Part 6

Noticing that Meelo and June hadn't returned after a half hour, Mako checked outside and saw the damage. "Well, this is great." He ran to the others. "Visitors. They got June and Meelo."

"WHAT!" Tenzin's face boiled red, uncharacteristic for the Airbender. "We have to move now."

"I don't think that's a good idea," Jinora said, placing a hand on her father's arm. "Asami, June, and Meelo are just bait now, not who they really want anyway. They won't do a thing to them."

"But they could, Jinora," said Bolin, "We've run out of time since the beginning. Now it's worse."

"This is exactly what shouldn't have happened." Nerio ran his hands over his face, straightening his hair while he was at it. "Amon's bait worked. We have no choice but to go after them. Our plan will still work; we just have to be careful. Now then, now can we get back to the mainland fast?"

He just had to ask. When Nerio, Korra, Mako, Bolin, and Tenzin climbed aboard Oogi, Tenzin said, "Yip, yip," and the bison carried the five of them into the sky. The sun was descending and the rave would be starting soon. Nerio hoped they wouldn't be late.

Landing at the pier, Tenzin ordered Oogi to return to the temple. The benders didn't know where to go. "I might," Nerio said. "Follow me." He snuck them inside a building situated on a mountain.

An intercom buzzed. "Republic City, thank you for joining me on this occasion. You're all about to witness the beginning of a peaceful era, the end of the cruel art of bending!"

Nerio led them to the crowd, praying against all odds and his five senses that they were not late. Stealing disguises they found lying around, Nerio snuck back, hiding behind a curtain. A trapdoor opened and a row of people rose onto the stage. An earthbender, firebender, Asami, June, Meelo.

"And as for our uninvited guest of honor," Amon said, as two soldiers dragged Nerio in front of Amon. "You'll be our first volunteer." The crowd silenced. Amon extended his fingers out, placed them over Nerio's forehead. Nerio shouted, bent back Amon's hand, rolled away, and stood.

Amon smirked behind his mask. His boy was standing before him, like a gift. "A bloodbender?"

"You're a monster. I'm sorry, father. But you're not making sense. I'm here to stop you."

Of them all, June was the only one tied with her feet not touching the ground, blind yet feeling the pole holding her in place. "I'm sorry, mom," she whispered. "You were right." How she wanted to cry right then and there. She was useless. Wait, what... Nerio was on stage? "Untie me! Or get my feet on the ground!" She wanted to fight, too. When no one came to her aid, she cursed Nerio and Amon, not caring if Meelo was next to her. Kid needed to grow up, especially in this city.

"Hello, shocking father-son moment, June. You and BeiFong had your moment, it's our turn," Nerio said evenly, and faced Amon. "Release them, Father, and fight me instead. You're a bloodbender, but so am I. You've lied and connived your way to where you stand. You killed Mother for not supporting you, now you want to 'equalize' the city! You're insane!" Pipes burst as he attempted to flood the stage. Amon dodged and curled his fingers. Nerio bent in pain, learning what it feels like to be controlled.

"I've begotten a traitor," Amon said. "Lucky for me, your mother couldn't resist. You, on the other hand, must be dealt with personally." Soldiers gripped Nerio's arms. Amon got closer, this time intending to finish the job.

Their plan had failed. Nerio had failed.

"I'm sorry," Nerio whispered to no one in particular as Amon pressed a thumb to his forehead.

If that was a poor distraction to get her foot loose, she didn't know. He wasn't about to sacrifice himself for this cause. As soon as June felt metal under her, she had to focus on Amon's position. "We barely had a moment but this can easily turn around." She pressed further, breaking into the metal. She pulled the ropes off and heard the others approaching, the sound of the crowd starting to doubt their leader. "You're smarter than this Nerio, I can tell," she whispered, grasping onto Amon's legs as he was focusing on his son. She pushed upwards and felt the earth stage rise just so. "Korra, grab him!" She held as she went to shake Nerio from his shock. "Come on and focus; it's not too late," she said, grabbing hold of him, trying to sense his bending. "Nerio, please you need to focus to stop your father. Keep your distance like a waterbender should… you can do it," she whispered before turning and setting the others free.

Nerio shook his head. Can't back down now. He tossed Asami the glove, breathed, and assumed his stance, with just the right concentration. He couldn't let Amon overpower him. Amon froze; arms and legs bent to the sides. Nerio curled his fingers to keep his focus. Asami shocked Amon from behind. The benders knew their role. At least Amon, proving to be a lying bloodbender, lost his supporters. Amon lifted his finger, immobilizing Nerio and trying to break free. A personal battle to determine whose bending was stronger. Korra delivered the final blow, and Amon collapsed.

No regrets; he killed a monster, not his father. Nerio relaxed, wanting to forget ever having that relationship with Amon. Nerio spent a lot of energy without the full moon and finally collapsed.

June gazed around. "Well, get out and get on with your lives people!" she yelled before checking on her new friend. Tenzin retrieved his son, who jumped into his arms right away. Mako and Bolin lifted Nerio off the ground. June addressed the female Firebender and Earthbender that'd been tied alongside her. "Get these people to safety. Make sure all Equalists equipment is destroyed later. I've got a mother to see." She walked away through the crowd and back on street, towards her home. She'd treat Nerio to something once she had more free time, if she wasn't grounded.

Tenzin and Meelo walked with her. "June, you know your mother cares, she's just afraid for you," Tenzin said to his somewhat niece; no one could tell that she had his brother's blood in her, a lot of Lin and Toph was in the girl. But actions speak louder than words and June was screaming.

"Course... we're not weak, sure she's afraid... I see why... If Amon took my bending when he had the chance, I'd be useless. Bending helps me in everything. If I couldn't see." The three of them reached the end of the road, where Lin stood with her men. "Mom, I'm sorry."

Lin stared at her daughter. Sure enough, Amon caught June, and Lin didn't rescue her. She didn't have to; June has friends to help her. "Apology accepted, June. I'm sorry, too, and I admit I was harsh. You earned your freedom. Thanks to you kids, Amon is done for; you can go out as long as you want, anywhere you want, as long as you return home." They embraced their new relationship.

Accompanied by two others his height, a figure in blue clothes approached June. "Glad you're alright. We did it, June. The monster known as Amon is no more. My father known as Noatak had been long dead for me." June stepped out of her mother's hold and walked with Nerio for a little bit, pulling him close and listening to what he had to say. "I was scared, June. If he'd taken away my bending, we wouldn't have been able to stop him. Our plan revolved around keeping him still, which was hard enough when he was bloodbending me." Nerio sighed, inhaling the scent of nature. "So what'll you do now?" June didn't get a chance to answer, as another bender came up to them.

Bolin slapped Nerio's back. Nerio winced, his smile as permanent as his blue eyes. "Nerio here is joining the Fire Ferrets! Korra's cool with it, as long as he doesn't bloodbend the competition."

"We'd love to have him on the team." Mako nodded, keeping his hands to himself lest Nerio lash out for the pain. "We just need to get him registered, and he'll be an official member."

"That is very nice, though I'm surprised; you said you didn't like it." June smiled at the boys. "As for what I'm going to do... I need to train." She turned back to her mom. "I got to stay in shape. For the duties that await me. But, you gotta catch me first, Mom!" She smiled and took off. "I'm still gonna fight you on the curfew!" She hadn't moved fifty feet when she felt two different tugs against her body. "HEY NO FAIR!" Her wild hair and faded eyes showed the playful dislike as she was pulled back into her mother's arms. The older woman gave everyone a bright smile, one that was hidden from Tenzin for the longest time.

Nerio chuckled, "May every parent child relationship turn out as happy as that one. Not all people are that lucky, but I've found a new family in the Fire Ferrets, and my friends mean everything to me." Nerio thought back to his childhood, before things got messed up. His father would take him hunting, slide on the ice, and have snowball fights. His fingers reached in his pocket for the photo.

"I swear..." June mumbled, pulling away from Lin. "She's just being overprotective." June wouldn't mind leaving the nest, trade lives with someone out there.

"Nerio, I'm so happy for you; it's amazing that I will be able to see you around more often." Bolin laughed when she said "see". She pointed at him. "Big boy, I'm gonna be working with you. Your skills need improvement," she huffed. "Mom, I'll see you back at the station okay? Promise." June, being slightly taller than him, wrapped an arm around Bolin's shoulder. "I'm gonna hang with people my age for once, and if you see some guys looking for me on your way back, DON'T say anything!" She gave a laugh and a smile at her mother's and Tenzin's confused look. Asami wrapped her arm around Bolin's as well. Mako looked at her, confused, thinking about his own relationship.

Asami shook her head for a later conversation. "Come on we're gonna be late. Later, Chief!"

Lin sighed. Interesting how June seemed to flock towards the other fighters. At least she wasn't going to be alone and running anymore. Maybe it was time to tell her daughter the truth; it was such a sight to see this boy, Nerio, learn from his struggles and how her daughter accepted him for no other reason than to stand at her side. It was worth it. She watched as Nerio, June and the members of Team Avatar walked away. Boy, were they in for a surprise when the only other person relative to their age group would be General Iroh. Oh well, no one needed to know that. She again smiled and headed home with Tenzin and Meelo following right behind her.