I own nothing. The song used is Explosions by Ellie Goudling. Inspirational Quote.
"The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time."
― Mark Twain
'...You tremble like you see a ghost
And I gave in
"I lack the things you need the most,"
You said
Where have you been?...'
As if she could have gone to sleep that night, the long distance call could live up to its name. Long. Therefore sleep deprivation and perhaps the need to think things over had gotten the best of her.
Naturally being the first awake, watching as how life on the island burst to its natural balance.
'The perks of not sleeping.' She mused.
Darkness was forming overhead. The sky painted in splotches of grey and the clouds gathering together forming darker shades of grey.
Listening to each set of footsteps making their way towards the dining hall.
No doubt Tenzin was surprised to even see her there. While his children ran around the room.
"Good morning, Lin,"
She replied to his greeting, "Good morning."
"About yesterday night..." Tenzin began.
She sighed, "Let's just agree that we were tired and upset."
She watched as he blinked and nodded in agreement.
"Did you-" before she could hear his response, the avatar and her friends had stepped into the room.
...
Watching the Avatar indulge herself was once in a lifetime. ONCE.
Then again, it was understandable that she was hungry. Missing for an entire day without being fed.
Evident enough that the girl needed food.
Praising Pema's ability to cook.
"Mm. Mm. The food tastes amazing, Pema. I'm finally starting to feel like myself again." Korra said through bites.
'I'm not that hungry anymore. After watching her...' Lin told herself.
Pema stood up while taking Korra's plate and said, "We're so thankful you're home safe."
Asami stood up to assist Pema.
Watching them retreat the dining room.
Tenzin got right down to business.
"Korra, I realize you've been through a lot, but I need to know everything that happened." Tenzin remarked.
"Well, first off, Tarrlok isn't who he says he is. He's Yakone's son. "Korra stated bluntly.
Tenzin and Lin both looked at each other with shock.
"It all makes sense now. That's how Tarrlok was able to blood bend us without a full moon," She stated.
"But how did you escape? And where's Tarrlok?" Asked Tenzin.
"Amon captured him," Korra's face was serious as she continued, "and took his bending."
"What?" Tenzin said shocked.
"Yeah, he showed up out of nowhere. He almost got me, too." Answered Korra.
"This is very disturbing news. Amon is becoming emboldened. Taking out a councilman, almost capturing the Avatar... I fear Amon is entering his endgame." Tenzin remarked.
She sat there quietly processing the information.
"Lin,"
"Hmm,"
"May I speak with you in the courtyard?" Tenzin asked.
Nodding her head and following behind him.
'...You wasted all that sweetness
To run and hide;
I wonder why
I remind you of the days
You poured your heart into,
But you never tried...'
'This is all too familiar.' She thought to herself.
Walking behind Tenzin and stopping in the middle of the courtyard.
Tenzin turned around to face her.
"Lin, um, I, I- I need to ask you a favour. It would mean the world to me... but I-I know it could be a- a potentially awkward situation; furthermore, -"
She hated when he stuttered.
"Spit it out already!" She barked.
"Will you stay here and watch over Pema and the children while I meet with the council? With everything that has happened lately, I want to be sure my family is in safe hands,"
'Oh Tenzin, you big fool, I may be upset with you over several things but you don't need to ask,' she told herself.
Placing a hand on his shoulder,
"Of course I'll help, old friend."
From behind Pema walked towards them carrying Meelo.
"I didn't realize you two were out here," Pema said suspiciously.
"Pema! Ye- yes- yes, Lin has agreed to help out around here and keep an eye on things while I'm away," Tenzin exclaimed with stutters.
'Do I hint a tad bit of suspicion in Pema's voice?' Lin mused.
"Thank you! I could use the extra pair of hands," handing over a laughing Meelo, "Would you mind giving him a bath? He's filthy."
Meelo sticks out his tongue and blows a raspberry at Lin while continuing to laugh.
"This is not what I signed on for!" She yelled angrily towards Tenzin.
Tenzin already mounting Oogi, replying with, "Thank you, Lin! Oogi, yip yip,"
Tenzin takes to the sky on Oogi.
She turns her head back to Meelo, who is picking his nose.
"I gotta poo!" She holds him farther away from her,"Really bad!"
Meelo grunts and she quickly metal bends a cable around his waist to avoid touching the soiled child. She makes a disgusted face and hurriedly carries him away.
...
'Thank the spirits that Mo Li and Jie are far beyond the stage that these children are in,' she told herself.
Both hands rubbing her head.
"Are you all right?" Asked Jinora.
"I'm fine. Where are your siblings?" She replied.
"They're inside... Umm, may I ask you a question?"
She turned to look at the young air bender.
"You may,"
"Are my older siblings earth benders like you or are they air benders like my siblings and I?"
She blinked biting back a word that would have been directed towards Tenzin.
"When did your father tell you of them?" She inquired not wanting to answer the young girl's question.
"A few days ago,"
Letting a sigh escape her, "both are earth benders."
"Oh, is that why you kept them a secret?"
A nerve around her temple twitched.
"No," fixing her gaze out towards the city not looking at the young girl anymore lost in a different time.
"Korra was saying that you and my dad were together a long time ago until my mom confessed her love to him," Jinora told her with utmost confidence.
'Why is my private life so visible to everyone?' she asked herself.
"Korra?"
"Yes, Korra and from my parents,"
"Hmm,"
"I'm sorry that I am intruding in your personal life," Jinora's voice was sincere.
She looked at the young girl.
She only sighed.
"It's not that you're intruding, I'm just concerned with this whole situation. Why don't you go and see if your siblings are all right?" She replied to her softly.
Jinora nodded and did what she was told.
Lin stared off at Republic City.
The sky was darker than before, the clouds moving in closer to each other.
'...I've fallen from grace,
Took a blow to my face;
I've loved, and I've lost,
I've loved, and I've lost,...'
...
Running, running through the babel of the crowd. A corpse being carried away from the scene.
She scanned the crowd and scanning the faces.
Sweat trickling down her face. Her throat tied in a knot, not wanting to ask whom the person on the stretcher was.
An officer was speaking to her, his mouth moved the faintest trace of words came out but she only listened to what connected to her.
Mother.
Fought.
Tried.
Almost.
Ambushed.
Dead.
Sorry. . .
Her sight blurring, murmurings hushed, sirens blaring, and figures moving about.
The sad realization that her mother was the one under the white sheet. Colourless, cold empty but still very much there.
'I... You're gone. Gone...'
...
Standing in the middle of the courtyard facing towards Republic City.
The children had stopped playing to notice what she had been staring at this whole time.
A fleet of airships was surrounding the city.
Explosions.
Dark clouds of smoke shrouded around the city.
Her city. Which once was her mother's.
"All right, kids, time to go inside," she ordered.
The children walked back inside whilst Korra and her friends rushed to see the horror.
"We heard explosions, what's going on?" Korra asked.
"Republic City is under attack." She stated staring at the city.
'...Explosions
On the day you wake up,
Needing somebody
And you've learnt
It's okay to be afraid,
But it will never be the same
It will never be the same...'
...
Hollow and emotionless.
Her mother's body buried six feet into the ground. Covered in layers of earth.
While she still walks the surface and her mother is laid to rest.
The sky was above dark.
Emotionless.
Staring at the fresh grave. The only people who were around her were Tenzin and his family.
An extended family to her mother. Adventures that they shared when they were kids.
No longer hearing her mother talk about Melon Lord, Earth Rumble or her never ending blind jokes.
No longer having her mother as chief of police.
No more long nights with her.
Nothing.
Heavy rain, the pellets concealing her tears. The hushing of the wind and Katara's voice urging that it was time to go.
Go where?
Home. To my mother's home. To their home. To headquarters.
Go Where?
"I'd like to stay here for a while." Her voice soft and distant.
"Lin, it's pouring, let's go home." Urged Tenzin with sincerity.
"You can all go home, I won't be long." She whispered.
A tender squeeze on her shoulder and a kiss on her temple.
Closing her eyes, letting the rain wash away her pain.
...
"Everyone, hide inside and remain calm." Lin calmly said.
Pema screams in pain; Lin turns around to face her.
"Pull it together, Pema! Didn't I just say "remain calm"? She said.
"Mommy, what's wrong?" Ikki asked worried.
"The baby's coming!" Shrieked Pema from the pain.
Lin's temple twitched again.
Listening to the words of the youngest child. "Not now baby!"
'Not now... Not now of all times!'
Watching the airships make their way towards the island.
Lin standing guard in the courtyard as she listens to booted feet running. The Lieutenant and a group of chi-blockers race up the steps and charge. She uses her cables to take out two chi-blockers, then uses a mix of metal- and earth bending to take out several more.
'Damn it... If I'm not careful...'
Still fighting the Lieutenant. He intercepts her cables with his batons, sending a current through them to knock her over. The Lieutenant stands over her and raises his electrified kali sticks.
'No. . . .'
Flying in from behind on a glider, "stay away from my dad's ex-girlfriend!" Jinora uses her staff to blow the Lieutenant away over a nearby roof.
Bewilderment and concern spread across her face. "Jinora! You shouldn't be out here!"
As if on cue, Ikki arrived on an air scooter and knocking several Equalists over, "Get off our island!" Knocking down several more Equalists and joins Lin and Jinora.
"Girls! You need to go back inside this instant!" She demanded.
The youngest of the three jumps down from the roof.
"Taste my fury!" Farting on an Equalist's face, knocking him unconscious.
"Meelo! Be careful!" She insisted.
Meelo sends three other blasts from his hands and rear, and makes a small air shield around him to send the remaining Equalists flying.
She noticed a drip of snot slipping its way out of the young boy's nose and the rush of power that appeared on his young face.
"Never mind." She mumbled.
She and the sentries gathered the Equalists and bounded them in a row in front of her, the children, and the White Lotus sentries.
She spoke to the head sentry, "Take these Equalists and lock them in the temple's basement!" Turning to look at the children, "Nice work, kids."
Hearing Oogi's grunt she looked towards the courtyard. The children running towards Tenzin.
'...You left my soul bleeding in the dark
So you could be king
The words you said are still untold to me
And I've
Lost my faith in everything...'
"Dad!" Jinora yelled
"Oh, thank goodness you're all right!" Tenzin said embracing his three children.
Meelo climbed onto Tenzin's shoulder and pulled on his father's head. "We caught the bad guys."
She had her hand on her hip feeling Tenzin's gaze on her.
"You let them fight? Do you realize what could have happened?" He asked.
"I would have been toast if it weren't for your kids," folding her arms, "You should be proud. You taught them well."
She watched Tenzin look over his shoulder and look at his children.
'Pema...' she remembered that Pema was having the baby during the turmoil.
"Go on; be with your wife."
She watched him practically run.
This... This could have been her life but she chose not to. She chose to do it another way. Without.
Korra and her friends were watching her.
They slowly walked inside.
Lin, Korra, and Mako watch the scene from near the doorway.
"Rohan,"
They had named the new addition to the air bending family.
She watched Korra step into the room.
"I'm so sorry to interrupt, but more airships are coming." Korra said sadly.
Tenzin looks down at Rohan.
"Everything's not gonna be fine, is it, Daddy?" A worried Ikki asked.
They all stepped out and they look at the incoming airships.
Lin kept her arms folded.
'Damn it... Damn it all. The city.'
Shrouded in smoke and dust. She could only imagine how the streets looked like. The gangs taking advantage of the vast destruction in the streets. No, they're probably in hiding.
She heard Tenzin's final words.
"If you're leaving, then I'm going with you." She exclaimed.
"But-" Tenzin began.
"No arguments. You and your family are the last air benders. There's no way in the world I'm letting Amon take your bending away." She said truthfully.
She saw the appreciation in his eyes.
"Thank you, Lin. Korra, I want you to leave this island and hide for the time being." He said.
Focusing her attention on the oncoming airships.
I could always pull something out of my sleeve.
Those words left her wondering. Jung was a mystery. She was just hoping he didn't do something stupid.
The airships edged closer and closer.
"Tenzin, if we're leaving, we better do it now."
'...Those nights you could cope
Your intentions were gold
But the mountains will shake;
I need to know I can still make
Explosions
On the day you wake up needing somebody
And you've learnt
It's okay to be afraid,
But it will never be the same...'
"They're gaining on us!" She yelled through the wind.
"Faster, Oogi!" Tenzin commanded.
Oogi speeds up but an Equalist airship shoots out a large net at them. Lin metal bends her cables to break the net apart and wraps her cable around the rope. She stands and looks at the family with sorrow as they look at the airships in fear.
'This is the only way to buy them some time...'
She looks away before turning her back towards them.
"Whatever happens to me, don't turn back!"
Tenzin turns his head to Lin,"Lin, what are you doing?"
Lin runs and jumps off of Oogi, reeling herself up and landing on the airship. She takes her stance and rips off a large section of the airship's metal skin. It explodes and it begins to fall into the harbour below. She metal bends a panel to catapult herself to the other airship. She begins to rip apart the airship when Equalists come up behind her. They throw their bolas that wrap around her body and feet, electrocuting her into unconsciousness.
...
Here she was.
Kneeling in front of their god.
Their leader.
Peril. Amon was that.
He created it and walked amongst it as if it didn't touch him.
They had dragged her here. She could have fought back. Could have, should have.
Her bending taken away in the very place where she had practically grew up. Where she was supposed to grow old in. That didn't happen. The rain never felt so soothing.
'Wash it all away...'
"Tell me where the Avatar is and I'll let you keep your bending," Amon's voice low and demanding.
"I won't tell you anything, you monster." She said defiantly.
"Very well,"
He walks behind her.
'Wash it all away...'
She closes her eyes and feels his hand against her neck, cold, and the pressure against her neck and then his cold thumb on her forehead.
Internally empty.
For a split second, she saw a familiar figure. She fell into the dark abyss.
The rain pelting harder it was washing away everything in its sight.
. . .
"Sir, what would you like us to do with her?"
"Take her to our guests. I believe it's time to reunite them. Everything is coming to a close."
'...And as the floods move in,
And your body starts to sink,
I was the last thing on your mind:
I know you better than you think
'Cause it's simple darling,
I gave you warning
Now everything you own
Is falling from the sky in pieces
So watch them fall with you
In slow motion
I pray that you'll find peace of mind;
And I'll find you another time
I'll love you another time
Explosions
On the day you wake up,
Needing somebody
And you've learn
It's okay to be afraid
But it will never be the same...'