I can't believe this story got so many hits in one night! I love the concerns for Mako xD Mako is not an Equalist, or a Triad. He literally switched places with Asami. And Hiroshi won't be his father, because he should stay Asami's (and Bolin's in this case) even though he'll be dead. Therefore, I'm reviving his own father, San, which means that the cars will be called Sanmobiles xD. To answer a review I got, I think I can let Asami kept her engineering skills and give Mako some knowledge on it. Something they can bond over xD
...
Two earth disks collided with a net hanging from the wall. Korra was holding a defense stance, her arms and hands close to her body. She set her jaw, almost disappointed with herself. It wasn't bad, no. But I could've been a lot better. And it didn't help that a certain pair of yellow-specked green eyes were watching her from a set of stairs, leaning against the wall. Korra usually didn't falter when it came to people staring, but Asami... She was another story. It was almost like she was studying her or something.
"That was great!" Bolin said, bringing Korra back to the moment at hand. Even so, she could still feel the black-haired girl's eyes on her. It took everything in her willpower not to blush. "Good power!"
"But in a real match, you'd be a sitting turtle duck." Asami spoke up, using her foot to push herself off the wall. She inspected Korra's stance again before stepping forward. "Not so flatfooted and uptight."
"She's right." Bolin said, taking a stance. "Stay light on your toes, right up until the moment where you need to dig in and strike, then," Bolin raised two earth coins and almost immediately sent them flying at the net. "pop, pop!"
The coins hit almost the exact same spot as Korra's, just closer to the center. Korra watched, intrigued, and got into her earthbending position again. "Okay, let me try it again."
"Hold on." Asami said. "Your footing is off." She stood behind Korra. "One wrong move, one good strike, and you'll go flying." Asami reached around Korra and gently took her by her wrists. Korra was blushing like mad and swallowed nervously. Asami straightened her arms, then solidified her stance by widening her feet. "There."
"Th-thanks..." Korra said, trying to fix her expression.
She turned her attention back to the net and hopped from side to side before launching two disks from the stack. They hit the center of the net and she grinned triumphantly.
"Wow! Nice adjustment!" Bolin said, impressed. He pointed at Korra, a smile on his face. "You're a natural at this."
"Not bad." Asami said, also smiling at Korra. Korra felt the heat creeping up to her cheeks again. Asami looked towards the window, then the clock. It was well past eleven. "It's getting late." she stated, grabbing her bag from the bench. "I think I'm gonna turn in. You kids have fun." As she started for the stairs, she looked over her shoulder. "It's been a pleasure meeting you, Avatar Korra."
"Likewise." Korra was surprised she managed to get the word out.
"I'll see you upstairs, bro." Asami said, and started up.
"Wait, you guys live here?" Korra asked, confused.
Bolin nodded. "Yup, in the attic." He shrugged. "It's nothing fancy, but we've got some great views." He clapped his hands together. "Anyway, back to bending! Mind showing me that combo again?"
Korra nodded, determined, and got into a defense position. She bounced a bit before sending two coins at the net. They hit the center and she grinned broadly.
~the next morning~
"Patience, Korra!"
Tenzin had spoken a second too late. As Korra was knocked too her knees, her patience level had reached zero. Gritting her teeth in frustration, she lit her hand up with fire, sending shots in random places and burning down the whole structure. When she was through with her fit she looked around at the damage she'd caused, breathing heavily.
Tenzin couldn't begin to comprehend what had happened. "That was a two thousand year old historical treasure!" he said slowly, his anger building up. "What... What is wrong with you?!"
"There's nothing wrong with me!" Korra argued. "I've been training just like you taught me, but it isn't sinking in, okay?! It hasn't clicked like you said it would!"
"Korra, this isn't something you can force." Tenzin said, calm again. "If you would only listen to me-"
"I have been!" Korra interrupted, louder. "But you know what I think? Maybe the problem isn't me! Maybe the reason I haven't been able to learn airbending is because you're a terrible teacher!" She pointed accusingly at Tenzin before stalking off towards the temple.
Evening fell, and Korra left the island for the Arena. This time, she didn't really sneak out. She simply walked out without anyone knowing where she was going. She took the easy way again and swam through the water to the edge of the city. Korra's mood lightened when she reached the front doors of the Arena. She smiled as she opened the door and headed inside to the locker room for the Fire Ferrets. Rather than finding a ready team, she found Asami and Bolin remaining dejectedly with distress evident on their faces.
"I didn't miss your match, did I?" Korra asked. "You guys look like you've already lost."
"We might as well have." Bolin said.
"Hasook's a no good no show." Asami said angrily.
The referee of the matches opened the door and looked inside. "You got two minutes to come out ready to play, or you're disqualified." he said, and closed the door again.
"There goes our shot at the tournament." Asami said with a heavy sigh, then added, "and the winnings."
"What about them?" Korra asked, pointing at the opposing team on the other side of the Arena. "Can't you ask one of those guys to fill in?"
Bolin glanced up. "Nah, the rules say you can only play on one team."
"Should've known Hasook would ditch us." Asami said. "We might as well forfeit, save some of our dignity."
Korra looked at Asami, her eyebrows together in concern. She couldn't stand to see the firebender so upset. She hated it, actually. Korra took a deep breath, her craziest idea by far coming to mind.
"Well, what about me?" Korra suggested, placing a hand on her chest. "I'm a topnotch waterbender," She crossed her arms. "if I do say so myself."
"But, you're the Avatar." Bolin said. "Isn't that like... cheating?"
"It isn't if I only do waterbending." Korra said.
"Would you really do that for us?" Asami asked, looking up. Her eyes had brightened, and it made Korra smile.
"Of course." Korra said and shrugged. "Besides, I've wanted to see what it was like in the ring."
"But you haven't been in the ring before." Asami said. She meant it in the nicest of ways, but Korra still felt a little hurt by the comment.
Before she could answer, the referee came in again. "You're two minutes are up, are you in or out?"
"We're in!" Korra said before the others could say anything.
"We are?" Bolin said excitedly.
"Yes!" Korra said. She ran to Hasook's locker and pulled out his uniform and helmet. They were a little big, but Korra could work with it. They would be about as alien to her body as the Air Nomad garb.
"We're really doing this." Asami stated, giggling at the Avatar's enthusiasm.
"You can thank me later." Korra said, smiling at her.
Asami shook her head, but her smile didn't leave. "This girl is crazy." she said to herself, amused.
When Korra was set, they took their place on the stage. Korra lined up with Asami and Bolin on the edge of their side, face to face with the waterbender of the opposite team. Korra tugged awkwardly at the uniform, hating the way it hung off her figure.
"Looks like the Fire Ferrets have ferreted out a last minute replacement waterbender." the announcer, Shiro Shinobi, said. "Let's see if she's another diamond in the rough like the brother and sister from the school of hard knocks!"
"Try and leave everything to me and Bolin, okay?" Asami said, glancing at the younger woman. "Do good now, and we can train you to actually play later on." Through the helmet, Korra could see Asami was smiling.
"You got it, captain." Korra said, smiling back as she readjusted her helmet when it fell in front of her face.
"Players, are you ready?!" the referee called. He raised his hand and blew the whistle.
No one had time to react. The second the bell rang to signal the start of the round, Korra conjured up a powerful water blast through the gates and sent it flying at the other waterbender, flipping him over the ropes on the side of the stage. The other members of team stared when their teammate had just been standing, dumbstruck. Asami sighed heavily, dropping her head, while Bolin blinked in shock.
"Woo! Man overboard!" Korra cheered as she ran in a circle, her arms raised in victory.
The referee blew his whistle and pointed at Korra. "Fire Ferret waterbender, penalty! Move back one zone!"
Korra looked up at him, her eyebrows together in confusion. "What? Why?"
"You're only allowed to knock players off the back of the ring, not over the sides." Asami told her.
Korra flustered and bit her lip. She wasn't impressing Asami the way she'd intended to. "Oh... whoops..." Korra ran back to the second zone and readied herself at the edge.
"And we're back to the action after that hiccup, but I'm not so sure this replacement player knows what she's doing!" Shiro said. Korra made a face.
The bell rang again, and elements went flying. Korra raised another blob of water and fires it away at the nearest opponent, the firebender. Just as she let it go, she was struck in the stomach by an earth coin. The pain is immense and she grits her teeth, biting down hard enough on the inside of her cheek to draw blood. She slid back, using her foot to catch herself. She leapt up, lifting water as she does so, and unintentionally ended up over the grate behind her. The referee blew his whistle again.
"Foul! Over the line! Move back to zone three!" he said.
"Ugh!" Korra groaned. As she turned away, she muttered under her breath, "I'll show you over the line..."
The bell sounded, signaling the end of round one. Bolin twiddled his fingers in embarrassment and Asami looked back at Korra, who averted her gaze.
So much for showing off... the darker girl thought.
"And the Platypus Bears take the first round!" Shiro said just as the bell went off. Every shot was headed in Korra's direction. "They sure know a green player when they see one, and their focusing the brunt of their bending on this poor girl!"
Korra did her best to brace herself against the elements as they collided with her repeatedly. She raised a shield of water to deflect the worst of them. She adjusted her stance to keep herself from flying backward, as Asami had demonstrated, and only slid back a couple inches. She had only a brief opening to block a water blast with her own before she's stuck again. She grunts effortlessly, her eyes shut tight. She opened one eye in time to see the earthbender and firebender readying their attacks again. In determination to keep herself from going over, she lifted two earth disks from the stacks in the stage and groaned at the impact.
The entire Arena seemed to be holding their breath. The cover of dust and rock cleared, revealing Korra with her uniform battered, soaked and scorched slightly. Every eye was on her.
"Wait a minute, did that waterbender just earthbend?" Shiro announced.
"Foul! ...I think..." the referee said.
Korra raised her hands bashfully, grinning as her helmet fell again. Asami and Bolin glanced at each other, sure that this would cost them everything.
"Did I see that right?" Shiro said. "Hold on, folks, we're just waiting for the referee's official call, but... I-I think this replacement player could be... There's no way!"
Korra closed her eyes and dropped her arms, sighing. She hunched over slightly in defeat. You screwed up big time, Korra...
"You've got to be kidding me!" Shiro said. "She's the Avatar, folks! Fighting in a pro-bending match! Can you believe it?!"
The referee came forward and raised his hand, stating solemnly, "The Avatar can play so long as she solely bends water!"
Bolin and Asami grinned in relief and Korra perked up, catching their eyes. There were cries of disagreement coming from all over the stadium, but they were ignored as they prepared for the next match. The Fire Ferrets took their place at the end of the stage, getting into their stances. The bell went off.
The opposing earthbender stomped his foot, raising an earth coin. He shot it out with his fist, his other teammates sending their attacks in the same direction.
"This girl may be the Avatar, but she is definitely no pro-bender and the Platypus Bears are intent on exploiting that weakness!" Shiro announced.
Korra created a water whip to deflect the earth coin, followed by the water bullet and fire blast. She stepped into a back flip as another coin soared over her and landed on her feet to block the fire blast by crossing her arms in front of her.
"They're giving her their best, but her best ain't good enough to stop it!" Shiro declared.
Before she had time to react, she's hit in the side by a fire shot. The wind is knocked out of her as an earth disk pummels into her stomach, followed by a water bullet to her face. She lot her balance and was sent sprawling backward, over the edge of the ring, and splashes into the water.
"Aaaand, she's in the drink." Shiro said, mildly disappointed.
Korra pulled herself up onto the edge of the platform, keeping herself up by her arms. She breathed heavily, coughing from the impact, and ignored the pain building in her gut. Her arms were shaking from adrenaline and she sighed just as a shadow fell upon her. She looked up and almost paled.
"Tenzin! What are you doing here?" she said casually as she lifted herself from the water and onto her feet. "I thought you didn't like coming to these matches."
"Once again, you fragrantly disobeyed my orders." Tenzin said, practically glaring at her. "You were to stay on the island! Let's go." He started to walk away when Korra spoke.
"No!" she said defiantly. "I'm kind of in the middle of something!"
Tenzin turned around slowly to look at her. "I have tried my very best to get through to you by being gentle and patient," he said, gradually becoming angrier. "but clearly the only thing you respond to is force! So I'm ordering you to come back to the temple with me right now!"
"Why? So I can sit around and meditate about how bad I am at airbending?" Korra said. "You know, I'm starting to think that maybe there's a reason I haven't been able to learn it! Maybe I don't need it!"
"What?" Tenzin said, taken aback. "That is a ludicrous suggestion! The Avatar needs to learn airbending! It not an option!"
Korra gestured to the Arena stage. "No! This is what I need to learn! Modern styles of fighting!"
"Being the Avatar is all about fighting, Korra!" Tenzin said. He was at his wits end with her by that point. "When will you learn that?!"
"I have a match to finish." Korra said as she turned around. She got on the elevator and it ascended up to the stage.
"The Platypus Bears take round two!" Shiro said. The bell rang just as Korra stepped onto the stage and stands besides Asami and Bolin. "Round three!"
The Bears immediately went on the offensive, the waterbender targeting Asami and Bolin. Bolin crossed his arms to block the shot and raised an earth coin to retaliate. Just as he sent it flying, he picks up another one to block a second blast. He's forced back into Asami, backing them into a corner.
"The Platypus Bears come out of the gate and quickly go after the Ferret Siblings!" Shiro announced. "They're corralled in the corner, wedged in the edge of zone one, and unable to come to the Avatar's rescue! And boy, does she need it!"
The firebender and earthbender on the opposing team spilt away from their teammate to continue their advance on Korra. She glances to see her friends being repeatedly drenched with streams of water. They wouldn't be able to move any time soon. Just as she returns her focus to the match, she's knocked back into the third zone, a buzzer sounding. She pushed against the force of the fire that was bent at her, and her feet are on the edge. She took a quick look behind her and swallowed.
"Looks like the Avatar's pro-bending debut is going to be cut short!" Shiro said. "She's been pushed back to zone three, and the water is calling her name!"
Korra narrowly dodged an earth disk and gritted her teeth, taking a deep breath. Her anger quickly faded to determination as she regained her balance.
"It's only a matter of time before-" Shiro was cut short by Korra repositioning herself. Korra suddenly changed positions as a string of fire shot past her. "Hold the phone! Stop the presses! She's still in the game, folks! And she's moving like an entirely different player! All of a sudden, the Platypus Bears' strikes are only striking air!"
Korra's change in tactics was starting to annoy the firebender and he fired again. Korra lowered herself under it, her feet switching as she turned effortlessly. She smiled to herself, dodging another attack. The Platypus Bears' energy lacked and they were tired out within seconds. The water the waterbender had shot at the siblings lost momentum and splashed to the floor.
"The Platypus Bears have no juice left, but Asami and Bolin are still fresh and juicy!" Shiro declared.
Asami and Bolin wasted no time. Asami sent flame after flame at the opposing earthbender, soon aided by Bolin. It's not long before the opposing them is knocked out of the ring. The bell rung and the whole stadium erupted in cheers. Korra looked around, a wide grin on her face.
"The Fire Ferrets come from waaay behind and steal the win!" Shiro announced. "What an upset, folks! The rookies, Avatar in tow, have nabbed a place in the championship tournament! I can not believe it!"
Bolin ran up to Korra, his hand high to give Korra a high five. They laughed and said in unison, "Yeah!"
Korra's eyes caught Asami approaching them as she took her helmet off. She grinned at Korra, tucking the helmet under her arm and resting her other hand on her hip. "Nice job, Korra." she praised, making the shorter girl blush. "You really came alive in that last round. You are a natural."
"If it wasn't for you guys, I wouldn't of been able to pull any of that off." Korra said. "Thank you."
Asami giggled and Bolin threw his arms around their shoulders, and the three of them reveled in their victory.
...
Night came and Korra returned to the island, wiped out. At the entrance of the island, Tenzin was waiting for her. She sulked and sighed, preparing herself for whatever punishment was to come.
"I'm sorry... for everything I said." she said the second she reached him. "I was frustrated with myself, and I took it out on you."
"I think I owe you an apology, too." Tenzin said. "I was trying to teach you about patience, but I lost mine."
Korra looked up, hope evident on her face. "No hard feelings?"
"Of course not." Tenzin said, smiling softly. "And, by the way, you did very good out there tonight. You moved just like an airbender!"
"Wait..." Korra paused, taking in what he said. "You stayed and watched?"
"I did." Tenzin said. "Turns out pro-bending was the right teaching tool for you."
Korra grinned and started to jog in place, backing away to the other side of the temple. "I'll see you in the morning for airbending practice bright and early!" She said as she turned around, then waved and added, "By the way, I kind of permanently joined the Fire Ferrets and we're playing in the tournament in a couple weeks!"
She didn't need to look back at Tenzin to know that he had sighed and headed inside the main part of the Temple. She skipped steps up to her own room once she was inside and bounded inside, sitting beside the window. She gazed at the Arena in the distance, resting her chin in her palm and smiling to herself.
...
Whew! And that's that! Hope you enjoyed and I hope you decide to join me on this adventure!
Thanks for reading!