The trail wouldn't start until a few hours from now til then everyone had to wait. At the temple Zero sat in his room depressed thinking that his friendship with Ju might be over before it even begun with the stuffed prize he won for her on his lap. Right when her brother was arrested Ju's parents had came to get her, but dropped the prize while they dragged her away home. Korra and Jinora watch Zero slump over, resting his head on top of the toy, and staring deep into space, "Zero?.. You O.K.?" Korra asked, But Zero slid the door shut.
Korra tried prying the door open, but the door didn't even mover an inch like it was part of the wall, "Korra," Jinora called to her, "it's obvious that Zero doesn't want to be disturbed besides we should turn in it's getting late," Korra sighed and decided that it may be best to leave the boy be.
Zero tossed and turned in his bed, drops of sweat rolled down his head, he's having a nightmare, seeing something skulking in the rafters without making a sound. Something big. It had a slender frame, its limbs too, his fingers were sharply tipped, its flesh was twisted and stretched, and his face was unrecognizable. It too twisted, the mouth slacked like someone punched its jaw out of its socket, one eye seem to disappear under the flesh while the other was almost exposed, but the most distubing that the head was twisted upside down.
It looked like several bodies were fused together to create the disgusting creature, it grabbed hold of the rafter and swung itself flexing in an unatural way that could really hurt. Letting go of the rafter the creature landed behind a girl without her knowing it was there. The creature slowly raised itself showing its full height which was more than two times the size of a full grown man.
It just stood there watching the girl in the shadow, but Zero recognized the girl. It was Ju, "JU!" Zero cried out trying to warn her of the monster's presences, but Ju couldn't hear him so Zero tried to run to her, but no matter how hard he tried his efforts were futile. The monster reached down, wrapping its boney fingers around Ju, with no effort the monster lifted her off the ground with one hand, grabbing the rafters with the other, and taking Ju with it.
Zero slumped down laying himself on the ground feeling hopeless, being left in the dark. Alone. Again. Zero felt like all he dose is cause trouble for good people. What was he doing here?
Jinora laid in bed fast asleep, but then her ears seemed to catch a whisper, slowly opening her eyes she saw a blurry figure, but it moved away before she can focus on the figure's face. Jinora stood up and looked in the direction of the door where the figure stood when her vision became clear Jinora instanly recognized him, "Charlie?" Jinora called to him. Charlie peeked throught the door, then back to her holding his fingure up to his mouth, "Charlie what are doing her-," before Jinora can finish she saw Charlie get snatched through the door without making a single sound.
Jinora laid there in her bed too afraid to move, but then the door slowly creeked open, Jinora saw nothing but darkness beyond the door except for the wall barely visible from the shadows. As the door slid fully open there was nothing, but silence, "Charlie?" Jinora sheepishly called out, but then Jinora saw something slowly grasps the left side of the door. The fingers were long and slender, digging its tips into the weak frame, then it creept its head in from the top left corner of the door frame, the first thing that Jinora saw was its twisted face.
It managed to go through the door with complete ease without showing any signs of discomfort, and his movement was utterly silent. Jinora stared at the monster with horror while it just stood there watching her, "I... Have come... For him," it spoke and then reached down to her. Jinora tried to bend the creature away, but she was too terrified to move. Jinora screamed as it graabbed hold of her, feeling the boney fingers around her, she tried pulling them off, but the grip of the monster was too strong.
Jinora looked up and was met with his face, "he... Will... Die...," it said once more, before Jinora was consumed by fear.
Coughing, Zero woke up feeling too anxious to sleep he can't help, but think this is all his fault that Chen is in jail, but Zero was then brought of his grief when heard a knock on the door, "Zero? can I come in?" it was Katara. Zero thought for a moment before he considered letting someone in. Katara waited for a moment until she saw the door slid open with being touched, she walked in seeing the room dark, and seeing the depressed boy under the covers.
Katara knelt down beside him, placing her hand on his side, "what's gottoen you so sad child?" she asked, but Zero did not respond he just staring off into space so Katara looked in the direction his eyes were pointing and saw the stuffed toy. Katara looked back down to the child and now understands why, "you were just trying to protect them child, they would've done the same for you. I don't think your friend Ju blames for her brother's situation he is in right now, but you can't just lie here and mope. You must believe that she doesn't really hate you. It's all in your head."
Zero still didn't respond, but Katara knew he heard every single word so she left him in his thoughts once more, "maybe she's right," Zero thought to himself, "maybe it's just all in my head again, but what about the monster? is it going to get Ju? I have to do something, but what if Tenzin won't let him because of what happened at the pier. What should I do?"
Zero had so many conflicting thoughts not sure what to do. Zero got out of bed and grabbed his hat.
Jinora woke up screaming finally out of the nightmare she looked around her room seeing that everything is still the same, expect for the claw marks on the door frame, "I gotta tell dad," Jinora sprang out of bed and went sprinting down the halls to find her father.
Tenzin was walking the halls of the temple with Korra discussing the issue that happened at the pier, "honestly Tenzin I didn't think Zero would freak out like that, but I don't believe he meant to do it," Korra reasoned. Tenzin sighed, "I believe you Korra, but it's just that we know very little of what Zero's capable of and he's barely half of Ikki's age," before he could go on with the conversation Tenzin heard Jinora calling him.
"Dad there's something very wrong!" Jinora cried, "calm down Jinora what's got you so worked up?" Tenzin trying to calm his eldest daughter down. Jinora took deep breaths trying to calm herself to speak clearly, "someone, or something came to me saying that he has come for Zero," Korra and Tenzin were taken away by the news, "you mean that copy tht Katara and you were talking about is here?" Korra asked. Jinora shook her head doubtful, "no this one's bigger and it had a different voice," she added informing him on the description, "do you now where it is," Tenzin questioned, but Jinora shook her head once more.
"Go check on Zero, see if he's alright," Tenzin ordered Korra, "got it," Korra took off running for Zero's room. Korra came sliding in front of Zero's door and glad to find it unlocked, she slid it open, but to her shock Zero was gone. "Oh no, oh no, oh no," Korra saw that Zero's air nomad robes were on the floor and his going out clothes were gone, and so was the stuffed prize. Korra ran up to the window and saw foot prints leading to the city, "oh no."
Korra went running down the halls searching for Tenzin, "TENZIN!... TENZIN!" she cried out, she came up to his office and saw standing there with Jinora and a couple of White Lotus, "what Korra? is Zero alright?" he asked seeing her breathing heavily, "Zero's gone," "WHAT!" "I think he went into the city to find Ju," "Korra you have to get him back we can't let anyone see him," Tenzin frantically told her, but then the started going off. One of the White Lotus picked up the call and listen in, "hello?... It's for you miss," the Lotus guard handed Korra the phone, "hello?... Mako, what are you doing calling here?... What do you mean Bolin disappeared?... wait there I be right over," Korra hung up the phone.
"What did Mako want?" Jinora asked, "something going on at Mako' and Bolin's apartment building, he said that a the doors to the apartments are now portals, and Bolin fell into one," Korr informed them, "you think it has something to do with Jinora's monster?" Tenzin asked, "wait," Jinora called out to them. "is it a bit odd that portals just showed up at Mako's apartment building right when Zero got out to find Ju," she proclaimed, "your point is?" Korra questioned, "Chen's trail starts in an hour from now, I'm pretty sure that Ju is gonna be there, and Mako's apartment is at the opposite end of the city," she informed.
Korra was still confused on what's going on not sure what to do, "let's just split up," Tenzin told the two, "Korra you go help your friends, Jinora and I will go find Zero," Korra took off running once more, she put on her water tribe clothes, and then hopped on Naga taking off to help Mako.
Korra raced down the streets of Republic City trying to get to Mako's apartment as fast as possible, when she got there she saw Mako and Asami standing in the front of the building along with the rest of the residence of the building, "Korra glad you made it," Mako greeted, "what's going on here?" seeing everyone in the apartment has been evacuated onto the sidewalk.
"I don't know when Bolin opened the door to our apartment there was a completely different world, and something pulled Bolin in," Mako explained what has happened so far. Korra looked up to the building thinking what was going on oh there, "then let's go get Bolin back," she told them and through the front door, Mako and Asami followed her, "hey wait for us," Asami called out.
Once inside the group walked through the halls everything seemed normal, "where are these portals you've been talking about Mako," Asami asked seeing nothing happening. Mako walked up to one of the door, opening it, and showing what was on the other side; it was strange there was a whole city passed the door, but it was nothing like Republic City, this one was bigger with skyscrapers disappearing into the clouds, what looked like satomoblies flying through the air, and the biggest difference was the giant planet hanging over the city.
"Whoa...," Korra and Asami said in amazement gazing out to the city, "it's amazing look at all the advancement in technology," Asami said out loud which caught the attention of a driver on the other side. The one operating his vehicle didn't look human what so ever, purple skin, three eyes, a green beak, and tentacles for arms, he was staring at the three in disbelief with its mouth wide open, "hehe... sorry wrong door," Asami then retreated back closing the door shut, "let's go find Bolin," Asami concluded.
As they pressed on Mako and Asami wanted to asked Korra something, "hey Korra you mind telling us what happened at the pier?" Asami spoke first, "we had fun, got on rides, played games, what do you need to know," Korra answered trying to dodge the question, "that's not what we're asking," Mako pressed on. Korra took a deep breath trying to come up on how to explain what happened, "yes... Zero killed an Equalist at the pier, but he did it to protect us," "we know Korra, but how he did it was just... Frightening," Asami expressed how she felt on the matter.
The gang of three opened doors to all sorts of places like where gaints roam, wars being waged by teddy bears, machines that seemed to replaced humans, genderswaped version of them, and one instance a fat man in green pants and glass and a giant chicken came flying through one of the doors fighting. The two eventually went to another door to carry their fight there, "this so weird," Korra spoke out her thought while looking into a water world, "we should go to the door to my apartment that's where Bolin fell in," Mako told them, but before they could take a step further Bolin came walking out a door standing tall and mighty.
"Bolin you're alright," Asami cried out, "yeah, but what's with the get up," Korra pointed out the clothes was wearing, he was wearing some sort of metal chest plate with some gauntlets, a long velvet cloak, holding a golden staff, and what looked like crown on his head. "Bolin where have you been? what happened?" Mako asked his brother, "I don't know, I that I do know is... I was their king," Bolin informed them, "well your back with us now, c'mon what have to find what's causing all this," Korra told them.
Bolin sighed and yelled back into the door he came through, "alright, hey Gop Gop," he called out and strange creature came in attendance, "alright buddy I'm leaving now remember everything that I taught ya, you're in charge now, so good luck," Bolin then took off his crown and gave it to Gop Gop along with his staff giving his friend a good farewell. Everybody looked at Bolin with complete surprise, "uh... ah nevermind let's just go," Korra put her attention at the task at hand.
"So, what did I miss? did you guys found what's causing all this?," Bolin asked, "we think it's some monster Jinora saw is causing all this," Korra informed all of them, "what kind of monster are we talking?" Mako questioned. However before Korra can speak out a small child ran into her knocking her down to the floor, "hey watch where you're-," Korra stopped and looked at the child, but to her surprise the child was strange, he's jacket was cover in red spots, long sleeves, a thick metal brace around his neck, his eyes were blue and his head was completely shaved, but Korra took a good look at the child's face.
"Zero?" Korra said out loud wondering how he got here, but the shook his head, and continued running down the halls, "WAIT COME BACK! WHAT ARE YOU RUNNING FROM!?" Korra yelled out. While everyone looked at the direction where the boy ran Bolin looked back and was completely frighten, "uh guys you might wanna look at this," "what is it Bolin?" Korra wondered and looked to see that the hall's of the apartment complex was gone and was replaced with a clean, clear, brightly lite, white eerie hallway, and there standing at the end was tall slender figure with its head twisted upside down.
"What is that?" Asami asked a bit frighten on the monster's appearance, "it's probably the monster Jinora told us about," Korra tood the rest. Taking their stances the gang were ready to take on the monster, "give... Me... Him..." it spoke. The four thought that maybe the monster was after the child that ran by, "if you want the kid you gotta get through us first," Mako threaten. The monster stood there motionless they can all hear him breathing from where they stood like he was standing right in front of them.
Then the monster gave the widest grin, "I... Gladly accept... Your proposal," it spoke and without a second thought the light over the monster flickered off and back on showing the monster had disappeared. The four widen there eyes seeing that the creature had vanished, "where did he go?"Bolin called out, Asami looked backed and there she saw the monster standing right behind them and then he swung his right arm at Mako, "MAKO LOOK OUT!" but she was too late the creature smaked Mako into the wall with enough force to crack it.
Angry Bolin stomped his feet causing a bit of the earth to pop up, "back from my brother," Bolin then send the rock flying at the creature with great speed, but was stopped in mid air seeming that the monster can move objects with his mind as well. "Hahahaha," it chuckled menacingly, then shoot the stone back at him, sending Bolin into the wall, and then grabbed hold of him by grabbing him by the chest with one hand, and his fingers managed to wrap around his body.
The monster held Bolin high as he tried to get himself free, "let go of me," he cried out, but the monster just kept laughing until a rock came smaking him in the head, the stone shattered to pieces right on contact with its skin, the monster turned his head towards Korra and she saw that the attack didn't seem to faze him what so ever, "that tickled...," it mocked, "THEN TAKE THIS!" Mako spewed flames onto the monster causing it to drop Bolin to shield itself. Korra took her chance and launched herself towards the monster giving it a fire kick to the face sending it backwards, but when Korra was about to land on her feet she was suddenly sent to the ceiling, "I don't... Have time," it snarled, and went after the boy.
Bolin got back up and Mako and Asami pulled Korra down from the ceiling, "we can't let that thing take him, c'mon," Korra and the others ran after the monster.
Else where Zero had managed to get across the bay and was now wandering down the street trying to find the way to the court house, "excuse me do you know how to get to the court house?" he asked a young lady sweeping up her shop. She looked down at the boy wearing a hat, "oh you just go down five blocks that way and turn left down the street," she kindly told him, "thank you," Zero thought to himself that he'll never make it there in time on foot.
He looked around and saw that three thugs have jumped out of their car to eat at some noodle shop, Zero quietly runs up to the car looking inside of the red hot rod, he checked his surroundings to make sure that no one was looking, but then spotted Jinora and Tenzin asking people around if they seen him. Zero quickly hopped into the car to avoid being seen, he opened up the glove box where the instruction of the car was stored, he took it out and read it as fast he could until he heard the thugs coming back.
"Man that was delicious," one proclaimed, "yeah and- HEY WHAT'S THIS KID DOING IN OUR RIDE!" the second cried out cathing the attention of the two air nomads, "young man get out of there this instance," Tenzin ordered. Zero saw that his time was up so with his mind he made the car come roaring to life and then shoot straight down the streets, "hey that little punk stole our ride!" one thung yelled out, "I thought you took out the keys in the ignition!" the other yelled at his friend, "I did, they're right here," he said hold the keys in his hand.
"That boy is gonna get himself into trouble," Tenzin sighed.
Korra and the gang ran after the monster, but they noticed that he was much faster than them, "man he's fast, we can barely keep up," Bolin noted, "then ditch the armor," Mako told him and so Bolin untied his chest plate feeling the weight lift off him, "oh that's way better." They were about to gain up on the monster until shot upward in a vent basically disappearing from their sights, "man that guy can move," Mako commented trying to catch his breath.
"You think he's after Zero?" Asami panted, "no that wasn't Zero," Korra corrected, "what do you mean that's got to be him," Mako said, Korra shook her head, "that's right I haven't told you yet," "told us what?" Bolin spoke up. Korra looked to her friends and sighed that she had to tell them the complex tale, "alright listen closely because it's pretty complicated."
Blazing down the street Zero had made it to the court house he jumped out of the stole vehicle and ran right inside looking for Ju he was met with some policemen, but their attempt to block him proved futile when Zero made their wires tie themselves up. Soon Tenzin and Jinora had made it to the court house and saw the two metalbenders trying to get lose from their own wires, "looks like he's been through here," Jinora stated.
Zero ran through the halls looking for the room Chen's trail is suppose to take place he through room to room looking for Ju, but couldn't find her anywhere. Zero just coughed more, he felt sick, he never been sick, sick to the head maybe, but never sick. Zero has search nearly the entire place, but Ju and her brother were nowhere to be found so he came up to a wall and slumped down to the floor, letting his head hang. Jinora and Tenzin finally caught up to him, finding him feeling down, "... The trail finished an hour ago Zero, guess we got the time wrong," Jinora informed him setting down next to him, "but don't worry, they couldn't prove Chen could be a bloodbender so they let him go, everything's alright."
Walking down the street Zero couldn't believe he was to late, even though Chen was set free Zero still felt sad, "c'mon Zero maybe when get home wel-" Zero zoned out Jinora's voice completely faded to back of his head because on their way back home Zero spotted the dinner where he was found, and seeing that their was a party in progress. Zero then came to the realization that Ju must be there.
So without a second thought Zero ran through the street catching both Jinora and Tenzin off guard when jumped into the street, but right when Zero walked onto the asphalt he was struck by a car. "ZERO!" Jinora screamed, "oh my spirits, t-that just-," "I'm O.K," Zero jumped up like he was just accidently pushed down all the while fixing his hat. The driver, Tenzin, and Jinora stared at Zero in disbelief that he can just dust himself off like that, he continued towards the dinner walking through the front door.
Zero noticed that no one had paid no attention to him so he just walked right past everyone assuming that the people at the party are family and friends. He heard them laugh and talk about what a relief it was that Chen was ruled innocent, but he still couldn't find Ju anywhere until he ran into the owner of the dinner, "hey kid what are you doing back here?" Mr. Sung asked. However before Zero can say anything he was sent to the ground from a rock being thrown to the back of his head.
Zero's sight slowly came back to him now with all eyes are on him, but the pair that stuck out to him the most were the ones looking directly down on him seeing Ju standing over him with a big smile on her face, "glad you can make it," said Ju completely happy to see him. Zero got up and Ju gave him a hug, "hey everyone this is friend Zero," Ju introduced to her entire family and them greeting the boy, "so Zero why'd you come? and what's with the backpack?" Ju asked.
Zero pulled the bag off his back, then dug in for the item, and pulling out the stuffed bison toy from the pier making Ju smile at the sight of it, "you came all the way here to give me this?" Ju spoke a little heart touched. Zero nodded his head smiling under his hat, and for moment Ju took it in and then she pulled Zero in by his collar, then next pulls the hat down shielding their faces so no one could see, and Ju gave Zero a big kiss. Everyone saw the touching moment between the two young couple awwing at the sight of the two, after the kiss was down Ju placed the hat back on Zero without anyone seeing what's underneath.
Zero stood frozen completely taken away by his first kiss, when he got his bearing back he noticed that Jinora and Tenzin were watching the whole thing play out with a big smile on their faces. Jinora winked and gave Zero a thumbs up seeimg that everthing was alright between the two, Zero rejoined the two air nomads, "glad to see everything is alright between you and Ju," Jinora spoke, "yes, but- wait wasn't there a monster coming?" Tenzin suddenly remebered. All three had their jaws dropped because they all forgotten the monster that was on it's way.