Chapter 5: The Red Lotus
Korra gazed at the passing cars as they raced by her, Naga, and Kya, who sat behind her.
"Still not going to take Varrick up on his offer to buy you a car?"
Korra smiled down at Naga while stroking her head.
"What's the point when I have Naga. Unlike cars, she's loyal, fierce, and loving. Isn't that right." Korra said while Naga panted and barked.
"Hmp, maybe you're right. I always did like polar bear dogs growing up. Maybe I should get one for Lin and me."
"Hah, you think Lin is going to want a pet?"
"Just because she didn't want to adopt any kids doesn't mean I can't wear her down on this. Maybe if I start with something smaller, like a wolf."
"There you go." Korra laughed.
The sounds of passing cars soon became drowned out by ever-increasing jeers and shouting as they approached their destination, a massive factory with large walls surrounding it. Atop the entrance rested the words "Future Industries". A growing crowd of benders protested outside the gate, a few bending their respective element to further the point.
"Machines will not replace us! Machines will not replace us!"
Korra tightened her grips on Naga's reigns and braced herself as they passed through the crowd of protestors.
"The Avatar is here! Help us tear down these machines!"
"She's sided with the non-benders! I've seen her go inside before!"
"Benders first!"
Kya put her hand on Korra's shoulder with an encouraging look.
"Listen to what they say, but don't take it to heart."
"Listen to it?" Korra asked, a bit surprised.
"Yes, if you are going to act as a mediator, you have to understand their point to refute it."
When they reached the gate, a wall or rock rose up between them and the crowd. Five men and women in police-esk uniforms came out, two wearing electric gauntlets like the one Zhu Li had and the United Forces, two were clearly earth benders, and the third was none other than Mako.
"Morning Korra, Kya." He said with a smile.
"Morning Mako, the crowd looks bigger today." Korra said, glancing back at the protestors. The fire bender sighed while the earth benders lowered their barrier before those in the crowd could.
"I know, two days ago, me and the other benders among my security detail tried to explain that we're benders, but the crowd either ignored us or called us traitors to our kind."
"Really, the crowd protesting a non-bender for taking away benders' factory jobs were upset that said non-bender has benders working for him. Interesting." Kya said in a mocking tone.
Korra sighed. Supposing that the crowd only saw what they wanted to see.
"Well, best not delay then." Kya said as she got off Naga with Korra. A few minutes later, they both stood in an office over a man around Kya's age who sat with his shirt off.
Kya very medically used her water-bending over a series of deep burn scars over his stomach and chest.
"Ahhh. That's better than any medicine." He said. The man had graying hair, maroon eyes, a thick mustache, and a slightly plump body.
"I think you're becoming an addict to it." A middle-aged woman chuckled as she helped Asami sort out reports at her desk in the office.
"Alright, I think Korra's ready to try again, if you're ok with it, Mr. Sato?" Kya asked.
"By all means."
"Careful, dad, remember the last time she tried." Asami smirked at Korra, who fought back the urge to glare, knowing her friend was only teasing.
"Just remember what I taught you." Kya said while the Avatar took a deep breath. She slowly bent water onto Mr. Sato's burn marks and carefully utilized the healing technique. Asami watched closely, but to her relief, he still looked at ease, not as much as when Kya water bent, but enough.
The woman beside Asami, however, continued to watch Korra warily.
"That does feel good, thank you, Avatar Korra."
"You're paying them. You don't need to thank them." The woman said, shaking her head.
"It's polite, Zeng." Hiroshi Sato sat up, placing his suit jacket back on before taking out a stack of Yuan and handing it to Kya.
"Same time next week?" Hiroshi asked.
"If it works for you." Kya said, placing the money in her bag.
Moments later, a large rock burst through the window, nearly taking the entire frame off.
"Look out!"
Zeng grabbed Asami and held her to the ground, using herself as a shield for the young-woman. Korra instantly bent the rocks and forced them safely to the floor.
"Machines will not replace us! Machines will not replace us!"
Hiroshi hid behind his desk while Korra stood ready to stop any further projectiles. Moments later, the door burst open with Mako and two other security guards racing in.
"Is everyone ok!?" He shouted, turning to Asami and then Mr. Sato.
"We're fine." Asami grunted, feeling Zeng's firm grasp on her body.
"Call the police!" Zeng shouted, full of anger and resentment.
"No! They're busy enough already, Mako, do what you can."
"Yes, sir. Come on!" Mako raced back towards the gates with the other security personnel.
"Hiroshi, you need to take these bender protests more seriously. They're nothing but trouble!" Zeng growled.
Asami's father took a deep breath while adjusting his glasses.
"They're just scared and confused. Let Mako deal with them."
Korra, Asami, and Kya watched Mako and a dozen Future Industry security personnel race out into the protest, forcing them back.
"He's using the same technique he uses in pro-bending." Asami said with a passionate smile.
"Come on, Asami, you still have to talk to the floor, supervisors." Zeng said, pulling her away from the window and onto the factory floor.
"I'm sorry about Zeng. You know how she can be." Hiroshi sighed.
"A nanny will always be a nanny." Kya chuckled. Korra glanced at a few pictures on Hiroshi's desk. They showed him many years younger with a woman who greatly resembled Asami with a baby girl in her arms. Another photo showed Zeng holding the same baby in her arms.
"I'm sorry you have to deal with this, Hiroshi." Korra said,
"Perhaps it's my fault for insisting on modernizing our machinery. I tried to preserve as many bending jobs as I could."
"Honestly, the fact that benders are protesting you, Hiroshi, is just proof of their ignorance." Kya said with a supportive smile.
"I appreciate your words, Kya. I know some of my business partners disagree with me, though others like Varrick do. Goodman Varrick, if not a little eccentric."
"That's one way of putting it." Korra said, earning chuckles from Kya and Hiroshi.
"I'm sorry I couldn't see your quarter-finals pro-bending match last week. Asami says your water bending played a key role."
"It's improving." Kya said, smirking at her student.
"I can't take too much credit. Mako and Bolin are the real pro-benders."
"I won't deny that. They're good boys, both of them." Korra noticed growing emotion in Hiroshi's voice as he looked down at Mako.
"I didn't think a father would approve of his only daughter's boyfriend so much." Korra jested, though she soon regretted it after seeing a growing pain in Hiroshi's face. However, the businessman did his best to conceal it with a smile.
"I didn't think I would either. But as I said, Mako and Bolin are good boys. I'm happy Asami is with someone like him."
Korra remembered the conversation she had with Asami a few weeks earlier, just before her first pro-bending match. She'd known Mako and Bolin for almost two-months now but still didn't know much about their history. Neither brother, now Asami seemed comfortable talking about it.
"Mr. Sato, how did you and Asami first meet Mako and Bolin?"
He sighed, picking up a picture of Asami as a little girl.
"It was a few years ago. Mako and Bolin had a troubled past, Korra. A fire bender mugger killed their parents when they were but children." The Avatar's face nearly went pale as she looked down at Mako with newfound emotions.
"They were!?" From the pain and sympathy in Hiroshi's expression, plus his injury, Korra put a few more things together regarding him.
"Yes. The brothers were orphaned from a young age, left to beg for food before a triad took them in as teenagers. Three years ago, that same triad kidnapped Asami and tried to hold her for ransom."
"What!?" Korra almost shouted. Yet, any fear or resentment in Hiroshi's face vanished as he looked down at Mako tenderly as the fire bender cleared a path through the protesters, allowing a limo to drive in.
"I was never more scared in my life and was willing to pay anything for Asami's safety. But two days later, Mako and Bolin brought her to me safe, both severely injured by the triads when they freed my precious little girl. They didn't want a reward but saved Asami out of a sense of doing the right thing. That night, I decided to give them a chance to turn their lives around."
"And gave Mako a security job." Korra answered while Hiroshi smiled.
"Since then, he's been practically part of the family. I know this city is tearing itself apart between benders and non-benders. But between Mako, Bolin, and you two, I don't think I could ever hate benders."
Korra felt her heart soar, yet this sensation didn't last when the office door opened again. Another businessman with a completely different demeanor than Hiroshi entered.
"Hiroshi." He spoke while smoking a pipe in a very pretentious manner, not even acknowledging the benders as he took a seat near Mr. Sato's desk.
"Liao, good to see you." Hiroshi said in a friendly tone.
"I don't believe you've ever met my healer, Kya. She's the best water bender you'll ever meet." Hiroshi gestured his hand at Korra's master, who shrugged.
"Well, you've never met my mother, Hiroshi."
"You're a bender! Uhhg." Liao pushed himself away from Kya, a scornful look on his face. Korra narrowed her eyes at the businessman who turned his fearful/scornful expression onto her.
"She's not a bender, too, is she?"
"Yes, in fact, she's the Avatar. Korra-"
"Avatar! As in the worst bender of them all! Why would you invite such barbarity into your workplace Hiroshi!? It's bad enough you have benders on your security detail!"
Korra grit her teeth and felt both firsts tighten. She opened her mouth to speak, but Kya took her shoulder with a firm expression. Though she too struggled to hold back fierce emotions.
"Liao, I know how you feel about benders, but at least show the Avatar some respect."
"Hmp, if you're the Avatar, that means you can fire bend. I could use a new lite." He said, emphasizing the dying flame on his pipe.
Korra's eye twitched for a moment.
"Sure thing." She blasted the pipe into smoldering pieces with a burst of blue fire, making Liao jump out of his chair. Korra was sure Kya would scold her, but the water-bending master barely contained a burst of laughter. Even Hiroshi looked a bit amused.
"Oops, sorry." Korra said, shrugging. Liao glared at her and Kya with pure hatred.
"Honestly, Hiroshi, this is why you shouldn't work with benders. They're dangerous, and fire benders are the worst! The fact that you let your daughter date one and have him as your chief of security after what one did to you and Yasuko-"
Korra's eyes shot to Hiroshi, who struggled to keep in a rush of tears. Yet the businessman slammed his fist onto the desk while glaring at Liao.
"A bad man did that. He would have done it whether he was a fire bender or not! Mako is nothing like him, nor is any other bender in my service." Hiroshi stood up and emphasized a number of benders in the plant.
Though not nearly as many as there would be in a plant using bender-operated furnaces and machinery. A dozen metal benders still shaped steel into particular forms, while water benders acted as medics for any hurt employees, and fire benders worked alongside the non-benders doing ordinary work. Korra also noticed with interest a few metallic suits in humanoid shapes moving about as fork lifts helping to move heavy crates and machinery.
"Just because my machinery can do things benders could doesn't mean they don't have a place in the industry. Varrick understands this. It's why our companies are doing better than yours!" Korra and Kya both smiled a bit while Liao sneered.
"For now. Don't forget I came here to talk about a business venture for us both, Hiroshi. Sure they can do some odd jobs and provide good entertainment with Pro Bending, but we both know there's no place for benders in the future, and despite all your preaching, they still hate you!" Not a moment later, another few rocks burst through the window, making Liao yelp before jumping behind Hiroshi.
"You see!"
Asami's father sighed as he, Korra, and Asami looked outside. Despite Mako's best efforts, he and the other security guards were overwhelmed by the crowd of bender protestors, now doubled in size.
Hiroshi sighed, sounding exhausted.
"Maybe I should call the police." Korra felt herself shake a little as she looked out at the mob and saw the burning hatred in their faces. Yet through all the feelings of shame and helplessness, Korra remembered the progress she'd made and, with a determined look, shook her head.
"No, I'll stop them." She said in a determined tone.
Kya, Hiroshi, and Liao looked at her with varying expressions of interest.
"You're just going to make things worse like you did a few months ago!" Liao shouted, full of disdain.
"No, she won't." Kya said, smiling. Despite the fear in her stomach, Korra made her way down to the gate, noticing Asami among Mako and his security guards.
"Are you crazy! Get inside!" Zeng frantically pulled on Asami's arm as Mako vigilantly watched the crowd, both hands up.
"She might be right. I have a bad feeling about this."
"This is my family's company. I want to face them." Asami said, only then noticing Korra approaching with Kya.
"Let me. I'll sort this out."
"Korra, are you sure. They aren't exactly in a talking mood." Mako said, unleashing a few bursts of fire at rocks, and water bent in at then.
Korra used air bending to push the rest away and nodded, hiding the overwhelming fear inside her.
"I'm sure." Naga nuzzled the side of Korra's head while Kya nodded.
"You can do this." Mako and Asami joined the water bending master with similar looks of reassurance.
"You can do this." Another familiar voice said. Taking a deep breath, Korra forced the crowd back a little and raised herself up on a large stone platform so all in the protest could see.
"Listen to me!" Korra used air bending to enhance her voice, silencing the entire assembly.
"My name is Avatar Korra, though I'm sure most of you know that by now. Some of you might even hate that I'm not with you!" The expressions throughout the crowd confirmed this, but Korra didn't let it slow her down.
"I understand that all of you feel angry, confused, scared by the changes in the world. Before machines came along, bending gave us all something others didn't have. It made us feel special, gifted, irreplaceable. Now you look at men like Hiroshi Sato, and you think he's trying to create a world without you, but that's not true! If you'd let go of your hatred and open your eyes, you'd see the opposite!" Korra emphasized Mako and the other bender security guards.
"Just because benders aren't doing what we did before doesn't mean there isn't a place for us! Look at what you're doing. You're not just protesting non-benders; you're protesting benders too!" The crowd gazed inside the gates at many employees who trembled before the mob. Some earth bending up barriers to protect themselves and their fellow employees.
The protestors' collective demeanor changed drastically.
"Change is inevitable, but it doesn't have to be all bad. Men like Hiroshi Sato are making the future better for everyone! Instead of trying to cling to the past, look to a better future! You all have skills and talents. Bending gives you countless opportunities for yourself and others. Use them, demand others to do it for you!"
Korra waited patiently, and to her delight, the chants and jeers didn't return. Slowly but surely, the crowd began to disperse, save a few unsavory individuals who stared at Korra intensely before departing.
"She did it!" A security guard shouted in immense relief at the protest's departure.
"Alright, Korra!" Mako and Asami shouted, aided by Naga's gleeful barks.
Korra herself trembled at what she'd just done, almost unable to believe it worked. She'd successfully mediated a conflict without violence.
"Well done." Kya said, immense pride in her voice as she wrapped an arm around Korra's shoulder.
"Just don't get too cocky. It won't always turn out that well."
Another two rather uneventful days passed. Korra did her usual routine of teaching air bending, training with Kya, and practicing pro-bending. However, she still felt the excitement of her first real success as the Avatar and rode through the streets with a sense of purpose.
"Someone's in a good mood." Kya chuckled while sitting behind her.
"Well, things are looking up, master. My water bending is improving, I have friends, our team is in the semi-finals, Opal and Bolin are spending more time together, and I'm finally starting to feel like the Avatar." Korra's face beamed with more life than Kya had seen since she arrived months earlier.
"I agree, which is why I talked to Lin, and she agreed to let me test you again." Kya's tone and expression were both intriguing and a bit frightening.
"Master?" The sound of police sirens and rumbling in the streets ahead of them made Korra tremble.
"No, you couldn't mean." Naga reluctantly followed the sirens, eventually reaching a police and United Forces barricade trying to contain a massive battle in the streets ahead and evacuate any civilians they could.
Korra's trembling became overwhelming as she began to have flashbacks to her first day in Republic City.
"No! No! Master I-" Kya took Korra by the arm and led her into the staging area. Well over three hundred police and soldiers readied themselves for battle when they saw Korra walk among them. As Korra expected, many looked wary of her. However, ironically the only soldiers who seemed fine with her presence were Diago's, most of whom she recognized.
Korra felt the uncontrollable anxiety plaguing her lessen for a moment when she saw the Lieutenant at a planning table with Lin. Two other army officers stood with them, a man of mixed fire and earth-nation descent with golden captain epaulets on his red variant of United Forces officer jacket and Colonel Kuvira.
Seeing Kuvira instantly robbed Korra of any sense of ease Diago gave her. Still, the Avatar mustered her courage and followed Kya to them.
"Because I'm not risking my soldiers' lives until I'm certain-" Kuvira growled at Lin, the two women exchanging fiery glares before Diago noticed the new arrivals.
"Korra." A growing sense of enthusiasm in his voice upon seeing her.
"Diago." Korra replied, trying not to sound bashful. Kuvira silenced the Avatar with her steel gaze before turning back to Lin.
"You really did bring her here after what happened three months ago?" Korra felt her stomach tighten, but she worked hard to appear confident before Kuvira. Lin gazed upon Korra with a somewhat assured expression.
"She's made some mistakes, but let's not forget her actions two weeks ago at the warehouse. If you don't believe me, just as your Lieutenant, the one you ordered to watch over her." Lin smirked at Diago as Kuvira, and the Captain turned to him.
Despite the Colonel's imposing presence, Diago didn't falter. From the look in his eyes, Korra experienced another moment of warmth.
"She showed incredible self-restraint during the battle, even when dozens of civilians were in her path. Korra only harmed the Equalist combatants and even cleared several crowd members from danger." Kuvira narrowed her eyes at Diago as if wanting a different answer out of him.
"Lieutenant, she almost killed you and a dozen of your men once. Are you telling me you trust her to help us here?"
"Yes, ma'am." He said without a hint of hesitation in his voice. Seeing the trust and faith in Diago, Kya, and even Lin calmed all of Korra's anxiety and filled her with a sense of determination.
"I made a mistake then. It won't happen this time. Let me protect the people of this city. It's my duty, just like yours, Colonel." Kuvira stared Korra down for several moments before turning back to Lin.
"If she causes more harm than good, I'll bury you for it, Beifong." She growled. Lin, however, smirked and patted Kuvira's shoulder.
"Is that any way to talk to your future aunt?"
Korra's mouth dropped open with a baffled look.
"What!?"
"Awww, Opal hasn't told you yet. Baatar Jr. recently proposed to Kuvira here, and she said yes."
Korra's dumbfound expression turned almost crestfallen. She knew Baatar Jr. had a history with Kuvira, but never would've guessed the nature of their relationship.
"She didn't tell her because my fiance and my personal life is none of the Avatar's concern. Now then, if you're going to join us, you will do exactly what we say, am I understood?!"
"Yes, Colonel."
"Good. Now, to others who may act recklessly, I also want to make it clear this is a military operation, which means I am in charge." Kuvira turned her terror onto Lin, who remained firm.
"I'm here to do my job, Kuvira, not get in a pissing match with you. So let's make a plan and get moving before this battle escalates!"
"Very well." Kuvira pointed to a detailed map of the streets marked with each faction's positions.
"We attack from two directions, putting pressure on both their flanks while they're still fighting each other. Captain Tsuneari and I will hit the Equalists on the left with his company while Lieutenant Diago leads his platoon alongside your police against the Red Lotus."
Kuvira laid out the order of battle while Tsuneari, Diago, and Lin added their thoughts. Korra made one or two suggestions herself, yet Kya remained silent.
"Any more questions?" Kuvira asked, more specifically to Korra and Kya.
"Nope." Kya said a cocky smile on her face. Kuvira narrowed her eyes at Korra again.
"Lieutenant, what I said to Chief Beifong applies to you as well. The Avatar is your responsibility, and I'll hold you accountable for her mistakes."
"Yes, ma'am." Diago turned to sergeant Xinyue.
"Round up the troops."
"Yes, sir. Fourth platoon, form up!"
"Officers, on me!" Lin shouted. She and Diago explained the plan to their respective forces. From there, the soldiers similarly assembled themselves to the shield-wall Korra saw them in months earlier with three tanks behind them.
Korra herself sat on Naga's back beside Diago on his ostrich horse, carefully glancing back at him a few times. Despite the cloth covering his mouth, a hint of angst lingered in the Lieutenant's eyes. Yet as Korra looked closer, she saw it wasn't for himself but his men.
"You really think I deserve another chance at this?" She asked.
"Well, you might fail, just like I might, or Colonel Kuvira might. But after everything I've seen, you deserve the opportunity to try again." Korra grinned while looking ahead at the Red Lotus combatants.
"Well, I certainly wouldn't want to disappoint Colonel Kuvira." Diago, Lin, and Kya smiled back at her.
"Come on then, let's do this!" The police chief roared.
"Advance!" Diago ordered. His tanks opened up with blasts of fire while earth benders sent moving pillars of stone alongside them. These attacks scattered several Red Lotus benders in the street ahead, clearing the way for Diago's phalanx to march forward.
Despite a deep longing to rush into the melee, Korra remained back with Diago, Kya, and Lin. Alongside the other benders in Diago's platoon, they focused on preventing the various Red Lotus benders from breaking the shield wall or delivering precise blows to pin them down.
"Move in, now!" Lin shouted, bending metal and earth up as a barrier between the extremists and several frightened civilians trapped in the streets.
"Go go go!" Metal bender police grappled across the sides of buildings, ensnaring the innocents in their chains before pulling them to safety. Korra heard Naga groan in irritation. Like Korra, she longed to maul the Red Lotus as they tore up the streets and any Equalists they could find.
"Easy girl, fighting like this is much safer for everyone." Korra assured Naga while bending bursts of fire and air from her back. So far, the plan worked out well.
Bending from Korra and the others scattered or dispatched several Red Lotus fighters, allowing the non-bender soldiers to hem them in with their shields and electric spears. With each step closer, more and more of the blasts struck a Red Lotus combatant, allowing Lin's police to clear out the civilians.
Korra felt her enthusiasm grow the further they advanced. She was actually helping people and performing her duty as the Avatar in a way that didn't bring collateral damage.
Yet this excitement turned to dread when she saw a familiar figure reveal herself further down the street.
"Look out!" Korra furiously air bent three policemen out of the way while Diago and Kya bent a pair of water blades upwards, away from their intended targets.
Ming Hau moved to the front of her fighters, the sadistic expression on her face no different than before. That was until she saw Korra and took a step back. The young Avatar noticed a subtle change in her demeanor and soon remembered why.
Korra stood up and raised her fingers at Ming Hau with a confident smile.
"So you remember me, I'm flattered. Drop your water arms, or this time I'll fry you to a crisp!" Despite almost being hit by Korra's lightning last time, Diago found her threat a bit amusing. Many of his soldiers, having remembered Korra shocking Ming Hau into submission, chuckled.
Kya, however, stayed incredibly vigilant, gritting her teeth while facing the armless water bender. Lin glanced at her wife with concern before feeling something else with her earth bending and turned slightly pale.
"Oh no!"
Ming Hau's fear vanished, returning to a sadistic pleasure that unsettled Korra.
"Someone's going to fry."
"Look out!" Lin furiously bent a massive crevice between their forces and the Red Lotus moments before the ground literally erupted into lava. Lin's actions saved several soldiers and police, yet Diago and three of his water benders still had to bend every bit of water they had into the liquid rock to keep it from spreading.
Another Red Lotus juggernaut revealed himself, leaping up and over Ming Hau. The man was tall and broad-shouldered with extremely long black hair.
"So this is the Avatar? Huh, she doesn't look as tough as you made her out to be." He chuckled.
"Say that when she's filling you with lightning, Ghazan." Ming Hau growled.
"She won't get the chance." Korra's eyes widened. Ghazan looked like he was earth bending, but more lava shot up instead of rocks, coming right at them.
She furiously bent up a wall of stone alongside Lin and Diago's earth bender soldiers. Yet more lava burst through, followed by razor-sharp water from Ming Hau and various other blows from the lesser Red Lotus members.
"Pull back!" Diago roared, feeling the lava's unbearable heat press against them worse than any inferno.
The soldiers and police retreated, taking the civilians with them. However, two Red Lotus Earth benders bent up some stone to pin a tank in place as the lava came closer.
Furiously, Lin bent the tank open alongside the metal bender driver, allowing all three crewmen to escape just in time.
"Lin above you!" Kya shrieked. The police chief looked up at a wave of lava rising up and over them. She bent up the half-melted tank, slowing the lava enough for three water bending soldiers to solidify Ghazan's lava.
Ming Hau rode on her water waves like a surfer, leaping through the air with water blade arms ready to slice Lin in half. However, Kya shielded her wife at the last moment, forcing Ming Hau's arms away, but for a moment only.
Korra noticed deep resentment in both women who stood inches from each other. Ming Hau said something to Kya before the two began a tenacious battle soon joined by Ghazan and Lin.
Korra readied herself to aid her master when Naga whined and motioned towards another direction, a family of five trapped under a half-collapsed building with lava closing in on them.
Several of Diago and Lin's men attempted to help them, but the Red Lotus counter-attack bogged them down, particularly with the lava breaking up their formation.
Korra felt sweat grow on her back for a moment before coming to a harsh realization.
"What am I doing!? Come on, Naga!" Korra raced past the fights, Naga knocking over several Red Lotus combatants as she did so.
"Hold on!" Korra declared, earth bending canals into the road that lead Ghazan's lava away. From there, she sliced through the debris with water bending, careful to damage enough of the rubble to create an escape and not bring the rest of the building down.
Each cut made Korra tense up, for the building's frame began to shift every time she did so. The couple and their children trembled while embracing each other, knowing well that one mistake on Korra's part would end them.
"It's going to be ok, I promise!" As Korra worked, Naga furiously attacked any nearby Red Lotus member that tried to attack her in the back. Yet even, she couldn't stop them all.
Korra felt the familiar sensation of fire as it came within inches of the back of her head. Yet all that came was minor discomfort from heat and steam.
Korra glanced back for a moment and saw Diago standing there with his Platoon Sergeant and two other non-bender soldiers.
"We've got this, don't worry!" Diago assured her, bending his water around the fire bender's leg and hurling him into an earth bender.
Sergeant Xinyue and her men closed each unleashed an electrified blast with their spears and gauntlets, two managing to hit their marks, disabling the benders. The others staggered away, desperate to avoid the electricity or block Diago's attacks. With the Lieutenant's water bending drawing their attention, Sergeant Xinyue and her fellow non-benders brought the Red Lotus gangsters down.
Korra calmed her mind, focusing solely on controlling the water she wielded. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, an opening formed without collapsing the building.
"Alright, one at a time, and stay still." Korra used air bending to guide each of the children out and into the air, where a metal bending policewoman on a stable rooftop quickly pulled them to safety with her chains.
Eventually, Korra got the entire family to safety and saw them glance back at her in gratitude that served as an utter reversal of her first battle in Republic city. However, the policewoman quickly pulled them away from the battle, allowing Korra to shift her focus onto the Red Lotus, backing up Diago with several powerful bursts of blue fire.
Korra's adrenaline spiked again, and she worked hard to control herself, hoping to help her master and Lin soon. Yet just when Korra readied herself to move, she, Diago, and his nearby soldiers all flew in different directions after another form of bending struck them, one they never saw coming, air.
Korra just managed to flip herself up with air bending when she saw another man soar over and place himself between her and Kya. He had fair skin, a clean-shaven head, and wore a gray tunic. However, what disturbed Korra more than anything was his gliding staff, the same kind air benders used.
"Air bender!?" She muttered.
The man spun his staff around and unleashed a powerful gust of wind, hurling Diago and his three soldiers off their feet while Korra struggled to keep herself grounded with earth bending.
"Avatar Korra, surrender yourself, or watch these soldiers die." The air bender spoke in a strangely calm and almost comforting voice despite his death threat.
"You're going to kill them with air bending?" Korra wanted to chuckle, but something about the fact that he was an air bender felt off-putting. Had one of Tenzin's students gone rogue and joined the Red Lotus? It was the only explanation she could think of. Yet as the man readied himself, Korra looked closer and realized someone else approached them from behind, their reflection glistening in his eyes.
Diago and Korra looked back at a fair-skinned woman with dark-brown hair shaved at the sides, red eyes, and a muscular physique. However, what stuck out above anything else was an unnatural eye sitting in the center of her forehead. At first, Korra thought it might've been a tatoo, but at that moment, she experienced a flashback to one of her past lives.
Korra saw herself as a young Aang in the Fire Nation, fleeing alongside his companions from a bald man with the same eye on his forehead. When the rest of the memory played out, Korra's breath nearly vanished.
The woman gave a look of immense pleasure while breathing in through her nose. The young Avatar didn't even wait to speak, hurling Diago and the others aside with air bending before leaping up herself. A strange cracking noise followed, and the ground beneath Korra exploded in a fiery blaze.
"Get her, Zaheer!" The woman screamed. The air bender leaped up and hurled Korra back to the ground, though she cushioned her impact with an air sphere.
Zaheer readied himself to unleash a gust into the Avatar, only to grunt when a powerful jet of water hurled him against a building side. Diago furiously attempted to follow this up with another, but Zaheer quickly regained himself and avoided the blow, coming back to knock the Lieutenant off-balance with the wind.
"What the hell is she!?" Xinyue shouted.
"Damned if I know, just stay mobile!" Diago shouted.
Korra furiously began unleashed bursts of fire and earth at the woman who evaded the fire and unleashed more explosive fire-bending from her center eye into the rocks, annihilating them. Sergeant Xinyue and the two non-benders attempted to flank her, but when Korra saw the fire bender turn to them, she furiously pulled them back with air bending.
The action saved their lives as an explosion engulfed where they'd been. Yet had Korra not done so, she could've easily struck her foe with lightning, potentially ending the fight. However, this thought didn't even cross the Avatar's mind, instead focusing only on saving her companions.
"Get back. She'll kill you!" Korra shouted at the soldiers. Xinyue and her two men shook, but the sergeant still tried to get up.
"We, we have to help you."
"No, help my master and chief Beifong!" The three did as she said, and Korra began air bending, hoping to get the woman off her feet. Yet, the fire bender unleashed another explosion that blew through the wind, Korra herself narrowly avoiding the blast.
"Behind you!" Diago cried, Korra felt another burst of air strike her back. Korra grunted, crashing against the hard pavement with immense pain. The fire bender's smile grew, and she inhaled, just about to blast Korra when a jet of water struck her chest hard, hurling the woman into a wall, her blast flying off aimlessly into the sky. Diago readied himself to hit her again when Zaheer landed behind him.
.
"You're going to regret that." The soldier tried to slash Zaheer when suddenly his vision grew blurry. The air bender was bending a sphere of air around his head, making it impossible for him to breathe.
"You think you can change the natural order of this world. You believe you can prop up machines and weak men to take bender's proper place in society. But I will show you what a true gift bending is, like the very air you breathe."
Diago's heart slowed with true terror when he saw Zaheer begin to bend the air out of his lungs. The muscles in his body seizing up in unrelenting pain.
Korra's eyes went wide in terror.
"No!" She unleashed nothing short of a controlled hurricane that picked Zaheer up and hurled him far into the sky.
Diago violently coughed, desperately trying to regain his breath. However, Korra's intervention came at a cost, for she barely managed to avoid another explosion, feeling the flames and shrapnel synge parts of her right arm.
"Ahh!" Korra shrieked in pain, landing hard on the ground.
The fire bender inhaled once more, but as the concussive blast flew out, a shield of ice formed in front of Korra, absorbing the explosion. Zaheer came back down, trying to pin the Avatar in place, but Diago ensnared his right foot with water and hurled him into the fire bender.
"Korra, are you alright!?" Diago sprinted over and used water bending to heal the worst of her injuries.
She exhaled in relief before nodding. Upon getting up, Korra noticed bits of ice around the street, Diago realizing the same thing.
"The blasts are coming from that eye. You don't think?" Korra asked.
"It's worth a try!" Diago began bending large jets of water at the woman, who now got up with Zaheer.
"Burn!" She snarled, unleashing another blast into the water, sending it in every direction. However, Zaheer noticed that as small rocks also flew with the liquid, a few landing near them.
Korra smiled and quickly bent one of the small rocks, striking the fire bender in her third-eye. Just as they hoped, the woman yelped in terrible pain, stumbling about with an enraged look.
She inhaled again. However, this time looking slightly disoriented. Zaheer's eyes widened in terror.
"P'li, no!" The woman tried to use her unique bending, but Korra and Diago saw the concussion spark around her face, and the explosion hurled both benders backward.
Diago and Korra covered their faces for a moment but quickly rushed forward, blowing away the smoke. Unfortunately, their enemies weren't there. Zaheer revealed himself on a rooftop, injured but still standing with a groaning P'li in his arms.
Nearby, Kya and Lin managed to combine their bending, striking Ghazan and Ming Hau across the street. The air bender narrowed his eyes at Korra.
"We will meet again, Avatar. Sooner than you realize." With that, he all but vanished into the wind, Ming Hau and Ghazan doing the same. The few Red Lotus combatants still standing tried to flee, but only a handful managed to.
With that, Korra exhaled, an immense weight lifted from her shoulders.
"Thanks for what you did back there. You saved my life." Diago said, sounding slightly nervous as he spoke. Korra smirked, shaking her head.
"You saved mine too. I'd say we're even."
Diago looked over at his sergeant and the two soldiers with her, all three holding captured Red Lotus gangsters down.
"You also saved a lot of good people today."
"Yes, you did." Kya's warm arms wrapped tightly around Korra from behind.
"I knew you could do it! Avatar Korra's first successful battle!"
Nearby, Lin nodded. A look of pride and approval in the chief's face Korra never imagined her capable of.
"Well done, Avatar!"
"That was incredible!"
"You saved our lives!" Praise from the soldiers and police who once looked upon her with fear and resentment filled Korra with such passionate emotions, she nearly teared up. The memories of her first day in Republic City all but vanishing.
A few minutes later, she rested alongside Xinyue and a few other soldiers while fresh aid workers and police began clearing the streets of debris and aiding the wounded.
Korra offered to help, but Xinyue and Kya assured her she'd done enough. Most of the troops and police involved in the fighting similarly rested, all exhausted from the battle's ferocity. Korra, too experienced immense fatigue.
She chuckled a little while glancing over at Kya, who'd fallen asleep in Lin's lap, the police chief tenderly caressing her wife's hair as she slept.
Nearby, Diago and Captain Tsuneari spoke with Kuvira. She and Tsuneari's appearances mirroring the other soldiers with sweat and debris covering them.
As Diago gave his report, Kuvira glanced over at the Avatar several times, though the intensity of her gaze seemed to lessen each time as she heard more from her Lieutenant. Finally, Diago saluted the Colonel, who saluted back.
With this, he went over to a nearby table and then sat beside Korra, offering her a cup of coffee.
"Thanks!" Korra quickly seized the beverage and drank it so far she nearly burned her tongue.
"So was Kuvira pleased with my performance?"
"She didn't say much, so yes, I think she was." He smirked with his platoon sergeant.
"She's one to give many compliments." Xinyue said.
"Except when you make her good coffee." Diago added, nearly making Korra choke on her drink in amusement while the nearby soldiers laughed.
"Well, how did you think I did?" Korra asked, looked at Diago with interest. He gave a relaxed but sincere smile while easing himself against some rubble.
"I think you handled yourself like a real soldier, In control, showing initiative, and putting others ahead of yourself."
"Aww, I think you're starting to like me." Korra spoke in a mocking tone but with good spirit while pushing his shoulder.
"Maybe I am." Diago answered, taking another swig of coffee. Korra fought back a bashful look, trying to hide the red in her face with the cup of coffee.
"Ohh, interesting. Sir, take a look." One of the soldiers tossed Diago a copy of the Republic City Press, the most popular newspaper. He began reading it with growing intrigue.
"How about that. Korra, they made a piece on you."
Korra's expression changed to cautious optimism.
"Really, what did they say this time?" She asked, remembering well the countless hit pieces on her a few months earlier.
"It seems many are impressed with how you handled the protestors outside Future Industries, breaking the rally up peacefully with words." Diago showed the article to Korra.
"It seems Future Industries may have a new Public Relations spokesperson, young Avatar Korra. To everyone's utter surprise after her destructive actions months earlier, leaving many police, soldiers, and civilians wounded, the Avatar convinced a bender protest outside Future Industries to disperse peacefully without police involvement. This turnaround took many by surprise but a pleasant one, to be sure. Mr. Hiroshi Sato, the owner of Future Industries, assured Republic City that he has complete confidence in the Avatar's abilities as a mediator between benders and non-benders, believing she will heal the divisions in our great nation. Iknik Varrick of Varrick Global Industries seems to agree, claiming he's known the Avatar for years and that her intentions are for Republic City's benefit. However, Mr. Laio of Laio incorporated claims that the Avatar is unpredictable, like all benders, and we'd do well to put our faith in the future. Councilman Riako of the United Council claims that countering the extremists' current methods is not providing us with a long-term solution, that stronger executive power can do what even the Avatar cannot, that a president must be elected. Only time will tell if he proves correct, but for now, the Avatar has given us a glimpse of hope for a peaceful future."
Korra's strong emotions returned after finishing the article. People were finally starting to believe in her. Naga seemed to sense Korra's happiness and licked the side of her face.
"I assume there'll be another article like that when they hear about this. I'd say you've had a good week so far. Though with your pro-bending match, I wonder if it will stay that way." Diago said cheerfully. Korra's eyes narrowed slightly, and she motioned Naga towards him in a mischievous manner.
The polar bear dog almost knocked Diago over and began licking his face with everything she had.
"Gaah! Come on, really!"
Korra shrugged.
"You said you like dogs." Xinyue and the other soldiers began laughing.
Eventually, Naga relented, allowing Diago back up as he tried to wipe her saliva off him.
"Still think my chances aren't good?" Korra asked with a confident smile.
"You're getting better, I'll admit. But even if you win this week, you'll end up against the Wolf Bats, and they've won three years in a row. Check out what their captain, Tahno said." Korra looked down at another article about the pro bending tournament.
"The Fire Ferrets have taken the pro bending world by storm this year. Making it to the semi-finals as first-time contenders, with Avatar Korra having only played in two matches thus far. Yet even as they progress, the Wolf Bat's captain, Tahno, gave us these words on the Avatar's chances. "Avatar or not, her water bending is sub par, and without the other elements she doesn't stand a chance against me. She's the weak link that will break the Fire Ferrets." We'll see later this week if he's correct, as the Fire Ferrets face the Rhino Lions in the semi finals."
Naga growled as Korra struggled to hold back a familiar rage when she looked at a picture of Tahno in the paper. From his cocky smile and long hair.
"Now I'm going to make sure I win. Knock his pretty-boy hair right off his head." Diago chuckled with his men.
"Well, I look forward to seeing that."
Korra turned back to him, her smirk returning.
"Really, I thought you didn't think I'd win tonight."
Diago shrugged.
"I never said that. I just wondered if you'd keep up your successful week. If today was any evidence, I'd say you've got a good chance."
"Even if I can only water bend?"
"Soon enough, that might be all you need." Korra blushed slightly and looked away to conceal it.
"So you and your men will root for us then?"
"After today, when the rest of the United Forces finds out your role in this battle, most will. As for me, I was already rooting for you since that first match." Diago's smile and warm voice nearly made Korra tremble, and she pulled Naga over to hide her red face.
"What am I thinking? He, he-" Korra stopped herself, trying to get the thoughts out of her mind, though she didn't want to. Nearby, Kya opened her eyes just enough to look at Korra and her bashful demeanor with a widening smile.
Two days later, Korra grunted as she took an earth disk to the side and struggled to maintain her footing.
"The Avatar takes a hit but doesn't move behind the line!" Korra stood in the pro-bending arena with Mako and Bolin as they faced the Rhino Lions.
Lin, Opal, Asami, and Kya sat in a private box cheering them on while Diago and a few other military officers/sergeants cheered from the other side of the stadium.
"Go, Korra!"
"You've got this Mako, no mercy!" Asami cried.
"That's it, Bolin, don't let up!" Opal added.
Korra and her teammates did their best to hold back the Rhino Lion's offense, but so far, they proved the most formidable opponents yet. Each attacked with a near-continuous barrage, preventing them from mounting a counter-attack. Inch by inch, Korra found herself pushed back until finally, the bell rang.
"And the Fire Ferrets ensure this round, but can they keep it up?"
Korra exhaled and huddled up with Mako and Bolin.
"Damn, they're good. They're really good." Bolin panted, looking at their opponents with growing fear.
"They're not unbeatable. I've been watching them. They're too focused on offense. If we can just land some good hits."
Korra looked up at Diago and Kya as an idea floated into her head.
"We can do that!" Mako and Bolin turned to her with growing interest.
"How?" Korra's smile grew uncontrollable.
"By redirecting their power." Korra explained her strategy, and both brothers nodded with increasing enthusiasm.
"That could work. I say we give it a try!" Mako declared with booming confidence.
"Oh yeah!" Bolin shouted.
The three took position, and the bell rung.
"And we're off! The Komodo Rhinos begin their barrage, wait, what's this, Korra and Bolin switch positions!" Korra and Bolin quickly dove behind Mako, taking each other's place against the other's counterpart. Korra began catching the incoming earth disks with her water and tossing them to Bolin.
Bolin broke them up into small pieces along with the disks on his side with these extra disks and bent them at all three Komodo Rhinos. The barrage of small rocks didn't do much to force them back, but the pain did hinder their bending.
"What's this, have the Fire Ferrets got something up their sleeves!"
"Keep it up!" Mako shouted. Korra and Bolin continued this strategy, eventually trapping all three in place.
Finally, Mako began his counter-attack. Intense bursts of fire struck each Komodo Rhino, breaking them down instantly until all three flew off the back end.
"I don't believe it, folks! The Fire Ferrets win!"
Korra stood up tall and proud with Mako before Bolin's arms seized them both.
"We did it! We're in the finals!" He screamed with tears in his eyes.
The audience soon followed, Korra taking it all in with Mako.
"Still think I'm bad for the team?"
"No, not really." The two chuckled together.
After the match, Korra changed out of her gear with Mako and Bolin.
"I can't believe we're actually going to the finals! That we might actually become the Pro Bending champions!" Bolin almost squealed like a child.
"This just means we need to practice more. The Wolf Bats haven't lost a match in years." Mako said with immense forbodence. Korra slowly nodded but kept an optimistic demeanor.
"We just need to use the right strategy." She stretched her arms and opened the door before nearly jumping when she saw who waited there.
"You continue to impress, Korra." Diago said with a warm smile.
She frantically shut the door and mustered a confident bearing despite the intense emotions inside her.
"Looks like I will get the chance to put Tahno in his place. But you're glad you've been rooting for me now, huh?" Her cocky demeanor not fooling Diago.
"No, I never did. My only regret is judging you wrong in our first encounter. You're more than I ever could've imagined, Korra." The Avatar's expression changed dramatically as she began to blush.
"Well, I might have misjudged you too. You're not as bad as I thought you were."
"I'm glad to hear that." Diago chuckled before taking a deep breath. Korra noticed growing angst in the Lieutenant as he tugged at the collar of his tunic.
"Korra, if you haven't any plans this Saturday. I'm off-duty and wondered if maybe you wanted to go out for dinner."
Korra trembled more so than she had before any fight or battle. Was he asking her out on a date? Was this really happening? Korra couldn't hide the overwhelming red in her face as she struggled for words.
"I, I, I didn't really have anything planned. I, sure, we could uh, ok." She stuttered. Diago's angst didn't fully go away even after hearing her answer.
"Great, I'll meet you on Air Temple Island at six this Saturday."
Just like that, Korra had a date, her first date. She'd never thought much about romance growing up and becoming the Avatar. Yet now, here it was, brought upon her. She'd known many boys her age, but none made her feel like Diago did.
The door opened as Mako and Bolin came out.
"Lieutenant Diago?" Bolin asked, Korra almost yelping as she jumped.
"Woah, Korra, are you ok?" Mako asked, noticing her red face and trembling demeanor.
"Huh!? Oh yeah, I'm fine, I just. Yeah." Korra began to sweat nervously while Diago looked somewhat similar.
"And there's the future champions!" Asami raced past Korra and Diago, leaping into Mako's arms, planting a long and passionate kiss on his lips. Opal hugged Bolin, the two blushing almost as much as Korra while doing so.
"I knew this would help your water-bending. Despite some nay-sayers." Kya smirked at Lin, who shrugged.
"I'm wrong, sometimes. Though if we're keeping score." She started, Kya nervously looking away.
"Well, it's getting late. We should probably be getting home."
The group began to depart, though Korra's master continued to smirk at her and Diago.
"So what brings you down here, Lieutenant?"
"I, uh, wanted to congratulate Korra on her victory. Very impressive."
"Yes, that was it." Korra finished for him.
"Really, nothing else?"
"We, uh-" Diago's eyes narrowed when he noticed another figure walking in the halls ahead of them. Liao walked with two men beside him, writing something down.
"The odds still favor the Wolf Bats, put fifty-thousand Yuan on them, but not for the first round. If the Avatar is good for anything, she'll last a round or two, and I'll make big bucks."
Korra tightened her fists with Mako and Bolin, struggling to hold in their anger. Kya and Lin were about to speak when suddenly a burst of fire, water, and earth knocked Liao and his aides down. As quick as a flash, several masked figures rushed in and seized Liao racing off just as fast.
Without a word, the entire party gave chase, finally catching up with the abductors outside, where they escaped on a speed boat.
"Come on!" Lin shouted, pulling her and Kya's boat to them with her metal bending. The Avatar and her companions raced after the abductors as they hurried towards the statue of Avatar Aang.
Unfortunately, they reached the island first and got inside, Korra and her companions giving chase. The interior was dark, Mako using a bit of fire bending to illuminate the halls until finally, they reached a larger chamber where several individuals stood.
Korra stopped first, her eyes widening as she saw Ming Hau, Ghazan, Zaheer, and P'Li standing with the masked abductors around another figure in the center.
He was a tall man with Korra's skin-tone and long-brown hair with a very self-assured expression, his hands behind his back as he stood before a gagged Liao.
"Avatar Korra, I was hoping we'd meet." His voice felt almost the complete opposite of Amon's, almost warm and inviting.
"Tarrlok!" Kya and Lin shouted.
"Tarrlok!" Korra echoed. This was him, the leader of the Red Lotus.
Several lights flashed around them, revealing radio speakers and cameras filming.
"Sir, we're live!" One of the operators shouted.
"Excellent, and now I know the Avatar is listening. People of Republic City, of the United Republic, benders and non-benders. My name is Tarrlok, leader of the Red Lotus. Some of you may have the wrong idea about my followers and me. You are told lies by your corrupt leaders and that maniac Amon. But the truth is, I don't hate non-benders." Tarrlok said as he stroked a terrified Liao's face.
"In fact, non-benders aren't so different from us. They're simply born less fortunate. Still, in their desire to make themselves feel worthy, they create machines to replace spiritual power, mechanisms that pollute and defile this world's beauty and disrupt the natural order. Still, I do not hate them. I pity them, yet this pitty also brings hope. Amon claims that the spirits have given him the power to bring equality, but this is a lie. It is I, whom the spirits have gifted with the power to bring true equality, to undo Amon's evil."
The masked individuals around Tarrlok removed their masks, revealing themselves as Shai Dai and the other benders whom Amon stripped of their abilities. Korra and the others felt their mouths drop when they saw Shai Dai bend fire into the air, a glowing smile on her face.
"He gave them back their bending!" Asami muttered.
"Yes, benders of Republic City, you have nothing to fear from Amon now. But I can also do so much more." Tarrlok turned his gaze onto Liao, who tried in vain to break free.
"You hate us benders. No more." Tarrlok placed his hand on Liao's forehead.
Korra was about to act when she froze, experiencing a similar sensation as when Amon took away someone's bending. Tarrlok and Liao's eyes both glowed for a moment until Tarrlok let go and used a bit of water bending to sever the businessman's bindings.
"I'll bet you want to hit me, don't you?"
"Filthy bender!" Liao thrust his fist at Tarrlok, but to his and the newcomer's disbelief, fire shot out.
Liao went pale, Tarrlok instantly extinguishing the flames.
"No, no, that's impossible!" Liao thrust his fists into the air, and every time he did, more fire shot out.
Korra and the others trembled, unable to comprehend what they just saw.
"He, he gave him fire bending!" Korra muttered.
Tarrlok and his leaders smiled together at the cameras.
"Now you see the true path to our future. Under the Red Lotus, all can share in the gift of bending! All can share in the true power of this world!" Tarrlok turned to Korra with a frightening smile.
"Now the time has come for you to join us, Avatar Korra."
"What!?" Korra trembled slightly, backing up beside Kya and Diago.
"We are the future of bending, and we need the Avatar with us. I'm asking you to embrace what can be, a world where all can know the power of bending. A world where those who are the worthy rule."
"Korra-" Lin started. But the Avatar stood firm, her face turning to steel before Tarrlok.
"I'll never stand with someone like you!"
She and the others got into a fighting stance, and Tarrlok sighed, shaking his head.
"Very well, we'll do this the hard way then." Tarrlok began moving his hands around as if to water bend, but Korra saw no water moving. She tried to thrust her hand at him but then experienced pain as she never had before.
Korra's mouth hung open as she felt the blood in her veins move on its own, dragging the Avatar along with it.
"Ahhh!" Kya and the others convulsed with Korra, each of them feeling their bodies contort in unnaturally. None able to control themselves. As Korra looked at Tarrlok, she realized they responded to his water bending. No, it couldn't be, but there was no other explanation. Tarrlok was blood bending them.
"Bind them." Tarrlok ordered, several of his followers coming forward to do just that.
"Korra!" Opal shouted in fear.
"Tarrlok, you're going to regret this!" Lin growled in defiance.
Korra fought back with everything she had, the pain becoming unbearable. Yet when the Red Lotus members reached them, she felt something else, almost like an awakening. Before her, the spirit and power of every Avatar filled Korra's very being, and she felt strength like she never had before.
Everyone in the chamber felt their eyes widen as Korra broke free of Tarrlok's control, her eyes glowing white.
"The Avatar state!" Kya cried.
Tarrlok's face lit up, not in fear but excitement.
"Kill her! Kill her now!" He barked out.
All four of his elite benders prepared to unleash everything they had, but Korra attacked first, blasting every Red Lotus bender back with a wave of air, nearly knocking them unconscious.
Korra bent a cyclone of wind around herself and her companions, lifting them up and out of the building, bursting a hole in the walls with fire bending. Tarrlok got up, narrowing his eyes at the opening.
That night, Korra stood with Tenzin and the others on Air Temple Island.
"He's a blood bender!" Tenzin's mouth dropped open wide.
Kya nodded, holding the bridge of her nose.
"Amon can take bending, and Tarrlok can give it back. This changes everything." Lin muttered.
"There was an air bender with him. Zaheer." Korra said. Tenzin took a deep and painful breath, Pema placing a hand on his shoulder.
"I know him. He was one of my first students. A natural at air bending, but as time went on, he saw the resurgence of air benders as a sign that benders were meant to rule the world and joined Tarrlok."
"There's more, I'm afraid." Kya said, pointing to Korra.
"More?" Tenzin asked with growing interest. Korra took a deep breath, feeling the looks of assurance from those around her.
"I entered the Avatar state for the first time."
"You did! That's incredible!"
Korra nodded.
"I didn't have any control over myself, it was as if someone or something else guided me, I-"
"Korra, this is wonderful. Of course, it's not wonderful that it came under such circumstances." Tenzin quickly corrected himself.
"Korra, if you're finally entering the Avatar State, it means you're ready to enter your next stage of spiritual development! I could-"
"Tenzin! I hope I don't have to remind you of the inherent risks Korra would take when entering the Avatar State!" Kya scolded her younger brother with a very stern look as she took Korra's shoulder.
Tenzin's excitement faded.
"Of course, I, I'm sorry."
Korra shivered slightly, remembering well what the Fire Sages taught her. When in the Avatar State, she took on every previous Avatar's power, making her more powerful than anyone or anything else on the planet. But in doing so, she risked the Avatar cycle itself, for should someone kill her while in the Avatar State, the Avatar would not be reborn.
Korra trembled at the thought of no more Avatars because of her. Particularly after hearing Tarrlok call out for her death. Yet looking back, that was a bit peculiar. At first, he wanted her to join him, but as soon as she entered the Avatar state, he wanted her dead?
"Well, this means a very long council meeting tomorrow." Tenzin sighed.
With that, Kya and the others departed, Opal and Korra returning to their chambers on the island. However, as stars lit up the night sky, Korra stared out her bedroom window with Naga's head on her lap.
Despite everything that happened, her date with Diago returned to Korra's mind. A bashful smile returned to the Avatar's face as she gazed out at the city. Miles away, Diago looked out at Air Temple Island from his apartment balcony, a somewhat similar expression on his face.