Korra was first struck with the sights, the colors of the city were infinitely more numerous than the whites and blues of the southern water tribe. The air was full of so many smells she couldn't name them all: smoke, oil, fish, the ocean, fried food. But it was the noise that overwhelmed Korra the most. She could barely hear the crash of the waves to her left of her and Naga. The cars engines, ships, dock workers yelling, vendors calling out to customers, and the police blimps overhead, drowned out the sounds of the ocean and wind. The only two sounds she was accustomed to hearing way down in her isolated part of the south polar. It was beautiful, she thought. Sure there was a dirty imperfect quality to it if you spent too much time looking at anyone one place, but there was so much to look at Korra couldn't imagine ever seeing it all. Korra turned looking out over the bay, She could see the huge statue of Aang standing there welcoming her to the city. Beside it was her destination, Air Temple Island. Naga, however had other plans, her polar bear dog dragged her down the street following her nose to whatever food had caught her attention. Korra halfheartedly pulled at her to stop but quickly gave up; she too wanted to see the city. Maybe Tenzin coming down to tell her that he couldn't move to the south polar was really a blessing in disguise. She had dreamed of leaving the south polar since she was nine and her history tutor had planted seeds of traveling the world and going on crazy adventures like all the previous Avatars had in her mind. Naga skidded to a stop next to an old lady's stall, she had the most amazing smelling fried … everything by the looks of it.
"We'll take one of everything please." Korra said to her eagerly, examining the stick of fried meat.
"That will be 20 yuans." She snapped grumpily.
"I don't have any money." Korra admitted, embarrassed.
"Then what good are you to me!" She snapped yanking the fried meat away from Korra angrily. Korra sighed as her and Naga walked away. She marveled at the building most well over ten stories tall. There were so many people too, from the looks of it from all three nations as well. That was the promise of Republic City and the United Republic, a place where people of all nations, benders and non benders, could live in peace and harmony. It had been the legacy of the past Avatar, Aang. They made it to a quiet park with a pond where Korra caught some fish, cooking it with her fire bending. She heard a russell in the bush behind her and an older man popped out surprising her.
"Say you would mind sharing one of those delish smelling fish?" He asked, walking over to her.
"Oh uh sure." Korra told him. "So do you live in that bush?" She asked timidly. He was wearing old and mismatched clothing with crazy graying hair, but had a kind face and a happy smile.
"Yes, that is where I presently call home." He told her, devouring the fish. They chatted for a minute, Korra asking questions about the city. When a loud whistle interrupted them.
A man in gray yelled at them "Hey you can't fish here!" running at them.
"You best skedaddle." The man she'd given the fish to told her jumping back into his bush. Korra took his advice, a whistle for Naga and rode off out of the park, away from the yelling man. Near the other end of the park she came across a man with a megaphone yelling about benders. Korra stopped intrigued, the man claimed that Benders were a problem and that they were holding down the non-benders.
"What are you talking about?" Korra asked, defending bending.
"Oh let me guess you're a bender" the man sneered. "You'd love to throw me down and oppress us!" The crowd started yelling at her and chastened Korra rode off. She didn't know what the man had been talking about; she'd have to ask Tenzin about it later. A few streets down and she stopped to ask for direction from a nice lady when a fancy red car pulled up.
"You should get out of here. It isn't safe." the lady warned Korra as she spotted the car, darting back inside. She saw three men get out of the car and start harassing the shopkeeper across the street for money. They were dressed in fancy suits and had gold chains everywhere for some reason. When they broke the gramophone she decided to step in, she was the avatar right.
"Or what hoodlum?" Korra asked from behind them. They laughed and Korra's grin grew.
"Since you're obviously fresh off the boat, Let me explain a few things." the middle hoodlum said. "You're in triple threat triad territory and you're going to be put in a hospital." He said cooky.
"You're the ones that are going to need the hospital." Korra shot back smirking.
"Who do you think you are" he snarled out
"Why don't you come and find out." Korra confidentiality suggested. The lead hoodlum threw water at her, she easily redirected it back at him and froze it on his head. Round house kicking it as he stumbled towards her. The man on the left was the next to attack, but Korra just sent him in the air and crashing through a stall. The last one was a firebender she easily pushed through his flames and threw him through a window.
"Got an idea about who I am now chumps" She asked cocky as she looked down at the uncousion thug. Then she heard police sirens overhead as metal benders descended from the blimps in the sky.
"You are all under arrest." the woman metal bender said.
Korra gasped. "What do you mean they were the ones smashing up a shop."
"From the looks of it, you did a lot more smashing." She told Korra unimpressed. "You can explain down at headquarters." she said cutting Korra before she could argue. Korra figured this was a pretty good time to find Tenzin and ran jumping Naga and putting as much distance between them and her. A metal bender shot his cables at her and Naga dodged. Another grabbed her ponytail and she raised a huge block of ice that he ran into. She thought she was home free, she looked to her right and saw air temple island and turned Naga toward it as she heard more police sirens in the area looking for her. She jumped off the overpass she was on but Naga was caught by the metal cables from above before she could land. Tenzin would not be happy about this.
"Let see multiple accounts of both private and city destruction of property, not to mention assault and evade and resisting arrest. You're in a whole world of trouble young lady." An older metal bender listed off before slamming her notes on the table right in front of Korra, making her jump. The woman metal bender from before was leaning against the glass, her arms crossed scowling at her. The older metal bender was also a woman who Korra could swear she saw somewhere, both women look remarkably similar, save for the maybe 20 twenty year age difference and the two fine scars on the older woman's face. Korra wondered if they might be related but now was not the time to ask.
"But there was some thug threatening a shopkeeper." Korra tried to explain putting on her best innocent voice.
"Can it" The older woman barked out at her.
"You should have called the police and stayed out of the way." The other metal bender spoke up, she spoke to Korra as if reprimanding a child.
"But it's my duty to protect people," Korra said. "See I'm the avatar." playing all of her cards.
"Oh I am well aware of who you are." the older police officer crossing her arms. "And your avatar title might impress some people but not me." the older woman said dryly.
"Ok, then I want to speak to whoever's in charge." Korra said, smirking at her.
The older woman sat down across from her and the younger was now openly smirking at Korra words. "You're talking to her." the older woman said in a bored tone. "I'm Chief Beifong."
"Wait Beifong?" Korra asked, surprised. "Lin beifong You're Toph's daughter." She said excitedly and Tenzin's wife.
"What of it?" Chief Beifong said bored.
"Well Aang and your mother were friends." Korra explained.
"That got absolutely nothing to do with the mess you're in now." The chief snapped at her. "You can't just walk in here and deal out vigilante justice like you own the place." A hole in the wall opened up and another officer stuck his head through.
"Ah, chief, Councilman Tenzin is here." he said. Korra saw the younger metal bender groan.
Beifong sighed. "Let him in" she said in a borderline disappointed voice. Lin stands and the other metal bender moves out of the way. Tenzin walks through the door.
"Hi, Tenzin," Korra greets him. "I uh got a little sidetracked on my way to see you."
Tenzin inhales deeply before turning to the two metal benders, both are standing in identical positions with their arms crossed and a slight scowl on their faces. "Lin, Jade you both look as beautiful as ever." He said in a pleasant tone to both of them and is met with a roll of the eye from who must be Jade. Then it clicked in Korra's head Katara loved to talk about her grandchildren including Jade Beifong.
"Cut the garbage, Tenzin." Lin says in an unimpressed tone. "Why is the avatar in my city?" she asks in an annoyed voice.
"She isn't, the avatar will be heading back to the south polar immediately." Tenzin said pointedly at Korra. "Where she will stay put" He emphasized.
"But" Korra tried to protest.
"If you would be so kind as to drop the charges against Korra I will take full responsibility for today's regrettable events and cover the damages." Tenzin continued.
"You mean WE'll cover the damages." Lin corrected still not happy with him. "Do you have any idea how much we're talking about?" She asks.
"Yes, we," Tenzin admitted. "And I'm sure it will be expensive but…" he trails off
"Fine. We'll discuss that later. " Lin huffed. "Get her out of my city" releasing Korra's hands with a wave of her own.
"I'll see you both tonight, Love you." Tenzin told his wife and daughter. "Korra, lets go." He said in a much stricter voice. Both metal benders glared at her as she left.
As soon as her and Tenzin were in the lobby of the police station Korra started begging. "Please, don't send me back to the south polar."
"You blatantly disobeyed my wishes." Tenzin told her firmly.
"Katara agrees with me, she told me I should come." Korra tried.
"Don't bring my mother into this." Tenzin warned her getting irritated.
"Look I saw a lot of the city today and I know why you have to stay but republice city needs me too." Korra told him sincere.
Tenzin seemed to try to find words to argue but failed. "We'll talk about this later." He settled on. They took that ferry across the bay to air temple island.
"You remember My son and other daughter?" Tenzin asked as they neared the house.
"Not really I was what ten the last time I met them. I didn't even recognize Jade." Korra told him. Korra never remembered meeting Lin Beifong but every few years Tenzin would bring his children to see their grandmother and Korra would get to see them. Before a week ago it had been seven years since she had seen Tenzin and the kids didn't make the short trip and Jade had not made the trip before that.
"Yes I suppose it has been awhile." Tenzin agreed. "Rohan, Jinora." he called. Two teenagers walked out of the house, both had the signature arrow tattoos of an air bender."This is Korra" He introduced them. "Korra this is Rohan and Jinora."
"It's nice to see you again." Korra offered a wave.
"You too avatar." Rohan said He was almost exactly Korra's age. Jinora, a few years older, nodded politely.
"Why don't you all start to get dinner ready, I have a few things to finish up after I got sidetracked." Tenzin said. Korra winced at his choice of words. The trio went inside and began cooking dinner.
"So Korra are you staying in Republic city or just visiting?" Jinora asked.
"Just visiting your dad is putting me on a boat tonight." Korra explained looking away.
"Why are you leaving so soon?" Rohan asked.
"I, uh, wasn't really supposed to be here in the first place." Korra admitted. They continued chatting about republic city and air bending. Korra had been so excited to finally unlock air bending but it looked like that would have to wait. The door opened and Korra saw Lin and Jade come through the door.
"Hey mom," Rohan said as she came into the kitchen leaning against the door frame.
"Hey kids," She said in the nicest tone Korra had heard her speak in. "Where's your father?"
"In the study." Jinora replied without looking up. "Uh dinner is going to be ready in a like 15 minutes." Lin nodded and left the room. Jade came in the kitchen next, she had changed out of her armor into a simple shirt with her gray work pants still on.
"Hey, you've met Korra?" Jinora asked her.
"Oh yeah" Jade replied, smirking. "Met her at work." Korra winced and Jinora caught the look on her sister's face and Korra's wince.
"What? Did something happen?" She asked looking between the two.
"Only, she destroyed a street and beat some people up." Jada explained, still smirking at Korra's discomfort.
"What?" Rohan said, turning to face Korra. "Who'd you beat up?"
"Some thugs!" Korra defended herself. "They were beating up some shopkeeper."
"And some of my officers." Jada tact on raising an eyebrow at her. "Mom's not in a good mood cause of that." She warned her siblings.
Both airbender laughed, "That's a rough way to meet mom." Rohan said. "Well most ways are but interrogation has to be up there."
"Yeah she wasn't exactly warm." Korra said, rubbing her neck.
"Well don't piss her off worse tonight or she'll bend you into the bay." Jade warned her as she left the room.
"Is she serious?" Korra asked.
"Eh, maybe. Don't worry I'm sure you'll be fine. Uncle Bumi is the only one to do that so far." Rohan said, shrugging. "Come on dinners ready."
Korra didn't speak much during dinner. Beifong had seemed even more annoyed when her and Tenzin entered the room and sat down and Jada just seemed to be a quiet person. Tenzin too seemed more than happy to let the youngest three talk.
"Do you guys mind clearing? Korra I need to talk to you in the study." Tenzin said as they finished eating. Korra sighed and got up following him out, Biefong too followed them.
"Sit," Tenzin said, gesturing at the chair in the middle of the room. "I've done a lot of thinking about what you've said to me today." He started. "I've come to realize that Republic city has fallen out of balance recently and we can't seem to correct its course. This city was my father's legacy but so are you. You can stay in Republic city." He said.
"Yes!" Korra cheered, jumping and hugging him unexpectedly.
Lin raised her hand "But if you so much as step one toe out of line like you did today I will personally see to it that you are on the next ship out of here. Do you understand?" She said in a commanding tone.
"Yes, yes ma'am, er chief." Korra said quickly.
"Good" Tenzin said "Then we will start your training first thing tomorrow morning at dawn."