Hey guys, I'm back with a new chapter. Once again, I can't thank you guys enough for the support you have shown for this story. And now, on with the chapter:

The morning sun felt warm on my back as it rose over the mountains east of the city. I was sitting on a small rise overlooking a cliff on Air Temple Island, facing the opposite direction of the sun and staring out to sea. I wasn't exactly meditating, more like I was just enjoying the nice morning. Winter was almost here, and it was a going to be one of the last days before the cold came down from the mountains.

Korra was currently at the Arena, attending her team's practice session. It had been about a week since she had managed to get a place on the Fire Ferrets. So far, Korra was handling the stress of two training regiments and a Pro Bending Team rather well. Although she had yet to produce a puff of air, she seemed to have settled into her airbending training rather well.

"Master Ryou?" came a voice from off to my side. I opened my eyes and found Jinora standing a short distance away. Oh well, so much for a quiet moment to myself.

"Yes?"

"I was hoping if I could ask you a few questions," she said. I noticed that she was holding a leather bound book in her hands. Probably her grandmother's journal again, if I had to guess. I motioned for her to come forward and have a seat. If she was anything like her father, she wouldn't stop pestering and asking until her thirst for knowledge was quenched.

"What is it you want to know, little one?" I asked as she sat down in front of me.

"Well, for starters, Gran Gran's journal says that you first came forward to Grandpa Aang and the others just after the end of the Hundred Year War. And from what I've been told, you haven't aged a day since then. How old are you, exactly? And where do you come from?" she asked.

"I was born in a small fishing village on what is now known as Kyoshi Island," I answered.

"And your age?"

"Jinora, haven't your parents taught you manners? It's impolite to ask someone's age," I said. The airbending girl's cheeks flushed, and I gave her a smile to show that I was just messing with her.

"I'll turn five hundred after the start of the new year," I finished. The girl looked astounded at this, and I could see that I had just opened a box I might not be able to put the lid back on.

"How did you get this way?" she asked.

"I ate a Ningyo," I answered. That night was still vivid in my mind, despite the mundane of the events. I guess that's what happens when a your life changes forever.

"A Ningyo? I don't ever remember reading about those in my books," she said.

"I wouldn't have expected you to. They are incredibly rare. Much more so then a dragon."

"Are there any others out there like you?" Her question gave me pause. It wasn't like I hadn't thought about during my five centuries of wandering. For about fifty years after Kyoshi had died, I'd gone on a world wide quest to locate anything and everything that had to do with the subject.

"According to legend there has been, but I've never actually met any," I said.

"It must be so lonely," Jinora commented. I remained silent at that. In truth, it is a lonely existence.

"Jinora, you got chores!" came Pema's shout from across the island. The young girl looked in the direction of her mother's voice.

"Coming, Mom!" she yelled back. I took that moment and blinked. In an instant, I was sitting on a branch that had been about ten feet above my head, my back resting against the trunk of the tree. Jinora looked back to where I had been sitting and instantly froze. She frowned in confusion as she looked about. Finally, she gave up and went to go fulfill her mother's orders.

I watched as she went, my hand rubbing the Mark in the process. This was just one of the many 'gifts' the Observer had referred to when he'd slapped the thing on me. I'd made it a point to only use them in truly desperate situations, or to get away from curious girls who didn't really know when to stop badgering an old man. She'd be back again, which meant I'd have to find a new spot.

The day passed fairly quickly, and it was around sundown when Korra came looking for me for her day's session. I decided to take it easy on her and let her get adjusted to her new schedule, so I began teaching her a more advanced set. We were moving through the forms, with me preforming them slowly, and then her copying my actions. Jinora and Iiki had taken up seats nearby, watching us practice.

"Remember, light on your feet," Jinora said. I didn't bother to counter the girl's offer of advice. This particular set was more suited to someone of Korra's frame, allowing the person to be more quick and agile. So her advice was actually something I had been about to state myself. We took a quick break, allowing Korra to catch her breath as I leaned on the wooden sword. Behind her came a newcomer up the stairs from the dock. He looked to be about Korra's age, thin and tall with dark hair and a red scarf around his neck.

"He's cute. Korra, is that the handsome firebending boy that drives you crazy?" Jinora asked. Korra's head jerked up and looked behind her to spy Mako.

"Does he drive you crazy like he makes you angry, or does he drive you crazy like you like him?" Iiki asked. The Avatar slammed her foot into the ground, launching the sisters into the air with a pillar of earth.

"Smooth," I commented with my arms folded. Korra shot a glare at me before turning toward the newcomer.

"Hey, Mako," she greeted.

"Bolin around?" Mako asked.

"Nice to see you too. And no, I haven't seen him since practice. Think something's wrong?" she asked.

"Bolin has a knack for getting into situations. I'll see you later," Mako said as he turned to leave. Short, sweet, and to the point, I liked this guy.

"Wait, we could help you look for him," Korra said. I frowned at that.

"What do you mean we?" I asked, cocking my eyebrow at her.

"I mean we, as in you and I," she replied, motioning back and forth between us. I gave her a look.

"I don't recall volunteering for this."

"Well I volunteered for you."

"That won't be necessary," Mako said.

"Hey, let us help you. Three pairs of eyes are better then one," Korra said.

"Again with the we and the us, I don't know this guy from Agni and you're wanting me to go traipsing off into the city with him?" I asked, jerking my thumb in Mako's direction. Korra sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Ryou this is Mako, my team captain. Mako this is Ryou, my defense instructor," she said, giving the introductions. I glared at her, knowing that she had used 'defense instructor' just to get on my nerves.

"Well, if your training the Avatar in something I guess you can handle yourself," Mako said, "alright, let's go." I looked back and forth between the two of them. Finally I sighed, knowing I wasn't going to get out of it.

"Jinora, put the equipment up and inform your father we're leaving," I said, tossing my sword to the girl. Korra did the same with a smile, which quickly faltered when she saw my glare on her again.

"After this is over, I'm gonna make you run laps until I throw up."

"You've got to be one of the youngest masters I've ever seen," Mako said as we walked. Korra and I stole a glance at each other. Her eyes were shining with unheard laughter.

"Keep telling yourself that, bud," I replied as Korra snickered. He looked at us, confused about the joke he hadn't been let in on, but continued walking all the same. We entered the square that sat in front of Central City Station. In the heart of it all stood a statue of Zuko, which spewed a constant stream of fire out of it's raised hand.

I looked up at the statue for a moment with my arms folded. Being as I was one of the only founders of the city who didn't have a statue standing somewhere, it was a weird experience. It wasn't that I was jealous, if anything I was happy to remain in the shadows and out of sight of the people. I just found it to be a surreal experience, to see those whom I had known in flesh and blood achieve their own form of immortality through metal and stone.

At the base of the statue were several children, mostly between the ages of ten and thirteen if I had to guess. Two of them were wrestling with each other, while the others looked on and laughed.

"You guys seen my brother around?" Mako asked. One of the on lookers, a kid wearing a cap and covered with dirt stepped toward us.

"Maybe. My memory is a little...foggy. Maybe you can clear it up," he said while rubbing his fingers together.

"You're good, Skoochy. A real pro," Mako said in an annoyed tone as he slipped him a Yuan. Korra's face was one of shock, and then rage at the kid. I, however, remained stoic and uninterested. So long as the kid kept his hands to himself, I really didn't care. It wasn't like the money was leaving my pocket.

"Yeah I seen him."

"When?"

"Around noon. He was doing some circus monkey rat performance. And then..." he trailed off, wagging his fingers again. Mako hurried slapped another bill down.

"Then what?"

"Shady Shin showed up and flashed some serious cash. Bolin took off with him in his hot rod. Word on the street is all the Triads are gearing up for something big. The Triple Threats, the Red Monsoons, the Agni Kais, all of em. Now that's all you're getting out of me," the kid finished before running off. Oh great, three out of the four major crime syndicates in the city were involved now. I was starting to like this Bolin guy less and less.

"What's going on?" Korra asked.

"Sounds like there's a turf war brewing, and Bolin's about to get caught right in the middle of it," Mako answered.

"What would Bolin have been hired for by the Triple Threats?" I asked.

"They only hire out for two things, running numbers and muscle. Bolin's math skills were never very good so more then likely he was hired to be a bouncer or a body guard of some sort," Mako answered.

"Most likely place he'd be stationed would be the place where they run things, unless they got him watching over a warehouse or small time buisnes or something," I stated.

"If there's a turf war brewing he'll be at their HQ. Lightning Bolt Zolt likes to hunker down when things get tense," Mako said as he started walking, "I can't believe Bolin got himself into this!"

"You know where their base is?" I asked.

"Yeah. It's a restaurant not far from here," Mako answered. I made a sweeping gesture with my arm.

"Well then, let's go find your brother." The trip to the Triple Threats' hangout didn't take very long, as it was only about five blocks or so from the Station. Along the way, both Korra and Mako spotted a Fire Ferret scamper up a nearby lamp post. Apparently the glorified rat was Bolin's pet, which meant that the earthbender couldn't have been too far off.

We arrived in front of the headquarters of the Triple Threats. It was a building that was five stories tall with a restaurant on the ground floor. As far as blending in went, the place served it's purpose. But still, something bothered me, and it wasn't just the fact that this was the headquarters of one of the city's largest crime syndicates.

"Something's not right, there are usually thugs posted around the door," Mako said. I was glad, I wasn't the only one who was noticing these things. The firebender moved up to the door slowly and cautiously, unsure of what he was going to find. Korra however simply walked up to the doors and kicked them in like she owned the place.

I rolled my eyes at this. If she kept this up she was gonna get blasted when she kicked in the wrong door. Rather then follow the two teens inside, I slipped around to the side of the building and headed toward the back alley. It doesn't matter if its pirates, Triads, or some other kind of crime, don't look in the restaurant or bar, look in the alleyway behind them if you want to see the gritty details.

Rather then your typical drug deal or some other low level crime, I found something completely unexpected. There was a group of people in dark gray uniforms wearing gas masks loading Triad Thugs into the back of a truck. Using the shadows of the alley, I crept closer to the nearest figure. He was sitting astride a motorcycle, watching as his comrades finished their work.

The truck's engine rumbled to life, and an instant later the back door to the building burst open, revealing Mako and Korra.

"Bolin!" Mako shouted, apparently catching a glimpse of his brother before the back doors to the truck fully closed and the vehicle began to pull away. At that moment I made my move, descending upon the motorcyclist before he could react. I kicked him from the seat, grabbing a bola from his belt as he fell. I threw the weapon at another cyclist nearby, entangling his hands and knocking him from his ride as well.

"Come on!" I yelled as I kick started the bike. The pair ran over, with Mako taking the spare motorcycle and Korra climbing on behind me.

"I didn't know you could ride a motorcycle," she said as she wrapped her arms around my midsection.

"You'd be surprised at what I can ride," I replied before I twisted the throttle. The rear tire squealed as we tore after the truck with Mako following close behind. The truck, along with the two remaining bikes, were at least a block ahead of us. I gunned it even harder, gaining ground on them. Korra leaned around me and sent bolts of fire after our targets.

The motorcyclists slalomed back and forth, dodging the fire blasts. Growing frustrated, Korra clenched her fists around my stomach and jerked them upward. Instantly a slab of stone erupted beneath one of the bikers, launching both man and machine high into the air. Evidently the rider had experience as he stuck the landing with ease and continued on as if nothing had happened.

"What are you doing?!" Korra shrieked in surprise when she realized that we weren't going around her makeshift ramp.

"Just hang on!" I shot back as I gunned the throttle. Her grip on me tightened just before we launched into the air. Like the guy we were chasing, I stuck the landing and continued on as if nothing had happened. I felt Korra shutter as she huddled against my back, but I was too focused on the chase to take my eyes off the road ahead of us.

"You alright?" I asked over my shoulder.

"Yeah, just...yeah," she replied.

"Good, cause we're not out of this yet," I said as I drew my sword hilt. We rocketed out of the narrow street and into a large open square. Suddenly, the two bikers slammed on their breaks and spun to face us, throwing bolas in the process. Both Korra and I dodged, but Mako wasn't as lucky. The firebender's hands were bound together, and his arms bound to his side, causing him to lose control and fall from his bike.

I slammed on the breaks as well, bringing our motorcycle to a halt. As soon as we were stopped, Korra was off the bike and sprinting toward Mako had slid to a halt. Aside from a few scrapes and bruises, he appeared to be alright, leaving me to face down these new opponents. They had dismounted from their motorcycles and were advancing on the pair of teens, each one of them swinging a new pair of bolas as they went.

Reviving the throttle, I let the back tire squeal, getting these two's attention. I sped toward them like a cavalryman intending to run someone down. At the last second, I stood in the seat and then jumped from the bike. It fell onto it's side and slid toward them in a shower of sparks. Both jumped and dodged, but the machine slid into one of their bikes, totaling both vehicles.

As for me, I landed in a roll and came up onto both feet with the blade extended, ready for a fight. Both of them had recovered from my surprise attempt with flattening them with the motorcycle and were advancing on me. Just as they were getting ready to throw their bolas at me, a burst of fire struck one of them head on.

The figure that had been hit, a woman based on what anatomy was visible, turned to find Korra descending upon her with both fists engulfed in flames. With the woman now fighting Korra, the remaining figure, a man, focused on me. He let both bolas fly before charging me straight on. I recognized the movements instantly.

It may have been a few decades since I last encountered it, but chi blocking was a fighting style I had a lot of experience with. A lot of people viewed it as the ultimate counter to bending and benders in general. In reality, it was a fighting style that was fairly short coming. If you had surprise on your side and your opponent had little experience, victory would be yours unfortunately for this guy, I was neither surprised nor inexperienced.

I sliced both bolas in half in mid air, cutting the rope that bound the two balls together on both of them so the balls went flying off in wild directions. Then, without even changing my stance, I brought my blade up in a single upward slice. The man screamed in pain as his left hand went sailing away into the night. Before he could do anything else, I grabbed him by the arm and pressed the tip of my blade to his throat.

"Answer my questions, and I'll let you walk away with your airways intact," I hissed. He whimpered in response, a combination of fear from my blade and pain from his severed hand.

"Where is that truck headed?"

"I don't know! We were ordered to round up the Triple Threat leadership. We're just the grunts, if anyone knows what's going on its the PR guys."

"PR guys?"

"Yeah, there are protesters and criers placed all over the city, usually near the park. Please, man, don't kill me," he begged. Before I could respond, the a bola wrapped itself around my throat. The velocity of the weapon was enough to jerk me back, causing me to fall and release my grip on the man. In an instant his female comrade was at his side. The two quickly mounted the only remaining motorcycle and sped off in the direction the truck had gone.

I sat up and untangled the bola from around my neck, angry with myself for not paying more attention. Looking around, I noticed Korra getting up as well. Apparently the woman had given her quite the beat down. She thrust her fist outward, but was rewarded with nothing happening.

"I can't bend, I can't bend!" she said, starting to panic when she tried again and achieved the same results.

"It'll wear off, just give it a minute," Mako said as he hobbled over, holding his arm. He looked a little worse for wear, but otherwise more worn out then anything else.

"Who were those guys?" Korra asked.

"Chi-Blockers. Amon's henchmen," Mako answered.

"Amon? Isn't he that masked guy against bending that everyone's talking about?" Korra asked.

"Yeah, he's the leader of the Equalists."

"What do they want with the Triple Threats?"

"I don't know, but whatever it is, it can't be good. And now we got no way to follow them," the firebender said as he looked over the three wrecks of the motorcycles. I collapsed my sword and returned it to it's place on my belt before I began looking the scene over.

There were a few burn out marks from where the Equalists had peeled out, but other then that the whole area was pavement, meaning that following tire tracks was impossible. There was a small blood trail, meaning that the guy who's hand I had taken was still bleeding.

"One of these guys is still bleeding," I said over my shoulder as I crouched to investigate the blood a little closer. The two came over and looked over my shoulder at what I was talking about.

"You think we can follow the trail?" Korra asked. I shook my head.

"Doubtful. See the size of the drops and how much space is between them? If he hasn't stopped the bleeding by now, he'll have at least slowed it enough to the point that he won't be leaving a trail anymore. Besides, my money is on him going for medical attention, not the truck," I replied.

"So we got no leads," Mako said in defeat.

"I wouldn't say that," I said, "the guy said that some of their protesters might know where they're taking them."

"Where do we start?" Korra asked.

"The park would be as good as any."

It was approaching dawn when we finally arrived at a fountain at the park. Both Mako and Korra collapsed next to it, while Pabu began to get a drink. The morning fog had enveloped the city, giving the park a haunted feeling. I stood with my arms folded while my companions caught their breath.

"There's a set up for an Equalist protester over there," Mako said, pointing past me.

"We might as well wait here and rest. It's gonna be a few hours before someone shows up," I said before making my way over and sitting at the base of a tree. Korra came over and sat beside me, while Mako sat against a tree a short distance away with Pabu curled up in his lap.

"So what's Bolin doing hanging around with the Triple Threats anyway?" Korra asked.

"Well, we use to do some work for them back in the day," Mako said.

"Wait, are you some kind of criminal?" I snorted at that, earning a glare from her.

"No, all I did was run numbers for them. We were orphans out on the street, I did what I had to do to survive, to protect my little brother," Mako defended. Korra's anger softened at that.

"I'm sorry. It must have been rough. Can I ask...what happened to your parents?" she asked. Mako sighed.

"They were mugged by a firebender. He cut them down right in front of me. This scarf is all I got left of them, and Bolin is the only family I have left," he said. I remained silent, sitting against the tree trunk with my arms folded and my legs crossed out in front of me. In truth, I felt kind of sorry for the guy. My lonely years didn't come until later, when old age started to take people away from me.

"So what's your story?" Mako asked, turning toward me.

"What makes you think I got a story?" I asked.

"You managed to get yourself appointed as an instructor of the Avatar. Clearly you have a story," Mako reasoned. Even Korra shrugged, unable to find a valid argument against his point.

"Yes. But my story is a long one, and we don't have time for it all," I said.

"Just the part about getting to train Korra would work," he said. I groaned and let my head fall against the trunk. He just wasn't going to stop until I gave him answer. Oh well, might as well tell him the truth and let him work out the minor details on his own.

"I've been training Avatars in the art of swordsmanship for a long time," I said.

"Avatars? As in Avatar plural?"

"Yes."

"I thought there was only one Avatar at a time," he said, confused.

"There is," Korra answered.

"So then how are you able to train multiple Avatars when there's only one at a time?" he asked.

"I showed up and offered to teach them. Sometimes they accepted and sometimes they didn't," I said simply.

"Are you implying something?" Mako asked.

"No, I'm stating facts. Could you believe there was a time that this one over here wouldn't even touch a steak knife? And now look at her, ready to jump into the fire head first," I said, jerking my head toward Korra. The firebender just continued to stare at me.

"Look, Ryou is...a lot older then he looks. Trust me it gives you less of a headache if you just go with it," Korra said. Mako just continued to sit and stare.

"So how old are you?" he finally asked.

"About five hundred."

"And you expect me to believe you?" I folded my arms and scrunched down against the tree.

"Personally I couldn't care what you do. Right now, I'm gonna get some shut eye."

"But..."

"Mako."

"What?"

"Shut up and get some sleep."

And that's a wrap on the first half of the Revelation. What do you guys think? Love it, hate it? Let me know. Drop a review, leave a PM, as a question or two if you're confused, and I'll see you all next time.