Just Like the Good Old Days
Redbayly: Sooo, I've been thinking…
Sokka: Uh-oh.
Redbayly: And I was wondering if Tarrlok should have a romantic interest in this story. I already thought out a character, and she's going to appear whether she is a romantic interest or not, and I just wanted to know if it was okay with my readers.
Sokka: I'm pretty sure that they, like me, don't care.
Redbayly: Sokka, I thought you were gonna play nice now?
Sokka: Pfft, as if, taunting you is just too much fun.
Redbayly: Don't forget, unlike Bryke, I am actually going to go into what you did after the end of the original series.
Sokka:*Snorts* Yeah, your headcanon version of what happened.
Redbayly: Well, yeah, but it's an awesome headcanon. After you finished your career as Southern Water Tribe Councilman in Republic City, you returned to the Southern Tribe where you took over as Chief once your father got too old. You're married and have four children, all of whom will appear in the section that is my new and better thought out version of Book 2: Spirits.
Sokka: You're just excited about getting to that part because you wanna spit in the eye of canon.
Redbayly: Well, duh! But, more than that, I'm looking forward to doing something that Bryke refuses to do. Give the fans a background story and more lines for Senna!
Sokka:*Shakes head* You and your headcanons.
Redbayly: Just do today's disclaimer.
Sokka: Redbayly does not own Legend of Korra or Avatar the Last Airbender. And thank reason and logic for that.
Redbayly: Don't you mean "thank God" or even "thank the spirits"?
Sokka: Hah! You expect a skeptic like me to do that? I only worship one spirit *pulls out picture of Yue* my beautiful, beautiful moon princess.
Redbayly:*Stares* You really haven't got any brains at all, have you?
A Different Kind of Battle
Korra's POV:
It was a really good thing that we had stopped Hiroshi Sato before he had finished those mecha-tanks of his; if there had been any of those here today, things would have been much harder. As it was, we made it to the Police Headquarters before the attacks started and the police managed to rescue the council members before the Equalists got to them. However, we were currently facing off against a very skilled army of chi-blockers who were pretty dead-set on capturing us.
That was when I noticed the Equalist airship headed for Air Temple Island.
Noatak's POV:
I just had to jinx us.
Just when we thought we were safe, that damned airship started to head in the direction of the temple. As I looked around, I could see nothing but terror on the faces of the Air Acolytes (most of whom were Non-Benders) and I couldn't help but feel like the biggest jerk in the world.
"Everyone, please remain calm," I instructed. "Everything will be fine as long as we don't panic."
"AHHHH!" came a loud wail from Pema.
"What did I just-"
"The baby's coming!"
Oh no. No, no, no, no. This cannot be happening.
Pema was led back inside by two of the Acolytes and now I had a serious decision to make. I am the only official Healer present and it would probably be best for me to help; and yet, at the same time, there was that selfish desire to play the hero. I took in a deep breath and turned to my brother who was looking intently at me.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" he said. "You're a Healer, now get in there and heal."
"But, what about protecting the island?"
"I think I am more than capable of handling a few chi-blockers. Now get in there right now."
I had never heard Tarrlok speak to me in such an authoritative way. Knowing it would be pointless and inexcusable of me to argue, I followed after the expecting mother.
The Acolytes had helped her get into bed and she seemed a good deal calmer; however, I knew right away that this was not going to be an easy task. During my Healer's training with Master Katara, I had helped a few women deliver children; of course, I had mostly just stood by and assisted, I had never done something like this by myself.
"Okay, Dohna, Gu-Lang," I said to the two Acolytes, remembering their names. "I am going to need towels, hot water, scissors, some string, soap, and I will need one of you to help keep her supported."
They immediately set to work. Gu-Lang, the older woman, helped Pema to sit up while Dohna raced off to fetch the supplies. To say I was nervous would be an understatement; I had never, ever done anything like this and I was relying totally on a few years of observation.
"Time between contractions…" I started before being cut off by another shriek from Pema. "Two minutes, twenty seconds."
Pema was breathing very rapidly now.
"The children, where are they?" she asked.
"Don't worry. They're in the other room, totally safe," said Gu-Lang.
I, however, didn't sense the Airbender children in the next room at all. I didn't raise the subject, though, so as not to bring any distress to the woman in labor. I could only hope that the others were having a better time of this than I was.
Tarrlok's POV:
I faced the White Lotus sentries, knowing they probably wouldn't care what I had to say because in their eyes I was just a kid, but I spoke all the same.
"Be prepared to fight," I said. "On this day, we are fighting not for glory, but for the right to be as the spirits made us. These Equalists don't care how many people they have to hurt in order to prove their point. They would take away from us our birthright, nay our heritage. Our Bending may not solely define who we are as humans, but it is still a part of us and it is something we shall not surrender. We shall go on to the end. We shall fight them on Air Temple Island and defend it whatever the cost may be. We shall fight them on the beaches, and in the fields, and in the streets, and in the hills. We shall never surrender."
I was surprised by just how much applause I got from them. It really is amazing how a few well-spoken words can inspire people.
"Here they come!" someone shouted.
I turned just in time to see one of the cables from a zip-line shoot out of the airship. The chi-blockers were soon upon us, racing up towards the steps.
"Steady. Wait for it. Now!"
We began to strike at the chi-blockers with everything we had. Unfortunately, another cable came down, sending more chi-blockers. Perhaps this wasn't going to be as easy as I thought.
We soon had to pull back into the main courtyard. The chi-blockers, led by that weird guy with the moustache, quickly advanced on us. That's when a sudden idea struck. I hastily whispered instructions to the White Lotus sentries and they immediately complied. I and one of the Waterbenders sent out a wave of water that we immediately froze as the chi-blockers advanced, while the Earthbenders followed us by sending up a rock wall that the advancing enemy was unable to avoid. They had been running at us so fast that they slipped on the ice and crashed into the wall. Unfortunately, not all of them were down-and-out so easily.
We were still up against at least half a dozen chi-blockers and the sentries quickly fell. I had suddenly found myself knocked to the ground and about to be electrocuted when help came from and unexpected source.
"Get away from him!"
I looked up to see an incoming flash of orange. Jinora had swooped in on her air-glider and blasted a couple of the chi-blockers into the roof. She was soon followed by Ikki, who rode in on an air-scooter.
"Get off our island!"
I could only sit there in total shock as Meelo appeared out of nowhere and dispatched several chi-blockers with what I could only call…fartbending? Okay, I really need to stop drinking lychee juice before epic battles.
Before I knew what happened, the Airbender kids had taken down every chi-blocker and were currently helping me up.
"Did we do a good job, Tarro?" Ikki asked me excitedly. "Did we? Did we? Huh? Huh?"
"You guys did great," I replied simply. "Really, we wouldn't have made it without your help."
Noatak's POV:
Two hours of carefully attending to a screaming, emotionally disturbed mother was doing a great deal of damage to my nerves. I would have thought, after having three children already, that Pema would be more capable of dealing with childbirth; of course, Master Katara had told me that women all experienced pregnancy differently and that, for some women, it becomes harder to deal with.
"If Tenzin ever thinks of touching me again," she yelled at one point, "I will cut off his…"
And that's when I chose to blank out what she was screaming. I focused instead on seeing the child out of her. I was very tempted to just use Bloodbending and get it over with and cause her less pain, but I would not allow myself to do that. I swore not to use it again, and I will not.
That's when I realized there was a problem. I used sensory Bloodbending, the only kind I still use, to see what was keeping the baby held up. And then I saw it, the cord was wrapped around the child's throat.
"Uh-oh."
"Uh-oh?! What do you mean 'uh-oh'?!" Pema shouted.
"The cord is wrapped around the baby's neck."
"Then untangle it!"
"It's not that simple! One wrong move and the child could suffer serious damage or worse."
"I don't care what you do! Get this baby out of me and don't mess up!"
Bracing myself for what I was about to do and hoping with every fiber of my being that someone would be waiting for me with a bottle of fire-brandy outside, I set to work.
Korra's POV:
We raced over to the temple as fast as we could. Tenzin was in a panic and Bei Fong looked like she would murder anyone who hurt the people at the temple. I was shaking. Noak and Tarro were there. What if they couldn't hold them off long enough?
Asami clearly saw my anxiousness and placed a friendly hand on my shoulder.
"Don't worry, Korra," she said. "If anyone can hold off the chi-blockers it's those two."
I nodded in response, but there was still that worry coursing through me. If Noak and Tarro got captured or…I didn't want to think about that. I had almost lost Noak without even realizing it; I couldn't stand the thought of never being able to tell him the truth about how I feel about him. I knew it wasn't just a crush or some brief romance of youth; what I felt for him was real, deep; it was something that went straight to my very heart and I knew that if I lost him then it would feel as if that piece of my heart was ripped out.
Tenzin landed the sky-bison in the courtyard and we were immediately greeted by the Air-Babies.
"Oh, thank goodness you're all right," Tenzin said.
"We caught the bad guys!" Meelo declared.
"What?"
"Um, I can explain," said a very nervous-looking Tarro.
"Tarro, what is going on?" Tenzin demanded. "Where's Noak? Were my children fighting?"
"Uh, long story short…we kind of had a situation."
The door of the temple suddenly opened and Noak emerged. He looked very shaken, very tired, and the front of his clothes were stained with…
"Is that blood?" I gasped. "Noak, are you…"
"I'm fine," he replied in a slightly cracked voice. "Just had to deliver a baby, nothing too major."
"You delivered a…?" Tenzin sputtered. "Wha-what…is Pema…?"
"She's fine, sir," Noak said calmly. "A little weak from the labor, though. There were complications, but I dealt with them."
Tenzin rushed inside.
"I need something to drink," Noak said. "Preferably something strong that will make me forget everything I just went through."
I smiled at him and pulled him into a hug.
"You're a good person, Noak," I told him. "Come on, I wanna see the baby."
"But I just…" He gave a sigh and allowed me to lead him back to the room.
It was one of the most adorable things I have ever seen; Pema holding her new baby boy with Tenzin and the other kids there. I hoped then that one day I would be able to experience something like that. There was just such a feeling of love in the room that everyone seemed compelled by it. Without realizing it, I reached for Noak's hand and he gave it a soft squeeze in response.
"We have much to be thankful for," Pema said after a while. "These two were our heroes today." She nodded at Noak and Tarro who both looked rather sheepish.
"Well, Jinora, Ikki, and Meelo really came through for me," Tarro admitted. "I was practically dead-meat before they showed up to save the day."
"I was simply fulfilling my obligations as a Healer," Noak added. "I saw someone in need of help and provided it to them."
"Well, you certainly helped Rohan," Pema said. "Who knows what might have happened if you hadn't noticed the danger he was in."
"Thank you, boys," Tenzin said. "I knew I could count on you."
Noak scuffled his foot across the floor slightly and cleared his throat.
"You know, Master Katara usually says a blessing over a new child whenever she helps deliver them," he said. "Should I…"
Tenzin gave him an approving nod.
Noak stepped over to the family and raised his hands in the way that I remember the Shaman doing whenever he says blessings or prayers.
"We thank the Five Great Spirits of the South that they have seen fit to give this child safe passage into the world," he recited. "May Kangee keep his vigil over you, may his wings comfort you, and his guidance lead you all your days. May Bilagaana stay by your side, bringing you prosperity and the bounty that nature gives to man. May Coahoma guard you, may she cut down those who would wish you harm and keep your heart free from evil. May Setna, the Great Mother, lend you her love and wisdom; may you forever keep to the path that leads to freedom that she built for all. And, above all these things, may Awonawilona bring you happiness and peace all your days; may it give you cause for joy and never sorrow.
"We also ask for the protection of the Sacred Seven at this time. May their ancient wisdom keep us safe during these times of trouble. We call upon you, Huata, Ahanu, Kachina, Migisi, Gaagii, Chilaili, and Ehane, to watch over this family; for they are your spiritual descendants and need you now." He concluded with an invocation in the old language.
We all paused for a few minutes, allowing the obvious power in that prayer to sink in. If there was ever a time to need the help of the spirits, it was now. I knew we didn't have much time left. As much as it pained me to break up this scene, we had to get out.
"I'm so sorry to interrupt," I said, "but, more airships are coming."
I saw Ikki look up at Tenzin.
"Everything's not gonna be fine, is it, Daddy?" she said.
Noatak's POV:
We followed Tenzin out to the courtyard where we saw more of the airships drawing closer to the island.
"What do you want to do, Tenzin?" Korra asked.
"I need to protect my family and get them as far away from this conflict as possible," he replied. "If Amon got his hands on my children…I hate to even think it."
"If you're leaving, then I'm going with you," said Bei Fong.
"But-"
"No arguments. You and your family are the last Airbenders. There's no way in the world I'm letting Amon take your Bending away."
I couldn't help but admire Bei Fong. She was truly dedicated to the people she cared about. That's when I remembered, they were all heading into a trap and I had no idea how to warn them. This was bad. Very, very bad.
Tenzin then urged us to go into hiding for the time being. Korra resisted at first but then grudgingly relented. We all bid farewell to each other. I noticed that the Airbender children all hugged Tarrlok before following their mother onto the sky-bison. Korra got the others onto Naga, while Tarrlok and I planned to ice-board alongside them down to the water.
Not five minutes after Tenzin and his family left, a cable shot down from one of the airships allowing dozens of chi-blockers to land on the island. The White Lotus sentries told us to go while they held them off. We were getting away without a problem…until…
"Moustache guy!" Bolin shouted.
Sure enough, the Lieutenant leapt out at us; more precisely at me. I was knocked sideways but managed to dodge his kali-sticks.
"Noak!" I heard Korra shout.
I knew how to dodge each strike. As good a fighter as the Lieutenant is, I am better. Unfortunately, Tarrlok didn't seem to realize that I was handling the situation as he had shot over to where I was, clearly intending to help me.
"Go on, get out of here!" I shouted.
He didn't listen and instead charged straight at the Lieutenant. We were ducking and dodging but we couldn't get near enough to take him out. I saw more chi-blockers coming in and I knew we were going to be outnumbered.
"Guys, go!" I yelled at the others.
We made to follow after them; however, no sooner was I twenty feet away than Tarrlok was suddenly surrounded.
"No!"
"Go on, Noa!" he called out. "I'll be fine! Just go!"
I couldn't leave him, but there were so many.
"Noa! I am ordering you to leave!" He ducked a blow.
I had to leave. But I couldn't abandon him again. I saw that glint in his eyes and I knew he would never forgive me if I turned back to help him. Swallowing the pain that began to surface, I raced after the others and we made our escape into the bay.
Tarrlok's POV:
I was tied up alongside the White Lotus sentries. Unlike them, however, I didn't hang my head in grief; I kept my shoulders squared and my back straight. I wasn't about to go down like a coward like last time. I was going to lose my Bending with my pride intact because I knew I had done the right thing this time.
My mouth went dry when Bei Fong was dropped down beside me in chains; it had started to rain, a fitting atmosphere. Each raindrop felt like a tiny shard of glass. I looked up, face clear of any emotion, as Amon approached. That is who he was; this wasn't Noatak. Noatak was currently a nineteen-year-old struggling to confess his feelings for Korra. Noatak was a young Healer who had just delivered the youngest of the Airbender children only a few hours ago.
"Tell me where the Avatar is and I'll let you keep your Bending," he said to Bei Fong.
"I'll never tell you anything, you monster!" she shouted.
"Very well."
It was horrible. Seeing that brave woman who has dedicated her life to Republic City go down like that. I suppose what I was feeling was empathy, but, at the same time, immense respect and admiration. I would soon follow her as Amon turned to face me.
"You, boy," he said calmly. "You are one of the Avatar's friends. Tell me where she is or what just happened to your police chief will happen to you."
I gave a very undignified snort.
"You really expect me to trust you? You'll just take my Bending no matter what." Rain slid down my face, hiding my angry tears. "Do you even know what the word loyalty means, Amon? Loyalty is when you care enough about a person that you will do whatever you can to make sure they are safe. Even if I knew where Korra and the others are now, I would be committing a crime against my love and loyalty to them by telling you." I looked him dead in the eyes, hoping that my words cut into him. I was just so angry. "You can burn in the deepest pits of Naraka. You are just as much of a villain as any Bender who ever used their powers to oppress others. You are a tyrant, a dictator. You don't really care about anyone but yourself, do you?" I smirked to myself. "But I have friends, real friends, people I consider to be worth fighting, even dying for. So don't you insult me by acting like you actually deserve my respect. Like you actually think I would betray my family." I stared at him, unwavering. "Well, take my Bending, already? Unless you're not man enough to do it."
He moved closer, our gazes were still locked. I knew, or rather hoped, that I had gotten through to him. That I had somehow connected to Noatak. Sadly, I was mistaken as he began to reach his thumb to my forehead.
"Just pray that my big brother doesn't find out about this," I said, grinning despite my anger at him. "Because, when he finds out, he's gonna kick your ass."
He hesitated for a moment, but then pressed his thumb to my forehead. I was overcome by the pain of it for a brief moment before collapsing on the ground. My Bending was gone.
Redbayly: *Sobbing* Can you hold me?
Sokka: Uhh…
Toph: That bastard took my baby girl's Bending! Again! I'll kill him!
Redbayly: What about Tarrlok? He lost his Bending again.
Aang: *Sniffles* Red, can you make us some brownies?
Redbayly: *Tearily* Yes.
Aang: With vanilla ice-cream?
Redbayly: *Nods* *Breaks out in tears again*
Sokka: *Buries his head in his hands* How do we live with them?
Toph: We don't, Snoozles. We're dead, remember? But, I am going to find a way to come back from the dead so I can beat up Amon for taking Lin's Bending!
Sokka: *Sighs* If it's not crybabies, it's psychos. Anyway, since Red's preoccupied with her feels-fest…
Redbayly: WAAAAAHHH!
Sokka:…which I'm pretty sure was brought about because of tonight's episode of Legend of Korra, I guess it's up to me to clarify some things from the chapter you just read. Redbayly has devised a whole belief system for the Southern Water Tribe composed of five major spirits (Awonawilona [who is an actual figure in a certain Native American legend, I think for the Zuni], Setna, Bilagaana, Kangee, and Coahoma). In addition, there is the Sacred Seven (Huata, Ahanu, Kachina, Migisi, Gaagii, Chilaili, and Ehane); these are the first seven Avatars born in the Southern Water Tribe, all of whom did something significant in their lifetimes and are revered as protective spirits in their own right. You will be seeing more of these spirits in chapters to come as they are an integral part of Red's headcanon. Also, that part where Tarrlok says "burn in Naraka"; Naraka is Red's word for the Avatar universe's version of Hell and comes from something in the Hindu tradition.
Well, we're getting close to the end of the first season in this story and I know Red is excited about how she is going to completely redo the second season. Think of it as an AU within an AU. I think that's everything for now. Goodnight, folks.