She cursed herself, over and over again. Zhu's temper had gotten the best of her.
The stories that grandad Zuko had told her over the years made Zhu believe that the Avatar was a deity, a force to be reckoned with. The bridge between the Spirit world and the Living world. The Avatar was supposed to be wise and strong.
Korra was just...an ordinary person. The only thing special about her, Zhu thought as she picked up her pace over the building tops, was that she can bend four - no - three elements.
That's the Avatar my mother was so fond of? Grammai died so that a hot-headed teenager like Korra could puff up her chest and brag abou - no no no no, let's just give Korra the benefit of doubt. Stop thinking about her. Focus on finding Bolin. Where was the last place you sensed their heat-signature, Zhu?
She struggled with her mind for a while before forcing herself to pay attention to the situation at hand. Zhu stealthily tiptoed in the shadows, keeping a lookout for any unwanted persons around. Soon, she found herself at the old industrial area. Large, abandoned yet fully functional if someone were to use it.
Perched on the roof, Zhu sensed dozens of people like swarms of insects, inside one of the factories. Increasing her concentration tenfold, Zhu found Bolin as well. The Equalist party was leading him and a few others deeper, under the factory.
It was well past midnight now and Zhu doubted that she could make it in and sneak Bolin out safely all alone. There was too much risk involved. She couldn't differentiate between the nonbender civilians and Amon's henchmen. However, Zhu would storm into the factory immediately if Bolin was going to be harmed.
Zhu clicked her tongue. She shouldn't have yelled at Korra. Now her ego restrained her from going back to the Avatar and Mako.
Who owned this factory anyway? Zhu dropped behind the factory, onto a deserted, narrow path. She continued to spy from there, observing multiple guards posted around the rundown building. They seemed to be preparing for something. A few masked men were speaking at the entrance. But their volume was too low and the distance between them a little far for Zhu to hear.
The detective stayed for a while longer, making sure that Bolin was unharmed. Then, when she finally decided that staying here was futile, she memorized the location of the factory and made her way back towards the city.
It took her a considerable amount of time to muster up the courage to wait at Mako and Bolin's home. Zhu sat on the window sill, her back against the jamb. It had been a few hours since the sun had risen. Zhu debated whether or not she should find something to eat in the attic. She really wanted to rest her eyes for a while since she hadn't slept for the past 24 hours.
When Mako found a dozing Zhu on the window sill, his first reaction was one of incredule. How had she not fallen off the ledge? He gently touched her shoulder, not wanting to startle the girl. Behind him, Korra almost exclaimed in surprise but one hiss of 'Quiet!' from Mako made her stop.
Zhu's eyes immediately flew open. She rolled her shoulders backwards and got off the window sill. "I found where they are keeping Bolin and the other Triad members."
Korra held up a few pamphlets, "We did too."
"That's what you were doing the entire night?" Mako asked, narrowing his eyes, "I thought you went home."
"I do remember saying that I was going to find Bolin." Zhu replied, "Now, what do you guys have?"
The two filled her in about the Revelation and how there was going to be a secret meeting that night. The location of the place was quite cleverly concealed in a map behind the pamphlets. Only, it was like a jigsaw puzzle.
"The information checks out," Zhu nodded, "This is the location of the factory I was at, last night. Amon's men were preparing for something. I stayed until I was sure that they wouldn't hurt Bolin in any way or take away his bending."
"How did you know that if you were spying on the place from the outside?" Korra asked, raising a suspicious brow.
Zhu held up a flaming fist and opened it, sending out a circle of fire that disappeared in different directions, "Heat sensing. I've been good at it since I was young. For example, I can tell you that there are approximately 56 people in the building - 57, since Toza just came back. Two teams are practising in different gyms below. Someone's trying to tamper with equipment in the locker room. One of the staff members is asleep on the -"
"Okay! Fine, I believe you!" The Avatar exclaimed, thoroughly annoyed.
"We were planning on going undercover." Mako informed Zhu, "Korra's face is already known around the city. You should change as well. Your braids are a dead giveaway."
"Alright."
Zhu's hair was way past her waist and if Mako were to stare at it any longer, people would think he was a pervert for staring at a woman's butt. It hadn't taken the girl long to change her hairstyle into a single, long braid. She had picked up a coat from her desk at the police station.
The trio hid behind a factory, spying on the people who passed by a buff looking guard who was stationed at the entrance. On Zhu's confirmation, Korra and Mako put on their hats to complete their disguise. The detective sent a fleeting look as Mako wrapped his scarf around Korra. They walked towards the entrance, huddled together. Just before entering, Mako made Zhu hook her arm with his.
"This is a private event." The guard looked up and down at them, threateningly, "No one gets in without an invitation."
Korra and Mako exchanged looks, "Uh, invitation?" The boy ruffled through his pocket and pulled out a flier, "You mean this?"
The guard examined it and then turned back to the trio with a lightened expression. "The revelation is upon us, my brother and sisters"
Zhu resisted an urge to hiss a 'No, thank you' at him but froze as she felt something familiar. Mako tugged at the sleeve of her coat. Once they were well into the building, far away from the guard, they relaxed there shoulders a little.
"We need to stay close to each other." Zhu ordered. "Or els - What the flameo."
The crowd was huge. She had never seen so many people gather together in one place in Republic City. All of them were nonbenders. They all stood in front of a massive stage. The enormous number of people made it difficult for Zhu to sense Bolin in the building.
The trio mingled in the crowd, waiting patiently for something to happen. Zhu lingered behind Korra and Mako. She kept enough distance to not lose sight of them. Her bones were itching.
"Please welcome," A loud voice boomed across the hall, "your hero, your saviour, Amon!"
A section of the floor slid open, and from the glaring light below, a platform rose. Chi-blockers were lined up behind Amon who stood in the centre. The crowd cheered wildly as Amon walked towards the microphone. He started to speak about how he and his family lived on a farm and weren't very well off. They were a family of non-benders which made them an easy target for the firebenders. Amon's father stood up against a firebender who ended up murdering Amon's family and then 'took' his face.
Sounded like a load of sympathy-begging bullshit.
"As you know, the Avatar has recently arrived in Republic City." He spoke in a condescending manner.
The entire crowd booed loudly and Korra tugged Mako's scarf over her face, hurt from all the hostility. Mako leaned towards her, looking around warily.
Amon continued to speak, showcasing bending in a negative light. He talked about how wrong the Avatar is about bending bringing balance to the world. The more he spoke, the more angry Korra got.
"I know you've been wondering, 'What is the revelation?' You are about to get your answer." The Equalist leader spoke with confidence, "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." Amon placed his hand to his heart, "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."
Korra whirled towards her friends in shock, "That's impossible. There's no way."
"This guy is insane." Mako looked taken aback.
"He just said he's a nonbender." Zhu kept her voice low so that the people around them couldn't hear her, "It is very rare for even a bender to showcase such talent. Someone like him cannot possibly receive the 'gift' of taking away someone's bending. Only the Avatar…" As Zhu trailed off, Korra looked at her curiously. Something made the girl feel as if she couldn't breathe. Every beat of her heart pricked her.
But she wouldn't tell Korra all that. So instead, Zhu shrugged and the three of them turned back to the stage where a demonstration was being held. One of the henchmen led a group of people onto the stage. A group of very familiar people.
"Please welcome Lightning Bolt Zolt, leader of the Triple Threat Triad, and one of the most notorious criminals in Republic City." Zhu was sure that Amon did not mean to impress the audience by just capturing the Triad leader.
The crowd threw a flurry of slurs and Zolt angrily spat back, "Ah, boo yourself!"
The other captives were being herded by the chi-blockers along the back of the stage and were forced to their knees. Among them was Shady Shin and last in the line-up was Bolin, who looked around with obvious fear.
"There's Bolin." Korra pointed out and moved forward but Mako grabbed her by her shoulder and pulled her back.
"Wait! We can't fight them all. We need to be smart about this."
"Then come up with a game plan, team captain." She snapped at him.
Amon announced that Zolt would be given a fair chance to fight him and keep his bending if he wins.
Zolt was then shoved to the opposite side of the stage but he turns to the leader of the Equalists with a smug grin on his face,"You're gonna regret doing that, pal."
The man first started by throwing fireballs at Amon but when his opponent dodged them expertly, he started to wildly shoot lightning. Zig-zagging his way, Amon managed to turn Zolt around and jabbed a finger in the back of his neck, throwing him down on his knees. All this while, lightning was shooting out of Zolt's fingers. Amon raised his other hand, and brought it down smoothly on Zolt's head with his thumb pressed against Zolt's forehead.
The bright, harsh lightning shrunk to fizzle harmlessly in the air, and then turned into plain firebending, which in turn extinguished completely. Amon let go of Zolt, and the gangster flopped down onto the floor of the stage.
Amon waited patiently while his opponent pushed himself back up. Zolt desperately tried to punch a fireball at Amon, but no flame appeared and he lost his balance, toppling weakly forward to slam back to the stage floor.
"What...what did you do to me?" He sounded pathetic.
"Your firebending is gone. Forever." As soon as Amon said this, the crowd gasped and whispered and murmured. "The era of bending is over. A new era of equality has begun."
"Amazing." Zhu whispered in horrified wonder, startling Mako and Korra.
One of the chi-blockers on the stages pulled Shady Shin to his feet, untied him, and kicked him forward.
Korra turned to Mako, "Any ideas yet?"
"I think so. See those machines?" He motioned over to a series of pipes set against the wall, which surrounded a pair of large canisters, "They're powered by water and steam. If you can create some cover, Zhu and I can grab Bolin without anyone seeing, then we duck outta here."
Zhu nodded, "Minimizes civilian casualties. Although, we need to be careful. Your plan will not go as smoothly as you make it sound. Be prepared to fight. Korra, you'll have to meet us around the back. Run out from where we entered as soon as you're done with the pipes."
"Works for me." Korra agreed and grasped Mako's shoulder, "Mako, good luck." Her gaze fell on Zhu, "You too."
Mako clasped her hand, "Good luck. Come on, Zhu."
The cop nodded in acknowledgment at Korra before moving to the front of the crowd, just by the stage. A quivering Shady Shin was on his knees in front of Amon. He was thrown aside the moment his bending was taken away. Amon's attention turned towards Bolin, who looked petrified. Mako had his fingers crossed. He prayed that Korra made it on time.
Bolin was dragged and flung at the masked man's feet. The teenager began to fumble, trying to buy himself time. With cold, unforgiving eyes, Amon grabbed Bolin by the jaw.
Instinctively, Zhu sprung into action. Rage coursed through her veins as she pushed Mako aside. She swung in Amon's direction, sending a rapid stream of blue fire. The man leapt backwards, making Bolin crumble where he knelt. All around Zhu, people gasped and panicked. Some had started to run towards the exit.
As the chi-blockers readied themselves, fog engulfed the stage. Korra had succeeded with her part of the plan, albeit a little late. Zhu and Mako, in one swift motion, were dragging Bolin away.
"Are you alright?" Mako tried to sound unworried as the three maneuvered through the fog.
"Yes!" Bo clapped his hands together, "Mako! Zhu! I love you!" He held his arms out for a hug, but Mako simply hooked his brother in one arm and Zhu latched onto his other arm, dragging him back into the fog.
They escaped to the back of the factory which turned out to be a balcony. Zhu propelled herself over the railing to the ground as Mako and Bolin climbed down.
"You have got to learn how to do that!" Bolin exclaimed to his brother, gripping the metal bars of the ladder.
Zhu sensed one of the chi-blockers where the two brothers were standing just moments ago. She ordered the boys to jump as she sent lightning in their direction. It exploded, throwing the chi-blocker back by a few feet.
As the boys took their stances by Zhu, the moustached man confronted them. He twirled his truncheon threateningly. Electricity crackled at the weapon's end.
Three against one was not as simple as it sounded. Every time the brothers attacked the chi-blocker, the opponent would easily dodge it. Bolin sent a wall of earth that the man leapt over. He delivered a flurry of baton strikes on the boy and electrocuted him. Before the attack could turn lethal, Zhu used a burst of fire to launch herself forward and kick the chi-blocker's ribs.
The man grunted in pain, clutching his side. Zhu launched a merciless onslaught of blue fire. Mako joined her as well. The corners of the man's armour curled due to the heat. In a blink of an eye, Mako collapsed, unable to bend. The subordinate struck him on the head, knocking him unconscious and turned to Zhu.
The man snarled at her, "You benders need to understand there's no place for you in the world anymore."
She clicked her tongue in response. Behind her, Zhu sensed Korra getting ready to attack. She sent a strong wave of fire at the chi-blocker, who ended up dodging it only to get hit by a slab of earth. He crashed against the wall and passed out.
Korra let out a shrill whistle, "Naga!"
The polarbear dog came running down a set of stairs at the far end of the alley. Korra helped Mako to his feet. As Equalist chi-blockers came streaming out of the same door that the trio had escaped from earlier, the two Benders climbed on top of Naga.
Zhu picked up Bolin and handed him over to Mako, "Go, I'll be right behind you."
"Zhu -" He began to protest, eyes wide with disbelief.
"There's no time." She snapped, "Korra, go!"
As they rode away on Naga, Zhu turned to face the chi-blockers. Was this suicide? Probably. She let out one last burst of flames to confirm something. Spreading her arms in front of her, Zhu turned her hands into fists and raised them. A wall of fire rose between her and the Equalists. There was no way for them to go around it, she had made sure of it. Zhu let her hands drop as if her hands had been dragged down due to heavy weight. The wall of fire crashed over where the chi-blockers had been standing.
When the fire subsided, there was nobody around. No corpses. No ashes. They had run away. Amon had run away.
Exhaustion flooded her body. The move had taken too much energy. With aching muscles and a heavy heart, Zhu turned and used firebending to propel herself towards the direction Naga had taken off into.
The rage was still there. She had felt the familiar presence as soon as she had entered the factory. It was there when she fought those chi-blockers near the Triads' hideout. Hurt, pain, betrayal. Zhu wanted to break something. She wanted to hurt someone else. Her discovery made her lose focus and almost crash into a window. This wasn't fair. This wasn't fair.
Maybe it wasn't true. Maybe what she had sensed wasn't true. She was ready to doubt her skills if it made her discovery false. But she couldn't.
Zhu had to accept that Liang was an Equalist and a traitor.
dun dun duun.