"Uncle Tenzin!" Lifting my hand I waved to my uncle as I ran to catch up with him, the both of us heading towards the arena where the finals were going to commence tonight with Korra and the gang competing against the Wolf-bats. "Uncle Tenzin, I didn't realise you were going to be here too. Are you here to show Korra your support or because of Amon's threat?" I asked him as I stopped before him, the two of us standing before the grand arena which was already flooded with lights.
"Both, actually. I know that this game is important to Korra, however I intend to keep her safe." Tenzin informed me though his brow furrowed slightly. "And I would prefer it if you were not here either, just in case something were to go wrong. I do not want to see you getting hurt." Smiling up at him I reached forwards and hugged my uncle which always threw him off focus, surprised by my display of affection as I grinned up at him.
"There's no way I'm missing this match for the world! Amon doesn't scare me, with or without bending I can hold my own so it doesn't really matter." With a light step I sprung backwards then rushed into the arena. "But I promise I'll be careful Uncle Tenzin so don't worry about a thing!" Waving over my shoulder before I left him behind. It was pretty bare inside except for the added security that Lin was providing, however a as I tried to enter the locker rooms I was stopped by an officer who demanded to know who I was. "Huh? I'm Kanna, Korra's friend." I answered him before smiling. "I always watch the game from the locker room as it has the best view where I can cheer for my friends. Honest."
"Right, a likely story. This area is restricted to participants only, no one is allowed to enter without permission so I suggested you leave." He spoke aggressively, however before I could answer, an even stricter voice spoke from behind me.
"It's alright lieutenant, the girl is telling the truth." Turning around I was surprised to see that it was Lin who had vouched for me, her stern glare fixated on me before she then turned away.
"Thanks!" I called after her but she gave no notice. The guard allowed me to pass and I head straight for the locker room where Korra, Bolin and Mako were getting ready. "Hey everyone! Good luck out there today, I know you'll do great." I cheered for them all and instantly there were smiles around. Korra and I bumped fists whilst Bolin tackled me with a one armed hug, celebrating loudly before he spun me around and I went stumbling backwards, yelping as I grabbed onto one of the locker doors to keep my balance however Mako quickly grabbed me under the arms. "Sorry about that."
"Sorry about Bolin." He answered and I blushed slightly out of embarrassment. The last time I'd seen him, I'd been crying like crazy however he didn't comment on it. In fact after he set me upright on my feet he placed his hand on my head and smiled at me. "Make sure to cheer for us extra loud today, the team spirit isn't the same without you here." I was touched by his words as he was trying to make me feel better about before, so I nodded my head and punched his shoulder.
"You got it, leave the cheering to me and there's no way you guys will fail." We all pulled into a huddle, stoked with the energy of the stadium as it began to fill up until finally, the game was beginning. I yelled and cheered from my spot, watching as Korra and the guys threw everything they had into the game, however very quickly it became obvious that the Wolf-bats had no intention of playing fairly. "Aw come on ref! That was obviously a foul. Are you blind?!" I yelled, furious that Tahno had got away with a hosing foul. Seems like they've paid off the ref, that dirty sleaze ball.
Gripping onto the railing with Pabu on my shoulder I watched in horror as Bolin was sent over and then Mako and Korra, however unbelievably she managed to hang onto the side of the arena, gripping onto Mako before swinging him back up so that they could continue onto round two. "This is ridiculous!" I yelled in complaint, hearing many other fans also yelling angrily at the referee for obviously allowing some very illegal moves. It got from bad to worse, with ice attacks and head shots, it was insane! Luckily the guys managed to hold their ground and the second round was decided by a tie breaker.
Korra took the lead, pulling out Tahno and with an incredible two move combination, knocked him flying. "Woo! Yeah! That's my girl Korra!" I yelled excitedly and she turned back to punch the air towards me which I returned happily, the two of us grinning at one another before we advanced to round three. They did their beast but with the Wolf-bats pulling out every dirty trick in the book, Korra and the others were sent flying back over the side and into the water below. "No! Korra!" Anger sparked inside me as I looked up with a glare, Tahno lifting his hands to be praised by his fans. That dirty cheat, I'll knock his head off!
I was about to metaphorically roll up my sleeves and give him a pounding when sparks of light flashed throughout the stands, making me stop and look. Instantly my eyes shot over to Tenzin who was standing with Lin, however when two people snuck up behind them, I yelled out in warning but I was too far away for them to hear me. They dropped like stones, lying helplessly on the floor however I had problems of my own. Two of them had entered the locker room and I heard the crackle of electricity, the only warning I got. Snarling darkly I swung my foot around and hit one in the head, knocking them out in one strike before I then barred my arm to block, punching forwards to hit the guy in the gut and doubled him over as I then grasped his gloved wrist and flung him over my head.
The breath now knocked out of him I stepped back, looking around before my eyes fell on the water tank by the wall. Pulling the water towards me I froze it over the both of them, freezing them in a blanket of ice to make sure they couldn't escape before I then looked back to the arena, shouting down to Korra in warning. "Korra look out! They're here!" Her head darted up at my shout before she too looked around, the crowds beginning to panic and flee. Before I could do anything further, something cold touched my bare back and all at once I released a scream, turning several heads towards me as electricity flared through me, making my entire body vibrate with the power before I felt myself drop, hanging over the railings as that same guy from before then jumped down to the platform below, my blurry vision making it difficult for me to see before I momentarily blacked out.
When I came around again, I lifted my head weakly to see Amon standing on the court, Tahno trapped under his hand where all at once, he took his bending away. I don't know why, but I instantly felt a flare of defiance. Sure, I don't like Tahno, but to take away his bending is just plain wrong! He's a jerk, not a criminal or anything like that! So, gathering my energy I stood up and sucked in a breath before all at once, I sliced my hands upwards. The water rumbled below, making the arena tremble before a wall of ice rushed up from below and Amon had to spring back away from Tahno as I separated them, keeping the other two benders the chance to break free in the distraction and leap over the wall also.
"Amon!" I bellowed, pointing a finger towards him on the other side of the ice. "You're nothing more than a dictator, you have no right to decide who deserves to bend and who doesn't. Come and face me you coward!" With a leap I spiralled an ice step upwards so that I could make my way to the arena, rolling on the floor to absorb the momentum before I was up on my feet. Tahno was passed out on the ground and his two teammates were standing as far away from Amon as possible, his menacing mask peering at me through the ice as I strode over and glowered at him, a wall of ice all that separated us.
"You challenge me bravely, yet you hide behind this wall of ice. Are you certain that it is I who is the coward?" He questioned and I paused for a moment before growling. All at once I punched the wall, taking Amon by surprise as a block shot outwards and slammed against his chest, taking him down to the ground before I then worked my hands and feet, the ice wall trembling before it then curled over like a wave to further trap them inside.
"I may be impulsive, but I'm not stupid. I'm outnumbered on this occasion." I answered him back as his chi-blockers moved forwards and threw small instruments at the ice. Immediately I sensed the danger so I leaped backwards, standing in front of Tahno and when the wall exploded I crossed my arms in front of me, shielding us both from the ice as it bent to my will and I waited until the trembling had stopped before I looked upwards. Amon was escaping up into an airship, making me growl in fury before I lifted up the ice chunks and launched them up into the air. "Korra!" I yelled, sensing her appear as she chased after Amon and she used the ice to jump after her water spiral petered out. I couldn't help carry her all the way, however Lin caught her with her retractable wire and together, they disappeared through the roof as I sent a volley of smaller projectiles up into the night, knocking a few of the chi blockers down but missed Amon. Damn it!
"Ugh…what happened?" Tahno groaned, rubbing his head before suddenly he gasped. "No, it can't be. It can't be!" He tried to bend the water but nothing happened, his entire body shaking as he tried to get up but collapsed.
"Take it easy, slow down a moment." I guided, gripping his shoulder and began to manipulate the water over him, trying to heal him in some way but it was strange, it felt like his own body was resisting me like there was a block I couldn't surpass. It was confusing as I had never come across something like this before but I continued to try, eyes narrowed in focus as Tahno stared at me.
"Why're you doing this? We're not friends."
"No, but you're a jackass that happens to need my help, so shut up and let me concentrate." Suddenly I felt his hand grip my skirt, bunching into the loose material and I blinked to find he was crying. Okay, that was something I never expected to see. He looked completely weak and vulnerable, like his whole world had been destroyed. In a way it has, I bet he's always relied on his bending to get him through life. Now that he didn't have that anymore, he was going to have to find another way to survive. "Hey, you're going to be okay." I found myself saying to him as I dropped the water aside, reaching out to place my hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry, I didn't get here fast enough to help you." Tahno choked, crying further and before I knew it he was sat up and I was holding him against my shoulder, patting his back with a slightly bewildered expression.
"Kanna! Are you alright?" Tenzin called to me as he flew over with his air-bending, hurrying to my side where Tahno continued to weep. "Pull yourself together boy, we've got bigger problems."
"He just lost his bending, uncle." I reminded him quietly as my hand patted his head. "Let him have a moment." Feeling a little guilty Tenzin nodded, looking up to the glass roof where Korra and Lin were fighting. "Some of the chi blockers are trying to escape among the crowds, I saw a group of them head that way." I pointed and Tenzin immediately went to investigate, telling me not to move and to protect myself with another ice wall if necessary. I watched him leave before I turned to Tahno, healers beginning to arrive on the scene.
"Do…do you think…I'll ever get my bending back?" He asked me as he slowly pulled himself upright. My face flinched slightly at his hopeless expression, so I reached out and placed my hand on his shoulder.
"I don't know how Amon did this, but I promise. I won't stop until he is taken down and then I'll drag the cure from him, even if it means going to extremes." My eyes were stone cold and serious, fingers tightening their grip on Tahno. "You're a jerk and I don't like you, but you don't deserve this. Just sit tight for a while, Korra and I will beat this guy." For a moment he just looked at me before he bowed his head, nodding once. I let go of him and stood up, leaving him to the healers who had now reached us but as I turned away, he reached out and touched my hand to make me pause.
"I'm sorry. About before." He said gently, a look of regret touching his eyes. "If I had known you were afraid of water, I would never have done that to you." Somehow I think he was actually telling me the truth. As he let go of my hand he was guided away by the healers and I couldn't help but feel sorry for him. Taking a deep breath I turned and hurried to go find Mako and Bolin, though the moment I saw them I rushed forwards and flung my arms around their necks, relieved to see that they were alright and for a moment, we stood embracing one another as the heavy weight of reality continued to crush down upon us. It was out in the open now. Benders and non-benders were at war.