A/N: Things are picking up and shit is going down in this latest installment of TIW. Amon pulls some shit, Korra fights a fight, and more differences between this world and the canon world emerge. And yes, we are skipping over The Spirit of Competition. None of the events in that episode have a reason to happen in this story.
Also, another inconsequential character gets a name, but remains inconsequential.
Also also, I'm bad at writing fight scenes, as you may have already noticed in chapter one's Korra v Wu spar. Sorry.
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"I move that we close the pro-bending arena," Tenzin said as he stood before the council. "While I dislike the idea of complying with Amon's orders, continuing with the championship match would be a decision borne of pride, not concern for our citizens' safety."
Tenzin looked directly at Tarrlok while speaking, obviously expecting him to disagree, as he so often did. Tarrlok simply nodded.
"I feel I must agree with Councilman Tenzin," he said, to the surprise of all. "We must think of the people's safety. Though unfortunate, this is one concession I feel comfortable giving."
Mako wasn't too sure. With a clear victory for the Equalists and no matching win for the government, doing as Amon commanded might tell the people that the Council was uncertain of their ability to combat the threats posed by the group. It could give strength of will to the extremists and bring fear to bending citizens. Tarrlok's task force would need to really step up their raids to even the score.
But Mako wasn't a council member. It wasn't his place to give an opinion.
"All in favor of Councilman Tenzin's proposal?" The vote was unanimous. "We're adjourned."
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"I can't believe the council is just gonna roll over and do what Amon wants!" Korra shouted, punching the air in front of her. Still no airbending. Damn it. "Does Tenzin even realize how hard it was to get tickets to that thing?"
"Korra, you just walked up to the ticket counter and said 'I'm the Avatar, can I get a season pass'," Pema pointed out patiently, sitting contently in the chair Korra had created and lazily soaking up the sun.
"I had to sign, like, a dozen autographs!" Korrra protested. Pema gave her a look. "Ok, whatever. Still! I can't believe the championship just got canceled like that."
"You'll live, Korra. I'm sure of it."
"It's the principle of the thing!"
"You just want to watch a bunch of people hurt each other."
"Correction: I want to watch a bunch of people hurt Tahno." Korra scowled, trying to airbend again. He was one of the players that had shown up for her impromptu autograph session, not to get her autograph - oh no - but to stand uncomfortably close, flip his stupid hair, and offer to give her 'private lessons' if she ever wanted to see how 'a real pro bends'. Had her season tickets not been on the line, she would have buried him.
And then his team made it into the finals and she didn't even get to watch someone hit him. Life wasn't fair.
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"This isn't fair!"
"They can't do this to us!"
"We have a right to compete!"
Apparently, many of the citizens agreed with Korra. Not enough to confront the council, oh no - the Avatar didn't even bother trying to change their mind, why would a regular citizen think they would make a difference? - but enough to complain about it, and for some, enough to plot.
"Who's to say we can't?" Tahno's silky voice spoke up as he stood and made his way to the front of the mob.
"The council?" another voice called out from the group.
The Bouncing Badgermole was a favorite hang out for pro-benders and pro-bending fans alike. Over one hundred had shown up to lament the cancellation of the finals. It was the perfect place for Tahno to reveal his plan.
"The council can't be everywhere," he pointed out. "And the cops are spread too thin working on the Equalists problem to bother with one little pro-bending arena."
"What exactly are you suggesting?" Ki Hyun - captain of the Buzzard Wasps - asked. They, too, were angry at their chance for the championship being stolen by some crazed man in a mask. Tahno knew he could get them on his side.
"I'm suggesting, on game day, we just… show up." Whispers broke out immediately. "With enough of us there, the cops wouldn't waste the time trying to get everyone to clear out. They would just have to stay and do their job protecting us until the match was over like the council should have voted to do in the first place." The people were nodding. A fervor was building. "We have worked and waited and trained all year for this opportunity! I, for one, am not going to let some freak - someone not even brave enough to show his face - take this away from me!"
"Me either!" Ki Hyun yelled.
"Who else is with me?"
"I'm in!"
"Let's do it!"
"I love you, Tahno!"
"They can't arrest all of us!"
Tahno smirked. Perfect.
He'd earned this. He'd given his time and effort and blood to pro-bending; he wasn't going to let some boogeyman scare him out of doing what he was born to do. And maybe when the council saw everyone take a stand, they would learn to plant their feet, too.
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"Mako!"
"What, Bolin?" Mako had paperwork to do. He had research to document. He had formulas to run. Was the Equalist threat big enough now? Were their armies available for another country's war? Could Mako bear to clear the way for more of his family to come and risk themselves? "I thought you were on the phone with Asami?"
"I was and-"
"Then you should still be occupied for at least another hour."
"The championship is back on!" Bolin blurted out. Mako set down his papers. "Asami's a huge pro-bending fan, as you know, and her information network in Republic City is damn impressive, and she found out that the teams that were supposed to be in the championship and like two thousand fans are just going to show up at the arena and have their match anyway."
"What?"
"Yeah, I know! Something about the police force not having the numbers or time to arrest all of them so they can't stop it from happening and the match is only gonna be for glory since all the teams' ante up for the pot was returned to them when the finals was canceled - except maybe the Wolfbats and the Buzzard Wasps are still gonna play for each other's ante, I think, I'm not sure, I'll ask Asami - and yeah, the finals are on I gotta tell Korra!" After giving the waterfall of words that was his report, Bolin ran off, presumably to call Air Temple Island.
Mako, on the other hand…. What the fuck is wrong with these people?
He knew how this would play out. Amon would follow through his threats and do something terrible - spirits knew he had spies everywhere that would tell him of this new development - and with little to no forewarning, the police force wouldn't be able to do much to stop him and dozens, perhaps even hundreds of people would be hurt. Of course, the citizens who royally fucked up would find some way to make this the government's fault for not protecting them when they were breaking the law and things would only get worse from there.
There was only one thing to do. One small yet soul-crushing, horrible ugly very unwanted thing to do. Mako dialed the phone.
"Hello, Councilman Tarrlok? This is Lord Mako. I have some information that might interest you."
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Even when he immediately mobilized the entire police force, called in every member of the specialized task force, had every available combatant - including Master Tenzin - on standby for the inevitable attack, there was nothing Tarrlok could do.
The same day Mako got the information, thousands of people stormed the pro-bending arena and refused to be moved. As predicted, there wasn't enough manpower to shut down the match, and thus the police could do nothing but stand guard.
"Whose idiot idea was this?" Master Tenzin demanded, staring Korra down in the Sato private box Asami had let them use as a base of operations.
"I don't know!" Korra insisted. "I just decided to come!"
"You just decided to ignore a terrorist's threat and not report this blatant illegal activity all so you could watch a sporting event?" the airbender said furiously. Korra scoffed and turned away.
"You just don't get it."
"You're right! I don't! I don't 'get' the sheer stupidity in that thought process!"
"I'm not stupid!"
"Then act like it!"
As master and student argued, Mako gestured Councilman Tarrlok over to Asami. "Asami, whose idiot idea was this?" he asked calmly.
"My sources say it was Tahno," Asami answered, not taking her eyes off the match. "He's the waterbender and captain of the Wolfbats," she clarified for Councilman Tarrlok. "But he's also a bit of an attention hog, so it could be that he was just there and wants to take credit."
"Nevertheless, we'll be questioning him once this… debacle is over," Councilman Tarrlok said. Mako slipped away to stand by Bolin. Bolin pouted and refused to look at him.
"I know you know this is a bad idea," Mako whispered to him. Bolin pouted harder. "Damn it, Bo, you can spend time with Avatar Korra a million different ways, I'm sure you can find one that doesn't put your life in danger."
"I'm not mad at you for bringing reinforcements," Bolin finally said. "I knew you would, that's why I told you. I'm mad at you for bringing Tarrlok."
"He has the most pull," Mako told him.
"I know, but I don't trust that guy! There's something off about him," Bolin insisted. "Call it earthbender's intuition."
"I don't trust him much, either, but I believe he'll actually be of help in this situation."
"…I know."
They quietly watched the match for a few minutes as Tarrlok and Tenzin left to make rounds. Mako didn't know much about pro-bending, but from the way Korra and Asami - who had bonded way quicker than Mako would have liked - were screaming, the Wolfbats appeared to be big fat cheaters.
"That disk was outside your zone!"
"No headshots, you bastards!"
"Since this event is unsanctioned, is the rule book even still applicable? I see no referees," Mako asked, honestly curious.
"Shut up, Mako."
Well, that answered that.
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The match devolved into something ugly once the Buzzard Wasps realized what Mako and the Wolfbats had already figured out: there were no rules here.
Bolin hoped there were some healers in the audience.
He closed his eyes and made a quick sweep of the building. He had left the soles of his feet bare, hoping to detect anything odd. Having never encountered Amon, he couldn't search for him directly, but he could find out if one of the officers was attacked.
Then the Buzzard Wasps were sent into the drink and the Wolfbats raised their hands in victory and electricity shot through the stands.
Like bumbleflies, the metalbenders fell. The beat cops fell. The task force fell. The platform raised. Bolin couldn't hear what was being said, but he watched in horror as the Wolfbats attempted to fight the Equalists. He tried to shoot to the platform to help, but Mako held him back, pointing to the citizens being held hostage with threats of electrocution. Korra searched the stands for Tenzin, frantic, and Bolin looked away in horror as the Wolfbats were stripped of their bending.
Bolin stomped his foot and committed the response to memory as Amon made his way to the microphone. He couldn't get him now, but one day, he would face him again, and he would see him coming a mile away.
The Wolfbats were tossed carelessly into the water and Equalist banners fell from the roof. Amon began to speak;
"I believe I have your attention, benders of Republic City."
Bolin tried to memorize as many Equalists' readings as he could, desperately trying to block out Amon's speech.
"…celebrate three bullies…"
"…threaten and abuse…"
"…supposedly the best…"
"…it only took a few moments for me to cleanse them of their impurities." But he couldn't block it out forever. "Let this be a warning to all of you benders out there: if any of you stand in my way, you will meet the same fate."
Bolin barely noticed the people around him - the horror in Korra's eyes, the fearful way Mako and Asami gripped each other's arms.
"Now, to my followers: for years the Equalists have been forced to hide in the shadows, but now we have the numbers and the strength to create a new Republic City. I am happy to tell you that the time for change has finally come. Very soon, the current tyrannical bending regime will be replaced by a fair-minded Equalist government. You and your children will no longer have to walk the streets afraid! It is time to take back our city."
"What do we do?" Bolin looked to Mako. Mako always had a plan. Mako always figured things out. "Mako, what do we do?" Mako shook his head helplessly, his jaw soundlessly working up and down.
"For centuries, benders have possesed an unnatural advantage over ordinary people. But thankfully, modern technology has provided us with a way to even out the playing field. Now anyone can hold the power of a chi blocker in their hand."
Bolin noticed the Equalists in the audience shifting. Amon's speech seemed to be winding down. Soon, he would be gone, and they wouldn't see him until his next planned attack.
"My followers and I will not rest until the entire city achieves equality, and once that goal is achieved, we will equalize the rest of the world. The revolution has begun!" Amon raised his fist in the air as his followers cheered. This seemed to be a signal, as the glass ceiling was smashed, several cables falling through, the bases widening into platforms. Amon and his fighters stepped onto them as the Equalists in the audience slipped away.
As Amon and the others rose, Bolin was thinking. This was his best shot. This might be his only shot once Mako made his report to mom.
Mom. What would mom do?
…Mom would cut a bitch.
Bolin shot metal cables onto one of the banners and stood on the balcony, preparing to jump.
"Bolin, no!" Mako shouted. Bolin didn't listen. He swung and began reeling himself up, absently noticing Korra shooting past him.
She didn't make it. She started to fall. Bolin wrapped her in cables and threw.
The arena exploded.
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Mako watched as his brother and the Avatar disappeared through the hole in the roof, silently praying for their safe return. He knew Bolin could take care of himself and spirits knew Korra could bust some heads, but they had both been blindsided, both facing unknown technology, and both emotionally shaken from what they had just witnessed.
It would be a close fight.
"Mako!" He was abruptly brought out of his thoughts by Asami's call. "Mako, we have to get out of here! There might be more explosives."
"We can't just leave everyone here to panic!" Mako argued. He looked around and spied the announcer's box. He pointed it out to his companion. "Asami, can you get to that microphone from here?"
"Who do you think you're talking to?" Asami smirked. "I'll try to calm the audience enough that they won't trample anyone on their way out, contact emergency services while I'm at it. You look for casualties."
Mako nodded as Asami climbed onto the balcony and onto the wall and around the arena, slowly making her way to the announcer's box. He sent up one more quick prayer and forced himself into the fray.
Let them come back.
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Korra could hear the faint sounds of Asami's voice sounding throughout the arena. She could feel the cracking of the glass dome with each harsh landing of a body. She could see Bolin binding Equalists and crashing them into each other, shaking off chi blocking and electric pulses with only the slightest hesitations. She could smell the smoke from a dozen burning airships. She could taste copper on her tongue.
Amon could steal a person's bending.
She had known that - had known that for months - but to see it…. The terror on Wolfbats' faces, how dead they looked as they slumped over at Amon's feet, how neither Amon nor his forces had even the smallest bit of concern for the near-catatonic people they had just emptied and abandoned…. Tahno had pulled his body out of the drink through sheer force of will, through such a love of himself that he refused to simply sink and dissolve in what had once been such an integral part of him. Korra did not see the other Wolfbats make it out.
Amon could steal a person's bending.
Was it something that could carry? Something that could settle in the blood and become hereditary? If the equalized had children, would they be benders? Could they be benders? Would it fade away from their souls as they grew older, slowly becoming weaker and weaker until they were left wondering what they had done wrong, why the spirits who had once blessed them had left them alone with nothing but memories to taunt them in their lowest hours? Were they all forsaken?
Amon could steal a person's bending.
Amon could steal a person's bending.
Amon could steal a person's bending.
Could Amon break the Avatar Cycle?
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Not for the first time, Bolin was thankful he'd bothered to wear his full uniform that night, despite the terrible heat that came with it.
He was thankful, too, for the winter season that was keeping him from passing out.
Carefully molded metal armor sandwiched between two layers of fabric - one skin-tight cat suit and one flowing Dai Li robe - protected him from both chi blocks and electrified kali sticks. Well, protected him from being incapacitated at any rate. Those kali sticks still hurt like Wu's singing.
A few yards away, Bolin could see Korra fighting. She was holding her own against two opponents, though many of her movements seemed to be instinctual rather than having any sort of strategy. She was distracted, and it was going to get her killed. Not that Bolin wasn't distracted, too, but he had armor and weapons and combat training. Korra had grown up on a compound, sheltered and secure.
Amon was getting away, but Bolin couldn't just leave Korra alone. They had to get back to the others, had to wait to fight another day, but how could they get away from five trained, conscious Equalist fighters with two more slowly coming to?
The ceiling shattered, taking all the fighters down with it. Not what I had in mind, Bolin thought as he caught Korra and himself. But I guess it'll do.
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Mako watched as the last of the ambulances drove off. Two dozen civilian casualties, (both teams and a handful of audience members) and ten fatalities (four of the fallen Equalists, three trampled civilians, and three police officers - two who wouldn't go down as quickly as the Equalists wanted them to and one whose body had reacted badly to the shock gloves). The three Equalists who had landed in the water were taken in for questioning, but it was a small consolation prize. The arena was destroyed. The people were terrified. The Avatar was in shock. The Equalists were bolder and larger and better equipped than anyone had imagined.
Republic City was at war.
"Lord Mako?"
"I'll contact the King."
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A/N: Longer, though not as long as I wanted it to be. Alas….
What'd y'all think? Threw in a new POV, powered through typing direct quotes of an entire fucking speech, gave Tarrlok a little more screentime, had Tenzin lose his shit on Korra. I had fun. Except for the direct quote part. Also, I know Mako seems OOC. I'm sorry. I'm putting him through some shit - flashbacks, tba - that will make him make sense. Worry not. Unless you like Mako. Then worry. Worry very much.
I love the idea of Tahno being like oh hell no, I am too fantastic to go out like this while he climbed out of the water.
Some of y'all may have noticed that I only sometimes capitalize the word King. This is on purpose. When it is Mako's or Bolin's POV, they consider 'King' to be a very important title since they grew up in court and place a lot of weight in titles. When it's Korra's POV, she considers 'king' to be more like a preffix, like 'miss' or 'mister', not a proper title like 'Avatar' or 'Master'. I apologize if this confuses you. It's just supposed to be a subtle show of differences in the three teens' upbringings.
Also, all those flashbacks I promised, there are a few I feel might not fit in this story, so I'm going to be throwing in some interlude chapters.
The time for theories is coming to a close, lovelies! The big shit will be getting revealed and explored soon, so message me while you can if you want the sweet sweet vindication of seeing this mess coming!