The next match we made sure to get to, sneaking off so that we could go see the boys compete, however when Korra and I walked in I blinked. "Hey, what's with all the doom and gloom? You guys look like the world has just come to an end." I said with concern and Korra frowned also.
"We didn't miss your match did we? What happened? You didn't lose did you?"
"We might as well have." Bolin said dejectedly so I reached out and placed my hand on his shoulder to try and comfort him whilst Mako hammered a fist into a locker, angry and his rage showed through his tone.
"Hasook's a no good no show!" That's bad. The rules state that you had to have three players to compete, if Hasook doesn't show up then they'll have to forfeit their match and that just can't happen! As if to rub it in, the referee stuck his head in the door and reminded them that they only had two minutes to come out and play unless they wanted to be disqualified.
"Well, there goes our shot at the tournament and the winnings." Mako sighed as Korra looked around desperately whilst I rubbed Bolin's shoulders, his pet fire ferret curled up on his lap trying to comfort him. Pabu, I think it was called Pabu.
"Can't you ask one of those guys to fill in?" I looked over to Korra and saw her pointing to the other team.
"Nah, the rules say you can only compete on one team." Bolin said as he reached up his hand and patted mine in silent thanks so I gave him a smile as I sat down next to him.
"Well, then...how about me? I'm a top-notch water-bender, if I do say so myself." That's a great idea! Korra can fill in for this match and the guys can beat their opponents easily. If they have Korra then there's no way they're going to lose.
"But, you're the Avatar. Isn't that cheating?"
"Technically there's no rules against it." I pointed out with a shrug. "Korra may be the Avatar but so long as she just does water-bending then there's no reason why they shouldn't allow her to compete. They're just going to have to deal with it."
"No way. I'd rather forfeit than look like a fool out there." Mako stated unhelpfully before frowning at me. "What about you? You're a water-bender too right? Can't you help us out on this one?" Okay now that's just plain rude, Korra was already offering her help! Leaping to my feet my fists clenched tightly as I glared at this absolute tool.
"For your information, I don't water-bend, I can only use ice you moron!" I reminded him hotly. "And the rules say water must be used in its liquid state so I'd be absolutely no use to whatsoever! Jeez, what happened to you to make you into such a jerk?" Shaking my head I pushed Korra towards the locker so she could get ready. "Just do your best out there and cover for Korra whilst she finds her feet, if you give up now then you'll lose all respect you've accumulated so far. Just deal with it." Mako blinked at me in surprise, staring at a moment as the referee stuck his head in again.
"Times up. You in or out?"
"We're in." Korra stated as she started to hurriedly get dressed.
"We are?"
"Yes!" Bolin and I high fived one another as he ran to his locker whilst Mako floundered a little, trying to interject.
"Hey, I didn't agree to this." Giving a smirk I punched his shoulder, making him wince and hiss as he rubbed the offended area.
"You can thank Korra and I later, just make sure you burn it up out there you jerk." With a punch of my fist into my palm I cheered my friends out onto the arena, Pabu climbing up to sit on my shoulder. "Oh hey there Pabu, you going to watch with me?" I asked before giggling, tickling him under the chin where he purred slightly before we both turned back to the arena where Korra was struggling with the ill-fitting uniform. Almost immediately, however, it all went wrong. Korra used the water to knock one of her opponents over the side of the arena, making me slap a hand to my face. I should have given her a crash course in the rules. Damn it.
For the most part, I couldn't watch. It was one disaster after another, Korra being pushed back to zone three after another foul which meant that after the three minutes, round one went to the Platypus Bears. This is a disaster. "I can't watch Pabu. Tell me when it's over." I resigned, covering my eyes momentarily before my curiosity got the better of me and I looked out again. Korra was now being targeted as their opponents recognised her as inexperienced, however when she suddenly brought up two discs to use as shields and block the attacks, the referee called another foul however now the entire arena was thrown into confusion.
Thankfully Korra was permitted to continue on the grounds that she only bent water which I figured was fair. "Come on Ferrets! You got this!" I yelled as loudly as I could and waved my hand. Korra looked back and gave me the thumbs up so I held my breath as they fell back in line. Unfortunately this didn't help Korra at all as she was knocked out of the arena and into the water and that meant that after three minutes, the Bears won round two as well. The only way the guys were going to win now was if they got a knock out. "Come on! I know you guys can do this!"
Round three and things were looking just as bad. Whilst Mako and Bolin bore the brunt of the water-bender attacks, Korra took the rest until she was pushed all the way to zone three. "Come on Korra, focus!" Without even thinking, I suddenly yelled at the top of my lungs. "BE THE LEAF!" Suddenly it seemed to click and Korra was spiralling and circling around the attacks, her form changing into the air-bender stance and it worked a miracle. She dodged all the attacks, effortlessly moving and my eyes widened in wonder as I stared. She did it, she finally figured it out. "That's my girl! Yeah!" Cheering again I watched as the opposing team slowly began to run out of energy which then gave Mako and Bolin the opening they needed.
In seconds it was over, all three teammates being sent down into the water for a complete knockout, making me stare in shock before all at once I leaped up. "Woo! Yeah! Go Ferrets! Haha!" Grabbing Pabu I spun around with him before hugging him tightly, all too excited to contain my joy as the guys all celebrated their amazing comeback. When they got back to the lockers I immediately flung myself at Korra, fixing my arms around her as she grinned breathlessly. "You were amazing Korra, it clicked! How do you feel?"
"Amazing, it just suddenly hit me exactly like Tenzin said it would. He was here, actually, he kind of found out that we snuck off to see the match." Korra said and instantly I paled, jaw dropping in horror. Uh oh, we were so screwed and I'm going to get into so much trouble for letting Korra do this! Oh well, it was totally worth it.
"We were so awesome out there! From now on, you're our new pro water-bender, you're on the team Korra!" Bolin decided before Mako could even say anything about it, his arms slung over both our shoulders and we grinned together, overwhelmed by the win as Pabu sat on Bolin's head. It was a great evening, however when we returned to the temple Korra and I weren't certain how Tenzin was going to respond to us breaking the rules. To our surprise, he was actually pretty calm about it and even apologised to Korra for losing his patience, though after she had rushed off to bed and leaving me alone with him, he then turned to me.
"As for you, I cannot say I am happy that you disobeyed my express wishes for you to remain on the island. It is one thing for Korra, however since you are family it is my responsibility to keep you safe. The city is dangerous and your mother would never forgive me if anything were to happen to you." I lowered my head slightly and hugged my arm to my side, expression darkening slightly.
"Don't worry, I doubt she'd even notice." I said dejectedly. "I'm sorry I broke the rules, but there's something you should know about Korra." Lifting my head again I looked my uncle directly in the eye. "She's wild and very untameable, however by trying to keep her locked up and contained only made things more difficult for her. Air is the element of freedom, right? Well, Korra learns best under her own terms without so many rules and restrictions weighing her down. As the Avatar it's important that she learns things for herself and that can only happen if you loosen the reins a little." My eyes never once wavered as we stood facing one another. "If you want her to learn air-bending properly, you should allow her to be the leaf and go where the wind takes her. She'll learn much faster that way. Don't worry, I can keep her out of trouble." I paused for a moment before smiling. "Mostly."
"You speak wisely for one your age, Kanna. If you weren't a water-bender, you would have made a fine air-bender." Tenzin said to me and I wasn't sure how to take such a compliment. I guess it was nice of him, but at the same time I couldn't help but hear the regret in his voice, almost like he wished I had been. I know he struggled to keep the Air Nomads alive, but it was hardly my fault I wasn't born an air-bender. "It's late, you should get some rest. Pema will need your help in the morning and no doubt the children will need to be watched."
"Sure thing Uncle Tenzin, just leave it to me." I assured him, lifting a hand and bowed in the Air Nomad way which he returned before I then hurried off to bed where Korra was already fast asleep, snoring and taking up most of the bed so I giggled before getting undressed, kicking her over so that there was space for me before she snorted, turning over to huddle into me where I hugged her, smiling into her hair before I too closed my eyes.