Chapter 3

She froze.

Thousands of people in the arena cheered wildly in excitement for Amon, their Equalist leader; for they knew that debending the Avatar would be their greatest achievement yet. They had already captured the renowned metalbender, former chief of police Lin Beifong as well as four members of the United Republic Council, including Councilman Tarlok, and many others. But the Avatar was on a whole other level; she was a physical incarnation of the spirit of the world and embodied the power of the four elements.

Her debended would signify the rise of nonbenders and rupture the balance between the four nations.

Her debended would – no, she would never allow that to happen. She didn't even want to think about it. Bending was everything, and everything was bending.

"The Avatar needs to be reminded of the power I possess," Amon stated, staring directly at her.

Korra clenched her hands into tight fists, feeling the sweat on her palms. She was nervous, but she wouldn't (couldn't) allow herself to be. She steadied her breath. She would never show fear.

She looked behind her shoulders, noticing the Equalists already creeping up behind her and Mako from where they stood on the platform in the arena. She had to act fast. But all she could think about was attacking Amon straight on. Her mind was blank; she had no plan and no time. Suddenly, Mako attacked Amon with an electric shock, sending it straight out from his two fingers pointed at him.

Amon rolled to the side, dodging the attack which sent out clouds of black smoke when the lightning hit the stage. A few screams erupted from the crowd.

Korra looked over at Mako who returned her glance with a nod. She was certain his eyes were reassuring her that everything would be okay. Just follow me.

In a second, both of them were running sideways on the wall towards the stage, holding fire in their hands. They jumped off at the edge, shooting ample flames at each Equalist protecting and fighting for Amon. Their moves were synchronized and precise, almost like a beautiful dance.

Despite the gracefulness, firebending was harmful and brutal, alluring to watch yet dangerous to touch. Many of the Equalists were quickly knocked down, burnt out by the fiery flames. (Korra had also snuck in some earthbending during their fight too.)

The rest of the auditorium fell into silence, its emptiness caused by the chaotic people running out of the building as hastily as possible in terror. They were fearful of bending and the possibility of getting hurt.

"What are you going to do now?" Korra asked archly. "Not going to bloodbend me, Amon?"

She supposed that he wouldn't dare touch her with his bending - at least not when the Equalists were there. He wouldn't risk losing his supporters during such a crucial moment.

Amon gave no response and hurriedly exited the room into the hallways where they could no longer see him anymore. The lieutenant in front curled his lips, holding his kali sticks up. He took a step forward. The look on his face said that he was ready to ensnare Mako and Korra.

"Go," Mako ordered, "I'll catch up later."

Korra nodded, heading off into the same direction as Amon while Mako attacked the Equalists, distracting them from chasing Korra.

"Where could he be?" she muttered as she poked her head through each door along the hallway. But time and time again, each room was empty. There was no trace of Amon at all.

The thought of looking for Amon alone unnerved her and she wished she had more courage to prove that she was a worthy Avatar. Even when she knew the truth, there was always a burning sensation at the core of her heart, fear seeping through her chest. The question she feared most – what if her bending was taken away - echoed in her head, leaving her to wonder if she was as brave as she pretended to be.

A couple minutes later, Mako found Korra in the hallways, reaching her left shoulder with his arm, turning her around to face him.

She breathed in and out slowly. She pursed her lips at first then slightly opened her mouth to speak. Her eyebrows furrowed and she couldn't decide whether her next words were more infuriating or relieving. "He disappeared."

"I have been waiting for this moment."

Silence passed, and Hiroshi stood outside their cell looking impassively at his daughter. Asami couldn't tell the emotions behind his vacant eyes. The hollowness of him felt so unfamiliar.

"I want to talk to you alone," he continued saying, his eyes never leaving hers.

Asami could see the two Equalists standing behind her father, entering the cell. They held their kali sticks close to her and Iroh's bodies as they untied the rope freeing Asami and then retying it to strap Iroh down. She was escorted outside; the Equalists guarded her closely, cautiously not underestimating her abilities.

She gave one last uneasy glance at Iroh before leaving - she thought she saw him mouth the words be safe to her, but perhaps it was only her imagination.

Then, Asami reluctantly followed her father down the dark corridor, a million thoughts flashing in her mind. They entered a small conference room with no windows and a large table separating her and her father, the two Equalists securing the entrance by the door.

"You can sit down."

Asami remained standing rooted to the ground.

"Do you want anything to drink? Some tea perhaps?"

"Can we get to the point?" she snapped. She was frowning at him. "What do you want from me?"

Hiroshi stiffened in his chair. He took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes, exposing the wrinkles on his forehead and along his eyes. The strands of white and gray hair were no longer nicely combed to the side and instead stood messily on his head.

For the first time, Asami thought her father looked old, very very old. He looked old and tired and confused, all at once. "Asami … please, Asami," his voice was broken. Was he pleading to her?

She was stunned, speechless. She hadn't expected anything like this: a pitiful and desperate man standing before her, weak at the knees. Was this part of an act? She almost felt bad for being rude to her own father.

"Dad, stop!" She ran over to her father despite her boyfriend's plea for her to stay behind. Her eyes widened in disbelief at her father, positioned to electrocute her friends. She didn't understand … her own father was an Equalist. "Why?"

"Sweetie, I wanted to keep you out of this for as long as I could. But now that you know the truth, please forgive me."

Her face distorted into confusion.

"These people … these benders … they took away your mother, the love of my life! They ruined the world!" he explained. "But with Amon, we can fix it and live in a perfect world together. We can help people like us, everywhere."

"I only wanted to protect you." His voice was honest and genuine with all the love he had for his daughter.

"Join me, Asami," he told her, handing the Equalist glove to her.

Asami bit her lip. "This isn't right though, any of this. You think going against the Avatar and ridding the world of bending will solve your problems?"

Her hands were shaking.

"No, it won't," he admitted, "But please understand . . ."

"I love you dad."

He offered her a slight smile, but she stared back at him skeptically.

"When your mother died that night, I promised myself that I would prevent this from happening again to other families. I was so devastated by her loss," his sunken eyes gazed an eternity away, lost in his own memories of his wife. "Benders who abuse their powers, like the Agni Kai Triads, don't deserve their bending abilities. These people are only good for hurting other nonbenders like us."

"But what about the rest?"

"Benders are all the same!" he scoffed, his voice raising. "You don't think the Avatar abuses her power? You don't think that firebender boy you hang out with does the same? They all do."

She slightly nodded, uncertain.

"Oppression is everywhere. It starts with benders misusing their bending, destroying public and private property, hurting and mistreating nonbenders, and not thinking about the consequences of their actions," he stated with his arms crossed. "Not even Republic City cares about us! The United Republic Council consists only of benders, and we nonbenders don't even get a say in anything. Why do you think thousands of people have joined this Equalist movement? We are not bad guys. We are just people trying to fix oppression."

Asami remained completely silent and still.

"Our great leader has a vision for the future. Asami, don't you want to live in a world where everyone is finally equal?"

". . . I do."

She desperately wanted to believe it, that she meant those words with all her heart. But it wasn't enough.

She accepted the Equalist glove...

"I'm doing this for all nonbenders, especially you and your mother," he looked into her soft emerald eyes, and said quietly, "and I want you to join me."

...and electrocuted her father.

A long pause passed by.

Hiroshi cleared his throat and motioned for the door. "I think it's time for you to leave. I've said everything that needed to be said."

Asami nodded, heading for the exit. She glanced back at her father who held their gaze for a second before he abruptly turned away. But one second was enough time to share the secrets of the world.

She already knew what his eyes said.

Asami, do you love your mother?

.

.

Do you love me?

Before she knew it, she was back in the prison cell tied back to back with General Iroh. She could feel the coldness of the floor tiles and the roughness of the rope through the light cloth of her clothes. She wondered how long they would have to stay there.

"Are you fine?" he asked, concerned.

"I'm great," she replied quietly, "I just –"

The sound of great roaring interrupted her. A giant white polar bear dog stood at the entrance to the hallway.

"Bolin? Over here!"

"Bolin and Naga to the rescue!" The polar bear dog rushed over to the prison cell holding Asami and Iroh. As Bolin climbed off, Naga destroyed the prison cell door, and Pabu climbed in and chewed on the ropes, freeing both of the prisoners.

"Thanks."

"Let's go. We still have some planes to destroy," Iroh rushed them as they exited the building and headed towards the airbase.

Once outside, they saw the last couple of airplanes taking off. Iroh easily took out a pilot as he flung the pilot out from the cockpit while Bolin destroyed a plane with the large, heavy boulders he threw at it.

Iroh turned around, noticing that Asami disappeared. From the corner of his eyes, he saw the silhouette of Asami following her father further into Equalist territory, her shadow running along the snow.

"Asami!" he shouted after her, confusion clouding in his eyes.

Bolin followed Iroh's gaze and bewilderment showed on his face. "Asami, where are you going?" he asked softly so that only Iroh heard, but he had a feeling that they both already knew the answer.

". . . I don't think she's coming back."

Asami shut her eyes and covered her ears; Iroh calling her name was the last thing she wanted to hear. Tears trickled down her cheeks unconsciously, blurring her view. An overwhelmingly melancholy drowned over her and she wondered why it felt so bad to do the right thing.

I'm sorry.