Brave New World

by Sunal

AU Voldemort's attack on the Potters leaves James and Lily dead, and young Harry missing. Meanwhile Senna and Tonraq discover a child in the unlikeliest of places and decide to take him in to be Korra's little brother. Raised by benders, plagued by questions, he will embark on an epic journey for answers and nothing will ever be the same. No pairings yet.

13. Chapter 13: The Calm Before the Storm

This is an idea that I have been entertaining recently. I know that stories with a similar premise have been written so I will try to keep this as original as I can. No plagiarism intended. I do not own either Legend of Korra or Harry Potter. They belong to Bryan Konietzko, Michael Dante DiMartino, and J.K. Rowling.

-Line Break-

"How many does this assault make?" Tenzin asked.

"Thirty or so," Lin replied, teeth clenching. "Not to mention we have over forty cases of armed robbery, twenty-seven cases of vandalism, twenty-one cases of forced entry, seventeen cases of extortion, and fifteen cases of arson. And these are just those that people reported, so the number could be higher."

Taking a sip of tea, Lin continued "My police force is stretched thin as it is. I have increased recruitment, but it's going to take time to get enough Metalbenders to match the Triads. Not to mention the difference in experience and skill can't be overcome by training alone. The new policemen will have to work with more experienced colleagues."

"Korra made a suggestion after Kuan's trial," Tenzin said after a moment of thought. "She suggested that we recruit from our incarcerated populace, as a sort of community service. Of course, given the timing of the suggestion…"

"It didn't go down very well," Lin concluded, rubbing her nose with an exasperated sigh. "That girl. I wish she learned to think before she spoke, or threw a punch."

"Personally, I think her idea has merit," Tenzin replied. As Lin's eyes snapped wide open in shock, he held out a hand to waylay her argument. "I understand your reluctance to trust our imprisoned populace. But consider this: many of the people currently imprisoned are refugees that were exploited by the Triads and the Tong. How long have they waited for their trials? How many of them have been passed over for more "serious" or "dangerous" cases? How much longer must they wait while we are preoccupied with other matters?"

"You know that the police have consistently requested increased funding for men, materials, etc!" Lin snapped back. "And what has been the Council's response? 'They'd consider it'. And that's it. Nothing changes."

"And you know that I have consistently pushed for greater funding for the police," Tenzin replied. "I have warned the Council time and time again that issuing the bare minimum for police work is asking for disaster. My father lost his entire nation because they did not prepare or plan ahead and were overwhelmed in a massive surprise attack. But they've always pushed back with questions of taxes, infrastructure overhauls, transportation issues, etc. Thus, they decided that our police force was sufficiently funded and supplied for the time."

"Typical," Lin muttered bitterly. "Politicians never do anything about a problem until it's too late."

"Regardless, we can use this to our advantage," Tenzin pressed. "Our detention centers are nearing capacity with the new arrests from the spike in Triad activity. If we can clear out the refugees and minor criminals, we could clear up the detention centers, saving space for future arrests and freeing up funds to invest in additional police activity, allowing us to curtail Triad activity without raising taxes or diverting public funding."

"And, given the skill-sets of the refugees," Tenzin continued while Lin mulled over his argument. "Training them should be relatively fast and simple. As I understand it, some were soldiers or guardsmen before smuggling their families out from the Earth Kingdom, so they should adjust well to police work. Others were artisans and mechanics, so they could be assigned to maintaining gear and equipment. This will increase our manpower pool faster than starting from scratch, expediting our work against the Triads."

"And lastly, this will rehabilitate these people in the eyes of the public." he finished just as Lin was about to interject. "The people are used to seeing them as freeloading parasites, or dangerous criminals. By having them work with the police against the Triads, the public can see this is not the case, or at least not so for all of them. Thus, when these people are finished they will be seen as law-abiding, trustworthy citizens, not criminals or parasites."

"You make a convincing argument, Tenzin," Lin said after a moment. "But will the Council be convinced?"

"I can't say for certain," he replied. "But we could use the Triads to argue that desperate times call for desperate measures. And if you could provide a list of people with the right skills and psychological mindset, that will convince the Council that we have thought this through and are not just grasping at straws. And if we had a comparison of the financial and time cost of this plan to those of normal recruitment, our plan would be backed by both objective facts and moral ideals."

Pursing her lips in thought, Lin took a sip of tea to gather her thoughts. Swallowing the now-cold beverage, she said "I can have a list of potential candidates within a day or two, with an analysis of the cost around the same time. When is your next Council meeting?"

"We usually meet every seven days," he answered, looking at a calendar. "To give us time to gather information on the state of things, consult with the civil service, and mull over potential solutions. Unless an emergency is called, our next meeting should be within four days, which should be plenty of time for you to get ready."

"Thank you Tenzin," she said, reaching behind her and rummaging through a file cabinet. "I'll get busy here. You handle the Council."

"Thank you Lin, and good luck." he replied, bowing as he departed.

'Well, that was comparatively easy,' Tenzin thought as he made his way through the police station. 'But I'll need more than just the support of the police. For this to work we need the support of at least two other Council members. Tarrlok is...problematic to say the least. He and I have rarely agreed on how to govern Republic City over the years. Fuku, our Fire Nation representative, rarely proposes new ideas or solutions and typically agrees with Tarrlok. Why did Fire Lord Izumi send her of all people?'

As he exited the police station, he sighed with exasperation. Squinting into the noon-day sun, he turned and made his way to the trolley, hoping to catch one on his way back to Air Temple Island.

'With them out of the question, I'll have to try the others,' he thought as he neared the station and waited to purchase a ticket. 'Puo, our Earth Kingdom representative, has strong opinions, especially when it comes to his nation, and he's often very difficult to convince. But he's consistently vouched for the welcome of Earth Kingdom refugees, so this will be fairly simple. That just leaves Tluku, our Southern Water Tribe representative.'

As the train approached, he followed a mother and her children boarding the cars, a smile crossing his face as he thought of his own family. 'With luck, I can call an early day and maybe spend some much needed family time. Spirits know I've been busy of late.'

'Anyway, Tluku is an interesting fellow,' he pondered, standing while the family sat. 'At our meetings he rarely speaks, but when he does, he gives very profound advice, though sometimes he rambles on and on about things. He's very knowledgeable, but his flat, expressionless face and the way he emphasizes his tones makes him...hard to get along with. Still he's always voted to do what's right for the people, so he should be on-board with this.'

Looking out he saw the trolley enter the Downtown district, the city's cultural and economic heart. He always enjoyed looking out at the shops and stands, with architecture and styles reminiscent of the world: Fire Nation pagodas adorned in Water Tribe icons painted in Earth Kingdom colors alongside tan, earthen walls adorned with polar orcas chasing dragons, geometric lines mixed with fluidic swirls. And in the streets, he saw people dressed in red, green, and blue milling about, interacting with each other and working together in pursuit of their daily lives. It was in many ways exactly what his father envisioned: many different parts melding together to form a peaceful, harmonious, prosperous whole.

Just as a smile crossed his lips, he heard something break down below. Rushing to the window, he saw a group of men gather near a store-front, the shimmer of glass strewed about the ground as someone backed against the door in abject fear. Nearby, he saw a rock as large as a man's head bobbing up and down near one of the men, while the other had fireballs in his palms, itching to unleash them upon their victim. Nearby onlookers either ran for cover, or simply stood there, as though all this was some elaborate street-show.

Frantically, he searched for signs of the police, but the trolley had already carried them out of sight of the crime in progress. Frustrated, he looked up ahead and saw the next station approaching. Gritting his teeth, he raced to the door as the trolley ground to a halt and was out the second the exit had opened. Looking back the way he came he swept his arms downward before flipping forward, drawing air around him into an Air Wheel, the technique that earned him his tattoos from his father.

Racing back toward the shop he arrived just as the shopkeeper had handed over a wad of money to the trio. Before Tenzin could say or do anything, the trio ran into a Satomobile; the engine firing, Tenzin leaped back just as the vehicle raced past him, his robes fluttering in its wake as onlookers dove left and right to avoid being run over. Looking back, he caught a quick glimpse of the fleeing Satomobile's license plate just as it disappeared down a side street.

Surveying the street, he found no obvious or serious injuries, much to his relief. Turning to the shopkeeper, he found a middle-aged man with a dark blue shirt and black pants leaning against the door, a look of terrified relief frozen on his features. Looking around he saw that the large glass window had been smashed in, leaving shards of glass strewn about the street and inside he could see a large rock, one even larger than what the Earthbender had been levitating earlier embedded in fractured tile mixed with smashed porcelain and splintered wood.

Just then, he heard a police siren ring out, drawing his attention to a pair of metallic-grey vans turning a corner at high speed. As they came to a halt, one officer jumped out and ran toward Tenzin, making sure to avoid the glass.

"Councilman Tenzin, what are you doing here?" he, or rather she, asked. "We were responding to a call about a robbery nearby when we heard glass shattering and came to investigate."

"This seems to be a case of extortion," Tenzin replied. "I was on the train back to Air Temple Island when I saw three men threaten this storekeeper, one with a levitated rock and another with fire-balls. I jumped off at the nearest stop and came as fast as I could, but they had already taken off in a Satomobile."

"Which way did they go?" she asked. "Can you remember any details?"

"They headed off in that direction," Tenzin pointed toward the side-street. "And I saw their license plate number, Fire Man Book 1347."

"Thanks, we'll take it from here," she bowed before turning to the storekeeper while Tenzin turned back to the train station. Looking back he saw the police officer interrogate the storekeeper while her partner began taking notes of the scene of the crime. Meanwhile the onlookers began congregating around him, fear and uncertainty in their voices as they clambered to be heard.

"Councilman, what's going on?"

"Will those men be caught?"

"What should we do?"

"Are we safe?"

Tenzin, holding his hands up to break the chatter, stated "Everyone please rest assured that the police and the Council are doing all we can to ensure your safety. We are working to recruit additional police officers, and we will be discussing emergency measures."

"But what should we do in the meantime?" someone asked. "Even if you step up recruitment, it'll take a few weeks or months to train enough Metalbenders."

"As no decision has been finalized, I cannot give a definite answer," Tenzin replied solemnly. "But I will press to expand the police force to include other Benders, such as Firebenders and Waterbenders, preferably those that are well-trained in combat. In the meantime, I strongly advise you to keep an eye out for suspicious people, and always keep a line of communication with the police and each other."

"But what if we're under attack?" a second voice called out. "What if we can't get in touch with the police? Or they can't get there in time?"

Pausing briefly in thought, Tenzin replied "Your best move is to remove yourself from the situation as quickly and carefully as possible. These are hardened criminals and they will not hesitate to maim or even kill if they deem it necessary."

"What about self-defense courses?" a third voice asked. "Are you saying that we should not defend ourselves if need be?"

Bristling at the implications of the question, Tenzin took a deep breath and exhaled slowly to gather his thoughts.

"If you feel it is necessary, then by all means learn self-defense," he replied. "But I must remind you that these are to be a last resort. If you make yourself into a credible threat, then you invite the possibility of lethal force being used against you. Also, you must be cautious when choosing a teacher, as these may not have the skill, experience, or knowledge to adequately prepare you. I would recommend Sifu Wong, who teaches grappling and close-quarters combat at a dojo near the City Park. If you have additional concerns or questions feel free to contact me via the phone or letter, but please let me pass."

Pushing his way through the crowd, Tenzin made his way back to the train station, even as the people tried to ask additional questions, but he moved too fast. Glancing around, he saw the crowd disperse as the police began their investigation. While many moved quietly, to his disappointment, he saw a number of them glare at the police, and even a few at him as he neared the station. Focusing his attention on his surroundings he could make out bits and pieces of comments as the onlookers muttered to each other.

"...won't tell us...?"

"Leave us…"

"...must we wait?"

"...Benders…"

Feeling the fear and mistrust of the crowd, Tenzin sighed as he boarded the next train.

'My father had a dream,' he thought. 'Of Republic City as a place for all to live together in peace, harmony, and understanding. But alas it is easier to dream than to achieve.'

Looking around, he saw many of the passengers holding uncertainty and fear in their eyes, with one woman tightly wrapping her arms around two small children, as though afraid they might be spirited away at any moment. Nearby, he saw two men glancing out the window, arms raised and shoulders tense. All around him there was an eerie silence, as though the tiniest sound might summon the Triads out of thin air.

'The sooner I get in touch with the Councilors the better,' Tenzin resolved as he heard the conductor announce their next stop, a note of relief in his voice. Seeing Air Temple Island out the window, Tenzin disembarked, skillfully riding the frantic surge of his fellow passengers onto the station, and headed for the ferry.

Looking to the statue of Avatar Aang holding his staff aloft, Tenzin felt a great weight press onto his shoulders, pushing his gaze downwards before standing straight and locking eyes onto his father's image.

'Father,' he resolved as the ferry approached. 'Republic City may have fallen out of balance, but we will restore that balance. Korra is...not making as much progress as I would like, but she is training hard. And while she may not show it the right way, her heart's in the right place. I won't fail you, or her.'

Settling onto the ferry, he noted there seemed to have a higher number of people onboard than before, many of whom were looking at him expectantly.

Sighing, Tenzin intoned "I know you are all concerned about the increased Triad activity, and I do have a plan to address this. I'll need to consult with my fellow Councilors regarding my plan, but I have the utmost confidence that it'll succeed."

"What plan is this Councilor?" someone asked. "We'd all feel much better if you could provide us with details."

"I would prefer not to tell onboard this ferry," Tenzin replied. "Out of concern that we might be overheard. But if you truly wish to know, join me on Air Temple Island and I'll tell you."

Stepping off the ferry, Tenzin glanced back and found a surprising number of people had disembarked, evidently waiting for his explanation. Pointing up a flight of stairs, he began to climb, his entourage following him like a mother turtle-duck's chicks.

Nearing the threshold, he heard a whirring sound along with a series of grunts and groans, mixed with his children yelling encouragement or advice.

'I'm guessing they're at it again,' he thought as he saw Korra being ejected from the spinning gates, bruised and panting as she landed on her side.

"How are you faring Korra?" he asked.

"Tenzin!" she yelped, wincing as she pushed herself off the ground. "I managed to slip past five gates before colliding with them, a new record. Ryuukhan managed to get it up to seven though, so he's still ahead."

"Now, now Korra," Tenzin replied. "Remember that it's not a race, nor a competition. Focus on improving yourself, not comparing your skills to others."

"Councilor Tenzin, who is this girl?" someone asked.

"Hey, I'm Korra!" she replied, waving to the crowd. "I was just practicing Airbending."

"Airbending?!" the crowd echoed, the onlookers glancing at each other. Then, they all began shouting and pointing at Korra and Tenzin.

"You're one of Tenzin's kids as well?!"

"But, but...you're a teenager!"

"Tenzin, what did you do?!"

"Was this some secret tryst?!"

"How many kids do you have?!"

Under this onslaught of accusations, Tenzin could only gape in shock and indignation, his jaw snapping open and shut like a gulping fish at feeding time. Seeing this, Korra and Ikki broke down laughing, while Jinora tried her best to keep her own laughter down.

"What?! What's so funny?!" the crowd yelled.

"I'm not his daughter!" Korra said, gasping as she grabbed her sides. "I'm the Avatar. I'm here to complete my training because Tenzin's needed in Republic City."

For a minute, the crowd simply stared in disbelief, and then, once more, they went into an uproar.

"You're the Avatar?!"

"Where have you been?!"

"When did you get here?!"

"What are you gonna do about the Triads?!"

"Everyone, everyone!" Tenzin shouted, cutting through the din. "I know I said that I would tell you my plan for the Triads, and now that we are all here I'll tell you."

Walking in front of Korra, Tenzin addressed the crowd and said "As I stated earlier, I know you are all concerned regarding the Triads, and would like to know my plan on how to deal with them. As you know, the police are spread thin trying to combat the Triads. But the police are not only having to deal with the Triads."

Taking a breath to collect himself, Tenzin continued "There are also the refugees from the Earth Kingdom, as well as petty criminals unaffiliated with the Triads or the Tong. These people, who are currently rotting in prison, possess skills that could be useful to the police in fighting the Triads, or at the very least in supporting the police in their work. Thus, I plan to grant them the opportunity to join a volunteer work program as a form of public service. This will not only decrease our imprisoned population, thus allowing us to allocate manpower and resources to the Triads, but it will also rehabilitate these people in the public eye, so they can join us as law-abiding citizens rather than be written off as criminals in hiding."

At first, all was still, but then Korra turned to Tenzin and asked "So, we're actually going through with the idea?"

"Preposterous!" a man in the crowd yelled. "Trusting criminals to fight criminals?!"

"I understand your concerns sir," Tenzin replied. "But this is mostly for refugees, not hardened criminals, and certainly not the organized syndicates. These people are just looking for a better life, not to destroy our nation or to harm people. And many of them have relevant skills that the police can use. This plan will not prevent citizens from joining the police or contributing to the fight against the Triads. This is simply one suggestion that I have in mind."

"What else do you suggest?" someone asked.

"I would also suggest that you keep in contact with the police," Tenzin replied, much to the shock of the crowd. "And that you keep an eye out for suspicious people so you can report them as soon as possible."

"And if we can't contact the police?" a voice thundered out. "Are we supposed to just run away?"

"You can fight!" Korra interjected, stepping out in front of Tenzin. "I know Benders are powerful, but that doesn't mean that you can't fight back. Asami has been training me in grappling and acrobatics, and she's floored me more times than I can count. Me, the Avatar! So if she could defeat the Avatar without Bending, surely you can handle a Firebender or Waterbender. It's not easy, but it is possible."

"Korra!" Tenzin snapped briefly as he stepped back in front of her. "I do NOT condone violence, and I must emphasize that your first resort should be to escape. Fighting is to be a last resort."

"But Tenzin," Korra argued, glaring at him. "Won't they be safer if they can fight? So if escape isn't possible, then at least they can fight back instead of being helpless. And if everyone could fight, maybe the Triads will think twice about attacking them."

"Or maybe everyone will just be fighting in an Agni Kai royale," Tenzin replied. "Agni Kai participants know that their opponents can fight but that doesn't stop them from challenging each other to duels."

"But the Triads are criminals," Korra argued back. "They're looking for easy targets, not people who can actually fight back. So surely…"

"Once everyone is sufficiently armed they'll just give up on crime?" Tenzin interjected. "Or would they simply change their tactics and weapons to compensate? So instead of three men you might be facing ten? Instead of an Earthbender you might be facing a Sandbender?"

"It's still better than being a victim!" Korra snapped in fury.

"I'm not advocating for people to be victims!" Tenzin snapped back. "I'm simply saying that fighting should be your last resort."

"And I'm not saying that it shouldn't!" Korra yelled back. "But sometimes escape is impossible! And if and when that happens you need to fight!"

"Avatar, Councilor Tenzin," someone in the crowd asked, breaking off their argument. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but where could we learn self-defense?"

"My friend Asami could help," Korra replied. "She's been training since she was a girl, so she would know who to ask."

"There's also Sifu Wong who has a dojo near the City Park," Tenzin added. "If nothing else he could tell you where to look, but be careful. Not everyone who claims to be a teacher can actually teach."

"Now do you have any additional questions?" Tenzin asked, to which the crowd simply murmured in response. "Well, I hope I've allayed your fears, but feel free to contact me if you feel the need to do so. You should be able to catch the ferry back soon, but if not feel free to join us for mediation or study."

"Or you can join me and my brother in training." Korra added, smiling to the crowd.

"We would love that Avatar, but we're not Airbenders." someone replied.

"Oh no worries!" Korra said, waving off their concerns. "We're going to be training in hand-to-hand combat, using the techniques Asami has been teaching us. Think of this as a preview of what to expect in your own training."

"Where is your brother, Korra?" Tenzin asked.

"Hey sis!" Ryuukhan called out as he rounded the corner. Taking a stance, he said "Ready for a butt-whooping?"

Turning to her brother, Korra followed suit and replied "Ready when you are".

-Line Break-

"Honestly young man!" Pema fumed as she fussed over Ryuukhan. "I told you to take it easy! I warned you not to engage in rough-housing! And the instant I take my eyes off you you start fighting with your sister!"

"We weren't fighting!" he replied, wincing as Pema applied salve to his eye. "We were demonstrating combat techniques. Korra took most of the lumps, letting me throw her around and pin her down. I only took a few lumps when she demonstrated the counters. Then we practiced with those people that followed Tenzin, again with me doing most of the throwing and grappling."

"That's no excuse for you taking such risks!" Pema snapped. "I know you want to get stronger, but you need to balance your training with rest. Push yourself too hard and your body will break down. If you waited a day or so, or even just consulted me, then I would be far more at ease about this. I'm not trying to make you feel bad, I'm just worried about you. You're far away from home, and your parents, so it falls to Tenzin and myself to look after you."

"And I don't mean to worry you," Ryuukhan pushed back. "But I have to get stronger, and the only way to do that is to push myself."

Wincing as Pema applied a fresh gauze to his eye, Ryuukhan muttered something under his breath.

"I'm sorry, but could you repeat that?" she asked as she tied the gauze down with a bandage, taking care to mind his braids.

"I was just thinking that if I was stronger, then the Tong wouldn't have gotten me." he replied, anger and resentment burning in his visible eye.

"You don't know that!" she snapped back, aghast at his words. "You were outnumbered, surrounded, and on unfamiliar terrain. How could you have done better? What could you have done differently?"

"I could have...I could have…" he began but trailed off, as alternate scenarios ran through his head. "I could have headed for the water and tried swimming."

"And exposed your back to them?" she asked, stopping him short.

"I could have tried blinding them," he shot back.

"How? Throwing sand at them one by one?" she replied, folding her arms in front of her.

"I could have tried hitting them below the belt," he retorted.

"How long before the others brought you down?" she shrugged as she reached for the bandages.

"I could have tried running for it," he said, his voice rising in pitch and volume.

"And leave Asami in their hands?" she asked sarcastically, one eyebrow raised.

"I could have killed them!" he yelled, anger and desperation evident in his voice. "No, I should have killed them!"

Pema, hearing those words, froze in shock while Ryuukhan's eye glowed with an intense fury and his breathing quickened. Soon, his hands had clenched into fists and his shoulders shook while his teeth ground together. Meanwhile, Pema simply looked down, shocked and aghast at his words, trying to decide the best response to a very angry and possibly vengeful young man.

"Ryuukhan, why do you think that?" she asked after a long moment of thought.

"Because if I had killed them they wouldn't have taken me or Asami or anyone!" he spat out.

"But they would still have held Xin, wouldn't they?" Pema inquired, stopping him cold. "Could you bear the idea of her remaining in their custody?"

Her words stopping him short, Ryuukhan felt doubt and uncertainty rise in his mind as Pema resumed bandaging his eye.

"And how would you have killed them?" she pressed, bringing his eye to hers. "Your knife? Your Firebending? How many would you have killed before they recovered? And how would they have reacted? If you had tried to kill them, wouldn't they have killed you? Imagine how your family would react."

Hearing her words, Ryuukhan looked down, imagining his mother and sister crying over his battered, bloodied body, his father's jaw locked in a grimace of grief, Naga whimpering at their pain. Then he imagined the funeral, his body wrapped in furs and weighed down with stones as they buried him at sea, sinking beneath the cold water until he faded out of sight. In the end, he would have left the world much as he came: a helpless child crying for help.

Looking back up, Pema sighed in relief when she saw the anger in his eye replaced with shame and regret. Gently rubbing his shoulder she asked "What is your first priority?".

"To survive," he replied.

"And that's exactly what you did: you survived." she said, smiling warmly like a mother with her son. "Never forget that your first priority is survival. Not vengeance. Not victory. Survival. You did all you could to survive, and that's all anyone can ask of you. There will be times when killing is necessary to survival, but it should always be your last resort."

"All this is right now is your shame and fear of being seen as weak," she continued, massaging his shoulders. "Tenzin can tell you more about this than I can, but just know that no one here thinks of you as weak. We're all grateful that you're alive and well, and we'll help you get stronger, but be mindful of your health and well-being."

After a long moment of silence, Ryuukhan smiled and said "Thanks Pema. I was angry about the Tong and the Triads and it's been driving me up the wall, especially with how my training has been going."

"I can understand that bro," a familiar voice called in. Turning they saw Korra leaning against the wall, her arms folded across her chest. "It's been driving me mad as well, and I've also thought the same things you have. But in the end, I'm glad it all worked out. We rescued you, Xin, and Asami. Struck the Tong a big blow. And now we're getting ready to hit the Triads."

"Not tonight you aren't," Pema said firmly. "You two need to rest. You've been training nearly non-stop for the last nine days. Tomorrow will be a rest day for you two. You can meditate, study, or play games, but no exercise, sparring, or anything physical."

The two siblings glanced at each other before sighing and nodding in resignation.

"Good, now I need to attend to Meelo," Pema said before leaving the two siblings alone.

"How's your eye?" Korra asked, breaking the silence.

"Stings a little, but I'm good," he replied, standing. "Wanna get some dinner?"

"Sure," she said, smiling as they headed for the dining hall. "So, do you have any plans for tomorrow?"

"Not really," he shrugged. "Since we can't do anything strenuous, we don't really have many options. Have you any ideas?"

"Knowing Tenzin, it'll be meditation all day," she sighed, rolling her eyes. "I mean it's important to connect spiritually, but still…"

"Well there's reading," Ryuukhan suggested as they entered the dining hall. Hearing the sizzle of steamed vegetables and smelling the spices wafting through the air, his stomach started rumbling as he and Korra grabbed two bowls and headed outside.

"Yeah, but what is there to read?" Korra asked as he took a bite of vegetables. "Most of the books here are on history and spirits. Not to mention those weird ideas about Yin-Yang and the elements."

"Not to mention the novels Jinora reads," Ryuukhan said just as Korra took a bite. "Mostly romance novels about girls beating up guys to become their lovers."

Hearing this, Korra took in a breath, accidentally inhaling some rice and doubled over in a coughing fit. In a flash of movement, Ryuukhan caught Korra's bowl before it smashed on the ground. Setting aside the bowls, he reached behind her and hit her on the back to help her cough up the rice.

Once Korra regained control of her breathing she asked "Jinora reads romance?!"

"Yeah," he shrugged. "I've no idea how or where she got hold of them but apparently she likes them. I've tried reading them, but the moves they describe are just...ugh! If they were real fights, they'd be fried like fifty times over! The noob mistakes they make in those stories drive me nuts!"

"Hey now," Korra placated. "Those books are meant to entertain, not educate, so they don't have to be realistic."

"Guess once you know the real thing..." he trailed off as he grabbed another bite.

"Well we could play Pai Sho," Korra suggested. "Or practice calligraphy. Or...or…"

"Or we could check on Xin and Asami," he added. "Since the spike in Triad activity, we haven't had much contact with them. They used to visit every two or three days, but now we only see each other once a week."

"Yeah, Mr Sato's been super-protective of late," Korra replied. "I think I'll call them after dinner, see if we can't see them tomorrow. Maybe we can visit them for a change."

"That would be nice," he smiled. "I'd love to see more of the city, and if we could check out Mr. Sato's gadgets, that would be pretty cool."

"Well can't kill us for trying," Korra smiled. "I'll ask Tenzin or the guards for her phone number, and we'll take it from there."

"Ask me for whose phone number?" someone from behind them said. Turning they saw Tenzin standing above them, awaiting their reply.

"Asami's," Korra replied. "Pema's making us take a break from training tomorrow, so we thought we'd check in on Asami and Xin, ask if we could visit them tomorrow."

"I can tell you her number," Tenzin answered, shocking the siblings. "But I must warn you that this is rather sudden so they might already have plans."

"Well, if not tomorrow," Ryuukhan said. "Then maybe some other time. I just think it would be nice to visit them for a change."

"Perhaps a visit would be in order," Tenzin nodded, making them smile. "But we'll need to organize it with Asami and her father. Not to mention we'll need to arrange for your protection given the circumstances. It would probably be best to call Asami and ask her what days she's available for a visit."

"Sure thing," Korra said as she stood up, heading for the phone. "So what's her number? Maybe we can catch her before she gets too far into dinner."

"Eight zero zero four six four zero zero seven nine," Tenzin replied.

Shortly after dialing the number, they heard a female voice reply "Sato Estate. How may I help you?"

"Asami is that you?" Korra asked.

"Korra?!" came the startled reply. "Yes, this is Asami. How are you?!"

"Zhuwei, I'm fine," Korra said. "I hope I haven't called you at a bad time."

"Oh Korra, it's never a bad time with you!" Asami said reassuringly. "What can I do for you?"

"Are you busy tomorrow?" Korra asked. "Ryuukhan and I are having a rest day, and we thought that we could come visit. Usually you visit us, but it might be nice to reverse the roles this time."

"Really?!" Asami replied. "That would be great! Xin and I are taking a break ourselves, so neither of us have any pressing plans for tomorrow, so feel free to come on by."

"That's great!" Korra exclaimed. "How about we swing by after Tenzin's meeting with the Council in the morning, stop by in time for lunch?"

"That would be wonderful!" Asami said, clearly excited. "I'll see you both tomorrow then. Good night."

"Good night," Korra replied as she hung up.

"So it's settled then?" Ryuukhan asked, handing Korra her bowl.

"Yep, tomorrow at lunch." Korra beamed.

"It'll be nice to visit them for a change," he replied as they sat down. "I wonder what Mr Sato is like."

"He's supposed to be a great engineer and businessman," Korra said. "Perhaps we'll get to see his latest works."

"All in good time," Tenzin interrupted. "But remember that you'll be guests at their house, so behave yourselves."

"Yes Tenzin," Ryuukhan and Korra intoned simultaneously. After briefly glancing toward each other in surprise, they smiled sheepishly and sat down at the table.

"Don't worry, we'll mind our manners," Korra said.

"And not make a fuss or a mess," Ryuukhan added.

"And be back before dark," Korra continued.

"In time for dinner and meditation before bed," Ryuukhan finished.

"Speaking of dinner, let's eat already," Korra said before looking up to their Airbending master. "You hungry Tenzin?"

"You go ahead," Tenzin said, earning them a confused look. "I'm going to turn in early tonight. I'll need all my energy for the meeting tomorrow, and I never know if Meelo will wake us up in the middle of the night. Take care."

As he departed, Korra and Ryuukhan shared a look before shrugging and resuming their meal, the rice and vegetables lukewarm but still delicious.

-Next Morning-

The first thing he felt was Pema's absence. As his arm fell across the bed, he felt an empty void where his wife normally would have been. Slowly opening his eyes he saw that Pema was indeed missing, and as his head cleared up he heard the sound of a cooing infant.

'Well that solves one mystery,' he thought, pulling himself up and out of bed. After working out a few kinks in his back and arms, Tenzin grabbed his robes from the coat-stand and made his way to the nearby nursery, where he saw Pema stooped over a crib, the smell of fresh powder in the air.

'As I thought,' he noted just as a set of groans cut in from outside. Venturing out to the courtyard, he found Korra and Ryuukhan stretching out their limbs. Korra was leaning against a post, her leg high up, forming a perfect split, while her brother was seated on the grass, his legs split and his arms reaching out toward his foot.

"I see you're following Pema's advice," he said, startling the two siblings.

"Tenzin!" they called out, quickly breaking out of their stretches and giving a light bow. "Zhuwei."

"Zhuwei," Tenzin replied, bowing in return. "Feel free to continue your stretches but don't overdo them."

"So, Tenzin," Korra said as she and Ryuukhan resumed stretching. "How are we gonna do this? Would you like us to accompany you to your meeting and we swing by the Sato Estate afterward? Or do we head out to meet you at City Hall after your meeting and we go together?"

"I think it would be best if you two were to accompany me to City Hall," Tenzin replied. "Less risky that way if the Triads or the Tong try something. However it will last at least an hour, so bring along a book or two so you don't get too bored."

"So we won't be sitting in on the meeting?" Korra asked, confused, shocked, and slightly angry.

"No Korra," Tenzin replied bluntly. "You may be the Avatar, but you're still very young. And you have little knowledge of or experience in politics. You let your emotions get the better of you, and you argue with the subtlety of an angry komodo rhino. Remember last time?"

"I just wanted to get the point across!" Korra snapped back. "You heard what they were saying about Mako and Bolin. And the conditions in the prisons. Plus the havoc the Triads are causing. How can you sit by and let them talk that way?"

"You have just proved my point, Korra," Tenzin replied. "You reacted emotionally rather than intellectually, opening yourself to criticism and undermining your arguments. Your heart is in the right place, but what benefit is having a heart of fire if you lack the wisdom of water and the clarity of air to use it?"

As she grappled with his words, Tenzin said "Now we must have breakfast so we can head to City Hall without delay. Hopefully, today I will get the Councilors on-board with the proposal regarding the recruitment of willing prisoners and refugees to augment the police force."

Hearing this, Korra beamed in excitement as she and Ryuukhan followed Tenzin to the dining hall. Listening carefully, he could hear them whisper avidly about the prospect of Mako and Bolin leaving prison ahead of schedule. Feeling a slight smile tug at his lips, he thought of the two men who had risked so much to save Ryuukhan and take on the Tong.

'Yes, that would be great,' he thought wistfully as they sat down to breakfast.

-Line Break-

"Well, that was good," Korra said as she patted her stomach. "Fruit, nuts, and yogurt are always a good combination."

"Indeed, especially that thicker yogurt," Ryuukhan replied, licking his lips. "Much more filling, and I just can't get enough of it."

"It's thrice-strained yogurt," Tenzin replied as he led the siblings to the library. "We strain the yogurt three times after fermenting it. We find the process not only makes it more filling, thus prolonging satiation, but also is ideal for those seeking to build up their bodies. Healers and cooks have noted that fluids and substances derived from meat, eggs, fish, and yogurt sometimes congeal together when heated, and that they often bond together in similar ways. Fluids from plants, such as nuts, seeds, and rice also congeal in such ways, though there is far less of it in their cases."

"Additionally, healers have noted that when people forgo all animal products, they often suffer from a 'wasting syndrome' of sorts," he continued. "While symptoms vary between patients, they often include loss of hair, increased hunger, shrinking muscles, and difficulty healing. This syndrome can be rectified by including a diet high in these congealing fluids, though how and why is unknown. As such, this yogurt has been a staple of the Air Nomad diet for millennia, as it allows us to remain vegetarian while avoiding the 'wasting syndrome'. My father Aang actually taught me how to make it, and it's been a favorite of mine ever since."

As the siblings absorbed his words, Tenzin entered the library and proclaimed "Please pick no more than two books each. Feel free to pick any books, but take care to avoid damaging or losing them."

Nodding, Korra and Ryuukhan fanned out and began scanning the books, taking care to pick out titles that seemed interesting. While they were careful in how they handled the books, Tenzin silently groaned in exasperation as he saw them pick out books only to quickly replace them without regard for the internal organization. The system he had worked so hard to maintain dissolving into a chaotic mess before his very eyes.

Before he could say anything, his charges had selected their books and awaited Tenzin for further instructions.

"Now that that's taken care of, Ryuukhan we'll get your eye looked at before heading out," he said, leading them out toward the infirmary, or rather the small room used as such. It was cramped with two large cabinets full of medicines while a small desk and acupuncture table competed for the remaining floor space. Apart from a single window, the walls were packed with medical charts, detailing the chi network, internal organs, and skeleton of the human body. And the desk was packed with papers containing notes on past patients and needed medical supplies.

"Sit down," he commanded, pointing to the acupuncture table. As Ryuukhan took a seat, Tenzin carefully unwrapped the bandages and found that the cut had healed quite well over the past night. A healthy clot had formed, and there was no sign of infection or contamination.

"Very good," he said before pulling out a jar from the nearby cabinet. "But for safety, you should apply this salve to the wound. It will sting a bit, and stink like fresh pine-durian, but it works wonders."

Taking the jar, Ryuukhan collected a sample and held it to his nose, only to gag at the awful smell while his sister held her nose in shock and revulsion. Grimacing, he applied the salve to the cut but bore the discomfort before wiping his fingers on a towel Tenzin had selected ahead of time.

"Excellent," Tenzin said. "Now let's be off. We have a ferry to catch. And don't worry about Naga and Hina. The staff will see to them while we're gone."

"All right," they replied glumly as they made their way to the ferry.

"Good thing we fed them." Korra said. "Too bad we can't take them out riding."

"I know," Ryuukhan complained. "But Pema would have a fit if she found out. And those two aren't exactly inconspicuous."

"I know it's frustrating for you two," Tenzin cut in, boarding the ferry. "But this could be an opportunity for you to practice neutral jing."

"Isn't that usually an Earthbending thing?" Korra asked. "King Bumi told Aang that the key to being an Earthbender was learning to wait and listen for the right moment to strike."

"Yes, that's true," Tenzin replied. "But waiting for the right moment to strike is not just for Earthbending. A core principle of Waterbending is turning your opponent's offense against them, and to do that you need to wait for them to attack first, or there is no attack to redirect."

Glancing at his sister, Ryuukhan said "I've often told my sister to think of Airbending as similar to Waterbending, as both elements tend to navigate around obstacles rather than power through them. And she's often advised me to think of Earthbending as akin to Waterbending, as both tend to block and absorb hits whereas Fire and Air tend to accommodate or dodge them."

"Yes, when my father met Guru Pathik," Tenzin said as the ferry pulled into port. "He said that one of the greatest illusions was separation. The elements are treated as though they are separate and distinct things, but this is a deception. Beneath these seemingly distinct entities there is a great deal of overlap and interconnectivity underlying the world."

"Isn't that how Toph figured out Metalbending?" Korra asked while they made their way to the train station. "She figured out that metal was just Earth that was heavily refined and purified, but it still had Earth inside of it."

"Exactly," Tenzin replied at the toll-booth. "In fact, many of the specialities of Bending involve the intersections between elements. Mudbending, for instance, is Earth mixed with Water while Sand is Earth mixed with Air. Working along these lines, it has been hypothesized that Lightning is Fire with elements of Water, as Iroh was able to figure out how to redirect it using Waterbending techniques. This, however, has yet to be confirmed and may be mere speculation."

"What about Glassbending?" Ryuukhan asked as they awaited the train. "I read about Avatar Kyoshi Bending shards of glass, so for the Avatar it is possible. But as I understand it, glass is sand that's been heated and purified, so would this be a case of three elements being combined? Earth, Air, and Fire? If that's true, could one manipulate all four elements together into some sort of super-element?"

"Also, aren't mud and sand just different varieties of Earth?" Korra asked while Tenzin pondered his answer. "I mean, they're not 'pure' Earth, but they're still Earth? I understand those, as well as different varieties of Water. But what about Air? What other varieties of Air are there?"

"I-" Tenzin began only for a train whistle to punctuate the conversation. "I suggest you do additional research, to see if there's anything you may have overlooked. When it comes to different varieties of Air, I'm afraid the records are…scant at best. My father, for all of his talent, was only twelve years old when the Genocide occurred. And a century of neglect and erosion had largely finished what the Fire Nation started when he awoke. Thus, it is all too likely that many ancient secrets have been lost to time."

Hearing this, Korra and Ryuukhan looked down, feeling bad for their Airbending teacher and mentor. The thought of losing so much was just wrong, especially for a twelve-year-old boy like Aang. Not to mention the knowledge of essentially being the last of your kind, and the overwhelming burden of trying to rebuild an entire nation all by yourself. Sure, he had the Air Acolytes to carry on the cultural traditions, but there was so much that had been lost, and so few means to recover it.

"However," Tenzin added, breaking them out of their melancholy as they boarded the train. "This is also an opportunity to rediscover those lost secrets, or create new techniques to enrich the art of Airbending. You two may restore a lost art to its former glory and splendor. Given your talents, drive, and unique skills I have every confidence that you can achieve this. One day the Air Nation may celebrate you as the heralds of a new era, however distant that day might be."

"Remember that nothing lasts forever," he continued, his voice cutting through the rattling of the train. "The world is always in flux, in motion. Millennia ago, Bending was very different from what we have now. Back then it was a revered, sacred art reserved for masters of the highest order. Over time it became more ubiquitous, culminating in mass entertainment and services, like elevators."

Korra and Ryuukhan winced slightly as Tenzin's voice hardened and his face stiffened with these words. He had never kept his disdain for Pro-bending a secret from them, referring to it as a "mockery of the noble art of Bending". Personally they could not see the problem, as it seemed like so much fun.

The thrill of the unexpected.

The intensity and speed of the action.

The roars of the crowd.

It all just seemed so amazing.

Just as Tenzin was about to continue, the train came to a sudden and unexpected stop. Holding up a finger, he looked out the window and saw that the train had halted mere inches from a large earthen wall, the torn railroad strewn high into the air.

"Be on guard!" he yelled as he jumped outside. Taking stock of the situation, he saw a man in brown and green running toward him. Recognizing the garb, Tenzin quickly bent low and swept the ground with his leg, sending a wave of air toward his attacker. The Terra Triad member stomped the ground, raising a large wall of Earth in front of him, blocking the attack.

In response, Tenzin vaulted the wall and began pelting the man with a barrage of Wind punches, striking him on the chest and shoulders. As the man was sent sprawling, Tenzin swept his hand downward, sending an Air blast hard into the man's chest. Not missing a beat, Tenzin swept his arms upward, raising a column of air underneath the Triad member and sending him flying.

Just then, he felt the back of his head vibrate, and he ducked to the side, just as a flurry of rocks flew overhead. Tumbling into a crouch, he looked up and saw a woman stomp the ground, sending large fissures rippling towards him. Flipping onto his hands and kicking, he sent a barrage of air kicks, knocking her to the ground before pushing up into the air just as the fissures reached him.

Flipping right-side up, he saw two figures clad in metallic gray vault over the earthen wall and throw their fists toward his new target. Before she could react, she was bound in wire and pulled towards them. Landing, he heard the woman cursing and spitting even as the Metalbending police bound her legs and hauled her away. Looking around quickly, he then turned his attention back to the train and, twirling in a pirouette, levitated to the top of the train. Scanning the surrounding areas he saw no immediate danger, but kept his guard up in case of further attacks.

"Councilor Tenzin, I think we have them all," a voice called out from below. Looking down, he saw one of the Metalbender police standing at attention. "We'll get the railroad back in commission soon, but keep on guard."

Just as Tenzin was about to reply the police officer ran to the wall and, in sync with his partner, stomped the ground and threw out a powerful punch. The wall flattened out with a loud crash, while the Metalbenders transitioned from the traditional rooted stance to a more fluid, almost dance-like style, flicking their wrists outward twice before crouching down. In response, the metal tracks smoothly and quickly snapped about into place, seamlessly reconnecting, as though the attack never happened.

Scanning one last time, Tenzin jumped down from the train and made his way to the front car. Entering, he found the driver and asked "Is anyone hurt?".

"No sir," the driver replied, relieved that the attack was over. "I should have the train up and running again soon."

"Please, take your time," Tenzin said. "I will see to the well-being of the passengers. You just worry about the train."

Tenzin then made his way back along the train, checking on the other passengers. Much to his relief, none suffered worse than a few cuts and bruises, though many had been clearly shaken by this sudden attack. A few had even tried to talk with him, begging him for reassurance that they were safe and that he would protect them.

"I will do all I can," he said each and every time. "I assure you that I will protect you. Now do not worry. We will soon be on our way and you will be safe."

After making his rounds he returned to Korra and Ryuukhan, finding them on guard near the windows. Seeing him, they snapped to attention before Tenzin said "At ease you two".

Seating himself, Tenzin sighed "I'm trying to keep everyone calm, and you two are supposed to be taking it easy."

"Sorry Tenzin," Korra said. "It's just that I feel so useless. There's all this craziness around me and I'm not doing anything about it."

"Do not worry, Korra," Tenzin replied. "You will get your chance soon enough. In the next meeting I will press for your suggestion regarding the police force. And with any luck, it will pass this time, and we will take the fight to the Triads."

As Korra smiled at the prospect, Tenzin saw their stop near City Hall approach, the boarding station surprisingly bereft of passengers. He also noticed a strong presence of police officers standing at attention, bodies stiff and eyes darting side to side with frightening speed. Meanwhile the few passengers that were present huddled tightly together near the police, clearly terrified that they might be attacked at any moment.

'If this doesn't get the Council on-board I don't know what will,' Tenzin thought as he disembarked, Korra and Ryuukhan following close behind. Nodding towards the passengers, he smiled as he saw the fear in their eyes abate slightly as they boarded the train.

Making his way through the crowd, he spotted City Hall across from the train station, its white walls and golden pagodas gleaming in the sun. Turning to the entrance he found the doors guarded by two police officers who blocked him as he climbed past the threshold, Korra and Ryuukhan close behind him.

"Councilor Tenzin," he said, pulling out an ID card. "I have a Council meeting to attend to."

Looking over the card, they nodded and ushered him forward. But as Korra and Ryuukhan followed, they found themselves blocked by the guards.

"Do not worry about them," Tenzin said. "They are with me."

"I'm sorry Councilor Tenzin," one of them said. "But I'm afraid we cannot allow children to remain unattended in or around City Hall. It's for their safety given all the recent Triad activity."

Hearing the word "children" Korra and Ryuukhan glanced at each other, frustration and disbelief evident in their eyes.

"In that case," Tenzin sighed. "They will accompany me to the meeting. I can assure you that they will NOT cause a disturbance, nor will they do anything to disrupt the procedures or prolong the meeting in any way."

"Yes, Councilor Tenzin," Korra and Ryuukhan replied as they entered the building.

"I will be holding you to my words," he said as they entered the main Hall. "You will be on your best behavior."

Turning to the other Council members Tenzin intoned "Due to security measures, Korra and Ryuukhan will be sitting in on this meeting so I can see to their safety. They have assured me that they will behave and will not disrupt our meeting."

"We understand," Tarrlok replied. "The safety of those in our care must be our top priority. And this could be a very good learning experience for them, should they be interested in politics."

Nodding, Tenzin took his seat at the Council's table while Ryuukhan and Korra settled in on a bench a fair distance from the Council.

"Now, let us begin." Tarrlok said.

-Line Break-

'This is so BORING!' Korra internally screamed. 'This has been going like this for over an hour already! Every time it seems like we're getting somewhere something pops up and derails everything!'

Turning to her book, she let out a slow, quiet breath to try and calm herself. Slouching forward, her eyes fell onto the pages of the book she had borrowed from Tenzin's library: The Metaphysics of Bending.

'And THIS is not helping much!' she whined. 'Primordial state? Lesser and Greater Yin and Yang? What is this supposed to mean?! Tenzin would be so helpful right now! Of course he has this meeting to deal with! No wonder he's grumpy all the time!'

Turning to her brother, she saw his eyes clenched hard in frustration as he massaged his temples. Turning to his book, she found that he had selected one on advanced Bending techniques, one that came with paintings and even photographs of Benders demonstrating their moves. Unfortunately, while the material was FAR easier to understand and appreciate, they felt compelled to practice the moves out for themselves but they were forbidden from doing so.

'Just our luck,' Korra internally moaned. 'We are supposed to be taking a break from Bending and we picked the books that talk about that very topic. Next time, let's get a game or something.'

Just then she heard Tenzin say "And so in conclusion, the Prisoner Rehabilitation and Training Program will commence today on the sixth hour. Police Chief Beifong will begin training immediately and hopefully we will see results by the end of the week. Thus concludes our meeting."

Hearing these words she turned to Ryuukhan and slumped her shoulders in relief while he did a little victory dance in his seat. Looking up, she saw the Council members depart one after the other, Tenzin lagging slightly behind. Moving quickly, she and Ryuukhan gathered their books and met him in the center aisle.

"I see you are ready," he said with a slight smile. "Let us be off. We should not keep Asami and Xin waiting."

"Okay Tenzin!" Korra and Ryuukhan said excitedly, following him like turtle-duck chicks after their mother.

Exiting City Hall, she took a quick scan for intruders or threats only to catch a most unexpected surprise at the base of the stairs.

"Asami!" she exclaimed, startling Tenzin and her black-haired friend. As Asami looked up in surprise, Korra ran down and hugged her. Recovering from her shock Asami returned the hug and looked over Korra and Ryuukhan.

"Glad to see you too," she said smiling. "All of you."

"What are you doing here?" Korra asked. "Have you been waiting long?"

"Oh no!" Asami replied. "I've only been here a few minutes. I thought I'd come and get you. Much faster than the train or the bus, and it gives me a chance to give you a ride in a Satomobile."

"I didn't know you knew how to drive!" Korra said in surprise.

"Actually, I'm still learning," Asami said sheepishly. "My chauffeur, Mohi, will be the one driving us, but I can show you the controls when we get the chance."

"That would be great!" Korra said. "So where's your Satomobile?"

"This way," Asami said, ushering them behind her. "We had to do a shopping run, so we parked next to the market. Mohi went to get the groceries while I went to check on you. The police told me to move along and not loiter but I explained that I was hoping to meet a friend. When I told them that I was looking for you three, they said that I could wait outside for a few minutes."

"Good thing the meeting concluded so soon after your arrival," Tenzin interjected as they neared the market. "I would hate to have kept you waiting."

"And the police probably wouldn't have liked you hanging around," Ryuukhan added. "Would they have forced you away if you stayed for too long?"

"Probably," Asami replied before sweeping her arm out. "Well here we are."

Korra looked toward the front of the market and saw a black Satomobile with white trim and silver tire-rims. It gleamed with a shiny polish, and the roof was folded behind the back seat, leaving the passengers open to the sky. In the driver's seat she saw a woman, probably around her mother's age, with silver just starting to come into her jet-black hair. She was scrutinizing the dashboard with silver-rimmed glasses, and Korra could see a red scarf wrapped above a black driving suit.

"Mohi, I'm back," Asami said, drawing her attention.

"Very good Ms Sato," Mohi replied. "Councilor Tenzin can ride in the front, while the rest of you fit in the back."

"Thank you," Tenzin said as he made his way to the passenger seat while Asami opened the left rear door, ushering Korra and Ryuukhan inside. As she took her seat next to Ryuukhan, she showed them how to fasten their seat-belts.

"Make sure you're all buckled up," Asami said. "It's the law, and it can ensure your safety."

Soon after Mohi started up the engine and pulled out from the market, seamlessly merging into the traffic lane.

"So, what have you and Xin been up to?" Korra asked, eager to hear from Asami.

"Same old, really," Asami sighed. "Dad's been more strict with curfew than before, so we've really not had much to do. Homework. Self-defense training. A little tinkering on the side. It's gotten a little boring to tell you the truth."

"Sorry to hear that," Korra replied. "We're supposed to be taking the day off and we can't do anything too strenuous, so no combat practice."

"Still, it's nice to have company," Asami reassured. "The staff are nice and all, but it's much better to have people your own age. Xin will be delighted to have you over."

"And your dad?" Korra asked. "What's he like? What's he been doing?"

"He's been…busy," Asami answered. "Much more so than earlier. Most of the time I only see him at meal-times, and when I do see him he seems so tired and smells strongly of motor oil and tea."

"Sounds like he could use a break too," Ryuukhan said. "Maybe he could show us what he's been working on lately. That would be cool."

"Yeah, thing is…" Asami trailed off, clearly trying to think of the right words. "I didn't exactly tell him you were coming."

"You didn't?!" Korra asked, surprised and astonished. "But, but…"

"I mentioned that you would like to visit last night," Asami replied. "And he said that it would be nice to have company, though I don't think he was exactly paying attention. And he's strict about strangers but he knows you two from the Tong incident, and that you played a big part in saving Xin from the Tong, so you're not exactly strangers."

"Still, it's not exactly…polite to just drop in with guests," Ryuukhan said, sharing Korra's discomfort with the situation.

"Better to ask for forgiveness than permission," Asami shrugged. "And don't worry. If he does get angry, I'll take the blame. Besides, he can't really do anything to me apart from grounding me, cutting my allowance, or forbidding me from testing or tinkering around for a while."

"But still…" Korra said, unsure of how to phrase it. "We don't want to be a bother, or cause you any trouble."

"Korra, Ryuukhan," Asami said, looking them square in the eye. "You two are worth the trouble. I need this. Xin needs this. And I think dad needs this. If I get in trouble for it, it will be worth it."

Korra glanced at her brother momentarily before turning back to Asami and said "Thanks Asami.".

"Ms Sato, we're almost there," Mohi cut in, bringing their attention. Turning outward Korra found that much to her amazement they had traveled from the bustling city into a more forested landscape. While she had heard of forests growing up at the South Pole this was her first experience with one, and she found herself captivated with its beauty. The pounding and whistling of machinery had given way to song-birds chirping and singing amidst the rustling of the wind through the trees. Inhaling deeply, she smelled a sweet floral fragrance mixed with a more spicy scent and the strong, rugged aroma of freshly tilled earth. Looking out she could see people scattered amongst the trees, tending to them or digging through the earth, and in the background she could see rectangular buildings.

"What's all this?" Korra asked. "I didn't know Republic City had a forest."

"This was all set up by my father Aang," Tenzin replied. "He set aside some land to remain forested and unharvested, save for farming. This was to serve as a source of fuel and a means of placating spirits, a lesson he learned from Hei Bai, a spirit that went wild after the forest he had protected for many generations was destroyed in the war. The people you saw are most likely farmers and herbalists, though sometimes people come to pay respects to the spirits. Sadly, that number has dwindled as of late."

"We're here." Mohi declared just as Korra was about to inquire further. Looking up ahead, Korra felt herself gasp at the sight of the Sato Estate. As they entered the grounds, she saw a three-storied manor, all painted solid chrome, a sharp contrast to the green and brown of the surrounding trees. The lowest layer sported a large archway flanked by four statues of some kind, with two stairways leading up to the next level. There she saw a smaller archway at the base of a large tower decked with pagodas and in the far background she saw a series of towers though before she could get a better look Mohi took a sharp turn and drove through a large side archway on the bottom layer. Within, she found a large garage filled with vehicles, some in varying stages of construction, including a stand-alone engine and a chassis with tires.

"Thank you Mohi." Asami said as she unbuckled and opened the passenger's seat. "Be sure to run the usual diagnosis. I'll take care of our guests."

Following Asami's lead, Korra and Ryuukhan unbuckled themselves and exited the car, forming up near Tenzin while Mohi began looking over the vehicle.

"This is our garage, obviously." Asami explained, sweeping her arms all around. "This is where we store and repair our vehicles, as well as build prototypes for new vehicles before we test them at our racing tracks…"

"Wait, racing tracks?!" Korra said, interrupting her. "You guys have a race track?!"

"Korra!" Tenzin remarked. "Manners!"

"Sorry," she quickly apologized. "Just took me off-guard."

"No worries," Asami waved her off. "We get that a lot. Land is often scarce in the United Republic, so the rich often display their wealth through owning large plots of land."

"Anyway," she continued as she made her way out of the garage. "The race tracks are behind the garage, so that vehicles can more easily access it. We're going to be testing a new model soon, so perhaps we can check that out. But I'm sure you're hungry so let's eat."

Exiting the garage, Korra found herself gaping at the size and detail of the estate. As she neared the large archway she saw that the statues she saw earlier were dog-dragons, their heads reared up as though ready to strike any unwanted visitors. She also saw the tower on the second floor housed a large clock, which currently showed that it was the mid-day hour, prompting her stomach to growl in anticipation.

"There's a washroom on the first floor," Asami said as she entered through the large archway. "Best to wash up before lunch. I'll show you the way."

Inside, Korra found the manor had a lovely decor, with red-and-white tile floors and large round columns holding up the high ceiling. Along the walls, elaborate flower pots held tall, willowy plants with deep-blue flowers and white blossoms, and interspersed were short tables with what looked like foot-stools only taller and cushioned stored beneath them.

"What are those?" she asked Asami as they passed. "They look like foot-stools."

"We call them Husuks," Asami replied. "They're originally from the Earth Kingdom, apparently a local king named Hu Su was fond of them, and the name stuck. They're comfortable and great for relaxation, but also compact and easy to store."

"Ah, we're here," Asami said, stopping in front of a pair of doors. "This is the washroom, men's on the left, women's on the right. You first, Korra."

Acting on the invitation, Korra entered the washroom and found Xin inside looking herself over, first holding her hair up in a ponytail before letting it down and trying a bun. Sighing, she let it all down just as Korra and Asami reached the sinks.

"Zhuwei Xin," Korra said, startling the young girl. "Are you doing all right?"

"Oh, zhuwei Korra!" Xin squeaked out. "Yeah, I'm fine. I was just…trying out different hairstyles."

"Why?" Korra asked as she shook off the water. "I think your hair looks fine."

"It looks…ordinary," Xin sighed. "I look like your average girl. Height. Weight. Looks. Not much to mark me out from the crowd, so I thought I'd try…something to make myself more distinguishable."

"Well there's a lot you could do," Korra replied. "You could try braids, flowers, beads, or some combination thereof. You could also do tattoos, like Aang or Tenzin, though those are permanent and a lot more painful."

"Not to mention dad would freak out if he found out," Asami added. "Let's try a new hairstyle for now, and MAYBE discuss tattoos when you get older."

"All right," Xin said, though she still looked troubled for some reason.

'Better wait for her to open up,' Korra thought, concerned over the young girl. 'I don't want to scare her or anything. Maybe after lunch?'

"So, what's for lunch?" she asked Asami as they left the wash-room.

-Line Break-

"That was delicious!" Ryuukhan said, smiling as he plopped down on the Husuk next to Xin.

"I'm glad you liked it," Asami replied as she and Korra sat across from him. "Our chef is one of the best in Republic City, and absolutely loves to cook."

"I think you were just happy to have meat," Korra said. "Ever since we've moved onto Air Temple Island we've been vegetarians. This is the first time we've had meat that wasn't from a vendor."

"Hey, hey sis!" he replied, pulling himself up. "Vendor meat is good, but it tends to be…over-cooked. Or over-spiced. Or dry. Or some combo thereof. Meat is best when you take the time to cook it properly. You have to cook it slowly, let the juice marinate it, seeping into every nook and cranny, so when you eat it you can feel the juice flood into your mouth and straight into your stomach…"

Trailing off, memories of his mother's cooking came to mind. The White Lotus cooks were superb, but Senna was something else. She always knew when and how to adjust the heat, add the ingredients, or serve the meat to make it as delicious as possible. Even when it was just bottlenose-seal sausages or jelly-squid it was always his favorite.

"Ryuukhan, Ryuukhan!" Korra said, snapping him back to reality. "Here's a napkin. You've got some…drool on your chin."

Mortified, he took the napkin and hastily wiped his face while Korra simply laughed at his predicament.

"I understand the feeling, bro," she said. "It's been a while since we've had mom's cooking. One of the things I miss most about home. That and fishing with dad. Remember that time you fell into the ice water?"

"How could I forget?" he asked. "I was in the boat, waiting patiently for a fish, when there was this massive tug on my line. I tried reeling it in, but instead I was reeled into the water. It was FREEZING! I tried to hold on, but the rod slipped through my hands. Biggest one I ever had and it got away."

"You fell into the water?!" Asami exclaimed, shocked at the idea.

"Yeah," he replied, shrugging his shoulders. "Once I surfaced, dad pulled me up and used Waterbending to draw out all the water. Within seconds I was bone-dry and much warmer."

"That's good," Asami said in relief. "I can't begin to imagine how cold that water must have been."

"To tell you the truth it wasn't that bad," he said, rubbing his head. "Sure it's a shock, but once you dive in it's kind of exciting. I've even heard of people who dive into ice-water for that shock."

"Sounds pretty crazy if you ask me," Xin interjected. "I have a hard time with cold water from the tap when I shower. Ice-water would probably kill me."

"Maybe that's why they do it," Korra said. "To prove that they can. Like those guys that dive off cliffs into the sea."

"Or stay up all night playing pai-sho," Ryuukhan added.

"Or race with Gila bulls," Asami said, drawing stares from her friends. "I've read about it in the Republic City Times. It's a magazine that talks about interesting people in the United Republic, though its stories are not…always true."

"Sounds…interesting," Korra said, confused by the idea. "Why would they publish such stories if they're not always true?"

"Some people like that stuff," Asami shrugged before her eyes turned hard. "Mostly it's fun, but it's got a few stories written about dad, not all of which were flattering or true."

"Most of them are all right," Xin added, placating her sister. "Some are sillier than others, but they are still fun."

"Xin!" Asami exclaimed. "This is dad we're talking about! Remember that one about him plagiarizing the Satomobile?!"

"Plagiarizing?" Ryuukhan asked.

"It means you take someone's idea and act as though it's yours," Asami replied, bitterness and anger in her voice. "They did retract the story and fire the guy who wrote it, but still…"

"It's your dad," Korra said, understanding. "You don't want people to think poorly of him."

"Exactly!" Asami said, her eyes alight with pride and enthusiasm. "He's a hard-working, successful businessman, and a genius inventor, and overall a great dad!"

"Yeah, he is," Xin said, though with far less gusto.

"Xin, you okay?" Asami asked, taken aback by the response.

"Oh yeah just, just a little tired," Xin replied. "Didn't get much sleep last night."

"How come?" Korra asked, seeing her chance. "If you don't mind telling us."

"Well I, I met someone," Xin answered, her eyes shifting side to side briefly.

"Who?" Korra pressed, leaning in.

Looking around briefly, Xin took a deep breath and continued "Last night before turning into bed, I ran into a woman named Ms Tsui. She claimed to represent Ms Guo who ran small businesses that wanted to open a deal with dad."

"Ms Tsui?" Asami asked. "I've never heard of her, or Ms Guo."

"Me neither," Xin replied. "Anyway, I led her to dad's office and to my surprise he was there rather than in the lab. Moreover, he looked like a real mess. His hair wasn't combed, his cheeks had stubble, and his hands were heavily bandaged and stained. Not to mention he smelled like tea and machine-oil."

"But to my surprise he welcomed her in like they were old friends," she continued, clearly confused. "He didn't try to reschedule, change his clothes, or anything."

"That's unusual," Asami admitted. "Normally dad would have told me about business deals. Or at least cleaned himself up before-hand. But he never mentioned this, and he never acted as though we'd be expecting visitors. And I can't recall him mentioning any small businesses that he was investing in."

"Plus Ms Tsui was wearing some very nice jewelry," Xin added. "She was wearing these gold earrings with white pearls. And these were not just a solid ring of gold, but rather dozens of gold ingots with the pearls threaded within them. It looked more like textiles than jewelry."

"Like the ones at the Jade Bacui?" Asami asked. Seeing Xin nod in agreement, Asami's eyes furrowed in thought and confusion.

"Those are not cheap," Asami noted. "In fact they are some of the most expensive ones on sale. If Ms Tsui is employed by a small business owner, how could she afford them?"

"Maybe she just saved up the money?" Ryuukhan asked. "If she was careful with her spending and saved over a long enough time."

"Ryuukhan, I've seen the price tag for those," Asami said. "SOme of them go upwards of five thousand yuans. You'd have to save up for YEARS to afford such jewelry. You'd be better off investing that money in other businesses than buying earrings."

"WOW!" he said, eyes wide at the price. "Is this like those people racing Gila bulls? Doing things to prove that you can?"

"Yes, exactly!" Asami replied. "The only reason you'd buy such jewelry is to show off your wealth. So how did she get that kind of money? And what business deal could she or Ms Guo offer that dad would be interested in?"

"Maybe he's just trying to help a small business person?" Korra suggested. "Didn't you say that your dad used to be a poor shoe-shine boy? So maybe he feels sympathetic and wants to help out?"

"Maybe," Asami said after a brief moment. "But usually he has something more to gain than just personal satisfaction. And why would he not tell me about this? And again, how can Ms Tsui afford such jewelry?"

"It's not just her," Xin added. "Dad's been much busier than usual, but he never talks about it. Normally he loves pumping you for ideas, but lately he's been so quiet."

"You think he's in trouble?" Asami asked, concerned for her father. "I haven't heard anything that could indicate financial troubles, either from him or the staff, and we've built and sold more vehicles than ever before. So is it personal? Is Ms Tsui blackmailing or extorting him?"

"Asami, focus," Korra said, breaking her off. "I know you're concerned, but we'll get nowhere worrying ourselves over it. We need to know more about what's going on before we do anything."

"Xin, is there anything else you can tell us?" Ryuukhan asked. "Anything at all?"

"I saw a stack of papers on dad's desk when Ms Tsui entered his office," she replied. "I didn't see many of them, but I think I saw one of those papers in the hallway outside his office. It had a drawing of a glove or something, and a bunch of numbers and notes on it. I gave it back to dad when he came down to breakfast and he seemed both glad and frightened to see it again. He thanked me and then headed back to his office without breakfast."

After a moment of thought, Ryuukhan said "I don't know who this Ms Guo is or what her business is, but it doesn't sound good."

"I agree," Asami replied. "I'll see what I can find out. Maybe I can give dad a hand with his work."

"So will I," Xin said, nodding. "I can't explain it, but I have a feeling something big is coming, something bad."

-Line Break-

A.N. Finished just in time for the New Year. Thanks for all your patience.

In light of reviews, specifically Scorched Halloween, I'm endeavoring to keep the POV characters limited to two or three per verse (Korra, Ryuukhan, and Tenzin for the Avatar-verse; Neville and Dumbledore for the Potter-verse) with extra characters being used as rarely as I can. This should keep the story from getting too bogged down or confusing.

Also, I do intend to have Ryuukhan visit the Potter-verse later on, though the timing and method are not fully decided upon. I'm planning to NOT use the Goblet of Fire method, as that's becoming a bit too cliche. Plus, given the changes we've already seen it might not even come up in this story.

As you can see, I'm basically having to rewrite the whole story as Korra starts for Republic City much earlier than in canon, so I've got a lot of work ahead of me. One of the big changes is how Amon will make his debut. In canon he stated that he had to accelerate his plans due to Korra's arrival, so what would he do in this timeline? I've created a poll about it, but I've only received one vote so far. Some reviewers have voted for him to team up with another villain, but the sole voter on the poll has asked for a two-year filler villain. I think this may have been due to a mix-up between the poll and the options listed on the chapter author's notes. I've edited the poll to better reflect these choices, though that's deleted the sole vote given thus far. Sorry, I did not know that would happen.

Here's the link to the poll. Hopefully I will get more votes soon.

poll/polls_tab_ ?pollid=520950

Please make sure to review as it really helps me. Happy New Year!