Last time in ILMiRC:

Ru Li, our once angsty, turned vengeful, character finally finds herself catching sight of the gleaming Republic City. Having met up with a seemingly random group of Equalists along the way, she finds new information telling her that Amon plans to sacrifice an earth bender- girl for his cause.

Just what does Amon have in store for this girl?

Can Ru Li get to her in time, before it's too late?

Meanwhile, it seems like our tag team trio of girls have found an unsuspected ally in Loki, a mysteriously motivated Chi- Blocker who claims to be out for the head of Amon.

What are his motives?

What in his past has driven him to this point?

Tune in to this chapter of I Lost Myself in Republic City to find out!

. . .

Ru Li

. . .

I grabbed thirty yuans from the dirty hand in front of my, not wanting to catch some disease or anything. Handing over the reigns, I sadly gave the man Foo Foo Cuddlypoops, the oddly named ostrich- horse. I had developed some strange bond with the beast over the past few weeks, but now I was in the city, and there was no need to have him anymore. The ostrich- horse didn't seem to mind our parting though, and the man presented him with a few food pellets, giving me a curt nod, sending me on my way. I stepped out from the barn like stall, and onto the brownish cobblestones of the street, thankful that with the dusk came less traffic. Stepping lightly, I adjusted the newly bought hat onto my head, and scratched my side, not yet used to the common clothing I had picked up.

Goodbye, comfortable clothing, hello potato- carrot sack. Oh well, you've got to blend; Earth Kingdom green doesn't exactly scream 'not here to mess up your diabolical plans.'

I sighed, for what seemed like the millionth time this week, immediately wrinkling my nose at the still unfamiliar scent of the bustling city. I had expected it to be different, but not this strange. I rubbed my hands together, trying to get out some of the chill that was running through my veins. It wasn't cold outside; rather, I was nervous, and the adrenaline just wouldn't quit flowing.

Ping!

The light in front of me signaled a green glow, meaning it was safe to cross to the other side of the street. I was heading in the direction of the wharf district, apparently where the Equalists were holding the 'big show.' Walking along this side, the black, brackish water of the bay lapped against the bricks over the edge of the road, wetting the cobblestones beneath my feet. I stuck my hands into my coat, moving a bit faster. Turning my head to the sea, I looked out at the small island, nestled among the waves. It was called the Avatar Aang Memorial Island. The large statue perched upon the small, rocky shore towered into the night, spiraling upward; a green tinged monolith. I looked at the carved face of the hero, the previous Avatar. He had saved the world during the hundred year war, and he was even younger than I, now.

Yeah, and he could bend earth by then, too.

"Oh, shut up, me. Now is not the time to start thinking about that."

I was right. It wasn't the time to start doubting myself. I had a steady stride going, and a certain goal in mind. I was going to the Equalists gathering for one thing, and one thing only. . .

Well, two things, now.

Right.

There was apparently an earth bender that Amon had captured, and he was going to make an example out of her tonight. By killing her.

Just like he did your father.

Dad.

I stopped walking for a moment, suddenly realizing that I hadn't thought about my father in. . . days. All I had been thinking about was blind revenge, and I had lost the thought of why I even wanted it in the first place. I shook my head, shutting my eyes and rubbing them with the palms of my hands. I looked down on them, the hands of a seventeen year old girl. The hands of someone who wanted to kill. I had no reason to feel sorry for myself; I knew what I was doing. Stepping forward again, I set my sights in front of me. Coming up on a row of buildings, I reached into the pocket of my jacket and pulled out the withered flyer, checking the address one last time; though I was sure I could have recited it from memory by now.

Three- thirty, Three- thirty two, there!

Three- thirty three. The building loomed over me, smaller than the others around it, yet more menacing, somehow. A small trickle of people filtered in through a small, side door, bathed in the yellow light of a street lamp. A large, pudgy man with an arm cast guarded the door. Gulping, and taking a deep breath, I began to fold up the flyer, then stopped. I didn't need it anymore. Pausing for a moment, I simply looked at it, then. . . let it go, the paper flying away in the wind.

Goodbye, Dad.

Letting go the last piece of him that I dared to take with me, I strode forward toward the warehouse. Getting in line behind other couples, I pulled my hat down on my face and approached the large bouncer at the door.

"Uhm," I stammered. "Is this the Equalist rally? Excuse me, not rally, gathering? That got cancelled, I know, so—"

"You know something?" The man said, looking down at me, one eyebrow raised in suspicion.

Crapcrapcrap.

He put his hands, fisted, and casted, to his sides, "Last time a girl came up to me wearing a pathetic looking hat in this doorway, she turned out to be the Avatar, broke my arm, and knocked me unconscious. . ."

I laughed nervously.

"Well, I would have brought a prettier hat, but I knew it would complement Amon's. . . outfit? Hehehe?"

Well done, Ru. Excellent. Now you're not an infiltrating bender but a member of the fashion police?

I looked at the bouncer, and he looked back at me. I wasn't quite sure what was happening here, but I was sure as heck that I wasn't helping my chances of getting into the place. Shuffling on my feet, I looked over at his shoulder, noticing the bright lights inside of the large room.

"All right, fair enough."

". . . OK? THANK YOU?"

"Trust me, if you were trying to lie to me, you would have picked something much less stupid. Just go on before I think twice about it."

I quickly passed him, hearing him grunt after I left his presence. Making my way inside, I lost my breath at the size of the crowd. Spanning the entire room was a sea of people, men, and women, all here for the same purpose. To see a young girl face some gruesome peril at the hands of a madman. I fell forward a bit, suddenly dizzy at the sight. Clutching the rusted steel bar in front of me, I noticed that I was shaking, quite obviously, and now, it wasn't just the adrenaline seeping into my veins. No, it was something else. My body was on fire, yet I was shivering, still experiencing the same sensation that I had earlier.

Calm down, Ru. Don't let nerves get the best of you, here. You've come this far. . . and you're not going to back down now.

Squeezing my eyes shut, I took a deep, silent breath, and then opened them again. I pushed off of the bar, and then made my way down the grated staircase, into the throng of people. Pushing forward, I tried to get as close to the stage as possible, shoving everyone aside, getting more than a few steeled glances and unpleasant words.

It seems like everyone wants to be front row for the execution.

Finally getting to a point where it was impossible to get any further, I settled in about fifteen feet from the absolute front of the throng. Looking around me, all the members of the crowd were speaking in hushed tones to each other, chatting idly to pass the time, obviously treating the gathering like it was some sort of social event. They made me sick. Every one of these people; I hated them.

CLICK.

The soft, overhead lights suddenly turned off, leaving everyone in complete darkness.

Here we go.

In the back of the stage, a soft glow began to appear, similar to the rising of the sun, early morning. At the same time, shadows began to filter in from my left side, the right of the stage. Travelling in single file, they took up places at the center of the stage. Finally the lights reached a seeable luminosity, and I was staring into the face of my greatest hatred.

Amon.

One Chi- Blocker on each side, he stood in the center of the ring, playing master, hands folded behind his back, just like he had the night my father had been killed. Clenching my hands into fists, I struggled to not leap onto the stage then and there. He paused for a moment, waiting. Slowly rising up from the stage was a microphone and stand. Once all the way up, he grabbed the microphone off its holster with one hand, not wasting any time before getting into his speech.

"My dear brothers and sisters,"

Applause resounded through the room, roaring like a hungry animal, waiting to make the kill.

"My dear brothers and sisters," he repeated. "Tonight, I will not waste your time with cheap tricks and entertainment. Instead, I shall get directly to the point. I assume that every one of you has answered the call that I set forth over the radio earlier this week, and are here to experience the justice that will be served to the young earth bender girl."

Booing and hissing, then.

Amon turned from the audience, strolling in a blithe gait toward the far wall. He stopped.

"Well, that will come in due time. Patience is all I ask." He turned back toward the audience, making his way slowly to the right side of the stage now. "As you are all aware, brothers and sisters, our glorious regime has stopped every attempt of the Republic City Government from coming to fruition. . ." The audience clapped again, curtly. "Tonight, I wish to reveal to you why. . . girls?"

Out from the left side of the stage walked three figures, two tall, one rather short. Making their way into the light, I could finally make out who they were.

Three, teenage girls, dressed in the garb of Chi- Blockers, strode out onto stage, waving their arms about in some sort of triumph, almost like they were celebrities. The crowd, upon seeing them, started to cheer, the sheer noise making it impossible to think. They bounded over to Amon, finished with their rigmarole, and stood in single file by his side. Amon walked closer to them, putting his hand on the shoulder of the tallest one, a girl with scraggly, straight hair and a singular braid.

"These three that you see before you are the crowning achievement of the Equalist movement. They have single handedly infiltrated different sectors of the Republic City Government, diverting their efforts, and even converting some officials to the cause."

More applause and cheers. I suddenly felt sick, standing there, and my head pounded with an unbearable intensity. I couldn't believe what was in front of me. Three girls, no older than I, worked for. . . for. . . this worm.

"But don't let me have the entire spotlight, no. Let them tell you what they have done."

Amon stepped to the side, then, handing the microphone to the one of middle height. She looked startled for a moment, looking to the other two with a quick glance, which I found strange. But it was gone as soon as it was there, and she soon took back up her wicked smile.

"My fellow Equalists," she began, stepping forward from her line. "What we have done is no small feat. There is no need for humility, here, for we know the gravity of what we have accomplished. Let me enlighten you." She came to the center of the stage, then. "I, myself, have destroyed the resistance coming from the high council. They have not issued a single order to direct efforts to stopping us since I have intervened. They are useless. She, there, has done work to the Police Force, especially the metal benders." She pointed to the small one, previously in the middle of the group.

That little girl has ruined the police resistance? But HOW? It looks like she's only fifteen, early sixteen. . . what has Amon done to all of you?

Despite my better wishes, I was transfixed by the girls' speeches. Something inside of me was holding me to the spot, rooting me there, and I couldn't move. Sweat dripped down my brow, and I was high off of the adrenaline still coursing through my body. My eyes darted back and forth from face to face, Amon, Chi- Blocker, the girls, Amon, Ch—

A man suddenly stepped in front of me, bumping lightly into me, blocking my vision of the stage. Startled, I blinked, finding it easy to move my body again. But now I couldn't see what was happening. Frustrated, I reached out to tap the guy's shoulder.

"Hey, do you min—"

His hand reached over his shoulder, quick as lightning, and grabbed my own. My eyes flew open in surprise. Slowly, he turned his face toward me, just barely visible in the lackluster light emanating from the stage. But, that was all the light that I needed. I found myself looking at the face of a tanned boy, a bit older than myself. His one eye, a chilling, green ice, that I could see, reflected the light in an unsettling corona. Turning fully toward me, and stepping forward, he also began to lace his fingers through my own. I stepped back, trying to pull my hand from his, spouting babbling nonsense, not sure of what to do. Continuing his advance, his free hand suddenly found itself around the small of my back, pulling me toward him in a strange embrace. Frightened, and confused, and feeling somehow . . . at ease? . . . I didn't move. He spoke to me then, still in my stunned stupor. Putting his head to the side of mine, he warned me.

"Just try not to die, all right?"

He laughed, quick and mellow, and then he was gone, quick as he had come. I blinked, recalling my ability to even, and shook my head.

Who WAS that?

My thoughts were drowned out by an onslaught of cheers and hollering. I looked back to the stage, reforming my attitude and thoughts. Up on the platform, the three girls had reclaimed their previous spots, lined up once more with their arms tucked behind their backs, the perfect example of the subservient Equalist. Amon had the microphone, once again, and took his place, center ring.

"Now you see the impact that we have, my friends. You see our power. Who could want to resist us, want to ruin this campaign. . . want to kill off our efforts?" Amon shook his head, coming to the very edge of the stage.

"As you all know, days ago, I had informed you of the capture of a young earth bender girl, and promised that she would be dealt justice." The crowd erupted in more cheers, ripe with anticipation. "Well, I inform you now, dear revolutionaries. . ."

"That she is dead."

Absolute silence. An eerie feeling crept through the audience. I listened to the whispers around me: she's dead? I thought he was going to present her tonight? What about the announcement? They were all questions I had asked myself. Something, and I didn't know what, did not feel right.

Not at all.

"Don't fret good people. The girl that I spoke of on the airwaves was nothing. I would not make an example out of someone so pathetic. No, I enjoy taking the self- righteous and making them into martyrs."

What is he talking about, this whole thing was about that girl! What is he up to?

"Do you remember, good people, when I killed the earth bender in Ja Bein Se, three weeks prior to tonight?"

I froze. Shaking racked through my body.

"I knew who he was, of course, but the other Equalists at the rally did not. They only saw him as the face of the opposition, and that was good enough for then. But, though the father was the target then, a different earth bender is the target now."

No.

Spot lights flared on overhead from somewhere in the rafters, all shining directly upon myself. Bathed in a blood red glow, the people around me flew back, leaving only myself in the crimson wash. Suddenly, it was me, and Amon, staring at each other; one in awe, one in sick triumph.

"His daughter is there in front of me." He pointed a finger at me. "And she intends to kill us all, tonight. She has travelled for weeks, just to come here tonight, and she plans to bring the entire building down above and beneath us, crushing us, maiming us, killing all of us."

People began to stir around me, some trying to rush toward the exit in the back, yet some donned an evil glare, angered by my motive. Even the three girls onstage had their eyebrows raised, shocked by Amon's words.

And then, Amon jumped down from the stage, and walked toward me. One foot in front of the other, he advanced toward me. I couldn't move. The strength that he simply emanated was enough to crush every hope that I had of escape. I was going to die. Amon grabbed my chin, bringing my terrified expression close to his clay mask. He spoke, and I imagined feeling his hot breath burning me.

"You, you stupid girl, are my martyr tonight. I will take your bending away, I will humiliate you, and then I will kill you, just like your pathetic father fell under my ha-''

CRAAAACK!~

Amon flew up in the air, catapulted back onto the stage by a large, brown chunk of earth. Around me, people began to scream, running out of the building in fits of terror. In front of me, a rectangular section of the floor jutted upward in a craggy mess, obviously made by a. . . bender?

. . . Did I do that?

I looked around the rock in front of me, and back onto the stage where I saw. . . I saw. . .

I saw the three girls all attacking Amon and his Chi- Blockers, earth bending style.

They attacked them in force, two focusing on Amon's henchmen, one going after him himself. They made short work of most of the Chi- Blockers, displaying that they had proficient skill in their craft. Dipping, dodging, diving, they all eventually cut down everyone until only Amon was left on the stage with them. The leader yelled.

"Surprised, you MONSTER?"

"What is the meaning of this? LOKI!"

Amon looked around, looking for whomever. No one came. The girls on the stage laughed together, smirking, knowing that they had Amon cornered.

"He's not coming, by the looks of it, Amon. Too ba—''

Suddenly, smoke exploded on the stage, blurring all visions of what was taking place. I staggered back, stunned and coughing, out of the protection of the boulder that had been in front of me. I couldn't clearly see what had happened, but I could make out shadows. Where Amon had been, there were suddenly two men, one grabbing the other and disappearing out of the left of the stage, quickly, and silently. The three girls all coughed and hacked, unable to see what was happening. After a few moments, the smoke cleared, leaving them onstage. . . and with Amon gone. The girl that seemed to be the leader of the group staggered forward, looking around with a rapid circular movement, and an angered expression on her face. The others did the same shortly after, coming to their senses. Realizing that they had lost Amon, the leader made an angered noise, kicking at the ground. Fists clenched in anger, the other girls tried to speak to her, but she wouldn't hear it, and ignored them, continuing to feed her aggression. I watched them, but they didn't seem to notice me.

Unfortunate occurrence number one.

Without warning, the middle girl reached her hands out, and the ground near the stage started to shake. An extremely large chunk of rock wrenched itself from the ground, suspended in mid air. With a loud grunt, the girl threw the rock, releasing all of her pent up anger and frustration in a blind throw. Let me emphasize, blind. Suddenly, I found myself staring at a brown tinged boulder. Heading straight toward me.

Unfortunate occurrence number three.

And I was angry. My blood boiled, uncontrolled by some determined rage. I had come this far, only to be thwarted by Amon. I had come this far, only to have stood there like a coward, not able to do anything but cower in the shadow of what couldn't even be called a man. I had come this far, and I was going to be felled by a rock. I furrowed my brows in anger, fire lighting my eyes.

This is not good! Come on Ru, you've got to bend it out of the way!

It was travelling too fast toward me; I had no other choice. In what seemed like slow motion, I brought my hands up, stretching the fingers out into the position I had practiced for years. My legs slowly came apart, steadying myself in a solid stance. Time ticked by in what seemed like hours for seconds. I took a deep breath. I moved my right arm back. I shifted forward toward the rock, hurtling toward me and. . .

I was warm.

I was dead, I knew it.

Unfortunate occurrence number three: stoned to death.

Everything around me seemed to stop, then. My eyes were clenched closed, waiting to feel the crushing blow that the rock had delivered, but all I could fell was a warm glow in front of me, caressing my face.

Sunlight?

I guessed that I was in the spirit world then.

Well, at least the afterlife has nice weather, eh Ru?

I opened my eyes, expecting to see a serene sun, the quiet, ghostlike atmosphere of the netherworlds, the gentle, peace bringing breeze of my death. . .

And felt the bone jarring gust of wind that tunneled past me on both sides, and saw two extremely large, sizzling chunks of rock fly just barely past my face, nicking my right cheek.

Oh, and did I mention that there was a forty foot wall of bright orange flame barreling toward the stage?

Surprised, I yelled, and the other girls yelled with me. Seeing that the flame was heading toward the girl that had thrown the rock, I pulled my hands left, sending the fiery wall careening left. I didn't know where the motivation to do so came from, because I was still confused.

How. . . how did I? HOW DID I DO THAT?

Dizziness crept over me then, and I began to swoon, overcome by the unexpected experience.

And I fell.

My vision was clouding, but as I fell, I noticed something; a young man, standing in the shadows, arms crossed, smiling.

And that was the last thing that I saw that night.

. . .

Noises.

No, voices.

Head pounding, I began to come to, hearing the high pitched voices of girls above me. Utterly confused, I sat up, barely feeling the subtle caresses of the three patting my back and checking to see if I was all right. I glanced around quickly, noticing that I was in a bedroom loft, sitting comfortably in a cot with black sheets.

And then I noticed my hands.

I lifted them to my face, staring at them, still shaking from what they had done. I didn't know it then, but that night, something changed in me. Something. . . sparked.

Awestruck, I turned them over, revealing the palms, scorched and seared to the bottom layer of skin, chafed from the fire that they had yet to tame.

. . .

Well there you go guys, chapter four, finite!

DID YOU LOVE IT?
It's my favorite so far.

So what exactly will happen next? Well none of you know, as all I have revealed up to this point was previously known. From now on, everything is new, and a surprise.

I can't wait to do this thing, this has been amazing, guys.

I promise that there'll be more perspectives the next chapters, I just really felt connected in writing in first person at the moment. BUT I PROMISE I WILL GIVE KILI, UME, AND JETTA MORE LOVE.

Speaking of love, Loki, mmmmmhmmmmm.

That boi.

HA! Anyway, you're all spoiled for two consecutive chapters, so don't expect another one for a good week.

I promise that it'll be worth the wait.

With Amon gone for now, there will be more focus on the lives of the characters, not just LEAF and Equalist business.

Soon we will reveal the core drama of this charade.

Until next, toodles!