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-

"You look tired," Tenzin said, looking across from the table. "Did you have trouble sleeping?"

"Yeah," Korra replied, stifling a yawn. "Had a terrible nightmare last night."

"Amon?" he asked, nailing the problem right on the head, a shiver running through the young Avatar and her eyes widening in utter terror. "I understand your fear. And I promise you that I will do all I can to help. But the situation has become rather…complicated."

"What do you mean?" she asked, confusion mixing with her fear. "What has Amon done?"

"He…escaped," he replied, rubbing the back of his head.

"What?!" she exclaimed, making him jump as birds burst from the trees. "But…the police!"

"Could not catch him," he replied. "The crowd was working its way into a frenzy, with the police rising over them, Chief Beifong trying to talk them down but the tumult grew louder and louder. Eventually they went from merely chanting to throwing things at the police; rocks, bricks, and pieces of the smashed Satomobiles. By that point, however, reinforcements had arrived and cordoned off the intersection."

Sighing, Tenzin rubbed the bridge of his nose as the events of last night flashed through his eyes.

"With the reinforcements Chief Beifong managed to restore order," he continued. "But by the time she did so, Amon and his chi-blockers were nowhere to be found. She searched through the warehouse and the adjacent buildings but nothing was found. Today the Council will be discussing how to respond to the threat posed by Amon's Revolution."

"What are you going to do?!" Korra blurted out. "It's clear that Amon is dangerous! We need to find him and fast!"

"I know Korra!" Tenzin snapped. "But we have no idea where he might be, or what he may be planning. Not to mention that we already have so much on our plate. The missing citizens and this large influx of people that we need to process. Where are we to begin?"

"The people at the rally!" Korra urged. "Surely they know or heard something! Rumors, pamphlets, anything!"

"That will be our first step," Tenzin replied. "But there are nearly a hundred people to go through! Even with Chief Beifong's skills it will take us time to go through them all, so unless Amon decides to turn himself in we're out of luck."

"In any case," Tenzin continued, cutting her off. "I need to get going. This is liable to take up most of the day, so I'm afraid that we'll have to postpone Air-bending training for now, but be sure to meditate."

"Okay," Korra huffed, frustrated. "So I'll see you at dinner?"

"Most likely," Tenzin nodded before taking off for the port.

"Bye daddy!" Ikki and Jinora called out as he crossed the courtyard, to which he simply smiled and nodded. Looking back briefly, he saw Korra head off toward the stable, probably to visit Naga, before resuming his journey.

'I am not looking forward to this!' he thought as he descended the stairway. 'What Amon can do is…utterly impossible! Only the Avatar could remove Bending, and that's Korra. So how can he…?'

Boarding the ferry, Tenzin's thoughts were a maelstrom as he took a seat and tried to calm himself with his meditative techniques. Slowing his breathing, he felt his emotions subside, as he tried to focus on the upcoming meeting.

'Regardless of how this is possible,' he resolved, calming his mind. 'We will need to proceed very carefully with Amon.'

Disembarking the ferry, Tenzin whirled his arms overhead before flipping himself into a somersault. Gathering the air around him, he formed a spinning wheel, his own invention much to his father's delight, and began gliding off toward City Hall. Racing along the streets, he took great care to avoid running into or over anyone, though thankfully the rushing wind gave him away and most simply moved aside. Along the way, he heard passersby comment on his abilities, and to his dismay they were rarely kind.

"Show-off," he heard one man mutter as he rushed past.

"Blasted Bender," another snarled, making him grimace.

"Typical," he heard someone hiss.

'Not much further,' he urged himself, trying to keep the comments at bay. 'City Hall is just past Police Headquarters.'

Breaking his train of thought, he heard a steady chant growing louder and louder over the usual bustle of urban life. Dissipating the air scooter, he continued on foot, keeping his guard up for any sign of trouble. Turning the corner, he found Police Headquarters besieged by a large gathering of people, waving banners and signs as Lin Beifong and her officers tried to talk them down.

"Amon! Amon! Amon!" they chanted over and over again.

'What is all this?' he wondered as he cautiously approached the scene.

"Let him go!" one person yelled.

"Amon did nothing wrong!" another yelled out, starting another round of chanting.

"Everyone please!" Lin yelled out over the din, trying to make herself heard. "We understand Amon meant well by attacking the Triad leaders, and we appreciate his actions in dealing with such dangerous criminals. But no one is above the law, regardless of birth status, intent, or wealth. That is a fundamental principle of Republic City, and as an officer of the law I must hold all to the same standards no matter what."

"Liar!" someone shouted, and the chanting resumed, punctuated by the waving of their banners. In response the police tensed, ready to leap into action in case violence broke out.

'I will have to intervene,' Tenzin thought as he inhaled as deeply as he could, creating a small tornado in the process. With his lungs full, he pressed his fingers to his lips and whistled, loud and long. The sound pierced through the tumult and brought everyone, protester and police alike, to their knees as their ears rang with Tenzin's whistle.

"Tenzin!" Lin Beifong exclaimed, jumping to her feet. "You have any idea how loud that was?"

"Yes I do," Tenzin replied, very matter-of-factly. "And I am aware that there are laws against disturbing the peace, the punishment for which could be a fine, jail-time, or both. Care to arrest me?"

"Isn't there a scheduled meeting with the Council?" Lin Beifong asked, stepping forward as the protesters looked on.

"There is," Tenzin replied. "But the law states that the Council cannot proceed without all members in attendance, not unless there is a proxy to stand in for them. Would you care to do so?"

"Tenzin!" Lin exclaimed. "Are you insane? What are you thinking?"

"My intention was to prevent a situation from escalating," Tenzin shrugged. "But my methods were illegal, and no one, not even the highest of us, is above the law. As such, I must be arrested and prosecuted."

"Now?!" Lin pressed, exasperated. "But your meeting…"

"No one is above the law," Tenzin repeated, holding his hands out for Lin to arrest him.

"Very well," Lin sighed, slipping the cuffs on him. "Tenzin, you are under arrest for disturbing the peace. You have the right to legal defense and the right to silence. Please know that anything you say can and may be used against you."

"Very well," Tenzin said as Lin ushered him into the police station, the protesters looking on in bewildered silence.

"Councilor!" someone called out, breaking through the crowd. "What is this?!"

"This is an arrest," Tenzin shrugged. "I committed a crime, so I must be punished."

"But, but," the person continued. It was a young man, barely more than twenty years old, with brown hair and eyes. From his clothes, heavily stained and smelling of foul smoke, the man lived and worked in the industrial sector. "But you're on the Council!"

"And therefore I should set a better example," Tenzin pressed. "No one is above the law. No one."

As they left the crowd in baffled silence, Tenzin heard Lin lean in and whisper "I am NOT going to be your proxy Tenzin,".

"I never expected you to do so," he shrugged, passing by the confused guards. "I just wanted to diffuse the situation by setting an example for all."

"Do you really think this will impress people?" Lin asked, before snapping out. "What are you all looking at?! Back to work!"

Seeing the police officers scurry like screw-roaches under lit matches, Tenzin let out a small grin even as Lin pushed him into her office. Thrusting him into the metal chair, Lin flicked her fingers and metal bands wrapped around his arms and legs, pinning Tenzin to the chair.

"One moment please," Lin said, opening the door to bark some orders to her subordinates. Turning back to him she said "Do you confess to an act of disturbing the peace mere moments prior?"

"I do," Tenzin said.

"Very well," Lin said. "I'll just fill in this conviction form and charge you a fine for…one hundred yuans."

"One hundred yuans?" Tenzin repeated. "That seems a little low."

"This is your first crime," Lin replied, eying him. "So a refresher course is in order. If you are arrested for a crime, you may confess or maintain innocence. If you confess, then your crime will be added to your permanent record, and the report of your crime and your confession will be forwarded to the defense attorney or the chief of police who will decide whether to prosecute or not. I, the chief of police, have decided to forgo prosecution and proceed to sentencing, and the lowest fine for disturbing the peace is one hundred yuans. Now if you believe that this is an unfair sentence, either due to a false or coerced confession or a biased officer, you can appeal to the defense attorney or the council for a formal trial. Do you think either of these apply?"

"No," Tenzin sighed, shaking his head.

"Very well," Lin said, turning back to her forms. A few moments later, she flicked her fingers and the bands snapped back, freeing him from the chair. "Please pay the fine no later than midnight tonight."

"Thank you," Tenzin bowed, reaching into his robes and extracting a small stack of bills. "I have twenty yuans at the moment, and I can reach the bank for the remaining eighty."

"Remember, no later than midnight," she said, opening the door.

Just as he crossed the threshold, he heard Lin say "Oh and you pull a stunt like this, I'll chuck your shiny, bald head in jail faster than Azula's lightning bolts."

"I'll keep that in mind," he replied, hastily making his way out as she muttered about "wastes of her time".

Looking out the window, he found that the crowd had dispersed, leaving the front area free of protesters while the police resumed their usual duties. Relieved he resumed his way to City Hall, hoping to make up for lost time.

So caught up was he in his haste to the meeting that he did not notice the dark eyes glaring at him from the alleyway.

-Line Break-

"How are you little brother?" Korra asked.

"I'm doing better," Ryuukhan replied. "Hand still hurts a lot, and I get dizzy if I stand too quickly, but I'm doing better. Mostly though I'm bored."

"Yeah I know," she replied, smiling. "It's hard not being able to do anything."

"You're telling me!" he said. "I have to use my left hand for everything! Reading, writing, eating, everything. Have you ever tried using chopsticks with your left hand? It's hard!"

"I feel you," she laughed. "But don't worry. You'll be out of here soon and we'll be back to beating each other up."

"Not soon enough," he sighed. "So anyway what about this Amon character? I've been hearing things from the staff, but they're not telling me. Can he really take Bending away?"

At this, Korra's smile vanished, and a dark look came over her, one that accentuated the circles under her eyes. Ever since Amon's demonstration, she had not been sleeping well. Every time she closed her eyes, she found herself back in that intersection, down on her knees, surrounded by an angry crowd, blinded by the headlights, and Amon's grasping her in a pythonaconda grip. She could feel that grip as he lowered his fingers to her forehead, knowing what was coming yet completely powerless to stop it. She, the Avatar, the most powerful being on the planet, utterly impotent to save herself.

"Sis?" Ryuukhan said, his voice high in concern. "Sis, are you all right?"

"Yes!" Korra squeaked, much to her embarrassment. "No. Amon can take away your Bending. I've no idea how, but he can. And now he's riling up the non-Benders for a Revolution."

"Was that what those guys meant?" he asked.

"Must be," she shrugged. "But now what do we do?"

"That night," he started. "What happened after you, Mako, and Bolin escaped?"

"I, I don't know," she replied. "I know Chief Beifong and the police were there, but I haven't checked the police yet. I wanted to see how you were doing first beforehand. And I wanted you to know about Amon, just in case."

"Thanks sis," he said, smiling. "And don't worry. I'll be careful."

"You better!" she mock ordered, stroking an imaginary beard. "Or I'll have you sent back to the South Pole, collect!"

"Yes sir!" he barked in response, making both of them laugh. Just then, they heard the door open and, to their surprise, they watched as Mako and Bolin entered the ward, followed by Asami and Xin.

"Well, how are we doing?" Mako asked.

"I'm doing better," Ryuukhan answered, wincing as he flexed his hand. "But it's still going to take some time. This waiting is just…killing me."

"Hey take it easy!" Bolin said. "You'll be outta here in no time, and you'll be right back to your old self. I'll take you on in a match if you want."

"I think I'll take you up on that," Ryuukhan replied, smiling at the idea. "Maybe it'll be like a sibling team match, me and Korra vs you and Mako."

"Sounds a little unfair," Mako interjected. "Korra IS the Avatar after all, so you'd automatically win."

"Oh don't worry!" Korra waved him off. "I'll go easy on you."

"I'll make you eat those words," Mako replied, but Korra simply smirked while Bolin and Ryuukhan laughed.

"Perhaps Xin and I could join in with the brothers," Asami interjected, matching Korra's smirk. "That way you can choose between getting burned at range or beat-up close and personal."

"Oh?" Korra replied, locking eyes with her. "You think that just because you've beaten me once or twice you can take me?"

"Actually it was more than 'once or twice'," Ryuukhan quipped. "At last count, you and I are about tied at 76 wins against each other. Asami has us both beat at 24 wins to seven losses against you, and 25 wins and six losses against me."

"Can we talk about something other than fighting, please?" Xin asked, clearly uncomfortable.

"Oh, okay," Ryuukhan said, ashamed he did not sense her discomfort earlier.

"How are your studies going?" Bolin asked, somewhat sheepishly.

"They're going pretty well," Xin replied. "I'm doing much better in writing and the classics, but I'm still struggling with some of the more advanced math and science stuff, like electricity and magnets. If it wasn't for Asami I would be far behind."

"Hey, what are big sisters for?" Asami asked, smiling. "I'm all too happy to help out."

"Anything else new?" Ryuukhan asked, hoping to keep the conversation going.

"Mako is doing great with the police," Bolin answered, clearly proud much to Mako's embarrassment. "He's been blazing through the legal stuff like it's nothing, and he's really got a flare for detective work. Not to mention he's really smoking during interrogations."

At this, everyone groaned while Mako face-palmed at his brother's puns.

"Bolin's not doing too bad himself," Mako interjected, slightly smiling. "He's been at the grindstone non-stop, really grinding and pounding away, trying to sand away his rough edges. He's also been a boon to the police force; always rock-solid and a true gem in hard times."

"Where did you two get those puns?" Asami groaned, a dangerous look in her eye.

"Oh you'd be surprised what police officers do in their downtime," Mako replied. "When they're not training, patrolling, or analyzing they like to do word games. But we all have our faults, and we shouldn't take those for granite."

"Is it heating up in here?" Bolin quipped. "Because I'm getting stoked!"

"One more pun from either of you," Korra snapped, her fist wreathed in flame. "And I'm going to flambé you both!"

"Hey, hey sis!" Ryuukhan exclaimed, trying to calm her down. "As much as I'd enjoy that, we don't have the ingredients for that. Besides, you know how difficult it is to get blood out of tile?"

"Oh yeah," Korra admitted, her flame subsiding. "It took us DAYS to get the job done. And Sifu Toshuka's constant nagging was of no help at all."

"Last time we EVER butchered prey indoors, right?" he replied, earning a nod from his sister. "But the worst of that was the entrails. They were just full of-"

"Okay enough!" Xin exclaimed, much to their surprise. "This is worse than fighting! Blood, guts, and who knows what else! Just thinking about it is making me queasy!"

"Yeah, you're right," Ryuukhan said, ashamed. "So what else?"

"Any good radio shows?" Asami asked, hoping to steer the conversation towards safer topics. "I really enjoy the music broadcast. The new Sun and Moon band is a real hit."

"Nah," Korra shrugged. "I really like the Pro-Bending matches, but Tenzin considers it a mockery of Bending. He wants me to learn traditional forms rather than the modern variety."

"Too bad for you sis," Ryuukhan said. "Fortunately I've been keeping up with the teams. Nothing better to do until I get out of here. I hear the Mo Ce Mongoose Lizards are runner-ups, but I really love the Xiao Yao Zebra Frogs."

"Are you kidding?!" Bolin exclaimed. "I love those guys! But I do have a soft spot for the Ba Sing Se Badgermoles."

"Somehow I knew you'd say that," Ryuukhan replied. "They're formidable, both in defense and offense, but they're slow, not like the Zebra Frogs. They're always coming at you from new angles, even Yuao, their Earth-bender. So light and ready to spring into action."

"What good is agility if your attacks are weak?" Bolin asked. "It's all fun and games, until you get hit by a two-ton boulder. Then it's game over."

"How do you get hit by a two-ton boulder?" Ryuukhan retorted. "Are you glued to the floor or something?"

"Ask the Ember Island Eel Hounds," Bolin quipped. "They lost to the Ba Sing Se Badgermoles in the first round."

"Those earth discs do NOT weigh two tons," Ryuukhan countered.

"And thus they can travel faster, and hit harder," Bolin pressed.

"Whoa, whoa!" Korra said. "There's an easy way to settle this; we can listen in on the matches. I believe the Zebra Frogs and Badgermoles are playing today."

"By the Spirits, you're right!" Ryuukhan exclaimed. "Look at the time! They're starting in five minutes!"

What followed was a flurry of activity as Korra, Mako, Asami, and Bolin raced out to find chairs or cushions while Xin and Ryuukhan tuned the radio to the right frequency. By the time the others had returned, the announcer had finished introducing the two teams and the bell for round one had just been rung.

"Round One, begin!" the announcer yelled, much to the applause of the crowd. "And the Zebra Frogs take the first shot, with Moa firing off a fire-ball, but Tsuku blocks it with a water uppercut. Yuko from the Zebra Frogs takes the next shot, delivering a textbook one-two-three earth disc, but the Badgermole Earth-bender kicks them aside just as their Fire-bender launches a one-two punch of their own. But Yuko blocks it just as her teammate Ghiri intercepts a water-whip."

But right then, the radio broke out into a high-pitched squeal, followed by loud static, then silence. At first, no one moved, too stunned by this turn of events. But just as Asami moved to inspect the radio, a low burst of static erupted, causing everyone to stagger back.

"My brothers and sisters," a low, level voice emanated from the radio. "This is Amon, a concerned citizen and friend of the non-bending populace. As you have heard, not long ago I confronted the Triad leaders and stripped them of their power, and for this I was branded a criminal by the police, the police who failed for decades what I accomplished in mere minutes. We had a standoff against the police, where they called in reinforcements to suppress the spirit of the people and protect the status and power of the Bending elites. I was forced to flee into the shadows as I did not wish for my standoff to cause more harm than it already had."

Hearing that voice, Ryuukhan felt his blood go cold. While he had not been there personally, Korra's description of the man alone was enough to make him go numb. His pale mask, his shadowed hood, his low voice, all of it like a serpent ready to strike.

But most of all, it was his ability to remove Bending that scared him the most. The idea of being bereft of his Bending, of losing something that he had spent his whole life exploring and practicing, a skill that came to define who he was.

It was terrifying.

"The police continue to hound me," Amon went on. "They hunt me down like a wild beast, claiming that I am a dangerous criminal and must be brought to heel. Lin Beifong claims that she is merely doing her duty to uphold the law above all else. In fact, she even made a show of arresting Councilor Tenzin for disturbing the peace, a crime that I too am accused of. Yet, within less than half an hour of his 'arrest' Tenzin walked out a free man. No jail time. No shackles. Nothing. Is this how the police uphold the law? Is this standard operating procedure for Lin Beifong? Could this be why the Triads ran roughshod over the people of Republic City? Or did Tenzin make a deal with Lin Beifong? Who else has made such 'deals' with her? Where does she draw the line? And why is she qualified to make such decisions?"

"Ask yourself this: who would you trust to keep you safe?" he pressed. "A Chief of Police who tried and failed many times to keep the Triads from abusing their Bending? A Chief of Police who shares the same power as those she supposedly fights against? A Chief of Police whose decisions have such high consequences and so little transparency for the people?"

After a brief moment of silence, Amon delivered the final blow.

"Or I, Amon," he finished, his voice becoming louder and more forceful. "I, who has experienced the cruel brutality of Benders firsthand? I, who was granted the power to equalize the world by the Spirits themselves? I, who has done more in mere moments than your leaders and police have done in years? I, who can and will protect you from those corrupted by Bending? Follow me and I will cleanse this world of its corruption and usher in the Age of Equality!"

With that final proclamation, the radio let out a loud burst of static before the voice of the Pro-Bending Arena returned.

"I'm sorry for our technical difficulties," he said. "But fortunately for you, the referee called a time-out so our devoted fans and followers would not miss a single minute of the action. So without further ado, let's resume the match!"

But even as the bell rang and the announcer commenced his commentary, Ryuukhan could not get Amon's words out of his head. Turning to his sister, he saw a sight that he never thought he would see: Korra was terrified. Her eyes were wide in fear and shock, and sweat was trickling down her temples as a slight quiver ran through her.

'Korra's scared?' he thought, shivering despite himself. 'Now I know we're in trouble.'

-Line Break-

"So much for your little demonstration," Tarrlok smirked at Tenzin from across the table. "Amon has all but declared war on Bending. We need to take decisive action."

"And what do you have in mind Tarrlok?" Tenzin asked, staring him down. "We already have the police searching for Amon for the crimes he has already committed. Vigilantism, disturbing the peace, assault, incitement to riot, and now hijacking a radio broadcast. But need I remind you that we are stretched thin as it is? While the Triad leaders have been detained, the Triads themselves are still at large, and loss of leadership will not deter them for long."

"The Triads have not been active ever since Amon appeared," Tarrlok countered. "I think we can divert the bulk of our police force towards Amon for the time being. Not to mention this is a prime opportunity to field-test our expanded police force."

"Are you sure that is wise?" Tenzin asked. "Given the bulk of our new officers are Benders, wouldn't they simply be depowered by Amon as the Triad leaders were? Would we simply be channeling fish into a net?"

"Not if we deployed them properly," Tarrlok insisted. "We won't simply throw them at Amon en masse, but send the right people at the right time. That way we can use them to their fullest potential, capture him and end his threat once and for all. We need to end this revolution before he can gain momentum and overwhelm us."

"And who would deploy these men?" Tenzin pressed, staring him down. "You? Wouldn't you trust someone with experience and training in police matters, like Chief Beifong?"

"She has already failed to catch Amon," Tarrlok dismissed. "Multiple times, including one where he was mere feet from her!"

"But that was when she had to balance the Triads with Amon," Tenzin countered, rubbing his temples to alleviate a headache. "But we are going in circles with this argument. I agree that we must deal with Amon, but it must be appropriate. He is not the reincarnation of Sozin, so we should not react as such."

"What are our options?" someone interrupted. Turning, Tenzin found, much to his surprise, it was Tluku, Tarrlok's Southern counterpart. Standing he continued "Attacking or harassing Amon would only paint us as a tyrannical oligarchy desperate to hold on to power. Ignoring Amon would paint us as incompetent or negligent. Either way he will gain popular support, making him stronger. The only way forward is to treat him like the criminal he is: offer him a chance to surrender peacefully before issuing warrants for his arrest. We must do this by the book to demonstrate our commitment to the people, regardless of Bender status."

"Won't the people bemoan us taking him lightly?" Tarrlok challenged. "This will seem like we do not care for their safety."

"Which people?" Tluku asked. "The average citizen, or the Benders? The law must protect everyone, and due process must be enacted. If we take liberties with the law without reasonable cause, we only succeed in driving more people to Amon's banner. To stop Amon's spark, we must soak the logs."

"I agree," Tenzin added. "This must be done by the law. If Amon does escalate his activities, the consequences will be on him, not us."

Turning to the other Councilors, Tenzin saw to his dismay that Fuku was glancing back and forth between the Water Tribe representatives, withering under Tarrlok's glare and Tluku's blank stare. Checking Puo, he found the large boulder of a man mulling over Tluku's words, his unibrow furrowed over dark eyes, his face almost completely still.

"In uncertain times such as these," Puo finally spoke. "It is best to listen and prepare oneself. If Amon does escalate the conflict, then we must be ready to strike when the time comes, which is not today. We shall prioritize Amon and his Equalists according to the law. All in favor?"

Tenzin raised his hand, as did Tluku and Puo. Turning to Tarrlok, he found the man scowling at being out-voted and felt a small tang of joy burst in his heart at his small victory.

"Mark my words," Tarrlok snarled. "Eventually Amon will come for all us Benders. Our friends, our families. Recast your vote, and I will stop Amon before it is too late."

"Your task force will have to wait," Puo snapped, silencing Tarrlok. "For now, we listen and prepare."

"If there is nothing else," Tenzin interjected, silencing Tarrlok's remark. "I will inform Chief Beifong on our decision."

Slamming the gavel to conclude the meeting, Tenzin departed from the table and strode out the doors. Almost immediately he was inundated by reporters, all clamoring to reach him and yelling out questions.

"Councilor Tenzin, what has the Council decided?!"

"When can we expect a proper response?!"

"Are we safe?!"

"Everyone! Everyone!" Tenzin yelled, trying to make himself heard but to no avail. Exasperated, he pivoted sharply while spinning his arms, creating a whirlwind that lifted him up overhead, shocking them into silence as they scrambled to hold on to their notes and pens. Descending slowly, Tenzin inhaled slowly and intoned "As you should know, I cannot discuss in full the Council's decisions, but I can tell you that we are taking the…issue of Amon and his Equalists with all due gravity. He is now our top priority and will be apprehended for his crimes."

"How do you plan on doing that?" one man with dark eyes barked out.

"That will be for Chief Beifong to decide," Tenzin replied. "Beyond that, I cannot give any more details."

"How is that different from what you have been doing?" someone asked.

"Again, I cannot give details," Tenzin answered. "But we will focus our efforts on him as per Republic law."

"Do you have any plans to apprehend Amon?" the dark-eyed man pressed. "Or are you just making this up as you go?"

"We have plans to apprehend criminals," Tenzin stood firm. "And that is what Amon is: a criminal. While he may have good intentions, that is frequently the source of pain and suffering. Sozin intended to spread his nation's advanced technology and infrastructure to the other nations, and that led to the Air Nomad genocide and the Hundred Year War."

"You are seriously comparing Amon to Sozin?!" the dark eyed man yelled out. "Isn't that comparing tomato-carrots to potato-radishes?!"

"It is," Tenzin replied, much to everyone's surprise. "But it is also a reminder to practice wisdom, humility, and moderation. Any good intent can yield evil if not tended to carefully, a lesson that some fail to learn until it is too late. I sincerely hope that Amon heeds my words."

"Now I must withdraw to meet Chief Beifong," Tenzin stated before heading for police headquarters, the reporters still calling out questions much to his annoyance.

'I understand the value of free press,' Tenzin sighed mentally. 'It can be aggravating, but it is vital to understand the pressing issues, as well as to rally the people to a cause as Amon's broadcast proved. Tarrlok's task force would have only fueled that fire, so hopefully this wets the tinder.'

-Line Break-

"I can't believe this!" Korra yelled in frustration, slumping to the ground, the gates whirring behind her. "I've been training at this for weeks, and just when I thought I was getting it I'm back to being a human pong-pong ball! What. Happened. To. Me?!"

"Easy Korra," Tenzin called as he approached her, his calm manner infuriating her. "Everyone has off-days, and you've had a lot to think about."

"You think?!" Korra asked, pounding the ground and sending tremors in her wake. "I'm struggling with my training. My brother's stuck in the hospital. Asami is worrying sick over her father, who's still missing with no clues or leads may I remind you. And everyday it seems Amon stirs the wok more and more. Need I go on?"

"I understand that this is frustrating for you," Tenzin urged, trying to keep his voice level. "But there is nothing you can do to alleviate the situation."

"I'm the Avatar!" Korra yelled, causing another tremor underfoot. "I'm the most powerful Bender in the world!"

"What good is power without direction?" Tenzin asked, cutting her off. "How could you accelerate Ryuukhan's recovery? How might you locate Mr Sato and the other missing citizens? And how would you undermine Amon and his followers?"

"That last one's easy!" Korra replied, jumping to her feet. "I'd beat them all to a bloody pulp!"

"Have you learned nothing from Zuko's reign?" Tenzin countered, stopping her short. "Or have you been napping through your history lessons?"

"Well…" Korra trailed off, eyes downcast as she tried to remember her lessons. While she and Ryuukhan had focused heavily on Bending, hunting, strategy and survival, they had received more academic lessons like mathematics, calligraphy, and history. But these were more an afterthought, held in the evenings to wrap up a long, hard day of training and sparring.

'It didn't help that our teachers were…not the best,' Korra recalled. 'Sifu Tang was such a bore! The same strokes over and over and over again. And Sifu Heng loved numbers, but went WAY too deep. Sifu Qian's history lessons were cool, but she was always pressed for time.'

"Honestly we never really went too deep in Zuko's reign," Korra admitted. "I know that there were attempts to dethrone, even assassinate him after the peace treaty. We focused on his search for his mother and the foundation of Republic City, but after that he became an afterthought. I know he abdicated the throne in favor of his daughter and became a member of the White Lotus, even teaching Ryuukhan and I."

"Criminy," Tenzin muttered. "I didn't know your history lessons were so…broad. Well to put it easily, Ozai's ideas of Fire Nation supremacy did not end when he lost to Aang. Ideas are not like men or beasts. They cannot be struck down with fist, foot, spear, club, sword, arrow, or even the elements. They exist in the minds of people, Korra, and they can move between people easily and quickly. So to end an idea you must destroy its appeal to people."

"Well beating up Amon should do the trick," Korra pressed. "After all, what appeal would he have after getting his butt whooped? No one likes a loser."

"You know that is not true," Tenzin sighed. "How many times have you lost to Asami in your sparring matches? How many bouts has Ryuukhan lost to you? Yet that does not stop you from liking each other. You have lost many times to the spinning gates, but Ikki and Jinora still like you. Being defeated in a fight does not always diminish the appeal; in fact, it can increase their appeal. Zuko was beaten down time and time again over his life, yet he never gave up. Who would not admire, or at least respect, such determination?"

"Not everyone liked Zuko," Korra muttered.

"Weren't you and Ryuukhan excited to meet him?" Tenzin asked, raising an eyebrow. "Katara said you two were so eager you were jumping like wooly rabbits in spring. So clearly you like him."

"What's the point?!" Korra snapped, frustrated. "I mean why are we going over this?!"

"Because you need to hear it," Tenzin replied firmly. "Your teachers have taught you much about the physical side of Bending, giving you a strong body built for battle, but your mind has been neglected. You rely far too much on might alone, leaving you vulnerable to clever tactics and subtle planning. You must plan beyond simply your next immediate move, like the hunting trips your father took you along with. Remember those?"

"Yeah but dad always handled the planning stuff," Korra shrugged. "I followed along and even gave my own input, but they never used it. And the debates were just so…BORING!"

"I see I have a lot of work to do," Tenzin sagged, like a ball deflating. "I understand that this is not as…exciting as a good brawl or chase but those are the end of the hunt, not the beginning. Successful hunts require preparation, forethought, cooperation, and understanding of one's foe as much as, if not more than, speed, strength, and stamina."

"Okay but where do we go from here?" Korra asked, clearly frustrated. "How do we prepare for Amon when we know so little about him?"

"That is what I am hoping to remedy," a new voice broke in. Turning toward the stairs, a man in Water Tribe robes and slicked back hair crossed the threshold, beaming at Korra. "Avatar Korra, it is truly an honor to meet you. I am Councilor Tarrlok, representative of the Northern Water Tribe."

Bowing, Tarrlok added "I've heard you were there at Amon's public appearance, and that you were able to escape undetected. That showed real initiative and skill on your part. I wish we had more like you."

"Thanks," Korra replied, bowing in return. "I think you're the first authority figure in the city who's happy I'm here."

"Tarrlok, what do you want?" Tenzin snapped, breaking off the little rapport. "I'm sure you did not come over for a social visit."

"Indeed Tenzin," Tarrlok replied. "I came to inform you about our efforts to capture Amon. Chief Beifong has been busy with rallies and demonstrations, so we've accelerated our criminal rehabilitation program. I've heard that two brothers are making great headway and will soon be out on patrol."

"You mean Mako and Bolin?" Korra asked, excited. "Does that mean that they'll be confronting Amon soon? Are we looking at a showdown in the near future?"

"I'm not sure," Tarrlok replied, furrowing his eyebrow. "I know these brothers were part of the Triads, and they are an Earth-bender and a Fire-bender."

"That's them!" Korra exclaimed, surprising everyone nearby. "I knew they could do it! Look out Amon! You're going down!"

"Now, now Korra," Tenzin said, trying to calm her down. "They've only just completed their training. I'll admit they are skilled and dedicated, but they still have much to learn. Sending fresh graduates to face a dangerous enemy will only result in unnecessary casualties."

"Which is why we need people like them," Tarrlok interjected. "Young, enthusiastic men, not afraid to leap into the thick of danger to do what is needed. Amon is dangerous and needs to be dealt with quickly and decisively."

"We already discussed your strategy, Tarrlok," Tenzin ground out, rubbing his temples. "And we decided to stick to standard procedure. Chief Beifong can handle it."

"I'm afraid that's where you're wrong, Tenzin," Tarrlok replied. "There are so many protests and demonstrations and rallies happening all over Republic City that Chief Beifong's police force is spread increasingly thin trying to handle them all. We're trying to recruit more officers, but Metal-Benders take a long time to train, so we're fast-tracking the rehabilitation program. Mako and Bolin are doing great, but not all the graduates are quite ready yet."

"Strange," Tenzin said, mulling over this news. "I would have thought Chief Beifong would have informed me herself if this were the case."

"You know the Beifongs," Tarrlok shrugged. "Too stubborn for their own good. Toph was a perfect example of their rock-headed ways."

"I'll check for myself," Tenzin said, to which Tarrlok merely shrugged. "And what has Amon been up to?"

"He's been oddly quiet," Tarrlok replied. "While his followers continue to agitate for his message, we have not seen nor heard from him ever since that pirated broadcast. We have taken in multiple people for questioning, but unless we charge them with a crime, we cannot detain them for long, and we always need a legal representative present to ensure their rights are respected."

"Argh!" Korra yelled out in frustration, causing the men to jump. "Can't people see Amon is bad news?! Why are we going through all this?! Why not just call in the military or something?! I'm the Avatar! Give me a chance and I'll drag in Amon by tomorrow!"

"Korra!" Tenzin exclaimed, regaining his composure. "I understand your frustration…"

"As do I," Tarrlok interjected, cutting Tenzin off. "I share your frustration with the tepid response to a dangerous man. I recognize Amon as a grave threat to Benders everywhere, and the thought of letting him run free, makes my blood run cold as the polar ice. I know that he will not stop with the Triads. As long as Amon is loose, no Bender, regardless of age, nationality, or deed, is safe. I advocated for a task force to go after Amon but the Council voted against it."

"That is not entirely true," Tenzin replied, locking eyes with Tarrlok. "We voted to keep your task force in reserve if standard procedures failed to produce results or if Amon escalated the situation."

"And when will that point be?" Tarrlok countered. "And should we wait for such a point? How long did Roku wait for Sozin in the war?"

"Once again you're comparing tomato-carrots to potato-radishes," Tenzin argued. "Amon has not gone that far, and we should not alienate the non-Benders with such forceful measures."

"Better to sear the wound than to let it fester," Tarrlok said. "We cannot wait too long, nor remain idle. We must prepare in advance lest Amon catch us off-guard, and my task force would help."

"Feel free to bring it up at the next meeting," Tenzin firmly stated. "If the situation warrants such a task force, I will support it though I sincerely doubt it will be the case."

"Wait, wait, wait!" Korra interjected, ending the debate. "What's this task force you two keep mentioning?"

"In the last Council meeting," Tarrlok explained. "I proposed that we form a task force of elite Benders to confront Amon and end his revolution before it grew out of control. Despite my efforts to help, Tenzin and the others voted me down, and I fear that we will regret that decision sooner than later."

"Tenzin, why didn't you tell me about this?!" Korra exclaimed. "Why have I been wasting my time on these exercises when I could be out tracking down Amon?!"

"Because you need to complete your training!" Tenzin responded. "Your training takes precedence over all things, and it cannot be clouded or impeded by minor distractions. Republic City has done well for years before you and your brother ever arrived; a few weeks longer will hardly make a difference."

"Wait, you have a brother?!" Tarrlok interrupted. Looking up, Korra was surprised to find a hint of regret or sadness in his eyes, but that was soon replaced by his previous calculating gleam as he continued "I had an older brother, once. But I haven't seen him in years."

"Why?" Korra asked. "What happened?"

"Our father was an…abusive…man," Tarrlok answered, his voice hard with anger. "He forced us to train long and hard day and night. One day, he went too far and my brother lashed out at him. He then ran off during a storm, and I never saw him again."

"I'm…sorry to hear that," Korra said, reaching out a comforting hand. "I can't imagine what I'd do if I lost my brother. He's in the hospital recovering from a broken hand."

"I wish him a speedy recovery," Tarrlok smiled. "And that no one interrupts his recovery. Healing a broken hand is tricky under the best of times, to say nothing of more turbulent ones like what we are facing."

"Tarrlok!" Tenzin snapped. "I can assure you that I will guarantee Ryuukhan's safety no matter what."

"I am sure you will do all you can," Tarrlok reassured, his hands up in placation. "I hope it will be enough, and I fear what will happen if it is not."

Turning to Korra, he bowed and said "It was a pleasure to meet you Avatar Korra, and I hope we will meet again in the future. My office is open if you need anything."

"Thank you, Councilor Tarrlok," Korra replied, bowing in turn as he left for the ferry.

"Korra, I must warn you to be careful with Tarrlok," Tenzin said once Tarrlok disappeared beneath the threshold. "I have dealt with Tarrlok for many years. He has a slither-gale's voice, and a praying cricket's mind. Everything he says and does is about furthering his own plans."

"But he has the right idea," Korra said. "Amon needs to be dealt with before he goes too far, and he's the only one who can see that. We need this task force."

"Korra, that is not for you to decide," Tenzin barked. "You are too young and too inexperienced to understand the complexities of the situation. I applaud your enthusiasm for action, and your desire to help Republic City, but this requires a far more delicate solution. A jian, not a mallet."

"But-" Korra began, only for Tenzin to cut her off with his hand.

"There will be no further discussion," he finalized. "There is only a limited time before dinner, so let's resume your training."

"Yes, Tenzin," Korra ground out as he started the gates once more. Furious, Korra flung herself into the gates, sidestepping the first and narrowly weaving between two more before getting body-slammed by one from the side. Staggering, she tried to regain her bearings, but another slammed in from behind, sending her careening into the one ahead of her.

Before long, she found herself ejected from the spinning gates in front of Tenzin. Enraged, Korra ran back into the gates, only to be flung back almost immediately. Grinding her teeth in frustration, Korra jumped toward the spinning gates, but slammed her face straight into one before she even crossed the threshold.

"Argh!" she screamed, charging back into the gates only for someone to grab her arm, halting her momentum and sending her flat on her backside. "Let me go!"

"Korra," Tenzin said, holding her firmly despite her efforts. "I think you've had enough. We should call it a night and have some dinner."

"Yes, Tenzin," Korra muttered, picking herself up and dusting off her clothes. Sending the gates one last glare, she followed him into the dining hall, where Pema, Ikki, and Jinora were seated and ready to eat.

"Hey Korra!" Ikki called out, smiling widely. "How was training? Did you get further? Or did you get beat up again? Based on the bruises, you got beat up again, didn't you?"

"Yeah you're right," Korra shrugged, sitting next to Tenzin. "It's been so frustrating. I thought I was making real progress but now it's like I'm back to day one."

"You've had a lot to think about," Pema said. "Your brother's recovery, Mr Sato's disappearance, and Amon stirring the wok with his ideas. Meditation might help you clear your mind and boost your training tomorrow."

"Thanks Pema," Korra said, taking a bite of rice.

"By the way, Tenzin," Pema said, sipping her tea. "I noticed that Tarrlok paid a visit. Do you know what he came for?"

"He wanted to talk about his task force," Tenzin replied, his voice on edge. "He is persistent on this point."

'Yeah, he is,' Korra mulled it over, the conversation fading into the background. 'And it's hard to argue with him. Amon HAS to be stopped no matter what, and only Tarrlok seems to see that.'

At that she involuntarily shuddered at his name, glimpses of her nightmares flashing through her mind as a chill ran through her veins. Soon, the glimpses coalesced into a coherent image of his death-white mask looming overhead, an unbreakable grip on her neck and his cold fingers pressing against her forehead. The chill intensified as she imagined her Bending being ripped, torn from her, rendered from her very flesh and bones like meat and sinew.

"Korra, Korra are you alright?!" a voice called in, trying to pierce the ice-cold grip on her mind. "Tenzin, help her!"

"Korra, Korra answer me!" an all-too familiar voice called in, followed by a vigorous shake of her shoulders, snapping her from her fear. "You went all silent and stiff. Are you scared?"

"I-" she began, but then stopped herself, trying to sort out her mind. 'What can I say? That I'm afraid of Amon? I'm the Avatar! I'm the strongest Bender in the world! How can Amon scare me?! No HE'S the one who's afraid! He's the one hiding in the shadows like a coward! If he's so tough, where is he? HA!'

"Yeah, there's something wrong," she finally replied. "It's Amon. He's causing everyone trouble and he's too scared to do it openly. He's a coward, that's what he is, and it's driving me nuts how we haven't caught someone like him."

"Korra!" Tenzin said, shocked at her words. "What are you thinking?! You know there's more to winning a fight than attacking your opponent! Amon's bidding his time, waiting for the right moment to make his next move. Going after him would only play into his hands."

"How do we know that we're not already doing that?" Korra argued. "We're giving him time to make that next move, so by attacking we force him to react to us. We need to go after him and drag him out into the light."

"Korra, I will not brook any more talk about this," Tenzin stated. "You need to focus on your training, not taking on dangerous criminals. When we're done with dinner, we're doing meditations and then it's straight to bed."

"Okay Tenzin," Korra sighed, turning back to her meal. 'But I guarantee you that things WILL get worse.' she thought as she mulled over her vegetables.

"Tenzin! Tenzin!" someone called as they burst into the dining room. "Chief Beifong's on the phone! It's urgent!"

"I'm on my way," he replied, standing quickly and rushing from the dining hall. Outside, they could make out bits and pieces of Tenzin's conversation.

"He what!?"

"You're sure?!"

"Stand by! It could be a trick!"

'What's that about?' Korra wondered, looking at Pema and the girls. Pema simply shrugged while Ikki and Jinora merely looked at each other, clearly having no more idea than Korra herself. Not long after, they heard Tenzin slam the phone down on the wall and storm back into the dining hall, holding his head in his hands and breathing hard to try and calm himself.

"Tenzin, what happened?" Pema asked. "Is it Amon?"

"Yes," he ground out, setting Korra on edge. "He pirated another broadcast to offer Chief Beifong a chance to make a deal with her. Apparently he has information on the whereabouts of the missing citizens, and he's willing to divulge it in exchange for a pardon. The news team immediately began discussing his offer, so everyone will know about it. I cannot imagine what the Council will make of this."

"You don't think they'll actually agree to this?!" Korra asked, outraged by the idea. "Amon is dangerous! We cannot trust him!"

"I know that Korra!" Tenzin snapped. "But we must not act rashly. We need to ponder our options carefully. Amon might be genuine in his offer, or it might be a trick. We also need to consider the backlash to our decision. If we reject him outright, or try to arrest him during negotiations, he can use that as part of his anti-Bending propaganda and paint us as a corrupt oligarchy. If we accept his offer, he will reform his public image from a wanted criminal to a man driven to desperate measures to improve the world. And if he does deliver the missing citizens, he gains favor from them and their loved ones, which he can use to support his movement."

"Argh, my head hurts!" Korra exclaimed. "It's all so complicated!"

"Exactly what I have been saying," Tenzin sighed, a note of triumph in his voice. "I've been stressing the importance of patience and thinking ahead for years now for this very reason. The world is large, interconnected, and dynamic, with issues and problems that cannot simply be pounded or burned or washed away. You have to understand the issues deeply and clearly to know how to handle them."

"Yeah, I've heard this all before," Korra grumbled, burrowing her head in her hands. "But what do we do about this? How long is Amon going to wait?"

"Apparently he'll wait until midnight tomorrow," Tenzin replied. "He gave us a radio channel frequency to contact him with our answer. I think he plans on broadcasting our discussion to Republic City, so if we try anything the whole city will know of it."

"And here we go again," Korra sighed. "So what's the plan?"

"The plan is to finish dinner," Tenzin said, taking a sip of his tea. "Then to have a short meditation session before heading to bed. Tomorrow, you will train with Ikki and Jinora while I discuss this with the Council and Chief Beifong. I will inform you of our decision after that."

"Okay Tenzin," Korra shrugged, taking a bite of rice as an awkward silence fell over the dining hall.

'I can't believe he's going for this!' she thought, mulling over the matter. 'And I can't believe Amon would pull something like this! Just shows he's a coward after all! If we had gone after him like Tarrlok suggested we could have finished this by now!'

'Tarrlok!' she mentally exclaimed, coughing as a piece of vegetable went down the wrong tube.

"Korra, are you alright?" Pema asked, to which Korra simply waved her off.

"Yeah, I'm fine," she wheezed out. "Wrong tube. No problem."

'Tarrlok,' she thought, resuming her meal. 'He did say that his office was open if I needed his help. But how do I reach him? I can't ask Tenzin about it, given his feelings towards Tarrlok. Chief Beifong doesn't like me much, and she would probably tell Tenzin. But Asami might! I'll talk to her in the morning.'

"Ready Korra?" Tenzin asked, standing from the table.

"Yes, Tenzin," she replied, stretching out her arms. "I'm ready."

"Good," he said, heading out the dining hall. "Let's commence."

-Line Break-

Author's Notes: I know it's been a while since I updated the story, and part of this is that I was unsure how to proceed with Amon. Ultimately I decided to highlight his cunning rather than his utterly broken Bending, by exploiting the loopholes and weaknesses of the Republic's institutions to his advantage to gain popular support. And there's also the fact that Legend of Korra was originally going to be a one-season show so they had to rush Book 1. Here, I'm aiming to build Amon up as a major threat at a more gradual pace, as well as use him as more than a one-season character.

Another reason I was so late was that I've been trying to reestablish contact with my beta reader, Misty-Lee Carrol. I made a major faux pas when I failed to acknowledge her in the past and I would make it known that she has been invaluable to me as a beta reader. However, I've not been able to get in touch with her in over a year despite my efforts. I really hope she is doing all right, and that she knows just how much I appreciated her work.

I would also like feedback on how I should respond to reviews. In the past, I've responded via PM to make it more personal and private, but I've also seen writers that address specific reviewers by name. Would you prefer that or how I've been doing it thus far?

As always, I appreciate your feedback and your patience.