Disclaimer: I do not own Legend of Korra.
Ikki zoomed off on her Air Scooter, laughing and carefree, practically flying all over the little island she called home, until she stopped when she came across a man.
His smile was crooked and insincere. "Hello, little one. Is your father around?"
"Yes, he is. He just moping around somewhere after he and Korra fight again, like is her fault that seaweed haired jerk was a jerk, I mean, what, will it kill you to let her take a break and train to learn Airbending? She's so awesome and deserves better-"
"Just get your father." He interrupted through gritted teeth, possessing zero patience.
"Ok, don't be so rude! We already had a rude guy earlier. Daddy! Ponytail man is here to see you!" She yelled and then sniffed. "Why do you smell like perfume?"
The man blushed with embarrassment. "I use cologne and I wear wolf tails."
"No, great uncle Sokka had wolf tails and so does Korra, wolf tails are higher and shorter, your ponytails are longer and flatter and braided and very fancy like gran-gran! Plus, you're the only man who wears perfume, I know more men than Korra and none of them smell like Eastern Panda lilies, not even uncle Bumi and he doesn't even like to bathe!"
"Ikki! What is it?"
Her father arrived on an air scooter. He stopped just beside his daughter and glared at the man.
"Tarlokk."
The man smirked. "Tenzin."
"Ikki, go to your mother."
"Yes, daddy. Bye, ponytail man!"
With that, Ikki zoomed off, leaving the two men in their tense atmosphere.
"What news brings you here, Tarlokk?"
"I just wanted to see if there's any progress on the spouse search. Although it appears that the Avatar has scared off the probending champion. The papers will have another field day."
"It's not good for her to stay cooped up in one place. She spent 13 years in a compound, trained in three of the four elements and self-defence. She's itching for action. She needs to get out and be the Avatar she is meant to be."
"You know as well as I that she can't. Not without marrying a high standing rich folk. It is because she is a woman of noble lineage. Oh, and it's your father's last will."
Tenzin wanted to smack the smug smirk off Tarlokk's face. "My father had no way of knowing his successor will be born a woman or into a high standing family. It's doesn't work that way."
"You wouldn't want to ruin the legacy your father left behind? Your father, the last Airbender and the Avatar who ended the War? You want to run everything your father had died for to the ground?"
Tenzin fell silent and Tarlokk smirked more. The easily way to deflate the serious Airbender was to use his father against him. A lot of pressure was on his youngest son's shoulders to keep his memory alive and safe.
"Well, I better go." Tarlokk turned his back on his rival. "Let me know if the Avatar finally picks a spouse."
The councilman walked away, the Airbender glaring after him.
"If I had Korra's lack of self-control, I would gladly Airbend him 50 feet into the air…"
After the miserable day they endured, Mako and Bolin threaded to their small apartment in the attic of the great Probending Arena. Bolin dropped like a rock on his bed, snoring like a gorilla-goat. Pabu curled up on his owner's pillow, going fast asleep. Mako pulled a blanket over him, ruffling his little brother's hair, and stroked Pabu. His hard face had softened to bear a smile.
Eventually, Mako walked away, going further upstairs to his special place, which was a window overlooking Republic City. The buildings were lit up like gold by the bright lights. The usually polluted water of Yue Bay appeared so pure and clear in the night, the moon reflecting on the waves.
How can something so beautiful be so immoral?
Every day was the same. The brothers struggled to live, and everyone looked down on them. They call them street-rats without looking underneath the rags and dirt.
"Would it kill them to look closer?" Mako wondered out loud. "They could see we're just poor boys. But no! They had to be blind. If they did…They'd find out so much more to us. To me…"
It was when he was alone with his thoughts that he allowed himself to be honest, vulnerable, hopeful.
Bolin made it looks so easy.
"Someday, Bo, things are gonna change. We'll be rich, live in a palace, and never have any problems at all."
He stared at the beautiful scene for a long while, losing himself in his dream for a better life.
But then he got cynical again.
"This city is what killed our parents. We're getting out of here as soon as we get the chance."
He got off the ledge and walked away, down to his brother.
Down to his current, aimless life.
Later, as night fell, Tarlokk entered his empty mansion. When he turned on the switch for light, the darkness vanished and exposed the person standing in the hallway, waiting for him.
It was Amon. Leader of the Equalist Revolution. Repubic City's villain.
But rather be scared, Tarlokk smiled.
"Brother."
Amon took off his mask, revealing a handsome, smirking face. The face he claimed was badly burned by a Firebender who also killed his 'family'. The face that was perfectly fine.
"Brother."
Tarlokk and Amon practically ran towards each other, wrapping each other up on a tight hug.
"It's so good to see you again, Noatak. It has been weeks." Tarlokk said as he pulled away first.
Amon/Noatak smirked. "I have a revolution to oversee. I do not have the spare time. Now, how is the princess?"
"She's still on her little island, still unwed. A girl like her will never marry. I rather marry a purple platypus-bear with pink wings."
"And Tenzin?"
"Tenzin suspects Aang's rule is fake, but he has no proof. And he would never disgrace anything that involves his father."
"As would we."
The two men chuckled darkly. They were not ordinary brothers. They were the sons of Yakone, Republic City's notorious criminal. Since the foundation of the city was built, Yakone quickly rose from an impoverished orphan boy from the Southern Water Tribe to a crime lord who controlled the city from the shadows with his forbidden art of Bloodbending. Because of this, Yakone was a thorn in Aang's side. After years of evading, Yakone was ultimately caught and brought to trial but he narrowly escaped Aang, changed his identity by a team of plastic surgeons, fled to Northern Water Tribe, where he married and had his two sons to continue his legacy.
And now, when Yakone had passed away, his sons worked to conquer Republic City.
Once they have the city in their hands, they actually conquer the whole world.
"The new Avatar has the spirituality of a dishcloth." Tarlokk gloated. "There's no way she can connect to Aang and blow our lie."
On the other hand, Noatak was more aware of the consequences. "But still, what if she finds out? What if somebody finds out?"
Tarlokk simply waved him off. "Relax, brother. We can handle a whistleblower. Don't worry, our plan is going smoothly." He gently gripped his brother's shoulder, squeezing it. "With you leading the underground revolution and I handle the legal affairs, we will have Republic City completely under our control soon enough."
Noatak was still unsure, but due to his big brother's suggestion, he played along. "And when we do, we control the world. Together."
"Together." Tarlokk grinned. "Now all we need is to find a stool desperate to do our bidding."
"The cave won't let just anyone. It ate the last three men we sent. It said it only wants the one 'worth lies within.' 'A diamond in the rough,' whatever that means."
"We need someone who needs wealth for...other reasons. Someone who is stuck in the dirt and wants to get out."
At once, Noatak instantly thought of the young man who saved two children from a moving vehicle only to end up in the mud.
A diamond in the rough.
"I know just the man."
Tarlokk grinned. "Excellent. Nothing can go wrong."
That same night, a figure moved discreetly among the darkness on Airbender Island, careful to be unnoticed by the Air Acolytes and White Lotus guards. It made to the edge of the isle, hidden behind rocks and trees, creeping up to the small beach. Republic City gleamed magically in the distance. It was about to take a swan dive into the water when a set of jaws latched down on its hooded garment, forcibly yanking the figure back.
"Naga!" Korra, in her most favoured and more comfortable outfit of her favourite colour blue, scolded.
Naga whined, accompanied by the airbender kids.
"Korra, what are you doing?" Meelo asked.
"Isn't it obvious? She's sneaking out." Jinora answered.
"Korra, don't go! Please don't!" Ikki pleaded.
"Is it because I suggest you run away to get freedom? I was just joking!"
Korra sighed and rubbed her dear pet's head. "Sorry, guys. But I can't stay here any longer, watching my life lived out for me. I need space. I love you all, but this is all too suffocating!"
"A change of scenery will be beneficial for you. A chance to clear your mind." Jinora inputted wisely, but then she pouted quite sadly. "But I don't want to see you go."
Korra was reluctant to part from her beloved best friend/pet and the little kids she grew to love as her own siblings. They were her family. This island was her home.
But she must leave.
"I'm sorry. But this is something I have to do."
The kids were on the verge of crying, but they kept their tears in to keep her secret.
And so, Korra hugged them.
"Goodbye. Take care of Naga for me."
Then she let go and hugged Naga's big head.
"I'll miss you, girl."
Finally, Korra dove into the water, using her Waterbending to go deep underwater.
Jinora and Ikki sniffed as they tearfully watched their dear friend, their grandfather's reincarnation, their older sister, disappear into the night.
Their brother, on the other hand…
"Buy us some souvenirs!" He yelled loudly.
"Meelo!"
Jinora and Ikki covered his mouth.
"You're gonna us away, you idiot!" Jinora hissed.
"Children! Bedtime!"
"Coming, mom!"
The sisters dragged their annoying little brother into the housing complex, only letting him go when they all stood before their pregnant mother with big grins.
"Did you all say goodnight to Korra?" Pema asked, oblivious to their cheesy acting.
"Yes, mom!" The three kids chorused.
"It has been a rough day for her. Poor dear, she's still sulking in her bedroom. She's been in there all day since Tahno left."
Her children glanced to each other, silently sweating.