Hey, so it's been a long time right? I apologize, my schedule has been crazy and things haven't been going so well. I lost my writing mojo for a while. But I'm back so let's get started!
...
Hours passed and the sun rose in the sky, pouring down on Korra and Asami through the trees as they slept against Naga. Korra's head was resting against Asami's shoulder, Asami's head leaning against hers. Across the sidewalk stood a group of people, a man up on a stand with a megaphone in front of his mouth.
"Equality now! Equality now!" He chanted into the microphone, and Korra and Asami stirred. "We want equality now!"
Slowly, both of the girls started to open their eyes. They looked at each other, suddenly realizing how close they were, and Korra jumped back first, her cheeks darkening. She cleared her throat and Asami giggled a bit, watching her. Korra, noticing that she wasn't going to be scolded for the misunderstanding, smiled awkwardly at the taller girl as they both looked around in search for what woke them up.
"Nonbenders of Republic City-!" the protester began again.
"That's the guy." Korra said and quickly got to her feet, Asami doing the same.
Korra walked across the sidewalk as the guy spoke up. "Amon calls you to action! Take back your city! It's time for the-" He stopped abruptly, seeing Korra and Asami as they approached. Korra couldn't look anymore unamused. "It's you again!" the protester yelled accusingly at the Avatar, then put the megaphone to his lips. "You cannot silence me, Avatar!"
Korra swatted the megaphone out of his hands, causing the man to squeal in shock, and it hit the ground, smashing to pieces. "Shut your yapper and listen up." she said, clearly having little patience. "My friend was kidnapped by chi blockers. Where'd they take him?"
The protester crossed his arms. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Korra narrowed her eyes, her voice becoming threatening. "Oh, I think you do."
Korra stepped back and lifted her foot high, stomping it down in a half moon kick. The earth beneath the table stand raised, throwing the table up and the two men behind it back. The table overturned in the air, the stacks of paper that were on it falling off and raining down. The protester scrambled to pick up the scattered leaflets as Asami snatched one out of the air, examining it.
"'Witness the Revelation tonight, eight o'clock.'" she read aloud. She looked up. "What's this Revelation?"
"Nothing that concerns the likes of you two!" the protester said, irritated.
Korra grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and lifted him up, her voice low and menacing. "You better believe it concerns us. Spill it."
"N-No one knows what the Revelation is! And I don't know what happened to your friend!" The man's tone turned arrogant. "But if he's a bender, then my bet is he's getting what's coming to him!"
Korra clenched her teeth, but Asami spoke up before she could. "Where's it happening?"
The never got an answer. The sound of a whistle blowing interrupted them and they all looked to their left, an officer blowing a whistle heading their way. "Hey! What's going on over there?!"
"The Avatar's opressing us!" the protester claimed. "Help!"
"Let's scram." Korra said to Asami as she threw the man aside.
They ran towards where they'd started, Asami stopping for a few brief seconds to grab a handful of the papers before she caught up with Korra, who was already on top of Naga with Pabu. Asami vaulted herself atop Naga and they took off from the scene.
...
They stopped for a rest at a bench beneath a bridge, a trolley passing overhead. They were inspecting the leaflets, Korra holding one while the others were scattered about them. Korra let out a groan of annoyance.
"Why didn't the Equalists put locations on these?!" she complained.
"Because then they could be found and their whole 'Revelation' thing would be stopped." Asami replied. "I wish we knew what that was..." She turned the leaflet in her hand over a couple times. "I bet the information is hidden somewhere on here. Look at the backs." She holds up hers and another as an example. "There are four different images."
"So," Korra looked at Asami, a hopeful smile crossing her face. "it's a puzzle?"
Asami's eyes widened and she stood quickly. "Yeah, of a map!"
She crossed in front of Korra and went to the map beside her with four of the flyers in her hand. She held them up to the map and eyed them carefully, moving them around. The final flyer had a red dot on it. Asami lined it up with the map and smiled triumphantly. "There." she said, pointing at it. "This is where it's going down." She looked at Korra, who couldn't help but smile back.
~Night falls...~
"Are you sure this is enough to fool them?" Korra whispered to Asami as they turned a street corner. She tugged disapprovingly at the corner of the long coat she was wearing, her lower lip in a pout.
"It'll have to be." Asami said, adjusting the hat on her head. "Remember the plan-"
"We go in, get Bolin, and get out." Korra said, reciting it as Asami frequently reminded her. "I got it down."
They approached the building up ahead, a guard posted out front. They stepped into the glow of the porch light and Korra slipped her arm last second through Asami's. Asami glanced at her. "What are you-"
"We'll attract less attention this way." Korra said quietly. After all, same gender couples aren't that rare in Republic City...
The citizen in front of them handed the guard something and he looked at it. Nodding approvingly, he stepped aside to let the person in. They stepped up to the door.
"No one gets in without an invitation." The doorman said, halting them as he crossed his arms.
"Invitation..?" Korra said, making him raise an eyebrow.
"You mean," Asami reached into the pocket of her coat. "this?" She pulled out one of the leaflets and handed it to the doorman.
He skimmed over it and smiled, stepping aside for them and gesturing for them to go in. "The Revelation is upon us, my sisters."
Korra and Asami entered, releasing breaths they didn't know they were holding. Korra let go of Asami's arm. "Quick thinking."
"Just followed instinct." Asami said.
They kept walking until they came to an opening, an overlook of the meeting place. They looked down at the crowd as it waited before an empty lit stage.
"I knew a lot of people hated benders, but not this many." Asami said, surprised. She looked at Korra. "Keep an eye out for Bolin.
Korra nodded and followed her down the stairs to the side. They slipped their way into the crowd, gently pushing past people and receiving either dirty or welcoming looks. There was a brief feedback from a microphone, replaced by a voice.
"Please welcome, your hero," The center of the stage opened into a hatch and light poured down into it. "your savior, Amon!"
Slowly a figure rose from the opening, his head down and arms folded behind himself. He picked his head up and everyone's eyes fell upon the masked man. Cheers erupted from the crowd, but Asami and Korra were fighting grimaces. A spotlight graced him as he stepped forward to the podium. The cheers silenced when he began to speak.
"My quest for equality began many years ago." Amon began, then picked up the microphone. "When I was a boy, my family and I lived on a small farm. We weren't rich, and none of us were benders. This made us very easy targets for the firebender who extorted my father. One day, my father confronted this man, but when he did, that firebender took my family from me. Then, he took my face." Gasps came from the listening crowd.
"I've been forced to hide behind a mask ever since." Korra and Asami glanced at each other. "As you know, the Avatar has recently arrived in Republic City." Boos rose and Korra pulled the collar of her coat up higher. "And if she were here, she would tell you that bending brings balance to the world. But, she is wrong. The only thing bending has brought to the world, is suffering." He pointed at the crowd, his voice raising. "It has been the cause of every war in every era! But that is about to change.
"I know you have been wondering, 'What is the Revelation?' You are about to get your answer. Since the beginning of time, the spirits have acted as guardians of our world, and they have spoken to say the Avatar has failed humanity." Korra clenched her teeth, her feet moving on their own accord. Asami grabbed her by her elbow, shaking her head. Korra huffed quietly and stepped back. Amon continued on. "That is why the spirits have chosen me to usher in a new era of balance. They have granted me a power that will make Equality a reality. The power to take a person's bending away. Permanently."
The crowd gasped again and both teens' eyes widened in horror.
"That's impossible..." Korra said and turned to Asami. "There's no way..."
Asami shook her head. "Maybe the firebender messed with his sense of reality..."
"Now," Amon said, recollecting everyone's attention. "for a demonstration. Please welcome," He opened his hand to the left side of the stage. "Lightning Bolt Zolt!" From the left side of the stage, an Equalist guard led the tied up Triad onto the stage. "Leader of the Triple Threat Triads, and one of the most notorious criminals in Republic City."
The crowd booed and Zolt turned to them, angry. "Ahh, boo yourself!"
Four more benders were brought on stage behind him by more guards, Bolin at the very end. They were forced to their knees and Bolin looked around, panicked.
"There's Bolin." Korra said. She started determinedly to the front, only for Asami to hold her back again.
"Wait, we can't fight them all." she said. "We need to be smart about this."
"Okay, so what do you suggest we do?" Korra questioned, quirking an eyebrow.
"Zolt has amassed a fortune by extorting and abusing nonbenders." Amon said. "But his reign of terror is about to come to an end. Now, in the interest of fairness," The Lieutenant removed the rope around Zolt's wrists. "I will give Zolt the chance to fight to keep his bending."
Amon backed away and the guard shoved Zolt in the opposite direction to give the two space. Zolt stumbled, immediately turning and facing Amon. "You're gonna regret doing that, pal." He threatened arrogantly.
Lightning Bolt Zolt immediately directed a fire blast at Amon. Amon nimbly dodged every blast that Zolt threw at him, gradually coming closer. Zolt who surged forward while generating lightning. He fired the bolt at the Equalist leader, who ducked underneath it, grabbing hold of Zolt's wrist, and twisting it around and away from him. The lighting crashed into the stage before hitting the ceiling as Amon turns his hands further away. Amon grabs Zolt by the neck with his hand, the lightning still shooting out of Zolt's fingers, as he moved his hand from Zolt's wrist to his forehead. Amon placed his thumb in the center and Zolt's face contorted in fear. Korra and Asami watch in horror, their mouths slightly agape as they are drowned in the eerie blue light emanating from the lighting charge. The crackling lightning changed into a large fire blast, and stopped entirely. Amon let go of Zolt, who collapsed weakly onto the ground. Amon took a few steps back and Zolt attempted to firebend at Amon to no avail; he crashed back to the ground before the feet of the Equalist leader. The crowd gasped.
"Wha..." Zolt groaned, his voice failing him. "What did you do to me...?"
"Your firebending is gone." Amon said, his voice commanding. "Forever." Amon turned to face the crowd. "The era of bending is over! A new era of Equality has begun!"
Cheers burst from the citizens, and the next victim was kicked toward Amon. Shady Shin. He fell hard on his knees.
"Any ideas?" Korra asked Asami, her voice tense.
"I think so." Asami said, biting her lip. She looked to the side, nodding once towards the machines against the wall. "See those machines? They're powered by water and steam. If you can create a cover, I can grab Bolin without anyone seeing. Then, we get out."
"Works for me." Korra said. She started to walk away when Asami's whisper caught her attention.
"Hey," she said.
Korra looked over her shoulder. "Yeah?"
"Good luck." Asami smiled at her, and she smiled back.
"You, too."
She ducked away, sliding past grinning members in the crowd. She emerged from the side and slipped into the hallway, looking at the machines. She sprinted down and grabbed the wheel handle of one, turning it hard with a grunt. The wheel budged a bit, but not enough to her liking.
"It's not enough." she muttered her herself. She crouched down and cranked another wheel, causing another small leak.
"Hey, you!"
Korra jumped up at the voice. She turned quickly and spotted the doorman approaching her. She mustered the best smile possible. "Is there a problem, my brother?" she asked, trying to sound innocent and confused.
"What are you doing back here?" the doorman demanded, his voice gruff.
"I was looking for the bathroom." Korra replied.
The doorman reached behind himself slowly, taking out a wrench. Korra adjusted her eyes a look of focus. The doorman twirled the wrench around in his hand, before attacking Korra. She nimbly ducked under his swing and evaded his next attack, coming up behind him. He turned around and aimed an overhead swing at her, but Korra dodged it again, making him hit the pipes. Korra ducked underneath another violent swing of the doorman's wrench that hits the pipes once again, denting them. Korra deflected aimed another swing at her with her foot, kicking his hand aside. He turned and she rammed into him hard, shoving his entire body into the machine and knocking off all the vents that were holding down the steam. Through three open pipes, steam poured out and filled the room. Korra looked at the steam.
"That should be enough." She said and began bending the steam around her.
Outside, an Equalist guard was releasing Bolin from his binds. Once he was free, he was jerked to his feet and shoved forward towards Amon. The bender in front of him slumped to the floor and Amon turned to Bolin. Bolin pressed his fingertips together, sweating nervously.
"Uh, hello, Amon, sir." He attempted a goofy grin. "I think there's been a big misunderstanding."
Amon moved forward and Bolin slightly backed up.
Korra, waterbending the steam behind her, had a focused look on her face. The moment she had enough, she directed it all in front of her with a powerful swipe of her hand. An explosion to his left made Bolin duck for cover; under loud screams of the crows. Steam started to pour in to the meeting room. Bolin, terrified, looked at what is going on. Steam engulfed everything in its path, clouding everyone and everything. Amon, standing amidst the steam; backed away, vanishing completely. Bolin slowly backed up, and Equalist grabbed his arm from behind much to Bolin's shock. Asami emerged out of the steam from behind the Equalist, grabbed hold of him, and knocks him away with a powerful surge of fire, causing him to disappear in the steam. Asami turned to his brother.
"Bolin, are you okay?" She asked, her voice trembling a bit.
"Yes!" Bolin exclaimed, his hands clapping together before extending for a hug. "Asami, I love you!"
As Bolin moved forward in an attempt to hug her, Asami seized him around his arm and dragged him off into the steam. They run to a door leading to the outside of the factory, flinging the door open and scaring off several birds. The two run out from the balcony exit and head over to a ladder, and Bolin is first to head down. Another person emerged from the door and ran over to the ladder. Asami looked up, then down at an Equalist fighter, the Lieutenant, twirling his kali sticks and slamming them into the ladder. The electricity traveled up the ladder, hitting Asami and Bolin. They scream in shock and pain and fall down, landing with grunts on their feet. The Lieutenant jumped down from the balcony, his kali stick charged. He landed and immediately released the charge, forcing the siblings to jump away. Asami raises her fist and goes on the offensive, launching a fire jet at the crouched Lieutenant from her left fist. The Equalist dodges to the side to avoid the blast. He attacks Asami with his kali sticks, electricity trailing behind them as he rapidly swung them around. With a few fast hits, Asami was floored, and the Lieutenant turned to Bolin.
Bolin flipped over and used his own momentum to hurl a slap of earth at the Lieutenant with a grunt of focus, who jumped up and twirled out of its path. He did a similar evasive maneuver to avoid the second block that Bolin threw at him before charging at the earthbender. Bolin conjured up an earth wall to protect himself. The Lieutenant performed a round off before back flipping and somersaulting over Bolin's wall. He landed behind a shocked Bolin, who quickly turned to face him, and after delivering several quick hits with his charged kali sticks, the Lieutenant jabbed him with the two electrified kali sticks and shocked him until he fell to the ground unconscious.
Suddenly, Asami came around the wall, using the adjacent building to push herself off in the Lieutenant's direction and sending a fire slice in his direction. The Lieutenant avoided it and Asami kicked out another fire slice while grunting in effort, knocking over Bolin's wall with her attack. The Lieutenant charged at Asami again and, after a quick exchange of some blows striking air from both parties, the Lieutenant succeeded a hit with a kali stick in Asami's stomach, flinging her back with a groanof pain. As Asami was pushed up against the wall, the Lieutenant charged and twirled both his weapon sticks and jabbed Asami's chest, shocking her into unconsciousness. Asami slumped onto the ground as well. The Lieutenant looked at Bolin.
"You benders need to understand," He began. "there's no place in the world for you anymore."
A pillar of rock shot up beside the Lieutenant and thrusted him brutally against the building. He slammed hard against the metal, his two kali sticks knocked out of his hands, and he falls down onto the ground. As he tried to get up, Korra gets in another in an earthbending pose.
"I wouldn't count us out just yet." she said. The Lieutenant collapses and she whistled for Naga. "Naga!"
Naga barked and immediately came running from behind a building, jumping down the last of the ramp. Korra walked over to Asami as she struggled to get up and helps her to her feet. They smile at each other briefly just as more Equalist fighters stormed the area from the balcony. Korra and Asami ascended on to Naga and Bolin who sat up, slightly dazed, though he screamed in fright and moved his hands protectively before him as he looked up. Naga ran up, grabbing Bolin with her teeth by his collar and dragging him off.
Bolin bounced along with Naga's strides. "Hah ... Oh ... Yah ... Stop ... I want ... to be ... on ... your back ... please!"
...
About an hour after making their escape, Korra had dropped Asami and Bolin off at the arena and returned to the island. She approached Tenzin, who was flanked by two White Lotus sentries, and they turn to face her. Relief crossed Tenzin's face.
"Thank goodness," he said, and Korra stopped. "I was just about to send a search party." Tenzin put his hands on her shoulders. "Are you alright?" Korra turned away from him, shaking her head and grabbing her arms. Tears burned in her eyes. "Korra, what happened? Did you find your friend?"
"Yes, but..." Korra strengthened her voice as she faced Tenzin again. "I was at an Equalist rally. I saw Amon."
"What?" Tenzin said, shocked.
"He can take people's bending away... For good."
Tenzin's eyes widened. "That's... That's impossible. Only the Avatar has ever possessed that ability."
"But I saw him do it." Korra said, feeling the tears overflow. She blinked them away.
"I believe you." Tenzin said calmly. "I don't know how Amon has achieved this power, but this means the revolution is more dangerous than ever." He looked towards the city. "No bender is safe."
...
And DONE! After forever, this chapter is done! Prepare to be led out of Korra's world and into Asami's when I introduce Mako!
Thanks for reading!