Korra and Mako were already inside so I made sure that my overcoat hid all my tribal clothing before I then walked up to the door, showing the guard the poster like I had seen the others do before I was then welcomed inside. It was completely packed, thousands of non-benders gathering to see their leader Amon and find out about this big revelation. Glancing around I moved forwards, seeing Korra not too far away so I went and stood behind them, lowering my voice to whisper. "I'm here."
"Glad you could make it." Mako answered without either of them turning their heads, the three of us remaining as inconspicuous as possible. Suddenly the huge stage filled with floodlights and the host spoke through a microphone which boomed out across the giant warehouse so that everyone could hear. They cheered for their leader Amon as he was lifted up onto the stage from below, the stage having opened for him and instantly my eyes narrowed. You know, he didn't look so scary when he wasn't blown up ten sizes too big on posters. Sure the mask was creepy but behind that mask was just a man like any other. What I want to know is what was his deal?
"My quest for equality began many years ago." He spoke and I found my spine shuddering at his tone. It was nasally and it irked me greatly. "When I was a boy, my family and I lived on a small farm. We weren't rich and none of us were benders and this made us very easy targets for the fire-bender who extorted my father." He continued, addressing the crowds as people booed appropriately. Not only did I think his story was total crap, but why was it always fire-benders that got the bad rep? The hundred year war ended decades ago people! Deal with it. "One day, my father confronted this man but when he did, that fire-bender took my family from me. Then, he took my face. I've been forced to hide behind a mask ever since." Too bad, you didn't ever hear Fire Lord Zuko complaining about his scar, and he was burned by his own father when he was just a kid! "As you know, the Avatar has recently arrived in Republic City."
This received and answering boo and I sensed Korra shift uncomfortably, gripping onto Mako a little more tightly. The movement didn't go unnoticed and I frowned thoughtfully, thinking to how often Korra complained about Mako. Huh, I should have seen that one sooner. She's totally into him. Shaking my head slightly to clear my thoughts I returned to paying attention to what Amon was saying, listening carefully as the crowds quietened down again. "And if she was here she would tell you that bending brings balance to the world, but she is wrong. The only thing bending has brought to the world is suffering. It has been the cause of every war in every era. However, that is about to change." My face dropped a little in confusion, wondering what he was intending to do. Kill ever bender that lived? Yeah right, that's not exactly going to work. "I know you've been wondering, what this revelation is but do not fear, you are about to get your answer. Since the beginning of time, the spirits have acted as guardians of our world and they have spoken to me. They say the Avatar has failed humanity. That is why the spirits have chosen me to usher in a new era of balance. They have granted me a power that will make equality a reality. The power to take a person's bending away, permanently."
My eyes widened in horror at the prospect. It can't be true, there's just no way. Take away someone's bending? Okay, I might not particularly care if someone took away my bending as I didn't exactly use it very much and most of it terrified me, but for some people it was a way of life! Their entire culture! Some people can't survive without their bending, you just can't mess with someone like that. It's not equal at all, it's tyranny and dictatorship!
"That's impossible." Korra whispered a little worriedly as Mako frowned.
"This guy is insane." I heartily agreed with them. The only record we have of someone ever being able to take away someone's bending was Avatar Aang, who took away the Fire Lord's bending to bring the war to an end.
"Now, for a demonstration." My gaze darted back to the stage however I couldn't see very well, just shapes in the distance. "Please welcome Lightning Bolt Zolt, leader of the Triple Threat Triad, and one of the most notorious criminals in Republic City." So that's what had happened at the headquarters, they must have been kidnapped exactly for this purpose. Oh no, I can just about make out Bolin last in line with the other criminal bosses. Please tell me Amon doesn't intend to demonstrate his power on those people, especially not Bolin. "Zolt has amassed a fortune by extorting and abusing non-benders, but his reign of terror is about to come to an end." The criminal mastermind was released from his bonds, Amon turning to face him. "Now in the interest of fairness I will give Zolt the chance to fight to keep his bending." Cheap play, you have to be up to something dirty if you're that cocky.
"You're gonna regret doing that, pal." Fire bloomed upon the stage however amazingly not a single hit landed on Amon who weaved and dodged his way. His movements, his footwork, it all looked so familiar to me however I couldn't quite pinpoint it. I watched in horror as he took down Zolt and with a thumb pressed to his brow, did something that caused Zolt to suddenly loose the giant crackles of lightning that were rushing from his fingertips, changing to brilliant flames before they too faded into nothing. Struggling on the ground, Zolt attempted to punch fire at Amon however, nothing happened.
With a rush of shock, my jaw dropped down in horror. No way. Impossible. This can't be true, it has to be a trick of some kind. There is no way a non-bender could ever possess this kind of power and there's no way the spirits would grant it. The only one they would ever commune with would be Korra because she's the Avatar, the bridge between the Spirit World and our world. "Your fire-bending is gone. Forever." The crowd gasped in shock as Amon turned to face his audience, spreading his arms wide. "The era of bending is over. A new era of equality has begun!" Okay, now this guy officially freaked me out. As the thundering applause answered him, the next victim was brought up. Don't get me wrong, I agree those criminals should be punished but the sentence should be passed by a court of law and only as a final resort. Bolin didn't do anything wrong to deserve this!
"Any ideas yet?" Korra questioned Mako and I stepped a little closer to listen, feigning being pushed with a jerk.
"I think so. See those machines?" He turned his head slightly so both Korra and I looked to where he was gesturing, seeing large pipes running up the walls supporting two large canisters. "They're powered by water and steam. If you can create some cover I can grab Bolin without anyone seeing, then, we duck outta here."
"Works for me."
"I'll wait here and direct the steam up to the stage before heading around back. I'll be sure to take out anyone who might pose a problem." I murmured under my breath and the three of us nodded before going our separate ways. Mako went a little on ahead and we were forced to observe as the last two criminals had their bending stolen from them. Korra sure was taking her time. Had something gone wrong? When Bolin was grabbed I tensed, looking around me desperately until finally, I saw the steam come rushing outwards. With quick movements of my hand I sent it rushing forwards, completely swallowing the stage where Mako leaped up to grab his brother.
Around me everyone was panicking so I went with the crowd to escape, ducking down and pushing my way through the door before breaking off and heading around the back, opening the cap to shoot a flurry of ice shuriken at a guard, pinning him to the wall before I leaped up and knocked him out with a kick before he could even yell, smirking as I manipulated the water back into Gran-Gran's pouch. Her necklace flashed around my neck under the moonlight and I took a deep breath, feeling as if she were right here with me.
Streaking down the alley I heard the rushing of water underneath my feet and realised that there was a drain nearby, which meant there were pipes full of water. Handy. Facing more than just a few chi blockers I began to swirl my hands in the complicated movements of a water-bender, however I then began to shift my weight forwards and summoned the water upwards, transforming it into ice which I used to create a wall which I pushed through them all, knocking them down one by one before I released huge splashes of ice that froze them to the walls helplessly. "Try chi block me from there you morons." I snorted before moving forwards once more.
Ahead of me I saw both Mako and Bolin taking a heavy beating from one of the chi blockers who used electrified truncheons, however as Bolin made to protect himself with a rock wall the guy leaped over it and I heard Bolin's agonised yells of pain. Fury flaring through me I raced forwards as Mako stumbled to his feet and together we leaped over the wall, our feet crashing down on the chi blocker to push him back from Bolin who was knocked completely unconscious. "I got this." Mako instantly stated so I let him take the lead whilst I went to Bolin and lifted his head.
"Hey, come on Bolin, wake up." I patted his cheek to try and get him to come round but for the moment he was out cold. As I looked over to Mako, he wasn't having any better luck the second round, having his butt practically handed to him by this guy and his electric rods. A wild blast of fire flew directly towards us and I had to roll out of the way with Bolin to avoid getting hit, the wall collapsing behind us. With a final thrust to the chest Mako was sent flying backwards however I held out an arm and caught him, hugging both boys close to me as I quickly moved forwards to shield them. "You're hurting my friends." I stated darkly, feeling my anger begin to reach a new peak as I lowered my stance slightly, feeling the water below beginning to tremble as I faced my opponent.
"Kanna…be careful…" Mako gasped for breath, struggling to get back up but he was in too much pain to even move.
"You benders need to understand there's no place for you in the world anymore." He stated before making a dash for me however I sliced my hand across in a vertical arc and a small rush of water rose from the drain and swept across his feet where it froze to ice and pinned him in place, making him yell and curse as Korra then stamped the ground, causing a slab to erupt and slam him against the alley wall. I couldn't help but smirk, dusting off my hands as I nodded to Korra. We sure did make a great team.
"I wouldn't count us out just yet." She stated before whistling loudly. "Naga!" Turning around I listened for Naga, running to help Bolin sit upright however as Naga appeared I summersaulted onto her back, helping Korra pull up Mako in front of me as Naga picked up Bolin with her jaw, racing away as more chi blockers appeared everywhere. In front I could hear Bolin yelling and yelping in pain, however I spun around in the seat and pushed my hands forwards quickly, working the water to suddenly freeze over the floor so that the chi blockers went tumbling to the ground with heavy thuds. We rounded the corner and then, we were gone.
Naga didn't stop running until we had reached the arena where the boys got off, groaning and rubbing their injuries. "Here, we can help you with those." I said whilst giving Korra a smack to her arm before we too jumped off, using the water underneath the pier to heal some of their bruises and aches.
"Oh yeah, that's the stuff. That's perfect right there." Bolin exhaled with relief as the water soothed his pain. "You guys are the greatest, I thought for sure that I was done for but then you all just busted in and totally kicked butt!" He grinned, knuckling my shoulder playfully as I blushed at him. "Thanks a lot, I owe you one."
"It's nothing, we were all worried about you Bolin. Just try not to get involved with those people again, okay?" I told him sternly before dropping the water. Mako and Bolin were so tired that they didn't say much more, dragging themselves up to the attic and to be honest, I was just as exhausted. I helped Korra get us all back over to the island with our ice raft before finally, we were home. The guards seemed relieved when we dragged ourselves up the steps, leaning against one another for support. Korra went to go talk to Tenzin but I just wanted to go to bed.
Unsurprisingly, however, I found three little bundles waiting there for me so I smiled and sat down, stroking Jinora's hair as she slept. Ikki turned over in her sleep looking as peaceful as an angel and even Meelo looked cute when he was asleep. They must have sensed that I was back because Jinora and Ikki opened their eyes, humming sleepily. "Kanna? You're back. We were so worried." Jinora said so I smiled again as Meelo snorted in his sleep before he groaned, sitting up and then climbed over into my lap to have a cuddle.
"I'm sorry you guys but it's all fine now. Korra and I found our friend and he's safe. Go back to sleep." They smiled softly before giving me room to climb into bed with them and they all slept against me wrapped up in the warm blanket. Tenzin came in later to check on us and he smiled at the picture, Korra having only just made it to her room as it was closer where she was curled up with Naga. We were both exhausted, so I was grateful when no one disturbed us in the morning, otherwise I really would have made an iceberg out of someone.