A/N: After a great deal of time here's my next addition to Hear the Thunder, sorry to keep anyone waiting. At any rate, this chapter is another light hearted one, but it does get more serious at the end. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this chapter, but I've put off updating for far too long as it it. As always be sure to let me know what you think.
The great beast stood before him; at least a good four heads taller than him and likely several hundred pounds heavier, the hair on its back twitched and bristled and its posture radiated aggression. But Thor was not concerned, the chimera like animal could not hurt him. The thunder god lightly scratched him beard as he decided the best course of action. This poor animal was clearly scared, and the heavy chains and shackles around its neck reinforced his anger at the disgusting little man who had brought this unfortunate creature before this mass of cheering spectators.
Slowly and with a practiced calm that came from eons of battle Thor slowly raised his hand as if to tell the beast before him to remain calm. The crowd around him jeered and chanted at this lack luster display, there shouts became a dull buzz to him as he tuned them out. While he could easily overpower the animal he refused to appease those demanding blood, there was no sport in fighting a chained animal. Had there been any challenge in this contest he would gladly have put on a show. Banishing this train of thought before he let himself get too distracted and he refocused on the task at hand, he slowly approached the platypus bear and spoke calmly.
"Do as I say and I give you my word no more harm will come to you," he spoke with sternness but his tone held compassion for this animal.
The animals posture relaxed and it aggressive attitude seemed dissipate as though it understood every word spoken to him. Thor slowly approached so as not to spook the animal, and gently placed his hand on the platypus bear's snout. Any vestige of aggression faded as the animal calmed completely and rolled over onto its back after the large man whispered something unheard to anyone in the vicinity. Thor rewarded the animal's submissive nature with a light scratch on the stomach before taking hold of the heavy iron collar around the neck of the animal and crushed it with as little effort as a man would crumple a piece of tissue paper.
The crowd around him went silent for a moment before bursting into a mixture of boos and laughter, both angered at the boring turn of events and belittling the "Savage Beast" that was so easily tamed. Again all this noise meant nothing the god, who now turned his attention on the greasy little coward who had brought this spectacle to this sports arena.
As the Thor approached him he took a few steps back as he fumbled with the microphone. If at all possible he was sweating even more now than when Thor had entered the ring.
"He…here you go, you won fair and square no need to get so serious, take the money and go" he stammered trying to just get this man away from him. As Thor approached he raised his hand and the small man squeezed his eyes shut certain he was about to get his lights knocked out, but instead of getting struck he felt the micro phone get plucked from his hand. The realization he was not going to be harmed was interrupted by the thunderous voice of god before him.
"Citizens of Republic city, I know that you are not bad people…but you should be ashamed of yourselves for supporting and cheering for such a perversion form of entertainment. This monger of this despicable display has brought shame to this arena and honorable sport. I ask you, do you find your lives so mundane that you must watch this disgrace?" His voice cut through the noise like a dagger, and now the whole arena was now silent.
From his position in the midst of all this Thor could see the stunned faces of a few of those assembled, and many of them at least had the decency to look ashamed. Feeling he had made his point he drop the mic with little care as the impact made deafening thud echo from the stadium speakers. He walked over to the now docile platypus bear and pet it as though it were a lap dog, he then turned his attention back to sniveling man who had brought this disgrace before him.
As Thor approached him the much smaller man flashed a rather forced and nervous grin revealing a multitude of yellowing and chipped teeth.
"So pal that was uhhh….. Ten thousand yuans right?" he handed the winnings to the clearly disgruntled god before him.
"Keep your money scum, but know this," he leant down to look the man in the eye and spoke in a deathly quiet whisper but his voice carried immense weight "You are to end this little venture of yours…and if I hear of any misdeed against this creature or any other well…." He trailed off as he crushed a heavy link of chain in hand to emphasize his point "I'm sure you understand" he smiled confidently as he walked away from the quivering man and easily leapt back into the box where his hosts were.
"I think we should head out, I think you may have pissed of the owners," Mako stated as security officials ran into the arena some pointing to Asami's luxury box.
"Yeah, I think I've had my fill of this place for one night," Korra said slightly dejected at the thought of leaving the arena, but a small smirked crossed her face when she saw the clearly terrified animal handler trying to gently coax his animal out of the ring and adamantly keeping security from using force on the now almost playful platypus bear.
The four of them had walked swiftly and calmly out of Pro-Bending stadium, hoping they would not get caught by security. The spectacle of platypus bear wrestling was controversial but it brought in a lot of business. Thor had not only shamed the audience for cheering for it but he had clearly threaten the handler, and they were sure they if they didn't leave they would be ejected. But despite this a series of chuckles seemed to escape from each of them periodically.
Once they were a good distance from the arena the periodic chuckles turned to a raucous laughter from Korra and Thor. Asami and Mako managed to remain more composed but their amusement at what Thor had done was still quite apparent.
"That was hilarious Thor! I think you might have made him pee his pants" Korra stated her voiced laced with a mirth one should not have at the misfortune of another, but given the situation no one would fault her for it. "How did you get that platypus bear to calm down like that? One second it was ready to rip you head off the next you were petting it like a dog"
Thor smirked as a small laugh escaped his lips "It is call Allspeak, when I speak all those who hear me hear me in their native tongue," as he finished his three companions stared at him as though not quite believing he could speak to animals "Surely you must have found it strange after I fell from the sky and awoke speaking your language?"
"It was not exactly the strangest thing we've seen but now that you mention it was a bit odd," Mako spoke scratching his chin.
"So you can catch lighting, turn stone to gold, and talk to animals your just full of surprises aren't you?" Asami said with a small smirk.
Thor simply smiled back before turning away "The night is still young friends, let us not let what has transpired dampen our spirits" he spoke before heading back towards the city. "So what shall we do next?"
There was a moment of brief silence as they pondered what to do. This quiet was quickly shattered by the boom and flash of fireworks across the bay. Thor wasn't sure if the light in Korra's eyes was from the flash of the explosion or from excitement.
"Is the unity festival tonight?" she asked Mako and Asami excitedly.
The pair of them thought for a moment before realization dawned on both their faces before Asami answered.
"That's right, I must have forgot with the commotion with Kuvira."
"Pardon my ignorance, but what is this unity festival?" Thor inquired, the Avatar's excitement having piqued his interest.
"It's a yearly festival to celebrate the end of the war with the Fire Nation and the founding of Republic City," Mako answered plainly.
"Plus they have amazing games and food and drink you can't get any other time of the year," Korra added in a chipper tone.
"You can't possibly still be hungry?" Asami half joked with her.
"I could eat," she responded nonchalantly as Asami rolled her eyes before the thundering voice of Thor boomed out.
"Then let the merriment continue!" and with that they made their way towards the festivities.
"How can you two eat so much?" Mako groaned as Thor and Korra half emptied another street vendor of their wears, in this case it was an extremely spicy Fire Nation dish, seasoned beef skewers, the smell of which was enough to make Mako sweat even from a distance. Thor offered one to his only for the younger man to blanch before declining. "I think I'm gonna be sick."
"You should have stopped three carts ago instead of trying to keep up," Asami said almost smugly.
"Trust me Asami I've learned my lesson," he groaned as he grimaced at Thor and Korra's seemingly bottomless appetites.
"Come on guys let's play a few games before you make Mako loses his dinner," Asami said through a laugh.
"Shrounds grood," Korra said through a mouth full of food.
"Sorry, I didn't catch that."
Korra swallowed her food "I said, sounds good, it'll give me a chance to show off my skills," she said flexing her arms eliciting chuckles from her companions.
The small group ventured further into the festivities trying to decide where they would test their luck first. As they looked around they heard the ping of bell being run followed by the playful goading of showman trying entice passersby.
"Come on folks, if my scrawny friend can ring the bell surly you can, what about you sir test your strength and win your lady friend a prize," he called out at people who passed by.
"What do you say Mako? I'll give it a shot if you do," Korra said giving him a quick playful punch in the arm.
"I don't know…"
"You're afraid I'll embarrass you, I get it, don't worry we won't think any less of you," Korra responded with a smirk earning her a glare from Mako before he turned and began to walk towards the booth.
"Sometimes it's too easy," said to Asami before she followed after him.
"Korra…" Asami started but didn't finish what she was saying as her friend was already at booth "Ah well she'll figure it out soon enough," she finished simply.
"Figure what out?" Thor inquired as she finished the last of his food.
"They can't win," she said with almost a smile.
"You have so little faith in their strength? I just witnessed a man half Lady Korra's size triumph at this game."
"Mako's up first, just watch and you'll see."
"Okay sir the rules are simple you have three tries, swing the mallet, hit the lever, ring the bell win the prize," the vendor said with a small smile.
Mako nodded and raised the hammer over his head and brought it down with a fair amount of force hitting his target square on the mark. However the weight barley made it past the "wuss" mark. His shock was quite apparent as he raised the hammer again and landed another perfect strike, with only marginally better results. On his third and final attempt they could just make out a grunt of effort and this time just barely managed to get the weight halfway to the bell.
"Tough luck Mako let me show how its done," Korra mocked as she took the mallet from Mako and made her attempt. To her credit each of her strikes did better than Mako's but she still came nowhere near close enough to ring the bell. With a huff of frustration she paid for another attempt, eliciting a small giggle from Asami.
"See I told you, this game is notoriously easy to gaff," she said turning to Thor.
"Gaff?"
"To rig, you see how he stands in the same spot whenever she swings the hammer, but moves when his "friend" makes an attempt?"
"Yes, but what is the point?"
"I'm more than willing to wager, there is lever hidden in that spot, he steps on it, the cable guiding the weight tightens, and it's virtually impossible for anyone to win."
"So he's cheating," Thor said with a small grimace as Korra failed yet again and was on the verge of shouting obscenities.
"Technically, but it is kind of funny watching those two get so upset over a festival game," she said with a chuckle as Mako took the hammer from Korra and made another attempt as well.
"Perhaps, but I believe I should try my hand now," Thor responded through a smirk as he approached.
"Son of a…" Korra muttered as she raised the mallet for her final strike only to feel her swing being halted by some unseen force, she looked back and saw Thor with one hand wrapped firmly around the hammer's haft.
"Mind if I try?"
"Knock yourself out," she said in an exasperated tone.
"You know the drill big guy?" the vendor asked.
"Ring the bell," Thor said simply as he tossed the hammer high into the air "Win a prize," he finished smugly as he caught the falling hammer with ease in one hand. He proceeded to take hammer and heft it high over head and brought it down with blind speed, only for it to stop short of its mark. Smirking to himself he tapped the head of the hammer to its mark with what appeared to be a feather light touch, but the weight that rocketed upwards and lodged itself in the bell and produced a rather off key ring.
The game vendor stared at him in shock as he sauntered over to the prize wall and plucked a large stuffed platypus bear off its shelf before handing it to a small girl nearby.
"Come friends, let us find another game," he said smugly as Asami laughed at the dejected looks on Mako and Korra's faces, she would tell them later, but now she couldn't help but get a modicum of enjoyment out of this.
"Blast this cursed game, surely it to must be, what was the word you used? Gaffed?" Thor shouted as he failed miserably at their latest stop. It was simple ring toss and he just could not seem to get the hang of it.
"Nope, you just stink at it," Korra said smugly. Asami, Mako, and she had already won at this particular vendor's table several times.
"Maybe you should call it quits big guy, you've broken more rings than you've thrown," Mako said in an almost mocking tone.
"The son of Odin does not back down from a challenge," he said stubbornly as another ring flew well past its target. "It's these damned rings, they are far to flimsy for me to make a proper throw!" he shouted in frustration.
"Well you're not throwing an axe, try lightening up and gently tossing it," Asami suggested for about the fifth time.
Letting a slow breath out Thor gingerly tossed another ring, this one too missed causing him to real back and get ready to hurl his next one.
"Don't get angry, just try again," Asami told him calmly. He did as he told and gently tossed another, this time the ring found its mark and looped around the peg causing Thor to let out a shout of triumph.
"See no ring could best the Mighty Thor!" He shouted at the top of his lungs causing all eyes in vicinity to fall upon the small group.
Thor raised the small wooden painted bronze over is head in a rather grandiose display of his victory, acting as though his paltry prize was the great trophy he had ever obtained.
"Okay Thor calm down, it's just a game," Mako urged, his face tinting red with embarrassment at his companions overt display.
"I think we better call it quits on the games for the night, things are starting to get a little intense," although Asami's tone was light there was truth to what she was saying. With their competitive natures, Thor and Korra had caused more damage than the average festival goers.
"How about we hit the Ferris Wheel, it may not be that exciting but it gives you a great view of the bay," Asami suggested.
"Yeah, sounds great," Korra said quickly.
Thor noticed the excited glint in her eye, and a slight flush in her cheeks.
'Ah' was the only thought that came to mind, as the realization struck him.
As the group approached their goal, Thor noted that how Korra was slowly drifting towards one companion in particular, clearly hopeful to ride with them. He almost felt bad what he was about to do, but he wanted to talk to Korra alone, and now the most opportune time.
Once they were near the front of the line Thor placed a hand on Korra's shoulder to halt her from boarding.
"Korra, the statue in the center of the bay, whom does it depict and what did he do to deserve such reverence?" he inquired pointing to the statue of Avatar Aang. He had learned who Aang was from Tenzin some days ago, but Korra didn't know that and it would serve as a good distraction.
Korra gave him a puzzled look as Asami and Mako continued ahead and we're shuffled onto the ride and we're pulled upwards by the large rotating wheel. The pair waved at them cheerily as they traveled higher.
"We'll see you when we get off!" Asami shouted down to them.
"Sure," Korra half mumbled as she returned the wave with half-hearted enthusiasm.
She gave Thor a mild glare as they were ushered onto their basket. There was silence for a moment before she spoke.
"Well since you have to know…" but Thor didn't let her finish.
" I am well aware of who Avatar Aang was, and what he did for this world," he said flatly.
"Then why ask?" she asked, now she was confused than frustrated.
"I wished to speak with you away from your friends."
"Why?"
"I know the plan was to forget your troubles for the night, but I must ask…how are you faring with everything?"
Korra let out a long sigh and slouched down in her seat.
"As good as can be expected I guess, but I'm worried. What if I fail? So many people are depending me…but why are asking just me, this is Mako and Asami fight too. They have just as much at stake as me."
"That is where you are mistaken, they may stand with you but in the end this realm is under your protection, it's safety is up to you."
"Geez…you really know how to make a girl feel relaxed, any other gems of wisdom?" Korra responded snarkily .
"Take it from one who knows, this burden will not get any lighter it will only get heavier and it will crush you if you let it." Korra turned to face the thunder god as he spoke. "Korra, you have the heart and strength to carry this burden, I can see it in your eyes, but there is also a doubt there. I know not what happened to make you doubt yourself, but you must confront this demon if you are ever to triumph and be the Guardian this world needs," he said kindly.
Korra stared at him blankly for a moment before letting a small smile grace her lips. "You're much wiser than I would have initially though," she half joked.
"Hard earned life lessons I assure you," he said with a chuckle, and with that they feel into a comfortable silence for a few moments as Korra stared wistfully the basket now below them, where Asami and Mako were having a conversation she could not hear.
With a small smirk Thor thought about making a comment but this thought was cut short as the Ferris Wheel stopped. At first he thought nothing of until the whole festival went dark followed by a thunderous boom at the power station across the bay.
"What's happening?" Mako shouted as a series of explosions followed the fist one, this was not accident, this was an attack.
Thor stood up and raised his hand. The sound of Thunder echoed through the air as he summoned Mjolnir to him. Without even looking up his hammer found his hand.
"Stay put I'll get you all down!" he shouted, but before he could move Asami shouted back to him.
"There's no time! There are people in that building, if you can get there take Korra and save them well be fine."
Thor nodded and turned to Korra.
"How do you plan on getting there?" she asked her concern for those in danger evident. Thor simply placed a hand around her shoulder and pulled her close to him, as he began to spin his hammer.
"Hold on," was the warning he gave her before Korra felt he self being shot through the air faster than she had ever traveled before.
As they rocketed across bay, those responsible for this attack had no idea what kind of storm was heading their way.