A.N. Hello, I hope you all enjoy this Mako x OC it takes place after the events of LOK so please be aware that there are spoilers! Please leave me a review and tell me what you think.

Updates will occur on Wednesdays!

Part I Revolution

Chapter One

Zhu Li

Republic City

Three months after the Republic City Portal opening…

President Moon was used to stressful situations, but currently, she wouldn't mind having her old stress for just a moment. Republic City was in ruins both physically and politically, and now it was her job to fix the mistakes of President Raiko. Along with the plethora of issues that Kuvira's destructive "revolution" had caused. She was now faced with rebuilding the entire city, along with railways and new ships for the United Nations. Even the Republic City Police had lost everything during the crisis, and while they were able to create a temporary headquarters; the entire force was lacking in weaponry and protective clothing. Although she wouldn't admit it President Moon was at a loss, and now she just hoped that her assistant found something while scavenging through the former president's files.

Just as the thought crossed her mind, her assistant Bolin rushed into the room, his cheeks flushed from running. "I have Raiko's files, these are the top developers and I'm sure they'd be happy to do business with the city again." He set down a few folders on her desk before continuing. "Also I'd assume that Future Industries can reestablish the plans for the city, and perhaps build new battleships for the United Nations although…Previously Raiko would use another company, the Fire Nation navy uses this company exclusively…I'm sure Asami would understand if this is the path you take."

Zhu Li was pleasantly surprised by Bolin's maturity and insight; it was of course hard for him to abandon his bias, but he was truly becoming an insightful member of her team. "Thank you, Bolin." Bolin nodded and began to start his next task before stopping.

"Almost forgot, here is the file that has their contact information; I was told the name of the company is Piandao Industries." Zhu Li raised a skeptical brow at the name recognizing it from the old white lotus members.

"Piandao, like the old swordmaster?" Bolin nodded almost bouncing on the balls of his feet.

"Yeah! Isn't that so cool?" After a moment Bolin recognized his behavior and composed himself quickly. "I mean yes, exactly. After his death, his son trademarked his father's name and used their weaponry expertise to create a building. Through my research, I've found that they supply weaponry and militaristic vehicles for the Fire Nation, Water Tribes, and Republic City during Raiko's presidency."

Zhu Li was admittedly impressed by Bolin's research; he was becoming an increasingly capable assistant as the days passed. "Then I better get into contact with them."

"Call Lein directly, she's the granddaughter of Piandao and the head of the company. I've been told she likes to personally handle the affairs of her company. Oh! She also makes swords! Like handmade still!"

Zhu Li raised an eyebrow and Bolin composed himself once again.

"Thank you, Bolin." Zhu Li stood up and walked to the radio in her office, she waited patiently until a pleasant young woman's voice answered her call. "Hello this is President Moon of Republic City; may I speak to Lein please?"

Lein

Shu Jing- Fire Nation

Lein Piandao (her father was adamant about establishing a surname for the family) was not one to let anything stop her. Not even this persistent cough, and the now the constant ache in her body. It was beginning to scare her how weak she would feel as each day would pass, but she wouldn't let herself think about it. Because once she allowed those thoughts in it became exceedingly clear that she was fading, and she refused to let that happen. A sharp knock brought the woman out of her thoughts, she shook her head banishing the darkness from her mind.

"Come in". Her servant Yara came in along with her butler Akon. Yara was a young woman from the WaterTribe, she had come to the Fire Nation years ago looking for work and Lein had come to admire her. She was a lovely young woman with striking blue eyes and dark brown hair braided smartly down her back. Lein supposed the reason the girl held a place in her heart was because her innocence reminded her of her daughter when she was young. While Akon was almost as familiar as Lein's own face, he had been working for her family since she was a girl, he hadn't been much older than Lein when he came to work for her family. It was because of their history that she truly cared for the man. As she looked at him now his dark hair was now almost entirely grey, and he had kind golden eyes like most Fire Nation citizens, but as of now, she was wary of the two.

It was there relentless care and respect that caused the weariness; she knew that the two would put her well-being over anything… Including her own wishes. Yara was peppier than usual, while Akon (although she truly didn't think it was possible) was more stoic than usual. Lein narrowed her eyes at them as they entered her bedroom. Yara set up Lein's breakfast at the small table in the room.

"Ms. Lein, here's your morning tea. Jasmine, of course, you're favorite." She said pouring a cup for her, "Also your breakfast, and of course your medication." Lein looked towards the breakfast spread, it was her favorite of course. Lein never cared for breakfast foods so instead the smell of jasmine rice and fried fish greeted her nose. The inviting smell of the spices made her stomach growl and almost forget her suspicion.

Almost.

"Wow all my favorites, what's the occasion?" Lein asked skeptically taking the steaming cup from Yara. The young girl flushed, meanwhile Akon remained as stoic as usual. Lein motioned for them to sit as she slowly made her way from her bed to the table. She took the medication first grimacing at its bitter taste. Yara and Akon looked towards one another, the latter gave the girl an encouraging nod and she took a deep breath.

"President Moon of Republic City called, we told her we'd relay the message." Lein narrowed her eyes at Yara, understanding what she meant. They didn't want her to answer the call, she was too weak; and that infuriated her more than she thought it would.

"Now you two are infiltrating my business affairs? You two have no right! That is above your job description! If I'm not mistaken, I am the CEO and creative director, hell I invented and developed half of the new weapons for Piandao industries! I am one of the three people in the world who can create swords using the same technique as my grandfather! So, I think I am capable of hearing a message." Lein hissed, the two had the decency to look scolded but Lein wasn't done yet. She opened her mouth prepared for another verbal attack, but her body stopped her, a violent cough wracked her body. Her entire body caved in from its force, she clutched the small table with such force that the veins on her hands appeared from the strain.

Akon and Yara rushed to her side their hands hovering unsure of what course of action to take, knowing full well that they could only wait but wanting desperately to ease her pain. As she watched the two people who cared for her look down at her with their sympathetic gazes, she knew they were right. Her argument was useless, she was a shadow of the woman she used to be. And nothing she said would convince them otherwise, the young woman who held an enterprise was gone, and it was time she accepted that.

"I gave my life for this…It can't be over." Lein muttered lamely from the floor, she had barely registered her descent to the ground; much like her own descent from grace. Akon placed a hand firmly on her back the other taking her hand, helping her back into her seat.

"You did give your life to this Lein," Akon said tenderly, although still composed as ever. "And you raised an exceptional young woman that will carry this family's work. Believe in her Lein, or at the very least write to her." And Lein did agree, her daughter was exceptional but that wasn't why she was reluctant. She couldn't face her daughter because of everything she had failed to do as a mother.

"What if she won't do it? Just to spite me, she inherited that from her father." Yara and Akon looked at her in shock, surprised that she didn't know what they already did. This time it was Yara who stepped forward.

"I know you don't think so, but Akira is a lot more like you than you think Lein. I think the problem is she won't be able to stop herself from doing it." With that encouragement, Lein decided to o something she hadn't done in a year.

"I believe it's time I visit her."

Akira

Western Earth Kingdom

You wouldn't find Akira more focused than she was right at this moment when creating a sword, she was as sharp as a blade itself. Her breathing was coming out in sharp labored breaths as she raised her arm yet again, it pounded with all her force against the hot steal, and she did it again.

And again.

And again.

The work was grueling, but she enjoyed it, all for the awesome result of the product. She paused admiring her handiwork before quenching the sword in oil. It bubbled agitated from the scorching heat of the object, she removed it watching the oil drip down the sword. It was beautiful, the most pristine silver she could find resulted in an elegant sword. It was set in a brown leather hilt, but if you looked closely at the silver a swirl of obsidian elegantly curved to the tip of the sword.

"Akira?" The young woman turned to the sound of the voice to see her dear friend and the recipient of her newest work, Hon. Hon was the leader of their touring acting troupe, he was a skilled dancer and liked to employ traditional bending and fighting techniques to his performances. It was why he hired Akira; she had been a dancer most of her life in the Fire Nation ballets. "How do you deal with this heat it's terrible," Hon said opening the door wider allowing a gust of cool air to rush into the room.

But Akira never minded the heat, it was like a blanket of comfort for the firebender. It was something she recalled her mother and grandfather had been envious of. As the only firebender in the family, she was the one that enjoyed the heat the most. Although she had to admit the heat was bitter for most people, it reminded her of her grandfather and his kind hands; and the stories he'd tell her of their family and how he'd teach her as his father had taught him. Akira shook the thoughts away and winked at Hon.

"I find comfort with hot things." Hon rolled his eyes at her friendly flirtation, before reaching greedily towards the sword.

"Ah only after my work." She said in feign hurt as Hon snorted, he gazed appreciatively at the weapon. "Your husband is going to love it!" Akira said excitedly, causing a faint blush to reach Hon's cheeks. He smiled thoughtfully, his green eyes shining at the thought of his husband.

"Well he better, this is the third village we've been to, I thought they'd never let us borrow a forge. But I have to say Akira this was wo…" Before he could finish his husband poked his head into the forge causing him to throw the weapon in a hurry. Thankfully Akira was trained for such things and caught it easily sheathing it as it made its way towards her.

"T-Tavrok!" Hon stuttered, the waterbender looked at his husband suspiciously.

"While you are acting super weird, we can discuss that later I came to tell you that..." He trailed off looking towards Akira, Hon immediately straightened up rising slightly taller than his husband. Akira looked towards the two confused, Tavrok looked towards Hon in panic.

"You tell her." He said nudging him forward, his blue eyes were darting nervously from worry, and that only increased Akira's anxiety.

"Tavrok? Hon? Can you two just tell me?" She asked huffing in annoyance, Tavrok looked up at his husband and kissed his cheek quickly before rushing out of the forge. Hon looked towards the open door angrily before turning to Akira who had stalked towards him.

"That damn traitor." He muttered; Akira crossed her arms.

"Spill." Hon ran a nervous hand through his dark hair, his face paler than she had seen it in a while. It made her heart drop in fear, her mind began spinning thinking of the worst outcomes. "Hon, you're scaring me." He snapped his head up quickly and wrapped an arm around Akira's shoulders reassuringly.

"Oh it's nothing bad…I'm just not sure how to say this because I know how you feel about this…er situation…And I am incredibly nervous about your reaction because you kind of have a way of…" Hon stopped his ramble and took in a deep controlled breath, something she had often seen him do before a number.

"Your mother is here, back at camp." Akira staggered away from Hon, her head spinning from the news.

"My mother?" She asked, her voice barely above a whisper; which both terrified and confused Hon. "I should have known," Akira said bitterly, she turned back to the worktable and unsheathed the sword placing it in the decorative box Hon had made. "Did you know that my mother didn't even tell me my grandfather died?" Hon said nothing, but Akira continued. "I loved my grandfather, he raised me. Did you know that? She couldn't be bothered to raise her own child, so she sent me to the mainland where my grandparents retired, and they raised me."

Akira began pacing the room a new vigor to her words. "I only saw that woman on summers, and my birthday. Did you know that Hon? She just sent tutors to teach me fire bending at then to the Fire Nation Academy for Girls." Akira paused sitting down, the fire began to fade, leaving behind that hot anger that she always tried to bury. "Did you know what she told my grandfather that she was disappointed I was a firebender? She said that it would make me less likely to learn the sword."

Akira stopped pacing leaning against the counter where she had placed Tavrok's sword. "I don't think I remember her telling me she loves me, Hon." Her eyes began to blur from the anger causing the sword in front of her to warp. Hon put his hand on her shoulder, and she turned into her friend.

"You should face her." Akira nodded at his words.

"I know, I just needed to get that out. Now when I see her, I won't have to mourn." With that Akira and Hon made their way back to their camp. The sword carefully wrapped by Akira under Hon's arm, and what should have been a happy occasion between friends was now a walk of dread.

Hon paused their walking just outside of her tent, he turned to her his eyes shining in sadness.

"You do know that this is goodbye," Hon said softly, Akira turned to him forcefully reaching for his hands.

"I would never abandon you, or this troupe. You have become my family these past two years." Hon stopped her removing his hands from hers and hugged her.

"You would never abandon your family, no matter what." And Akira knew what he meant, and she wanted to tell him that he was wrong; that her mother never felt like family. But as much as she resented her, she knew that deep down Hon was right.

Akira took a step forward and saw the silhouette of her mother in the tent, with a deep breath she walked in.

Akira was sure of a lot of things when performing in her troupe when she threw a knife in the air, she was sure it would come down. When she bended fire at Hon she was sure he would remain unharmed in her dances. But in situations involving her mother, Akira was never sure.

She pushed aside the opening of her tent, and there she was. She had always thought as a child that she looked like her mother and had hoped she'd grow as beautiful as she did. But that was not the woman before her, gone was the beautiful and vibrant brown skin and instead, it had taken a strange yellow tinge. Her once long and beautiful black hair was cropped short rising just above her prominent jawline.

Her mother turned towards her, and it took Akira by surprise. Although she suppressed the look on her face, she truly didn't recognize the woman before her. Her mother looked drained; her face was void of its usual vibrance. Even her eyes seemed lackluster, there was a void of that spark that she had always spoken of; a spark Akira never believed in until now.

"You're sick," Akira said plainly, her mother huffed in irritation and sat at Akira's vanity.

"Yes, but I'm managing." Akira raised a brow at her mother, but she turned away from her daughter looking over her room as if she was trying to find something to nag at. But if Akira had inherited anything from her mother it was her necessity for order. Her tent was spotless, her duel swords were carefully stowed away, her clothing also neatly folded on her bed. Everything had a place, so instead of facing her daughter, her mother scowled at the floor.

"Are you going to look at me mother, or will you continue to scrutinize the flooring of my tent?" Lein looked to her daughter, and she too didn't recognize the young woman before her. She was bolder, she didn't shy from looking at her mother any longer. "Why are you here mother?" Akira asked softly, still cemented to the spot at the entrance of the tent.

Lein sighed unsure of how to begin. "I need…It's time for you to take over Piandao industries." Lein watched Akira carefully, her dark brown eyes flitted across the room as she processed the information. She paced the room her fists clenched as if she were trying to contain whatever emotion was coming towards her. It was frighteningly familiar to Lein, the containment of that fire she had witnessed it in Akira's father. "Well?" Lein asked tapping her foot from impatience.

"No," Akira said softly.

"What do you mean no! Akira this is not…" Akira cut her mother off by raising her hand, Lein looked into her daughters' eyes and saw the fire that she had lost years ago.

"You have the nerve to be impatient with me! You are asking me to leave my life, to give up everything, for you! So, tell me, mother, why should I?" Akira's eyes shined with the challenge, and although Lein did hate to admit it Akon and Yara were right. Her daughter was a lot more like her than she thought. So, she was going to have to do the very thing she had been avoiding, admit the truth.

"The truth is Akira I have no other choice; I have been fighting to keep my life the way it has been. I have been trying to remain that woman I was years ago, but I'm not anymore. I was capable of creating and managing the affairs of our business. Hell, I'd accompany the shipments myself to make sure they were correct, but I can't anymore. My body is protesting against it, and as much as I hate admitting my weaknesses… If I continue the way I have, I won't be alive much longer." Lein stopped with a sigh. "This is all very dramatic, but what I'm trying to say is. I need you to take over Piandao Industries, indefinitely. If you want it."

Akira wanted to say no, she wanted her mother to panic. But in the 22 years of her life, she has seen her mother vulnerable three times. When she almost drowned at 10, when her grandparents died, and now. Akira kneeled in front of her mother and took her hands tentatively in her own. Her mother looked down shocked by the tenderness her daughter showed.

"I wished so hard for you to trust me; I will do it, mother. Get your rest." Lein sighed in relief but when she looked into her daughters' eyes, there was an anger in them. It was a rage she had seen once before and it frightened her. That fire, that dangerous fire that had burned her so long ago.

"I do this for grandfather, not for you." Akira released her hands and walked around her room, opening the chest at the end of her bed. "I assume you brought the cargo ship?" Lein nodded wordlessly as Akira placed her things into the trunk. "Good, I'll say my goodbyes then."

With that Akira left the tent, trying hard to keep herself hardened to hold onto that rage. But it fell away helplessly, and the sadness returned. But she couldn't look back at her mother, because then she'd know.

She did this for her.