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With a smile, she pointed to the ships in the sea. Opal nodded, taking the reins of Pepper so Jinora could land on the Fire Nation ship first. Spreading the wings of her suit out, she glided down before rushing into her father's arms.
"I'm glad you are safe, Jinora." Tenzin said, taking a step back to look at her.
"Opal and I have been careful." She responded.
The elder Master nodded, letting his arm fall to his side. Another airbender had stepped out of the ship, causing the teenaged master to forget her father for a moment and rush to him. Kai made the bold move of lifting her chin up, only to kiss her mischievously. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Tenzin's reaction.
"Is his face red?" Jinora asked in a whisper. Kai nodded, trying not to laugh at her own red face.
Tenzin would clear his throat, trying to interrupt their little moment, "Kai, don't you have a message to take elsewhere?"
Kai gave Jinora a wink before bowing to Tenzin and scampering off. When she turned, Jinora gave her father a cheeky smile before losing it.
By now, Opal Bei Fong landed Pepper on the dock. She had laughed to herself watching the scene below, knowing full well that Master Tenzin still did not like see his daughter with a boy. Not wanting to be the fun breaker, she left the bison moments after the small quarrel.
"The Resistance Fighters are heading to their locations. We should hear from Asami soon."
Tenzin nodded, "Good. Now you two can fly back to the Fire Nation."
"What? Why?" Jinora and Opal shrieked.
"You both are not to stay. Jinora will continue to lead lessons in the Fire Nation. The Air Nation will still need a leader to keep traditions going" The Master said.
"But-"
"No buts. Can I trust that you both will head west?"
The twenty-two year old airbender glanced at her friend, seeing the decision on her face. They both nodded.
The three airbenders met on their old home. Unlike the city across the harbor, Air Temple Island was in better shape than Republic City. Jinora had chills run up her spine as she walked the old, empty halls but it was satisfying to see her old home. She and Opal had headed north, disobeying Tenzin's request. Kai met them mid-way to the coast and decided to follow. After a quick walkthrough, they took Lefty over to the war torn city.
For those who did stay, their lives were not easy. Many of the buildings had fallen over, crumbled from the strong fighting. The Spirit Wilds also expanded, making it difficult to find a sturdy building to live in. The vines were still known to attack humans if they dared to enter.
But for those who did stay, they found that the friendly spirits helped those whom struggled to survive. The airbenders welcomed the company of the small spirits, eager to show them something. Jinora smiled at the opportunity to follow them. To the north-east part of the city they went, jumping and gliding their way through the rubble and streets, avoiding the distance sounds of a stalemate battle. Soon, it became less of a city than Wilds and the airbenders saw what the spirits wanted them to see.
Red Collars they called them. Bataar's loyalist soldiers, ready to kill on sight when ordered. They were busy working on cutting the vines away, gathering their finding into glass containers. Opal mentioned something about a weapon that the Earth Empire had been working on the past two years. Bolin had told her after his escape from the train when he defected. Varrick had started it, but he too escaped with Bolin's aid. Opal could only assume that this project was still on.
"We can't let them continue." Opal finally spoke up.
Kai nodded, "Red Collars; they're the worst out there."
"I think we should warn someone first." Jinora added, "We're outnumbered anyways. We don't want to start a fight."
Kai held his hand out, "A quick game of Elements then."
The women sighed, putting their hands out. They gave a quick countdown before throwing their hands out in various forms. Jinora let out a grumble after losing. After her quick words she began to look for a place to meditate. Opal and Kai continued to watch over the camp as she tried to reach Prince Iroh.
"They must have information in those tents." Kai spoke up.
"You don't mean to go into the camp, do you?"
Kai smirked, "Of course. We could use what is in there."
They decided to sneak into the camp that night.
It was a quiet, eerie night. Work had halted for the men stationed in around Republic City. Bottle of liquors were left around on the ground as they sang around fires. While they were known to be brutal fighters, these men hadn't seen any of the action since their repositioning and they almost went to sea to invade the Fire Nation, but that plan was halted when he United Republic continued to fight. They were simply there to guard the new project with the vines from the young city.
Pipes and strings were halted when a radio report went on air.
"Attention Peoples of the Earth Empire. Earlier today, our forces in the south captured the leaders, Mako and Asami Sato of the traitorous Resistance group. With this great Victory, the Earth Empire is one step closer to peace within itself and will be in the future, able to focus our war efforts to our fight against the Fire Nation and their airbending mercenaries. Now back to our program-"
Cheers filled the camp. Amongst the shadows, three sets of prying eyes watched with heavy hearts, but they couldn't let their hearts sink completely just yet. They carefully walked, on their toes for safe measure, looking around the camp for the tent they assumed would have what they needed. With a quick peek into the seams of the large tent, Kai reacted first, creating a bubble of air around the working soldier, choking the man until he passed out. He received a berating look from Jinora, but kinder actions were not for the moment. They dimmed the lights before going through the tent. Besides the mission the men were on, the airbenders did not find much. A marked map with cities circled told of old fights. News about the weapon were not in this tent. Opal did hold something up, dated and timed. It was a note coming from the top man himself. Opal crumbled her brother's note before Kai took it.
"Do not take any prisoners. Execute on sight." Kai read.
Jinora gasped, "No. That's-"
"He's completely lost his mind." Opal growled, her hands balled into fists, "This completely changes everything we planned on and how we're going to fight them. There will be more bloodshed because of this."
Kai pocketed the note before signaling that they need to leave. He was a moment too late though, as another soldier walked in. He began to shout his alarm before a gust of air blew him back out of the tent and into another one. Alarms across the camp went off. Kai brought his fingers to his mouth, blowing out a whistling noise. Metal shards flew by, missing their targets as the airbenders ran. Jinora and Kai jumped into the air, using their suits to help them get above the camp. Opal called out as she was struck, tripping over her injured leg. Kai returned, sending a wave back to throw the earthbenders back some.
"Jinora, get her out of here." He shouted, defending the wounded airbender.
Lefty was heard from above, calling them to him. They were now surrounded.
The young master helped Opal to her good leg before calling out to Kai, "Come on."
"No time." He shouted back, again pushing some more off of him "Get her out of here. I'll follow shortly."
Opal pleaded with her eyes. Jinora fought back tears of worry before taking off with Opal. With the women gone, Kai looked back at the Red Collars before giving them all a grin. He breathed in deeply before creating a space around the camp. He watched at the soldiers began to panic as the space was void of oxygen. Some of them tried to attack, but Kai held on, moving swiftly on the ground. His own browned skin began to turn red from lack of breathing. The men around him began passing out.
Jinora watched from afar as the space was created and looked away when the space fell. Her attention stayed on wrapping Opal's wound.
"Is he coming?" Opal winced through her teeth.
Jinora tried to smile as she answered with her lie, "He'll be fine."
Opal nodded, reading her face. She laid back in the saddle as the air bison took them away.
He paced the makeshift cell, cursing out their mistakes.
"Mako, you're making me nervous."
The firebender stopped, his left eye bruised from his beating by the Red Collars. He looked at Asami as she was looking for a week spot in the cell. She face was also bruising.
"Sorry. I just can't believe we're in a cell again." Mako said, sitting down, "And for the last time."
Asami joined him, knowing their grave situation. They overheard the Red Collars talk about an execution. Whether or not they meant for them to hear it, the message was certain. No attack from the south for them, no seeing the end of their hard fight and no chance at a normal life again.
They sit in silence thinking over the past few days… no, years. So much had happened and it was ending in a few hours. Feeling his nervousness, Asami placed her hand on his, giving it a squeeze.
"I'm sorry Asami, for everything. I shouldn't have dragged you into this."
"Nonsense. It was partially my fault for joining you in this crazy mess." She turned to look at him, "But I wouldn't want it any different. I would join you again if we had a chance to redo this."
She trailed off, again leaving them in their thoughts. She then leaned against him, placing her head on his shoulder. Mako did the same and they sat there for the next few hours. Their friendship had only gotten stronger throughout the years. Now, they could only try and hold their heads up and support each other's fears about the unknown of death.
They did not move until the Red Collar commander showed up with four soldiers. The man was stocky, but grim and he was grinning at his chance of destroying the leadership of the people whom refused to conform.
"Are we ready?" he asked more for himself than his prisoners.
They were escorted, their walk seeming long. Only the Red Collars spoke. The commander carried Asami's prosthetics, tapping everything with them as they walked.
"This one will be a great trophy on my wall." The commander chuckled, carrying her weaponized arm piece, "Or maybe I'll use it against your ragtag army when we see them next."
The prisoners stayed silent. Their escorts led them to a wall, forcing them to stand and face a gathered crowd. As the soldiers walked off, Asami turned to look at Mako.
"I love you Mako." She said softly.
"I know you do, Asami."
The commander grinned as the four soldiers joined six more. They took up quickly made bows and arrows, one for each. They nodded back to their leader. He turned to the forced crowd and spoke up.
"See now," he called, lifting his hands to the air, "This is what will happen should you seek to fight our mighty Emperor. These are the leaders of the Resistance and with all of the tales you might have heard, you will see that they are scared of our Emperor Bataar; scared to face their own mortality. If you join them, then you too will find death by our hands." He turned to face the prisoners, "Death; may the spirits remind you of your horrible lives."
He then nodded to the archers and walked off. The archers drew their bowstrings. The next few seconds were deafening even in the silence of the townsfolk. Mako felt a nervous sweat begin to form. His heartbeat quickened. His hand found Asami's.
And then the whistling of the arrows.
He felt his chest explode with pain as his legs gave out. The grasp he had with Asami lessened. He tried breathing and slowly looked over to his partner. She had already slumped over against him. He looked back up at the archers and saw two of them pull back another round. Before the next arrows came soaring, he let out a strong, defying shout.
"For the Earth Kingdom and Republic City!"
The two arrows impacted in his chest. He gave them a painful glare as his breathing failed him. Looking into the crowd, a smile formed before his sight went out.