We walked down a dimly lit hallway and into a large, open room with a big stage on the other side. The room was filled with people. "I knew many people hated benders, but I've never seen so many in one place," Mako gasped, then became serious. "Keep your eyes out for Bolin."
We walked toward the crowd, pushing our way through and closer to the stage. Instinctively, I gripped onto the sleeve of Korra's coat, hoping not to lose them. Lights came on, lighting up the stage. A person that couldn't be seen announced, "Please welcome your hero, your savior, Amon!" The crowd started cheering as a group of men rose on stage, their heads down. Smoke appeared on stage around them. I shrank closer to Korra. I wasn't going to lie, I was scared.
A specific light shun on a man with a hood, and when he looked up we saw his mask. Amon. He approached the microphone, looking into the cheering crowd.
"My quest for equality began many years ago," He spoke, and I knew his voice would haunt me in my nightmares for years. "When I was a boy, my family and I lived on a small farm. We weren't rich, and none of us were benders. This made us very easy targets for the firebender who extorted my father."
He began walking around stage. "One day, my father confronted this man, but when he did that firebender took my family from me." He paused. "Then, he took my face. I've been forced to hide behind a mask ever since."
The crowd gasped, and Mako and Korra looked at each other. Korra glanced at me, but I was half hidden behind her. "As you know, the Avatar has recently arrived in Republic City," Amon spoke, and the crowd started booing, causing Korra to shrink back as well, pulling the scarf around her neck over her nose. "And if she were here, she would tell you that bending brings balance to the world. But she is wrong. The only thing bending has brought to the world is suffering.
The crowd murmured in agreement as he continued. "It has been the cause of every war in every era. But that is about to change."
I nudged Korra. "What is he talking about?" I whispered. She shrugged.
"I know you have been wondering, 'What is the Revelation?'" Amon stood straight towards the crowd. "You all are about to get your answer. Since the beginning of time, the Spirits have acted as guardians of our world, and they have spoken to me." Goosebumps appeared on my arms, and I hugged the coat around me tighter. "They say the Avatar has failed humanity. That is why the Spirits have chosen me to usher in a new era of balance! They have granted me a power that will make equality a reality! The power to take a persons bending away! Permanently."
The crowd gasped. Korra's eyes were huge as she said, "That's impossible. There's no way." It came out more of a question.
Mako agreed. "This guy's insane."
"Didn't Avatar Aang..." I started, but when Mako shot me a look I stopped talking.
"Now, for a demonstration," Amon said. He held out a hand, showing a trail of men tied up and walking on stage. "Please welcome Lightning Bolt Zolt, leader of the Triple Threat Triad, and one of the most notorious criminals in Republic City." The crowd began booing, and Lightning Bolt Zolt said something on stage I couldn't hear.
The four men tied up on stage were pushed onto their knees. The fourth one, though, was Bolin. "There's Bolin," Korra said, started to rush forward. I began following until Mako held us back.
"What?" I asked.
"We can't fight them all. We need to be smart about this," Mako explained in a hushed tone.
"Then come up with a game plan, team captain," Korra murmured.
Our attention was drawn back onstage as Amon began talking again. "Zolt has a mass of fortune by extorting and abusing non-benders. But he rein of terror is about to come to an end. Now in the interest of fairness, I will give Zolt the chance to fight to keep his bending."
A Chi-blocker untied Zolt, who ran to the other side of the stage and turned to face Amon. "You're gonna regret doing that, pal," Zolt said, shooting a flame at Amon, who dodged that flame and the next one. He repeated dodging the flames the bender shot at him as he got closer to Zolt.
Zolt eventually shot a lightning bolt at the tip of his fingers. Amon ducked under it, now close enough to grab Zolt's arm and push it around until Zolt had his back to Amon. The lightning still shot, and Amon pushed Zolt to his knees. He placed his hand on Zolt's head, and for a moment Zolt just sat there shooting lighting and not moving.
Soon, his lighting became blasts of fire and then dwindled to nothing. Amon let Zolt go, and Zolt fell forward flat onto the ground. He groaned, turning onto his back and trying to shoot a flame. Nothing happened and he collapsed onto the ground. "Your firebending is gone," Amon announced. "Forever."
I heard Korra gasp along with the crowd beside me.
"The era of bending is over!" Amon said. "A new era of equality has begun!" The crowd went crazy with cheers and agreements as they untied the second person, kicking him to Amon.
"Any ideas yet?" Korra asked.
"We should have brought Naga," I murmured to myself. "She could have given these guys a scare."
"I think so," Mako said. "See those machines over there?" He pointed behind him. "They're powered by water and steam. If you create some cover, Korra, I can grab Bolin without anyone seeing. Then, we duck outta here."
"Works for me," Korra said as they began to move away.
"What about me?" I asked.
Korra said, "Come with me and help me keep an eye out for any guards." Then, she turned to Mako and grabbed his hand. "Good luck."
"You too."
I followed Korra the opposite direction Mako was going. We snuck through the crowd and into a door way that led to a narrow room with pipes and machines. She turned one of the red wheels, opening a small hole for steam to come out. "That's not enough," I said, as I began turning a different wheel.
"Hey, you," A guard said. Behind him was another guard, just as big.
"Is there a problem, my brothers?" Korra asked, looking up at the guards.
"What'r you going back here?" He asked.
"uhh..." Korra stumbled.
"Looking for the bathroom," I said. We both gave them a sheep smile they didn't buy.
The first guard held out a wrench and began swinging at Korra, while the second guard had a pipe and came for me. I ducked his swings, kicking up and smacking the pipe out of his hand. He started swinging his fists instead, and after several good ducks I've practiced he hit me in the stomach and knocked me against the far wall. We heard a bang and turned to see the other guard on the floor and steam coming out of the machine. "This should be enough," Korra said, smiling. She grabbed the pipe, hitting the other guard on the head so fast he had no time to react. The second guard fell with a thud.
I smiled at her. "Thanks."
She grabbed my arm, pulling me up from where I slouched on the floor. "Let's hurry."
Korra began bending the steam around, filling up the space quicker. She smashed a hole in the wall, letting the steam fill the air in the room full of non-benders and Chi-blockers. I could hear screams from the other room. We ran out into the big room. We couldn't see anything with the steam, and Korra grabbed onto my wrists to make sure we didn't get split up. We made our way across the room through the crowd and out a back door.
"Where are they?" I asked.
Around the corner of the building we heard yelling. "Mako!" Korra said, rushing around the corner and into the alley.
It took me a minute to realize where she had went and by the time I caught up with her Mako, Bolin, and a Chi-blocker were all on the ground. "I wouldn't count us out yet," Korra said, standing in bending formation, and then whistled for Naga. I blinked. Did Naga follow us?
From the distance Naga appeared. I began to help Mako up. Chi-blockers began coming down into the alley from a ladder that led up to the building. We climbed on Naga, and as we ran Naga picked Bolin up with her mouth, dragging him along. He yelled in protest. "Stop...I want...to...be...on...your...back..please," he said as he bobbed along with Naga's head.
As we ran through the streets I yelled, "They aren't following us! Why aren't they following us?"
"I don't know!" Korra yelled back, but not slowing Naga down any.
They dropped me off at my house first. I gave Bolin a hug. "I'm so happy you're okay," I said to him.
He gave me one of his goofy grins. "Thanks for coming to save me." He turned to Mako and Korra. "All of you."
Mako messed up Bolin's hair. "Anytime. But don't ever do that again!"
Bolin and Korra laughed, as they got onto Naga. Mako walked up to me. "Thank you for helping find Bolin," He said quietly.
"You're welcome."
"So, when do you want us to come over?" He asked, looking at the ground instead of me.
A smile appeared on my lips. "You mean it?"
He nodded.
"Anytime will be fine," I exclaimed. I couldn't help myself as I wrapped my skinny arms around his torso. "Thank you so much for listening and giving me a chance!"
He just stood there for a second and took a couple steps back. "This doesn't mean I believe you, but I'll hear you out. We'll be here tomorrow." Was all he said finally. He joined Bolin and Korra, and I watched them leave before finally going inside.
Mother was waiting up for me, and I shrugged off all her questions and told her I'd tell her what happened tomorrow. My stomach and sides were still hurting, and I suddenly became very tired. That was the first night of solid sleep I had gotten in weeks.