Part 4: Rough start
The next day after Jak and Korra revealed themselves to republic city,the two of them were currently sitting in the air temples meal hall along with Tenzin and some of the air acolytes, "The stinging wasps got a total victory in last nights match, we should totally go see a match," Korra said putting the newspaper down.
"Absolutely not, I forbid you from ever going to see that ridiculous sport," Tenzin said looking serious while Jak just sighed while eating.
"But I always dreamed of seeing a match in person back when I was a kid, I used to listen them on the radio but now the arena is only a ferry ride away," Korra said pointing out the window where the stadium could be clearly seen in the distance, "Cmon Jak it will be fun," she said.
"I think we have more important things to do," said Jak placing his plate down.
"Exactly, the two of you are here to finish your avatar training and you cannot let yourselves be distracted," said Tenzin.
"Oh really and the white lotus guards are suppose to help with that," Korra said with a bored look on her face as she pointed at the white lotus guards who were standing at both entrances to the room.
"Yes, I thought it best that two of you train in a calm and peaceful environment, now its time we get started," said Tenzin getting from where he was sitting as Jak and Korra did the same.
As they were walking to one of the training grounds, Jak caught up to Tenzin and Korra dressed up in a blue shirt and dark blue pants while the two of them were wearing air bender clothes, "Jak why aren't you wearing the robes that were left in your room?" Tenzin asked.
"I train better when I'm dressed like this, though not having to wait a coat at night helps," said Jak as he began walking forward noticing Korra had pulled her sleeves up.
"Very well then, now Korra as I remember my mother told me that you have not once been able to air bend," said Tenzin.
"I don't know what's wrong, Ive followed the instructions and even did the same things Jak did but nothing happened," said Korra looking down before Tenzin placed his hands on her shoulders.
"Don't worry it will come around eventually, Aang once had trouble with learning earth bending because it was the complete opposite of him, calm," said Tenzin as he adjusted Korra's sleeves.
"That's why meditation is important," Jak said smiling before they headed up the steps where Milo, Ikkki and Jinora were standing in front a small piece of earth that had gates with the air bending symbol on them, sticking out of the ground.
"Korras gonna air bend, Korras gonna air bend," said Ikki looking excited.
"So what exactly is this," said Korra.
"Its an old training tradition from one of the air temples, I thought this would be a good place to start," said Tenzin.
"Sounds simple enough," Korra said punching her right fist into her left hand.
"Oh he forgot to tell you, that you have to get across while their moving," said Ikki before Tenzin sent a blast of air at the gates making them spin really fast making the two young avatars look nervous.
"Yeah this defiantly makes it more complicated," said Jak.
"The trick is be like the leaf," Jinora explained as Tenzin blew a small leaf from one of the trees that easily made it through to the other side. Jinora then went through as she moved carefully through the gates and reached the other side before blasting air into the gates which seemed to make them go faster.
"Alright here we go," said Korra running up to the gates and a few seconds later she started hitting off them before falling to the ground on the side she started on, "I'm not done yet," she said looking annoyed before running back in as the gates hit her.
"You cant rush through this," said Tenzin.
"Take it nice and slow," said Ikki.
"Be the leaf," Milo said while waving his arms.
"You need to have patience," Jak said before Korra fell face first on the ground in front of them.
"This isn't working," Korra said standing back up.
"Don't worry it will take time," said Tenzin before looking at Jak and nodding his head at the task. Jak stepped forward taking deep breath before closing his eyes and began walking through and dodging the gates. He moved his arms forwards and changed his stance. But just when he reached the other side one of the gates hit him from behind and sent him flying to the ground.
"Well at least you made it to the other side," said Jinora looking down at him.
"Yeah it's a start," said Jak smiling as Tenzin helped him up from the ground and he noticed Korra looked away with annoyed look on her face.
That night outside Korra was trying to air bend at a hanging newspaper that just happened to have a picture of the city's chief of police, "Come on go," said Korra pushing her arms forward but nothing came out, "I don't know Naga maybe I'm not cut out for air bending," she said looking for her animal companion before noticing she wasn't lying on the ground.
"There," said Jak getting her attention and she saw he was petting Naga with a blindfold on.
"What are you doing," said Korra laughing at the way he looked.
"Nagas helping me practice earth bending, aren't you girl," said Jak smiling as the polar dog licked his face. Naga then jumped to this right and he quickly moved petting her head again before she jumped again.
"How are you doing that," said Korra before hearing a radio in one of the guard posts.
"I'm using earth bending to sense the vibrations in the ground, I thought it would come in handy if its dark out or my eyes get injured at some point and its much better learning to do it here then back home," he said before looking around and hearing nothing, "Shes gone isn't she Naga," he said looking forward while the polar dog barked from his left.
Korra was siting on the roof for the guard post listening to the guards radio and it was someone commentating on a pro bending match. She looked excited as the person speaking on the radio described how the guy Mako played. But just when it was getting good the radio cut off making her look confused.
"What is going on in here," said Tenzin surprising the white lotus guards, "Korra get down here," he said as Korra climbed down from the roof to see Jak standing next to Tenzin.
"I told you I want you to have nothing done with that sport," said Tenzin.
"You said I couldn't go see a match, but technically I wasn't seeing I was listening and it was their radio," said Korra.
"Well I uh, isn't the time the two of you went to bed," said Tenzin blowing air around him as he walked away making Korra sigh. The next day they were practicing mediating, Korra peaked one of her eyes open as Tenzin sat in front of her, Jak who was mediating to her right, while Jinora, Milo and Ikki were sitting to her left.
"Nothings happening," said Korra looking bored.
"Nothings suppose to happen, just calm your mind," said Tenzin without opening his eyes.
"Well I don't see how this is suppose to," she began to say before heard a blowing sound coming from her right and looked to see a small wind sphere had formed over Jak's right palm, "Its that suppose to happen?" She asked as Tenzin opened his eyes looking a little surprised to see the wind sphere.
"Uh Jak," he said making the other avatars eyes open and he saw what he had done.
"Sorry Tenzin, old habit," Jak said dispersing the air.
"No I'm quite impressed, you see Korra all these lesson connect to air bending and once you learn all of them you should be able to air bend, see Milo has completely mastered the art," said Tenzin pointing at his son who seemed to be snoring.
"Pretty sure hes asleep," said Jinora.
"What, oh it would seem so," said Tenzin.
"I'm taking a break," Korra said standing back up.
"Wait, if you just give it another try," Tenzin began to say before she interrupted him.
"No no matter how hard I try it doesn't work, its just not coming easy to me," said Korra turning around, "I'm going to get some Leechie juice," she said before walking away.
"You think you can try and help her?" Tenzin asked Jak who nodded his head before getting up and walked away with his hands in his pockets. Just as he was out of ear shot he heard the sound of Milo falling back.
That night Korra peaked out her room windows to see the coast was clear, just when she reached the edge of the island a small earth pillar shot up from the ground in front of her, "Going somewhere," Jak said from behind her and she looked to see he had a serious look on his face as he kept his hands in his pockets.
"Cmon we've been here for two days and nothing has been happening, I just need to take a break form it all," said Korra pointing at the stadium in the distance.
Jak then smiled as he put the pillar back in the ground, "Alright then just for tonight, even I know when to take a break and besides the style they use in these matches could be interesting to see," he said.
"Yeah your right, race you there," said Korra jumping towards the water.
"Your on," said Jak before jumping on the water as the two of them used their water bending to surf on the waves. Jak ended up using his air bending for an extra boost and made it to the back of the stadium first. They walked through the building looking for the arena before coming across a large room.
"What is this place," said Korra as Jak noticed there were two nets along with piles of round pieces of earth on the other side of the room. There was also some weights in the corner.
"I guess this is where the players come to train," said Jak before the two of them heard a loud voice speak up from behind them.
"What are you doing in here," an old man said walking into the room.
"Uh," said Korra.
"Sorry were new to the city and this was our first trip to the stadium, so were not use to walking around yet," Jak said with a nervous smile.
"Yeah, like I haven't heard that one before," the old man said before another, younger male voice spoke up from the entrance.
"There you two are Ive been looking all over for you, sorry for the trouble they caused you I kind of lost track of them," said the young man revealing his black hair, green eyes and wearing some red and white gear.
He lead Jak and Korra out of the room, "Hey thanks for the save back there," Korra said smiling.
"Uh its no problem at all, follow me and I'll show you the best seats here," he said pointing at the path ahead of them.
"Sure, my names Jak and this is Korra," said Jak.
"Names Bolin, so was that whole thing about you being new to Republic city true or was that part of the story you made up," said Bolin.
"It was better then what I would have come up with," said Korra before Bolin opened a door on the left side revealing the arena, "Whoa," she said running over to the railing while Jak slowly walked over to see spotlights shining on the arena that was half blue on one side and red, it was held up by pillars that had another floor underneath it and surrounded by a large pool of water.
There were three sections for each color separated by holes in the arena to shoot up the water from the bottom. There were also sections that shot out the earth discs that they had seen in the training room. There was a large post set up next to the area for the referee with ropes acting as barricades on the left and right side. The people watching sat in the seats that went around the arena. There was separate room for the commentator and there was another room like theirs on the other side of the arena for the other team.
"This is amazing," Korra said.
"Yeah I know right, we compete here every now and then but we get it done," Bolin said trying to sound strong when two more people walked into the room, both of them wearing the same gear as Bolin.
"Hey Mako look who I met," he said pointing at Jak and korra.
"Wait your Mako, I heard you play last night it sounded amazing," Korra said smiling.
"Yeah sure, can I talk to you brother of mine," Mako said ushering his brother to walk over.
"Sorry Ill be right back," Bolin said smiling before walking over to Mako who sounded annoyed for him bringing them here.
"Whats up with him" Korra said leaning against the railing.
"Well we did walk in when they're suppose to be starting a match," said Jak calmly before the three members of the fire ferrets were brought to the arena while Jak and Korra stayed in the room to watch. As their match against their opponents went on Jak noticed that the ones putting up a better fight were Mako and Bolin. Their water bender after only a few seconds had gone by, was blasted to section three.
"Cmon you can do it," Korra cheered as Mako blasted the teams earth bender back to the next section and Bolin blocked the earth benders strikes before he was pushed back by their water bender. As the match neared its end Mako was the last one on his team standing. But with strong fire punches he was able to send all three of the opposing team out of the ring, which got his team the win which made the crowd cheer for him.
When the fire ferrets got back to them, "You caused more damage then good out there," Mako said looking annoyed at his teams water bender.
"Whats it matter, we won in the end didn't we," he said before tossing away his helmet and slammed the door on his way out of the room.
"Whats his deal," Jak said looking confused.
"Who knows," Mako said walking over to his locker while Bolin stood in front of Korra.
"So what did you think, great right," said Bolin.
"Are you kidding that was amazing, Ive never seen moves like that before you gotta teach me how you did that," said Korra looking excited.
"Korra," said Jak looking serious.
"Cmon you said it would be interesting to learn pro bending moves," said Korra smiling making Jak sigh.
"Yeah I guess I can show you a few things, but I wonder how my earth bending would work with your water bending," said Bolin.
"No its alright, were earth benders," said Korra smiling which made Bolin look confused.
"Oh sorry, I assumed because you were dressed up in water tribe clothes," he said rubbing the back of his head.
"No were water benders and fire benders," said Korra.
"I'm also an air blender," said Jak making Bolin look shocked.
"Their the avatars and I'm an idiot," Mako sighed pinching his nose for not seeing it sooner.
"Both true," said Korra laughing.
"Well alright then," said Bolin smiling.
After Bolin and Mako had changed out of their trading gear, they were brought back to the training room where Korra began shoot some of the earth discs into one of the nets, "Wow you picked that up real quick," Bolin said looking impressed.
"Thanks," said Korra smiling.
"Okay how about," Bolin said before Jak fire three discs into the second net, "Nice," he said giving a thumbs up.
"Yes were all really Impressed," said Mako who was leaning against the wall. He then got up walking towards the exit.
"Whats his problem?" Korra asked looking annoyed.
"Don't worry's he's always been like that," said Bolin smiling nervously.
"I just have better things to do then teach, Im heading up for the night bro you coming," Mako said walking towards the exit.
"Yeah Ill be up there in a few more minutes," said Bolin waving.
"Wait you two live here?" Korra asked.
"Yeah its not that great but we get some of the best views of the city," said Bolin smiling before looking towards the net, "Now how about you show me your shooting again," he said.
"Sure," said Korra smiling before an air blast went past her and Bolin stopping them.
"Sorry but one of us has to be responsible, its getting late and you have training tomorrow," said Jak looking serious.
"Well this is a form of training," said Korra standing in front of him.
"Wait are you two together," Bolin asked as the two avatars quickly looked away from each other.
"No were just friends," said Jak before he began walking towards the exit.
"Yeah we've know each other since we were kids," said Korra, "Ill catch up I'm going to try this one more time," she called out while Jak headed towards the exit. When he got outside he used his water and air bending to get back to air temple island.
After walking into his room he looked out his window that had a view of the stadium, "I hope she doesn't regret staying up late tomorrow morning," he thought before getting into bed.