it into the moving figure's head.
"Yes?" Korra asked, a defensive look on her face.
Asami didn't answer for a moment and continued her archery practice.
"I try not to judge people before I get to know them, but Zeng Ya also told me that people's actions reveal their character. So far, you've done little to convince me of yours."
Korra grit her teeth and struggled to contain growing anger in her body.
"Look, I'm sorry about what happened a month ago. I made a mistake, but I'm working to become a better Avatar. I want to help people, and I want to make a difference in this city."
"Well, if you're going to do that, maybe you should think before you act."
Korra tightened her fist.
"A month ago-"
"I'm not talking about a month ago. I'm talking about right now. You joined the Fire Ferrets despite clearly being a poor water bender." Asami lowered her voice so that Mako and Bolin couldn't hear, and Korra struggled not to tremble.
"I can water bend. You just saw me."
"I can see through you. What you did just now is all you can do, isn't it."
Korra's face contorted with guilt as she exhaled.
"My master thinks this will help me master water bending. I have to learn it to become a true Avatar."
Asami shook her head in disgust before scowling at Korra.
"Mako and Bolin have been through a lot. More than you could ever understand." The tone in Asami's voice held a familiar pain as Mako's.
"I-" Korra started.
"That's just it. It's not all about you, Korra. This is Mako and Bolin's passion, their dream. Don't destroy it for your sake."
Asami unleashed an arrow straight into the dummy's heart.
Korra wanted to retort but couldn't muster the words. Instead, she went back to practicing with Mako. Several days passed, and Korra pushed herself harder every day in a desperate attempt not to fail her new team.
Finally, her first match came, and Korra's heart raced faster than any car as an elevator took them up to the arena.
"This is so exciting! Our first match with Korra! I can't wait to see the look on the Zebra Frog's faces when they realize who they're up against!" Bolin shouted, bursting with excitement, both fists raised.
"Yeah, they won't know what hit them." Korra added. Doing her best to sound confident. Mako watched Korra with caution and donned his head protection.
"Introducing the Fire Ferrets!" Korra gazed in awe at the vast crowd around her. It was one thing to be among the crowd but another to stand before them. Hearing their cheers filled her with a mixture of anxiety and optimism.
"It seems the Fire Ferret's new replacement for Hasook is finally revealed. We're not sure who she is, but let's hope she can perform with the bending brothers."
Opal and Asami sat in a private box with Kya and Lin, who rolled her eyes in disinterest.
"I still don't know how you dragged me here, Kya."
"Come on. You're working too hard, Lin. Besides, you used to love watching me pro bend." Kya said in a warm tone as she kissed her wife's cheek. Lin's expression softened.
"Well, I enjoyed watching you."
Asami and Opal both watched the Fire Ferrets with different reactions. Opal was quite optimistic and excited to see Bolin perform, while Asami feared for the team.
"Asami, are you ok?" Opal asked. Asami gazed at Mako with a longing expression and sighed.
"Mako and Bolin have worked so hard for this. A win here would put them in the running for the finals, and now they have a rookie water bender on their team." Asami glared back at Kya, who didn't seem to care for her disdain.
"You should be thanking me, Asami. Korra's going to win this for them."
"If you say so, dear." Lin chuckled.
Opal looked back at Bolin and smiled.
"Asami, you've known Bolin for a while, right?"
She smiled at Opal.
"You could say that. He's very sweet, kind, and caring. I'd say he's a better person than Yuan Wen."
"Really?" She nearly shouted.
"Yes."
Elsewhere, Daigo sat with a few other off-duty officers and sergeants from the United Forces.
"I've got twenty Yuan on the Fire Ferrets."
"Ohh, you don't like money, do you, sarge. Lt Diago, you in?"
Daigo focused on Korra with disbelief.
"No, it can't be." He said.
Korra stood in line with Bolin and Mako as they faced the Zebra Frogs.
"You can do this. You can do this." Korra told herself as she exchanged a fierce gaze with the Zebra Frog water bender.
(xxx)
"Begin!"
Before Korra even knew what happened, the Zebra Frog fire bender thrust her hand at the Avatar, unleashed a burst of fire directly into her chest.
Korra grunted in pain as she stumbled backward, nearly crossing one of the lines.
"Ohh, Momoi goes right for the fresh meat, and it looks like her teammates are doing the same."
Korra felt her rage grow as water, earth, and fire came in an unrelenting fury. She desperately attempted to use Kya's training to avoid them while also bending as much water as possible to shield herself. Yet it proved insufficient, and she stumbled behind the first line.
"Come on, Korra!" Opal cried.
"The Zebra Frogs put all the pressure on the Fire Ferret's newest member, probably hoping to eliminate their weakest link, but the bending brothers come to her defense!"
Mako and Bolin furiously unleashed a barrage of fire and earth towards their foes. However, the Zebra Frog's water bender proved very skilled and managed to hold off their attacks as his teammates kept the pressure on Korra.
The young Avatar bent water as best she could, but it couldn't keep back the fire and earth unleashed upon her.
"The Zebra Frogs are showing her no mercy, and it appears she's struggling to water bend at all."
Opal and Asami heard murmurs spreading throughout the crowd, much to Asami's concern for the team. However, Lin noticed no fear in Kya's expression as she rested her head on her wife's shoulder.
Daigo watched Korra with increasing interest.
"No, it couldn't be. She couldn't."
"Who the Hell is this girl? Is she even a water bender?" One of his fellow soldiers asked.
Finally, the bell rung, ending the round,
"Well, it seems the Fire Ferrets catch a break. Let's see if this newcomer can stay alive!"
Korra joined Mako and Bolin, who both looked at her with concern.
"Ok, I know you don't want to get a hosing foul, but don't hold back that much!" Mako shouted. Korra grit her teeth and took a deep breath.
"I'm sorry."
"Sorry for what?" Bolin asked.
"What you saw is all I can do. I'm a terrible water bender."
Bolin went crestfallen while Mako face palmed.
"Countless Avatars, and we get the one who can't water bend!" He roared.
"Ok, we can do this. We're the Ferrets. Just do your best not to get knocked out." Bolin said, putting his hand on Korra's shoulder.
Korra saw the look of disappointment on Mako's face and took a deep breath.
"Begin round two!"
Korra's anxiety and frustration came to a breaking point as the Zebra Frog's fire and earth bender came at her relentlessly. Finally, when she saw the fire and earth come at her, she acted out of instinct and bent fire and earth in defense.
The entire stadium went silent while Asami covered her face and Opal grit her teeth.
Daigo sighed, his suspicions confirmed.
"Foul! I uh, I think." The ref muttered.
Korra gave a sheepish look as Mako shook his head and the Zebra Frogs dropped their mouths.
"I don't believe it. She's the Avatar folks!"
"Avatar!"
"No way!"
Korra's sense of angst overwhelmed her as she saw the looks coming at her.
"The Avatar will be allowed to continue so long as she only water bends!"
"What!?" The Zebra Frogs growled in contempt.
"Ok, it looks like the Avatar will stay, but it doesn't seem to be helping the Fire Ferrets!" Korra's meager water bending did little to help her as more fire and earth came in.
Finally, the Zebra Frog fire bender turned her attacks onto Mako and Bolin. This, along with the water, forced them back against the ropes, pinning them down while the fire bender split her attacks between Korra and the bending brothers.
"Ohh, this looks like the end for the Fire Ferrets!"
"No, no, no!" Asami tightened her grips on the railing.
"This is the Avatar?"
"Can she not water bend?"
"Daigo, did you see her water bend?"
Daigo ignored his companions and stared at Korra intensely as she struggled.
"Come on. You can do it." He said, not entirely sure why he was rooting for her so badly.
Korra heard more murmurs about her, the Avatar who couldn't water bend. Everything came apart. She failed Mako and Bolin, she failed Republic city.
However, just when Korra nearly broke down into tears when somehow, she saw Kya and Daigo in the crowd. The young Avatar felt her strength return with their words. Water bending was about controlling your opponents' energy, strategy, getting your opponents to do what you wanted them to.
Korra smiled and shifted her strategy. Rather than water bending, she began using air bending techniques without air bending itself. To the crowd and her opponents' amazement, every attack hit only air.
"What is this folks!?"
Kya's smile grew while Lin looked closer in interest.
"What is she doing?" Asami asked.
"She's air bending!" Opal exclaimed.
Every few moments, Korra bent water at one of her opponents, it didn't do much, but it did annoy then, just like she wanted.
"What's the matter, can't hit me!?" She exclaimed in a mocking tone, earning growls from all three Zebra Frogs.
"Folks, I've never seen anything like this before."
"What's her game?"
Daigo looked with disbelief as he saw the way Korra moved, her opponents unwittingly positioned themselves away from where they could keep the pressure on Mako and Bolin.
"She isn't. She couldn't be."
Kya hugged Lin tightly.
"Tenzin's right. I can teach."
Korra continued to evade the attacks when fire and earth bursts came from a now free Bolin and Mako. Both unleashed their full fury, Mako coming from the left and Bolin the right, diving beyond Korra.
"Folks, I've never seen anything like this before!"
"What is she doing?" Asami asked.
"She's water bending them." Kya answered.
"What is she doing?" An off-duty army officer asked.
"She's using strategy." Daigo finally began to smile in admiration.
Mako and Bolin forced their counterparts into the Zebra Frog water bender when Korra felt something in her, a sensation she'd never experienced before.
Utilizing the techniques she'd learned from Katara and Kya, Korra water bent as she'd never done before. It finally resembled what water bending should've looked like, a steady stream, large and in control.
The stream of water struck all three Zebra Frogs, hurling them into the pool below.
"It's over, folks! It's over! The Avatar has won it! The Fire Ferrets win!" Chants of disbelief and enthusiasm overcame the crowd as Korra trembled at what she'd just done.
"I, I water bent, for real."
"Oh yeah, girl, you're my hero!" Bolin cried as he lifted her up in his arms.
"Alright, not bad." Mako said, finally smiling with respect at Korra.
Daigo smiled.
"Well done, Avatar Korra."
Author's note
Yes sometimes I suggest music for certain scenes, totally optional.
In this version, Pro Bending is more of a hobby for Mako and Bolin and I wanted to integrate it to a more legitimate reason for Korra to play it.
I hope everyone enjoys my portrayal of the main characters and the decisions I made with them.
Please let me know what you guys thought and any recommendations you have/