"Now that's something different," Sokka commented, noting the ambush attempt. He slowly reached for his sword and boomerang. Their escape route was cut off and Long Feng had them surrounded. There were about eight Dai Li agents, plus the Grand Secretariat, making nine of them.
They were outnumbered, but just barely. With Korra in the mix, they probably stood a much better chance. Their new addition to the group, he knew, could at least bend Earth and Water. He was sure now at this point that she was just like Aang. They could definitely use that as their element of surprise and Sokka was 100% certain Long Feng didn't know this group of kids had two Avatars. He only wished he could warn Korra to stick with just one element until they could get out of the city.
Aang leveled his staff in Long Feng's direction, ready to blast air in the mustachioed man's direction. "Give us Appa, Long Feng!"
The man in question only watched them from his position at the steps. "You have been a constant thorn in my side, Avatar," he replied, ignoring Aang's demand. "And you have made yourselves enemies of the state." He folded his arms behind him. "I offer you two chances," he continued, his viice steady, but the danger clear. "Turn back and leave the city."
"Long Feng, is it?" Korra spoke up from where she stood. The Dai Li and their director's attention was now on her. The Grand Secretariat said nothing, and Korra took that as her cue to continue.
"We're only here to ask for the Earth King's aid. It's critical that we speak with him. The Fire Nation is severely weakened on a-"
Long Feng raised a hand in a halting gesture before dropping it to his side. "I've already refused the Avatar and his friends' request. What makes you believe you will be any different?"
Korra balled her fists. This guy was like Tarlokk all over again. He had the same ego but the only difference was that Long Feng managed to hide his under a a more subdued mask. She decided she disliked politicians even more than before.
"Because you're going to regret it," she answered, voice low. "Nothing good'll come from pretending the Fire Nation isn't a clear and present danger. It'll be too late when it blows up in your face."
Long Feng seemed unimpressed. "You all have one last chance. I am not extending the offer a third time." Korra scoffed at the man's ear dismissal. He raised a hand upward, palm open. His Dai Li raised their hands, revealing them covered in rock gloves.
"Agree to leave the city now, and I will waive all charges against you, allowing you to leave with your pet."
"You're in no position to make demands," Jet warned, drawing his swords. Strangely, Long Feng only smiled at the claim.
"Aren't I?" The Grand Secretariat dropped his hand downward in a chopping motion. "Dai Li! Take them into custody!"
With practiced speed, the Dai Li seemed to slide forward as if the ground were some automatic walkway. Two agents took the lead, thrusting their palms forward. Rock gloves blasted forward from their hands, immediaty gunning for Korra. Caught off guard, both arms were gripped by the rock gloves.
Exhaling angrily through her nose, Korra tensed her form and flexed her arms. The rock gloves broke apart as if they were pulled away by some invisible force. The two Dai Li started in surprise, and Korra used the time afforded to thrust both fists forward, one above her head, the other parallel with her waist. A diagonal slab of earth shot from the ground, travelling nearly all the way across the room, large and wide enough to launch both agents off their feet.
Long Feng allowed a bit of suprise to show on his face, a raised brow. An Earthbender? Odd, she looked just like a waterbender, from the clothes she wore down to her physical traits. The implications of that did not matter to him right now, though.
Her display of Earthbending was a bit...much, compared to your average fighter. Bending of that scale usually denoted benders with larger than normal pools of Chi, prodigies, or the Avatar. He could strike the latter for obvious reasons and she was clearly skilled. If she was a prodigy was to he determined, but the large amount of Chi was no mistake.
He leapt forward from the steps, quickly taking into account his advantages.
The Beifong was clearly a prodigy, but she was being held up by both the Dai Li and protecting her allies. He observed as she broke the gloves that were launched at Katara and Sokka and proceeded to elevate herself and them on a platform of Earth.
He neared Korra, his arms raised in a fighting stance.
"Where did you come from, girl?" Long Feng inquired, starting to circle Korra. The Earthbender in front of him mirrored his movements. "We've been tracking the Avatar and his group for several days. You however, are an anomoly," he threw his hand forward, testing the waters. A pillar of Earth launched from the ground, flying towards Korra like a missle.
The girl dropped into a horse stance, her fists level with her hip. She took one large step forward, headbutting the pillar into rubble like it was nothing. Korra stepped through the dust cloud she'd created, brushing her shoulder off. "You're making a mistake, Long Feng," she said, remembering what Aang called him. "Playing pretend isn't going to stop the Fire Nation from advancing here."
"What the Fire Nation does is of no concern to Ba Sing Se," Long Feng retorted. He couldn't pinpoint why, but what she said bothered him. He pushed the thought out of his mind. "This city has yet to fall, and it never will." He punched forward in a series of strikes, chunks of rock flying forward towards Korra, who raised up a wall of earth in retaliation and pushed it forward.
Rooting his stance, Long Feng allowed the wall to crumble as it attempted to pass throigh him. With a chop, pieces of earth shot down from the ceiling towards his opponent. Seeing this, Korra yanked both arms upward towarda the top of her head. The debris collided with the arch of Earth before she folded her hands as if crushing a ball. The collected Earth and debris crumpled in on itself, which she promptly dropped and stomped forward, making pillars launch vertically from the ground towards Long Feng in random patterns.
He clicked his teeth, rolling to the side and barely just avoiding the attack.
"Give it up, Long Feng," Korra shouted. "You've lost."
It seemed so, as Long Feng's men were incapacitated or attempting to recover. The Beifong girl and the other two watertribe warriors had regrouped with the Avatar.
They all faced toward him, stances ready. He sighed, as if being outnumbered was no more than a minor inconvenience.
"Jet," Long Feng raised his voice, loud enough for the teen in question to hear. "The Earth King has invited you to Lake Laogai."
Korra noticed Jet suddenly tense up, standing straight.
"I am honored to accept his invitation," the young man answered monotonously.
"Jet, no!" Katara'e cry was heard.
The older Avatar narrowed her eyes. Long Feng was just like Tarlokk, indeed. Even stooping to stripping someone of their free will. Whether it be bloodbending or brainwashing.
"You're despicable!" she cried, charging at the Secretariat. She no longer saw Long Feng.
It was the water tribe politician. Her fellow kinsman that betrayed her trust. She wanted to make him hurt.
Korra made to punch forward and launch as much of the floor as she could, but her arm was intercepted half-way. She found her arm in a lock and suddenly she crashed to the floor.
Above her, Jet raised his hook swords, and swung down. Eyes wide, Korra kicked outward, hitting Jet's wrists, giving jer enough time to recover while he was stunned.
"Jet?" she asked, attempting to elicit a response from him. He was silent, only turning to charge at her. Again, Korra jumped out of the way, looking every which way to spot Long Feng.
The Grand Secretariat had already begun to retreat, he and his crew making their way toward one of the large pipes propped near the ceiling at one end of the room. He was too far away for her to chase after with the now brainwashed Jet chasing her.
Suddenly, a gust of wind slammed into Jet, flinging him sideways with just enough force to be non-lethal, but still knock him off his feet. Off to the side, Aang stood with his staff outstretched, his clothes settling from wind that couldn't have occured naturally indoors.
"Go after Long Feng!" he ordered. "I'll stop Jet!"
Korra nodded once, taking off toward the Dai Li, not before taking a calming breath. She wasn't sure how she hallucinated Tarlokk, but it wouldn't happen again. Taking a small hop, she planted both feet on the ground while swinging her arms backwards. In response, the floor decided to vault upwards, launching Korra like a human missile.
Long Feng and the Dai Li were still unaware of her arrival as she closed in. Still airborne, she swung her arms downward this time, as if she were clearing a desk. The ceiling above the escaping Dai Li began to collapse, catching their attention.
"What?!" Long Feng was caught off guard by Korra's sudden appearance so quickly. She landed noisily, managing to cause a localized tremor. Unfortunately, only two of them were knocked off their feet.
Korra's element of surprise did not last long however. Long Feng demonstrated that he was not the Director of the Dai Li for nothing. As Korra attempted to launch a wall of Earth toward him, he appeared to phase through it, giving Korra pause. He then swung his arms sideways and a wave of Earth crashed into her side, launching her off the pipe.
"No!" Korra shouted, attempting to pivot around. She would have trouble breaking her fall if she couldn't see where she was landing. She braced herself, and landed into something decidely not made of stone and pain.
She blinked, and Jet's voice carried from overhead.
"You alright?"
"I...thanks," she said as he helped sit her up.
"Aang broke me out of that trance," he offered by way of explanation as he saw her guarded expression. She turned to see Aang and the team running to catch up to them.
"You sure you're okay?" she asked after a brief pause. He nodded with just a lopsided smile. He then looked towards where the Dai Li had gathered, noticing they hadn't left yet.
"Take him out," Long Feng ordered, exhaustion in his voice.
A storm of rocks suddenly detached from the walls, all aimed at Jet. Each one the size of boulders, there was no way he could block them without coming out of it grievously injured, or worse. But he stood in front Korra anyway.
Korra attempted to stand up, but her left side screamed in protest. She groaned at the stinging pain shooting near her ribs.
Did I break something?
"Jet! Korra!" Korra looked to see that Sokka, Katara, and Toph were all on a rockalanche, attempting to reach them. Aang was running right beside them with his enhanced speed.
At the rate they were going, her and Jet would be crushed by the incoming boulders.
If only I knew how to go into the Avatar State..!
"Jet, get out of the way!" She ordered, trying again, and painfully, to stand up.
"Not a chance! I'm returning the favor!" Jet retorted, holding his swords close to him in a cross formation, as if it would somehow shield them from the incoming boulders.
With the last of her strength, Korra raised her arms, creating a half-dome of Earth, which immediately began to crack under the pressure of the raining boulders.
So this is how I go out. Crushed by rocks. Korra kept her arms raised, ignoring the pain in her side. Just before she blacked out, she saw Jet still standing in front of her and the team closing in. The dome gave way and she lost consciousness.