1: Yielding Peace

Then out spake brave Horatius, the captain of the gate: "To every man upon this earth death cometh soon or late. And how can man die better than facing fearful odds, for the ashes of his fathers and the temple of his gods."

His moist breath could be felt against his face. The metallic mask had begun to precipitate, but he cared not. It was a barrier to keep his image intact, because he knew the public would go awry to the true nature of their "savior." An aching pain began to form on the middle of his back that quickly became needles in his chest.

A scoff emerged from the person beside him, "Couldn't we just get an escort?" Her annoyed voice spoke. "After all, you are-"

"Just another regular person." He interjected. The woman's face twisted slightly before sighing. He appreciated the concern his sister had for him, but at that point it was best to let things move accordingly. He was tired and he had only been awake for the past four hours, his body jerked with the slightest movement. He then felt her hand trail down his forearm, which was covered in silk, and held his hand. He let out a sharp exhale at the contact of her bare hand on his gloved one.

"Sorry," she began retracting her hand. "I didn't mean to pain you."

His hand quickly caught hers and held it. "An endurable pain." He said, gently squeezing her hand.

"Gwyn," She began. "Why not let the sentries deal with this? You could barely get out of your own bed and now we're in a Sato-Mobile going down town. I know the slight bumps hurt you." The concern laced in his sister's voice pained him more than any of the sore spots on his body.

But to be truthful to her, he was vain when it came to the White Lotus. He was only a young man of twenty, but by sixteen he had grown great disdain for the order. They often sat back and did nothing but play games or listen to the radio. The head Acolyte still did her duties and those coarse men did nothing to help the pregnant woman. This morning she had fallen ill and her husband quickly came to her side, ultimately sending word for his assistance in dealing with a matter downtown.

Or what was left of it.

He peered out and slightly squinted his eyes at the large black steel castle that sat in the center of the city, effectively cutting the city in half.

"I was asked by Tenzin to take care of this for him." He responded. He looked at her without moving his head, "And what of you? Why are you with me instead of practicing in the grand hall?"

She all but scoffed, "I'm a retired Songstress, Gwyn, and you are far too kind when it comes to Pema."

It was a shame she had opted to retire her talents, but he could only imagine the strain her vocal chords went through each night. She once lost her voice for a full week and had to sit back. Ticket sale in her absence plummeted, but he did enjoy annoying her when he pretended not to know what she motioned at in her week of silence.

"Dorothea, you are only twenty two, and far too young to void the world of your voice." He released her hand and placed it on top of hers, "Spirits know I already miss hearing it bounce off the walls of the hall. Your voice is the only one that does not need a microphone." Although he was only two years her junior, he still remembers being a child as she sang on stage for the first time.

She carefully rested her head on his right shoulder, her brown silky hair cascading like water down the white silks of his robe. "Then I'll sing for you once a year, on your birthday."

The Sato-Mobile came to a gentle halt, indicating they had arrived. His hand gently retracted from being atop hers and she removed her head. "Then, perhaps I shall hear it at least once more."

Her pale face turned into one of shocked sadness, then her green eyes crinkled softly into firm, cold, anger. "Do not joke like that." She all but hissed.

"A crude jest." He whispered, leaning the cold forehead of his mask on her bare one. "I apologize."

Her green eyes, still furrowed, scanned his eyes through the mask's holes. She took in a deep breath and sighed, she had twenty two long years to get used to her brother's humor. She will have at least fifty more to get used to it.

He took in a breath of his own and opened the door of the Sato-Mobile. He was met with a man, the chauffeur, who had an arm extended to help him. Had he not had the mask the scowl underneath would slice the man's flesh. He waved him off and told him to help his sister. His left knee became weak the moment he touched the ground and his right one quickly came down to save him collapsing onto the ground. He quietly groaned in pain as the flesh of his feet felt as though they were peeling against the already soft silk socks.

"You should've let him help you." Dorothea's voice came from his left side as she hoisted him up.

"I do not need help currently. If I do, everyone will know when I collapse on the ground." He winced, but the pain slowly began disappearing and he pulled away from her.

He stood on the street for a moment and took in the site of the police headquarters, the large building stretched wide and its center held a chiseled idol of the former Chief of police. He looked down after taking in the boring color of the magistrate. The people passing in the street stopped and looked at him. Some, mostly the children, glanced at him in awe and with innocent wonderment. The adults all had looks of shock and some with badges stood taller. His appearance was eye-catching without taking into account his mask, the veil that hung a few inches off the metallic mask's cold forehead. A white silk robe covered his body, the chest was a leather blue with a roaring lion as a crest. The robe reached his ankles and revealed leather boots, his body was completely covered.

"Looks like they aren't used to seeing you anymore." He didn't know if she sounded glad or sad.

"Imagine if I took off the mask?" Her green eyes set again and he raised his wrapped hand in surrender. A breeze passed by and made his silks dance in the wind, along with his sister black skirt.

"You should wear longer skirts, Dorthy." She didn't answer and only smiled at him, extending her arm towards him. He only sighed and took it as he matched her speed and walked into the headquarters, side by side.

Of all the times she had been saved in her life, Korra had taken note of just what it was.

when she was a child, it was her abilities on cold winter night. As a teenager it was her dumb luck and the sternness of her master, Katara. But now? Well, there was a first time for everything.

Like a man in an iron mask.

When he entered it was at the height of an unbearable lecture that was a run around of her ethics within the city. She hated using her title as it left a bad taste in her mouth, but it had been thrown back in her face regardless. When the door had opened unannounced she almost yelped at his towering and imposing figure, along with the stone dead expression on the mask. She had stared at the man with a gape mouth and all the commotion in the room had become static in her ears. After taking in the lion crest on the man's leather chest plate, she looked back towards Chief Beifong only to see her standing straighter than she had ever seen.

"Lin, it is a joy to see you again." The man's hands clasped in front of him and bowed slightly.

"Lord Gwendolyn-"

"Please, Lin, of all the things we've been through. Just call me Gwyn."

She quickly fixed her stance and sighed. "I take it Tenzin sent you then?"

Korra immediately perked up, causing the man's metallic visage to land in her; sending a shiver down her spine. Despite the man's friendly voice, the presence alone still made her uneasy.

"I suppose you are the Avatar?"

"Oh!" She tried to stand up and found her arms still bound to the desk. "Uh-yes! Lord-uh, sir?"

"Gwyn, is fine." He then turned towards Lin once more, "Seeing as you are busy these days, why not let me take her off your hands? I can assure you she won't get into any more trouble."

He bowed his head slightly. "You have my word." The veil that was pulled back cascaded down his shoulders.

At that moment, Korra believed she was in the presence of an elevated being.

For a moment, relief flooded her; regardless of her savior. She didn't want to spend another minute being barked at like a lamb needing to be herd. She also felt a strange relationship come from between them, one built on hardships and plain respect. She felt as though she was watching one of those cheesy military dramas. In fact, she had even began shifting her wrists that were still bound, eager to be released. That was until Lin crossed her arms and set herself a steady glare.

"As much as I trust you being able to keep the jailbird out of more trouble-"

"Hey!" Korra interjected, only to grumble as both of them glanced at her.

"She caused major damage to the streets and private property." Lin pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed, "Even if you pay for it there's still processing to be done."

The man in the mask didn't say anything, but kept his hands in front of him. His head tilted ever so slightly and after a minute Lin sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Fine. Take her. But keep her out of my city." Lin waved them off and her cuffs released simultaneously. She sat down as Korra stood up.

"As much as I'd like to promise that, I can't." He motioned for Korra to step out. "But I can promise she won't cause anymore trouble." He turned to leave, but stopped and grabbed Korra's arm, stopping her. She jolted when he had forcefully grabbed her and turned to look at him, nervousness precipitating on her forehead.

"If you could, walk down the hall and into the break room. There you'll find a woman in a dark outfit with brown hair, don't leave her side." His voice was neither commanding, but it did give her the impression that he would rather not chase after her.

"Uh-yea. Yea, okay." The man unhanded her and turned toward Lin.

Two pairs of green eyes watched her intently as she shut the door slowly.

"I don't want her here."

Gwyn snorted behind his mask, "That much could be guessed."

"Why are you here? Shouldn't you be-"

He raised a gloved hand, stopping her from continuing, "I'd rather not have to hear this again, Lin. I'm fine, as far as I can be anyway, the city air soothes me. It's better than being locked in my estate or the temple with my guard dog of a sister." Once he finished, Gwyn could see Lin's face morph into uncertainty. He knew what conversation she wished to have, he had been putting it off for months, but now was as good a time as any. He paced the room slowly, his skin slowly stretching once more. He reached the set that had once been used by the Avatar, a rather cold and undignified one. Then again, that girl was as undignified as they come.

"Has there been word from Zaofu?" He asked once he was able to place his hands in his lap. Even with the mask firmly on his face, he was certain Lin could discern the look from his eyes alone.

She stared into his eyes for a moment, setting her jaw as if ready to retaliate for bringing up that city she held such contempt for. Ultimately, she sighed: "Not anything good. There are still skirmishes outside of their borders and failed aerial insertions." Gwyn noticed the slight fidget she had with her thumb and forefinger. "From the last message we received it looks like the approaching army also ceased when they did here, but they didn't take any territory."

There was no malice in her voice, but Gwyn couldn't help but sit back as if he received a blow. It had been his fault they had lost parts of the city, had he not fallen ill towards the end of the battle; there would still be a unified Republic City. He swallowed thickly, both with pain and anger. He lost the majority of the farmlands towards the south, the multiple naval docking ports, and, embarrassingly, the statue of Avatar Aang on memorial island. Once word reached him he felt nothing but shame at having to report this to the council, but above all else: to Tenzin. What explanation could he offer to him? How could he stand in that council hall and explain to the son of the man who founded this city, that he had lost the statue made in his father's honor?

Tenzin, ever the rational man, had expressed that he had no ill will towards him. He explained later that, although the loss of memorial island was gutting, the legacy of his father lived on not just through him, but his children and the very temple they reside on. That was the first time Gwyn had remained in the same spot, unmoving, frustratingly close to a meltdown. He then vowed silently to himself as Tenzin walked away to reclaim the island, by any means.

"Although they have ceased their invasion, that does not mean they are not preparing for something else." Gwyn shifted in the seat. "I cannot say I am pleased with the current situation, but none of our people's blood has been shed in months so I can say I am content with that fact."

Lin hummed in agreement, but spoke a second later. "Whatever the case, we need to stay vigilant. Spirits know when they decide they've had enough of their stand still." She rose with a sigh and Gwyn followed suit. She watched as the young man's garbs fluttered as he shakily made his way to his feet, and wobbled a bit. Lin had known Gwyn when he was just a boy, back then he didn't wear such clothes. He ran and played like any child would, he was a breath of fresh air to be around, but his most prominent feature was his bright smile. Lin had always had this dark aura around her, made much worse in those days of her separation, but as his father asked her to watch him on occasion, Lin slowly began caring for the boy. Then, on his fourteenth birthday, tragedy came in waves.

He was first diagnosed with an unknown disease that caused his skin to rot. It was first noticed when he had fallen from a great height and his sister, Dorothea, came running in while carrying him. The skin on his forearm seemingly peeled off with no effort and hung around his wrist. Gwyn, however, just stared at it with no pained expression. His father had immediately taken him to the hospital in the upper district, an expensive hospital, but easily paid for by his military status. There, among the horrid smells of disinfectant, the doctor revealed he had never seen anything like it. His own body had begun attacking itself and it started on the outside and would surely work its way to his organs. His predicted time of survival: three months. She distinctly remembers hearing his older sister let out a sob. She remembers it because it was out of character for her, Dorothea didn't show much interest in her brother—oftentimes ignoring him unless her father commanded otherwise. But Dorothea wasn't the only one who cried that day.

For the first time in a long time, Lin wept. She wept in mourning. Because after that day, the boy's smile never returned. Not for a long time.

"Lin?"

She looked up to see Gwyn looking at her, head tilted slightly.

"Are you alright?" he asked. She could see his eyes scanning her face in what almost seemed like concern.

"Yes. I'm fine." She said in her usual snappy tone. Because she knew that was the only way for him to truly know.

"Very well. I'll be leaving." He bowed and began walking toward the door.

"Oh, and Lin?" He turned to meet her gaze once again. "Relax yourself, I'll make sure to keep the Avatar under control. If I can't, I'll send her back to you in chans."

Though Lin could not see his face with the metallic visage in the way, she swore she saw something in his eyes. As the door shut firmly behind him, she was almost certain; his eyes had crinkled in a smile.

•

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On the Eastern border of Republic City, just five miles before the desolate desert of the Earth Kingdom begins; resides a tranquil forest. The trees extend towards the heavens in straight lines and its branches extend outward, full of leaves, bristles, and cones. The ground is moss covered, often trapped beneath the wild grass that always seems to be trimmed. Wild fauna pounce and scurry under the security of shade from the trees, no predator resides here, not anymore. Deep within this haven of trees and misaligned rocks, lies a portion of the forest where the trees are angled against one another. As if something had pulled them down to create a shelter.

And something did.

No animals approach the area, often scurrying from feeling the soft tremors as whatever lies within breathes. Claw marks extend from the large rock beside the made shelter, thwarting any curious souls, and a thick scent of eucalyptus encompasses the air, halting any avian species in their tracks. If entering the forest on a late night, it is possible to hear the large sound of flapping wings, snarling, and an eerie wailing. None have seen what creature it is, and none wish to. Some say the unseen creature is a spirit, others say it is a monster, but none dare call it a dragon.

For it would be a grave insult to the king of that forest.