DISCLAIMER: I don't own Legend of Korra or anything.
CHAPTER 14
" you will now be cleansed of your impurity" Amon said as took the bending of one bender to another. The dawn came and the team Avatar was ready. General Iroh will be arriving with the whole fleet. " coast is clear." Mako told them as they snuck out outside. There was a thick fog covering the whole city. " once the united forces arrive we need to help them in anyway we can." Korra said. " they're here" Mako gave them the heads up. Korra turned to Lin. " Lin, be careful out there." Lin climbed aboard to a boat. She will go to the hideout of the air benders. It was dangerous but if it's for their good, she will do whatever it takes. " I will, you should be careful too. I'll comeback to you. I'll see to that." Lin said as she placed a goodbye kiss on Korra. Then she floated away. Korra watched out for her until she couldn't see her anymore. Bolin placed his hand on Korra's shoulder and said " she'll be fine. she'll come back." Korra smiled but she couldn't shake off the thought that it will be the last time she will see her lover.
" Amon must've known that we were coming." General Iroh said as his fleets approach the city. " so why aren't we meeting any resistance?" General Iroh noticed the dreadful silence as they approach. He feared that he might have walked straight into Amon's traps. The team Avatar was waiting. Suddenly Korra noticed the silence. She didn't see Amon's airships or anything that might stop the fleet. " wait a second, where are the air ships?" Korra said as she stood up and searched the sky. Mako grabbed the telescope from Bolin and searched for some mecha tanks. He looked back at Korra with worry eyes. Korra also dreaded that they will lose this battle. The fleets continue to approach the city. " something's not right." General Iroh said. As soon as he said it an explosion emanated from one of his fleets then another and another. "It's a trick!" General Iroh said as he ran to his position and got ready for the battle. The explosion was clearly heard. As soon as one exploded Korra thought about Lin. She kept asking herself questions if Lin had made it through. But Korra has to help General Iroh in every way she can so she wasted no time and jumped in to the water. At the ship General Iroh gave orders suddenly he heard a strange noise. The noise spread across the whole city. Korra also heard it and turned to the direction where it is coming from. Mako used the telescope to search for whatever it is that's making a strange sound. Then he saw planes flying towards the united forces. " where does Hiroshi find time to keep inventing new machines?" Bolin complained. Then one plane dropped a torpedo bomb to the water. Then one after another the other planes dropped bomb too causing explosions to the ships. " Incoming!" a soldier shouted as the bomb hit the ship causing it to explode. The united forces tried so hard to fight back. Korra saw the destruction that the planes made. If this goes on, they will lose the war. General Iroh and his men tried desperately to take down some air ships somehow they succeeded. Korra couldn't watch anymore dived deep down the water and made a torpedo as she rose to the surface couple of feet high enough to see and attack the planes. She send one plane down but the parts of it broke Korra's torpedo. Korra fell down again in the water. Then she saw another bomb approaching. She redirected it using water up to the surface and it hit one plane. General Iroh went to top most of the ship and wasted no time to attack the air ships. Then one plane managed to avoid his attacks and dropped the bomb towards him. General Iroh was knocked out and he fell straight into the water. He was unconscious when he fell that he plummeted straight down but Korra caught him and brought them to the surface. " it's alright, I got you." Korra said. " Avatar Korra, you saved my life. Thank you." Korra rushed them to where they are hiding.
" I was prepared to deal to their mecha tanks." General Iroh explained as Korra mended his wounds. " but not this new high speed air crafts." " I know everytime we think of an advantage, Amon out smarts us." Korra agreed as she continued with her healing. " no matter what are plan is he always has a better one." Bolin agreed too. " Amon is winning too fast but we are not out on the fight yet." General Iroh said. "I like this man's confidence!" Bolin shouted. " so how are we not out of fight?" Bolin asked. General Iroh stood up as he gripped his affected shoulder. " the second wave of reinforcements are on their way but I need to warn them about the air crafts. Do you still have a way to send a message out?" General Iroh said as he turned to Korra. " I know just a man." Korra said proudly.
" And who is the recipient of this top secret message?" the homeless guy said. " Commander Bumi, second division of united forces." General Iroh said. " Tenzin's brother?" Korra asked. " yes, bit of a wild man. But the bravest commander you'll ever meet." General Iroh said. " ready sir" the homeless guy said as he prepared to commence his message. "fleet ambushed and destroyed by equalist aircraft. Retreat to red Sand Island until my signal, do not approach city until you receive the all clear." General Iroh dictated as the guy tapped on the telegraph. After that they laid a map of the whole city and planned. " now comes the hard part. We need to ground those air craft other wise Bumi's fleet will never be able to make the city." General Iroh said as he ran his palm over the map. " they flew from this direction, the air field must be some where in this mountain range." Mako said as he pointed to the map. " every one get ready. We leave at dawn." General Iroh ordered. " it's time to take down my father." Asami said in anger.
Korra was silent the whole planning. Her thoughts wandered as General Iroh gave instructions. She thought about Lin. She wondered if she made it safely to where Tenzin and his family are. She wondered if she could see her lover again. Not only to Lin her thoughts wandered. She also thought about the safety of the people around her. She couldn't take it if anyone gets hurt because they are fighting the war that she, herself as the avatar is doing. Korra stopped them as they head out. " wait. I'm sorry but I'm not going with you tomorrow." Korra said. " what?" Mako asked in shock. " I'm not. I'm sick and tired of hiding from Amon. It's time I face him." Korra said. " that's not a good plan." General Iroh cut in. " we need to stick together." He continued. " I'm not waithing for him to hunt me down." Korra raised her voice. " my guts are telling it's time to end this. On my terms." " Korra, this is not a mission you should be handling alone." General Iroh said but before he could continue Mako said, " she won't be. I'm going with you." Mako walked up to her. "you don't have to do that." Korra said. " yes, I do." Mako countered her. Asami felt sad again by his actions. " hmm…" General Iroh was thinking of something. " my grandfather would respect the avatar's instincts so will I." Before they went to sleep Korra told Mako that he should explain things to Asami. Mako went to Asami who was keeping an eye outside. " Asami," Mako called. Asami didn't look at him so Mako called her again. Asami didn't even bother to look again so Mako went in front of her. " Asami, please you have to understand." " understand what? That you just put up with apologizing just to get on Korra's good side? You're a jerk!" Asami said as she headed back inside. " Asami…" Mako stopped her. " Asami, it's not what you think. She needs someone. She is worried sick because of Lin going away." Mako explained. " and you're the right guy just for the job." Asami said. " I'm not thinking like that way. Look she's done great things for us and I know that she's been trying to stay away as far as possible to me during the time that I didn't know she was with Lin. But she needs a rock for her to lean on. That time it was you. But give this chance to prove to her that I'm a friend and a worth boyfriend to you. You have to trust me on this." Mako said as she cupped Asami's face. " why should I trust you? You've broken my heart and I don't know how to fix it again because of you." Asami said as she turned her head away from Mako's hand. " I know and I'm sorry about that. But I chose you didn't I?" I chose you because I love you. I love you Asami and you have to trust me." Mako said as he placed a gentle kiss on her lips. Asami broke their kiss and said " ok. But be careful. If anything happens to any of you two…" Asami didn't finish her sentence when Mako said, " nothing will happen to any of us. We will come back. I will come back to you. I promise." Mako hugged Asami and they went inside to rest.
Korra couldn't sleep. She kept on turning. Naga whimpered. " I know. I hope she's with them. I hope she is safe." Korra said as she petted her polar bear dog. Naga agreed to Korra with a whimper. Korra kept on petting her. " I really hope so." Then she tried to get some sleep.
The sun shone on the quite city. Underground the team Avatar was getting ready for their battle. " Love you little bro." Mako said as he hugged his brother. " Love back bro." Bolin said. " Bolin please look out after Asami." " don't worry about it bro." Bolin broke their hug and went to Korra. Mako approached Asami. " Asami," before Mako could speak Asami kissed him. " be careful out there." she said. " I will, be careful too. I love you." Mako said as he hugged his girl friend. " I love you too." Asami said back. " Korra, Amon is a nasty dude be careful." Bolin told Korra as he offered his hug to her. " I will." Korra took Bolin's offer and they hugged. " good luck." They broke their hugs and Korra told Bolin " if you're going to the mountains you should take Naga." Korra hugged her polar bear dog. " take good care of Bolin for me." Korra told Naga. Naga whimpered in agreement and licked Bolin. Bolin, General Iroh and Asami including Pabu climbed on Naga and they went on. Mako and Korra went the other way. With that they started their missions. " good fortune and success to you valued heroes!"
Korra and Mako made it to the air temple. They saw Amon boarding the air ship. " we need to get to the air temple. Then when he returns…" Mako said. " we ambush him." Korra said. They were stopped by a voice familiar to them " what are you two doing here?" the lieutenant asked. " ahh, we were just transferred" Mako explained. " well you're getting transferred again. Amon wants extra security at the arena today." the lieutenant said. " the arena? For what?" Mako asked. " for the rally. You should've been briefed about this earlier" the lieutenant said. " we'll be there sir!" Korra said as she bowed in respect. The lieutenant went on. Korra nudged Mako and whispered " I know another way in." They took the secret entrance to the temple unseen. On their way up they saw a cage. A really big cage in the attic. " uhh, we are not alone in this attic." Mako said as he looked at the person in imprisonment. " Tarlock?" Korra said as they removed their masks. " I don't suppose you are here to rescue me." Tarlock said. " we had no idea you were here." Korra said as they walked up to the cage closer. " are there other prisoners on the island? " she asked. " no, I'm the only one." Tarlock answered. " and what makes you so special?" Korra asked him. Tarlock opened his eyes and blurted out the truth about his identity and what makes him special. " I'm Amon's brother." This shocked Korra and Mako. Tarlock told them the truth about Amon and his family. " Amon is from the northern water tribe. He is a water bender and a blood bender." Tarlock said as he looked at them. " just like I was." " what?" Korra couldn't believe on what she's hearing now. " did you know this all along?" Mako asked. " no. not at all after he captured me." Tarlock said. " how did your brother end up becoming Amon?" Korra asked. "it all began with my father." Tarlock told them the past about his family. " Yukone. With the help of his former gang, he escaped prison and underwent surgery to change his appearance. He assumed a new identity and settled down in the northern water tribe that's when he met my mother, a warm, caring woman. They started a family together. Amon was the first born under the name Noahtuck. I was born three years later. Noahtuck was a good-natured kid, always looking out for me. Those were the good years before my brother and I discovered we were water benders. At first we were excited by our new abilities but my father. Even back then my brother wanted to treat everyone fairly and equally. When I was seven my father took Noahtuck and me to a hunting trip. He told us his true identity was Yukone, Republic City's most wanted man and he was once a blood bender of rare skill." Tarlock could remember the exact words his father told them but he continued. " Every full moon our father took us to a supposed to be another hunting trip but he secretly trained us in blood bending. We kept the truth from out mother. A few years later my father taught us how to blood bend anytime. We practiced constantly and I hated every minute of it. I had no stomach for manipulating helpless animals. My brother however seemed to reveled in his new found power. He was a prodigy, mastering my father's own psychic ability to blood bend by the time he was fourteen. Even though Noahtuck was my father's favorite, it wasn't easy for him. He carried the burden of all Yukone's expectations and demands. Something changed Noahtuck. The loving brother I once knew became cold and detached. Our father pushed us to extremes and one day he made us blood bend each other. Of course my brother did it perfectly but me. I couldn't bring myself blood bend him. Noahtuck blood bended our father and he offered me to run away. I couldn't because of my mother. Just like that he vanished. My father and I searched for days but we never found a sign of Noahtuck. My mother was never the same after the loss of my brother. My father stopped training me. With Noahtuck gone his hopes for revenge withered and he passed away a few years later." Tarlock finished. " that's one of the saddest story I've ever heard." Korra said. " Avatar Korra, I'm truly sorry for all that I have did to you. I thought I was better than my father but his ghost stick shake me. I become a soldier of revenge just like he wanted me to be. And so did my brother. The revolution may be built on a lie but I think Amon truly believes that bending is the source of all evil in this world." Tarlock said. " how did you figure out that Amon was your brother?" Mako asked. " when he took my bending, the sensation was quite familiar. I later recognized it was my brothers blood bending grip." Tarlock explained. " so he somehow uses blood bending to take people's bending." Korra said in conclusion. " I don't know how he does it. But then again, I've never encountered a blood bender stronger than Noahtuck." Tarlock said. " how in the world do we beat him?" Korra said getting her hopes down. "we can't. Anything we throw at him he will redirect it in his mind. That's how's been able to challenge any bender." Mako said. " so much for our ambush." Korra said. " if we stay here, we're toast. But there's another way to beat him." Korra said. " how?" Mako asked. " this whole time, Amon was always one step ahead of us but finally, we have the advantage. We know the truth about him. If we expose him on being a bender, we could take away his true power!" Korra said. " and undermine his whole revolution." Mako continued. But Korra felt sad about Tarlock. " thank you , for your help." she told him. Tarlock nodded at her. " we can't just leave him in here." Korra told Mako. " no, Amon can't know anyone spoke to me. Defeat him. Put an end to this sad story. Korra nodded and they left him.
Lin woke up from her unconsciousness. Her head was banging. She lifted up her face to look around when she realized her hands were tied behind her and equalists are approaching her way. She remembered the explosions she heard after she left the team Avatar. She also remembered that as soon as she reached the shore to where the air benders were hiding, someone crept behind her and hit her with a metal rod enough to render her unconscious. She looked everywhere for the family but she didn't see them. " looking for someone chief?" said the familiar voice she hated the most. It was the lieutenant. " I'm surprised that you manage to escape. Did someone help you? Did the avatar help you? hahahaha!" " pity you couldn't save anyone." the lieutenant mocked her. " take her. let's show her what we've got for her." the equalists dragged her to the airship. That's when she saw Tenzin, Pema, Jinorra, Ikki, Meelo and Rohan tied up. " Tenzin, Pema! I thought?" Lin said as she hurried to be with them. " oh don't worry chief Bei Fong you will have your show to the public, of course after them!" as soon as the equalist get a hold of her arm she made a round house kick that sent the equalist unconscious. She may not have bending anymore but her martial arts are still working. She threw kicks after kicks to the equalists until the lieutenant electrocuted her from behind. She was weak from the electrocution but still conscious. " Lin!" " Aunt Lin!" Tenzin, Pema and his children said. "Getting excited already?" the lieutenant lifted her face. " so tell me, where is the avatar?" Lin didn't answer instead she spit on his face. The lieutenant laughed but he kicked her in the gut. Lin groaned in pain. " Lin stop." Tenzin said with caring tone. " take the lady with the newborn and Bei Fong to the other ship and put them in jail." the lieutenant ordered. " no!" Tenzin and his children screamed but they were out powered. Lin mouthed at Tenzin; I'm sorry. Then they were taken to the other air ship to the jail. Tenzin and the children were taken to Amon for the rally.
At jail, the equalists threw Lin and Pema with Rohan to jail. Lin offered Pema her coat. Pema accepted it. " Pema, I'm so sorry. I'm …" " Lin don't be. You've done so much for us. You even came back. Don't be sorry. Let's just hope that Korra can defeat Amon. Let's trust on her." Pema said. " but.." Lin wanted to say more but she can't win this argument so she stopped. Minutes later the lieutenant visited their cell. " what are you doing here?" Lin asked him like she is threatening. " well, I'm giving you the heads up for your time. After Amon has taken away Tenzin and his kid's bending you will be next. The special part is we will broadcast it to the whole republic city to dig out Korra from her hideout." the lieutenant explained in mockery. " what do you mean?" Lin asked dreading that they might use her as a bait for Korra. " you know exactly what we mean. We will use you as a bait." the lieutenant said. " why me?" Lin asked in anger. " why you?! you know exactly why. She is you lover! Don't tell me you are going to deny it. We know about the two of you. You call your relationship a secret. In the rally they will know that you took advantage of the sweet, young, innocent girl to fulfill your desires. What a shame. Then…" before the lieutenant could continue Lin caught his collar and threatened him, " If you lay a finger on her I swear I'm gonna…" Lin didn't finish her sentence when the lieutenant broke free from her grip. " what? What are you going to do about it? Metal bend me to justice? Did you forget that you don't have your bending anymore? Or should I keep on reminding you? hahahaha!" the lieutenant walked away then he shouted at the hall way before he exited, " I can't wait for the later's show! Hahahaha." With that he was gone. Lin gripped the metal bars so hard that her knuckles turned so white. She was afraid that it might come to this. Tears ran down in her face. She was so scared of what might happen later. She wished her mother were here to comfort her. Just then Pema hugged her with Rohan and said, " don't be afraid, someone will come and rescue us. Don't worry. It won't come to that." Pema said. Hours passed when the fell asleep. It was incredible that they have fallen asleep especially Lin. Minutes after Lin woke up, Pema too. " are you okay?" Lin asked her. " I'm fine. how are you?" Pema asked her. " I don't know." Lin answered. " Look, what he said isn't true, I didn't took advantage of…" Lin didn't finished when they hear a loud bang on the hallway. Lin looked at the far end of the hall way but she couldn't see anything from the smoke. Just then she heard footsteps running towards them. Then Tenzin appeared.