Chapter 12 – And The Winner Is…
Pro-Bending Arena, Republic City
It was early in the morning and the Fire Ferrets trained for the finals, which was tonight. Thor and Asami watched Mako, Bolin and Korra trained vigorously. "So Thor, how long have Korra and you being going out?" Asami asked.
"Couple of days, and I haven't have time to rest." Thor replied with a small laugh. "I swear that I barely can keep up with her in everything we do together, from going around the city to other stuff."
"Glad to know that." Asami said as the training ended and the team of benders sat on a nearby bench sweating bullets.
"Those Wolfbat freaks won't see what comes to them!" Bolin happily stated as he took out his training helmet and threw it inside his locker.
"We got this championship in the bag." Mako added as he kissed Asami. "Championship money here we go!"
"Just say cool, don't go too far ahead of yourselves." Thor said earning a soft jab on the ribs by Korra.
"Don't be so a downer, we're going to win." Korra replied. Then the music from the radio turned into static and then his voice came on live.
"Good morning citizens of Republic City, it is I…Amon."
The sound of Amon's voice instantly sent shivers down Korra's spine and made her forehead sweat in fear. "I come to you all with a warning, if Republic City does not stop endorsing benders…as athletic heroes, as some kind of champions, I will attack today's finals. This is my warning; I leave the decision up to the council. Goodbye."
Then the normal radio came back with the host apologizing for what Amon did. The room was quiet that is until Thor broke the silence. "He must be mad if he thinks that his petty threat will have any effect." Thor mocked the Equalist leader.
"Thor's right, we have to see the council." Mako supported the young prince. Korra nodded and quickly went to her locker to change clothes.
Council Room, City Hall
The group of teens entered the council room, with Korra leading them with determination. As they entered they were met with an already heated debate between Tenzin and Tarrlok. "And I tell you that the colonel here is more than qualified to secure the finals tonight." Tarrlok told Tenzin as he signaled towards the military dressed man next to Chief Beinfong, who had been called to attend.
"Chief Beifong, what's going on?" Korra asked Lin.
"Tenzin wants to cancel the finals and Tarrlok insists that army pants there to set up security checkpoints in the arena." Lin answered as she looked at the man next to her. The man stood two heads taller than her, his skin was as pale as hers; his hair was black with grey lines on his sideburns. His face was that of someone who had seen to many wars to even count, and a patch covered his left eye. He wore a black-blue version of the United Forces officer uniform with an S.H.I.E.L.D. patch on his left arm.
"Who is he?" Mako asked.
"Colonel Nikorasu Fury, one tough old bird." Lin replied as the debate between Tenzin and Tarrlok didn't seem to go to any closure. Korra decided to step in.
"Hey listen!" She shouted, getting everyone's attention. "As the Avatar and a pro-bending player I have a right to be heard. You can't cancel the finals!"
"But Korra…!" Tenzin tried to reason with his pupil but was cut short by the colonel.
"The Avatar here is correct; we cannot give in to that maniac's threat." Fury stated, his rough voice echoing through the council room. "I will install my men through several checkpoints and if the Chief aids me with several airships and extra support, I am sure we can prevent any catastrophes from occurring."
"Chief Beifong, will you cooperate?" Tarrlok asked Lin with a sly smile on his face.
"If it helps with the protection of the city's citizens, I will comply. And in the case they show up, my metalbenders and the Colonel's S.H.I.E.L.D. troopers will be able to capture them." Lin agreed.
"Will you take any personal responsibilities if something goes wrong?" Tarrlok asked again. Fury nodded and Lin guaranteed it. "Good, see Tenzin we can work together."
Tenzin looked at his fellow council member and then at the others, who seemed convinced with Tarrlok's decision. At the end, Tenzin complied.
Pro-Bending Arena, Republic City
Night fell and the arena got packed with excited spectators! Thor decided to accompany Korra to the arena and to the preparation room for the Fire Ferrets. There Mako and Bolin were getting ready for the final.
"You ready Korra?! Oh this is going to be great!" Bolin said excitingly.
"Of course I am." Korra replied, she then turned to Thor. "Hey, try to remember what I'm about to do here, I don't want you to be surprise after I kick your butt in another training session."
"I will." He said as she put on her uniform and helmet and got ready for the match. Asami stepped inside and gave Mako a good-luck hug. "Hey Bolin, watch out for flying earth disks!" Thor said to his friend.
"Ah you know it!" Bolin replied as he followed Mako and Korra to the arena leaving Thor and Asami to look at them.
"Hey I'm going to the stands and watch from there, you coming?" Thor asked.
"Nah, I'll be staying here." Asami replied, Thor shrugged and walked out and headed towards the stands. Once there he was stopped by Colonel Fury. "Uh…hello?"
"There's something off about you kid." Fury said as he looked at the young prince with his one good eye. "And I got an eye for weird stuff."
"I bet you do, sir. Now if you excuse me." Thor replied as he walked pass the tough military man. 'That man was odd…oh well.' Thor thought as he sat next to an exit. Below him stood Tenzin and Lin who looked over the arena as the Fire Ferrets entered.
The fight went on as normal until one of the Wolfbats apparently made an illegal move, but was not penalize for it. Tenzin caught it in a heartbeat and Thor saw how the Fire Ferrets were having a rough time trying to beat the Wolfbats.
Korra was able to beat the Wolfbat captain, Tahno, in single combat. Winning the second round, Thor and several other Fire Ferrets supporters cheered as Tahno landed on his face and began to yell angrily.
As the third round came, the Wolfbats became more aggressive, now using fatal attacks. Mako and Bolin were blown away by the barrage of combined shards of rocks and ice, clear illegal moves but the referee had been bought…obviously. Korra was the only one left standing, she avoided the attacks as best as she could while following the rules. But she blown away also and it looked like the Wolfbats were champions once more.
"What a bunch of monkeyfeathers." Thor said as he saw how the Wolfbats cheated their way to victory. But then he heard a too familiar sound, the sound of electricity hitting metal. He looked around, and there he saw the limp body of a metalbending cop. "Oh no…"
Then shouting followed and the screams of Tenzin and Lin were loudly heard. Colonel Fury quickly ran to see what was going on but was intercepted by several chi-blockers. "Well this is certainly not expected…you can use electrified gloves!" Fury said as the chi-blockers tried to block his chi points and immobilize him.
Fury held his ground against several chi-blockers but one got lucky and punched the old bear on the back making fall on the ground. "Damn...!" He cursed as the chi-blockers continued to beat the SHIELD troopers who were stationed at the entrances.
Thor saw that the water had been electrified and that Korra and the others were nowhere to be seen. He then saw that Lieutenant guy dragging Korra from below the arena. The roof of the arena exploded revealing several Equalist airships, and the Equalist flags were shown.
From the circle center of the arena appeared Amon and two chi-blockers, scaring Tahno and the Wolfbats. Thor quickly jumped inside the water and swam towards the lower section of the battle arena. There Korra, Mako and Bolin had been tied to one of the columns.
Amon began his speech after de-bending the Wolfbats and throwing them off the arena and into the water. Korra woke up and saw Thor trying to untie them. "Thor…" She said quite tiredly.
"Don't worry I got it." Thor replied as she undid the knot and freed them. They stood and heard several explosions. It sounded like SHIELD was back on the offensive outside. "Come on, we have to get out of here."
"No, I'm not letting Amon escape this time!" Korra said as she ran to the side and saw that Amon had ended his speech and was escaping towards one of his airships. She bended a water tornado and went to catch Amon but he was too far away.
Korra began to fall but was catch by a reawaken Lin Beifong, she swung them towards the rooftop to prevent Amon from escaping again. Thor and the others were able to go back to the stands, there Fury and Tenzin were beating several Equalists away.
Fury then saw that the rest of them were getting away through the roof. "That damn terrorist!" Fury shouted as he used his firebending to rocket him to the roof.
"That's one way to use firebending." Mako said sounding quite impressed.
"Most of the spectators were safely evacuated after Amon finished his speech. Now the only thing left is for Korra to beat Amon." Tenzin said. The group looked up and saw the glass rooftop beginning to crack, and so it did. Thor saw Korra falling through the broken glass; his heart skipped a hearbeat as he saw her fall. But before she could hit the hard water Chief Beifong swung to her rescue, and landed next to the others.
Colonel Fury then rocketed next to them also. "Amon got away before we even got a finger on him." He reported.
"It's all right Colonel, we did all we could." Tenzin said re-assuring the SHIELD officer. Korra hugged Thor tightly and then was joined by Mako and Bolin.
"Okay…I can't breathe." Thor joked. Tenzin walked towards them.
"I'm proud of you all, but I'm afraid that this only the beginning." He said. "Amon's has begun a war and I believe the worse is yet to come."
Thor and the rest nodded in agreement as they gazed upon the ruined arena.
Unknown Location
A tall man sat next to a radio, through it he heard what had happened at the pro-bending arena. He stood up and put on a crimson helmet on and a dark purple cape.
"The Equalists are just the beginning." He said as he prepared for something big.