The next morning turned out to be a beautiful day. The sky was a deep blue and fluffy clouds passed by every so often. Monica rose early and went into the bathroom to get ready for her trip to the Pro-bending stadium. One look in the mirror caused her to groan though. Her dark, usually curly hair was poofing out in weird places and she had a smudge of green paint still on her jawline from last night's frenzy. The water pipes hadn't warmed up yet either, so when Monica splashed water on her face to wake up it was as cold as back home.
An hour later, it was only 7 and Monica had no idea what time Bolin was coming to get her. Hopefully he would be ok…. She thought as she flopped on the couch. "What am I gonna do in the meantime?" She moaned into fabric. "I'm sooooo bored…."
Outside she heard the occasional honking of a satomobile and some pedestrian yelling out obscenities. People really hadn't figured out how to share the streets with the much larger vehicles yet. A lizard crow cawed nearby, probably on one of the ledges that decorated the outside of the building. Monica rose back into a seated position and looked around the apartment. To her right was the door leading into the hallway, and next to it was Leah's police radio. To the left was a window at the end of a hallway with the bathroom to the right of it and the 2 bedrooms to the left. Behind her was the kitchen. Monica got up off the couch and made herself a bowl of oatmeal, since it was the only thing left in the cabinets. I'll have to tell Leah about it later.
Around 7:30 there was a knock at the door and Monica had to stop herself from skipping to the door. Before she could peer inside the peek hole she heard Bolin.
"Monica! Hey Monica! Are you awake yet? Up and at 'em! I even brought Pabu-" Monica threw open the door and whisked the fire ferret from her new friends arms before he could continue.
"Hi Bolin! Hi Pabu!" Monica said as she motioned her earthbending friend inside. Monica put Pabu on her shoulder then turned to Bolin who hadn't spoken since he'd arrived. "What?" She asked when she got a glimpse of his crestfallen face.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd think you only liked me for Pabu." He said with a pout. Monica grudging gave the adorable fur ball back then gave Bolin a quick one armed hug.
"That's not it, I swear. I just have a weakness for… adorable things." Monica said with a blush.
Bolin's face brightened then he gave her a devilish grin. "If you can't resist Pabu then my gorgeous looks must be the ultimate weapon!"
Monica laughed then put the back of her right hand to her forehead. "Oh no… Not Bolin's gorgeous face! What will I do?" She took a step back so she could dip like she was fainting but the back of her knees hit the couch and she fell back with a yelp.
"Woah, are you ok Monica? Maybe I should put a lid on all this awesomeness if it's gonna make you faint all the time." Bolin said as they both laughed.
"That's a dangerous weapon you have there." Monica commented as he gave her a hand up.
"Do you mind if I use your bathroom before we head to the arena?" Bolin asked. "I even let you hold Pabu ~" He said holding the ferret out under its elbows.
Monica snatched Pabu then jabbed her thumb behind her "Not a problem. Right down there.." Monica sat on the couch then gasped as she saw Bolin go into her room in the corner of her eye. OH MY GOD NO! THE PAINTING! "Bolin!" She squeaked as she shot to her feet.
"Oh, wrong room…" He said stepping back out into the hall.
"Sorry, the door across from there…" Monica apologized, relieved.
"Thanks!"
Later that evening Monica stood in the middle of the Fire Ferrets locker room while Bolin, Makko, and Korra pulled on their protective gear. Bolin had brought her to the training room when they had first arrived where Korra and Makko had been waiting to start practice. When Bolin had sauntered into the room announcing their arrival, they had shot apart like they had been about to engage in some taboo.
The next few hours had consisted of them throwing whips of water, fire, or projectile stones at pictures of the guy who had badmouthed them at the noodle shop. Until they were satisfied with the level of destruction they had wrecked upon them. Monica even put up new ones for them when the pictures became too ragged.
Monica snapped back to the present to see that Bolin was right in her face. He knocked the top of her head and asked "Hello? Anyone home? I'm looking for Monica if you know where she is."
"Ow, yes?" Monica asked as she rubbed her head.
"I was saying that we're heading onto the field now, but feel free to stay here in the VIP seating." Bolin said with a grin. "I'll be back soon! Now Pabu, I know it's a big crowd out there but don't be nervous, I know you're gonna do great. I believe in you!" the earthbender said as he talked to his fire ferret. Monica had spent 15 minutes dressing him up in the cutest little outfit.
"Not too soon I hope!" Monica called after him. "Wouldn't that mean you had been eliminated or hurt?" Bolin stopped and rubbed the back of his head as he turned back towards her.
"Yeah you're right. But just you watch! We're gonna win this!"
Monica turned her attention to the stage as a man with a microphone entered from the floor. Hi hands were out above his head until he was fully on stage then he gestured toward Bolin, Korra, and Makko. "Introducing the challengers! Future Industries, Fire Ferrets!"
A bridge extended from the locker room to the stage, pushing the Pro-benders to the spotlight. Bolin struck a pose and Korra waved to the crowd. Monica could've sworn she even saw some cosplayers out in the stands. When they reached the stage, her friends stepped off just past the bridge as it rescinded. Pabu jumped off of Bolin's shoulder and began running around on his front paws then jumping through a rock hoop that Bolin held. It took all her self-control not to squeal at Pabu's cuteness.
"And their opponents! The three time defending champions, the White Falls Wolfbats!" Across the stage another bridge was making its way to the stage, carrying three people with large wolf bat costumes. When they threw open their "wings" and howled, sparklers burst behind them and fie displays shot up around the ring. As they shed their elaborate costumes, Monica thought she saw Korra pounding her fist into her palm and yelling something. The water bender moved towards the outer railing and leaned against it as the Pro-benders squared off. At the buzzer, everything turned into business. Rock disks flew through the air, water whipped across the stage as Tahno and Korra duked it out, and fire sparked across the stage. Not long after, Bolin got pushed back into the third zone and Korra and Makko stood in the second zone, allowing the wolfbats to move up. Then the enemy earth bender pulled up a plate below Makko's foot and tripped him, before throwing it back at him to push him into the 3rd zone. In an ice/fire combo attack Bolin was thrown off the stage, causing Monica to gasp.
"Bolin!" She looked down into the pool as he floated up and started swimming for a ladder. The announcer called it an illegal play, but the refs weren't saying anything. Korra was finally pushed into the 3rd zone as well, and as the wolfbats advanced they simultaneously attacked Korra. Makko jumped in the way, but the force of the attack pushed them both off. The announcer was calling for the wolfbats 4th consecutive win as Monica grinned. Korra was still hanging onto the ledge, and as she threw Makko back onto the stage he kicked fire into Tahno's back and sent him flailing forward.
After a huddle for the teams to strategize the stage announcer called out round 2 and the elements began to fly once more. Monica didn't know the rules of the game, but she was sure the ice attacks and head shots had to be illegal. Otherwise Korra was just stupid for not using them. As the announcer up in the stadium confirmed foul play shots, nothing happened between the refs until they called a coin toss as a round 2 tie breaker. The Fire Ferrets won the toss and Korra stepped forward for a solo one-on-one match. The stage rose to separate them from the rest of their teams and Tahno taunted Korra. She threw one blast of water towards his head, and when he dodged she attacked with an uppercut that sent him flying from the pedestal.
The third round was just a flurry of injustice. Monica watched in awe as her friends played their hearts out, but the wolfbats continued to beat on them. In a final move, she watched as the enemy earth bender placed some rocks into water that Tahno held behind his back. Tahno hit all three Fire Ferrets with illegal headshot uppercuts, sending them flying over the edge and into the pool below. In a completely unfair match, the Wolfbats were crowned victorious.
"What the Hell!" Monica yelled in anger, then looked into the stands. Flashes of electricity lit up in irregular distances, making her wonder what was going on. This certainly couldn't be normal… could it? Then the water below her lit up with electricity and Bolin cried out in pain. "How can I help them?"
A hand grabbed her from behind and covered her mouth as she screamed. "Shhh, Monica, it's me."
"Eaaaaaah?" The water bender said against her friend's gloved hand.
"Yea, stay quiet. The equalists have already immobilized most of the metal benders, including my sister. I need to get you out of here before it gets any uglier." Leah was wearing the metal benders armor and had her curly brown hair tied up in a bun at the back of her head.
"What about Bolin and Korra?"
"Don't worry, you're my number one concern right now. Take this hallway to the right" Leah said gesturing towards the doorway." Then run along home. I'll get these guys out, then we can decide on dinner when I get home. Now go!" Leah hissed as an equalist dropped into the locker room from above. His glove sparked with electricity as Leah faced off. Monica ran down the hall and into an industrial staircase. When she reached the bottom floor she whipped open a door, to be confronted with the pool of water that surrounds the Pro-Bending stage.
The three Wolfbats fell from the stage on the other side of the arena as she rushed forward. Closer to her, a man was tying up the Fire Ferrets against a beam. Monica ran back to the duck and hid behind pillar, hoping she could come up with a plan.