Feelings can be great allies, but they can also cloud judgment.
Breakthrough. Due to her encounter with Amon, Avatar Korra decided to take a break from action. Meanwhile, the former Padawan, Ahsoka Tano, collaborated with the chief of police, Lin Beifong, to find clues about the Equalists. In one of their investigations, they discovered that the Equalists had seized galactic weapons. In the end, thanks to her friend's words, Korra returned to action and together with Ahsoka, they prevented more of those weapons from falling into the wrong hands and right after, they all receive a new visit in the form of a droid.
Weeks had passed since several events such as Korra defying Amon and discovering that the Equalists had a benefactor who provided them with galactic weapons.
After that, Lin, Ahsoka and Korra tried various ways to track them down, but so far they had no leads.
But that wasn't all in Korra's mind, as there was little time left for the tournament and they had to train hard.
In the gymnasium of the pro-bending arena, Korra, Mako and Bolin were in a triangular position so they could launch attacks together and defend themselves while Ahsoka and Kaxey were standing to the side watching the training.
Korra threw two water drops at Bolin who used an earth disk to block one while Mako used a fire kick to neutralize the other before throwing two fireballs at his brother who blocked them with earth disks.
Korra threw a water jet at Mako which he dodged with a leap before throwing two fireballs at Korra and Bolin which they blocked with their respective elements.
Then Mako threw Bolin a curved fireball that he couldn't block in time and ended up getting knocked down just before he could throw an earth disc that hit Korra, who had just thrown Mako a water jet, knocking her down in the process and since Mako was distracted, he couldn't stop the water jet from hitting him and knocking him down.
In the end, all three ended up knocked down and lying on the ground, but then they sat up and everyone burst out laughing.
Mako stood up as he took off his helmet.
"It's been great having you at so many back-to-back practices, Korra." said Mako as the rest got up and took off their helmets.
"Feels good to be back. I feel like I can handle anything. I guess helping stop a transport truck and fighting the lieutenant helped me a bit." said Korra.
"Though it still bothers me that Tarrlok got a hold of those weapons." said Ahsoka with her arms crossed.
"Yeah, from what you have told us, they don't look like a good thing." said Bolin.
"Well, what can you expect from humans and their crazy minds?" asked Kaxey.
"Remind me why you carry her with you everywhere." said Mako.
"It was the deal I made with Lin when I took her. In case I managed to activate her, I would have to keep an eye on her all the time so she wouldn't cause trouble." said Ahsoka.
"In other words, I'm a prisoner and she's my jailer." said Kaxey.
"Oh, come on. Don't think of it that way. Think of her as… as a babysitter." said Bolin.
"You know that makes it worse, right?" asked Kaxey.
"Still, you seem to be adapting to this world." said Korra.
"Yeah, it may be primitive in terms of technology and people get really stuck when they see a droid nearby, but it's not bad." said Kaxey.
"Well, changing the subject, team huddle time!" began Mako as the four huddled together with their heads touching each other, but soon after, Mako looked at a certain togruta. "You too, Ahsoka."
"I?" asked Ahsoka in surprise as she pointed to herself.
"Sure. You're practically team." said Bolin.
"And what am I? The wiper droid?" asked Kaxey crossing her arms.
"Sorry, Kaxey, but you just got here so…" began Korra.
"Yes, yes, I understand. To the dugout." said Kaxey.
With a smile, Ahsoka joined the team hug.
Bolin smiled at Korra who was flustered by that before smiling in the same way at Mako who was confused by that, though Ahsoka was able to understand.
" It's our first match of the tournament tonight. I know the three of us haven't been a team for very long, but even so, the Fire Ferrets have never been this good." said Mako.
"Say yes. I think, if you stay focused, you can handle anything." said Ahsoka.
"That's the spirit, Ahsoka! Are we ready?" asked Mako.
"We're ready!" said Korra and Bolin in unison.
"Not quite." began Asami who had arrived at the gym with a new shirt. "You'll need these."
"Hey, Asami." said Mako breaking away from the team to go to her.
"Good morning, sweetie." said Asami.
"These new uniforms look great!" said Mako looking at the new uniform.
"You look great, champ!" said Asami before they both rubbed noses (an Eskimo kiss).
Korra made a disgusted gesture.
"If it weren't for the fact that I don't have a stomach, I'd feel like throwing up." said Kaxey.
"Oh, hi, Kaxey." began Asami turning her gaze towards them, making Korra act normal again. "How are you feeling?"
"Considering I only woke up a short time ago. Pretty good." said Kaxey.
"Speaking of which, how's the bike I delivered to you coming along?" asked Ahsoka.
"Honestly, it still seems like a dream to me that you asked me to fix you up with a slider bike from outer space. There are some things that are hard for me to understand, but I know that, in time, I will be able to figure them out and make your bike as good as new. I might even be able to create more." said Asami.
"I'm glad to hear that." said Ahsoka with a smile.
"And Kaxey, if you ever need a repair or a tune-up, you can also come see me." said Asami.
"I'll think about it." said Kaxey.
"Well, teammates. I'll see you before the match tonight. Asami and I have a lunch date." said Mako before leaving with Asami.
"Okay, we'll check you guys later." said Bolin saying goodbye.
"See you later." said Ahsoka.
"Or not. I don't care." said Kaxey.
Korra was about to leave too when suddenly, Bolin slipped her side.
"So, Korra. There they go. Here we are, all alone in the gym, just you and me, two alone people. Together. Alone." said Bolin.
"Ahem."
Bolin turned around to see Ahsoka and Kaxey looking at him.
"You know we're here too, right?" asked Ahsoka.
"Oh, right, right. Yeah, I forgot about that. Hehehe." said Bolin with a nervous smile.
"Word of advice, kid, think before you speak. I'm sure it won't be complicated for you." said Kaxey.
Unfortunately, Korra understood what Bolin was implying.
"Ah, I gotta head back to the air temple to train with Tenzin. See ya!" said Korra hurrying off with the togruta and the droid, leaving the earthbender sad.
Later, Mako and Bolin were in their apartment, with the older brother preparing food while the younger brother tried to give Pabu a bath in a bucket full of water, which the animal didn't like.
"Work with me here, Pabu! You wanna look spic and span in your new uniform, don't you?" asked Bolin trying to get Pabu into the bucket of water, but he kept resisting until finally, Bolin got him into the water, much to his disgrace. "So, what do you think of Korra, in a 'girlfriend' sort of way?"
"She's great! But I think it makes more sense for me to go for Asami." said Mako.
"I was talking about a girlfriend for me! Leave some ladies for the rest of us!" said Bolin.
"I know, that's what I thought you meant." said Mako lying slightly.
"Well…?" asked Bolin.
"I don't know, Bo. It doesn't seem like a good idea for you to date Korra." said Mako.
"You just said she was great two seconds ago." said Bolin.
"Yeah, Korra is a great athlete and the Avatar and stuff, but I don't know if she's really 'girlfriend material'. She's more like a pal." said Mako.
"Bro, you're nuts! Korra and I are perfect for each other: she's strong, I'm strong; she's fun, I'm fun; she's beautiful, I'm gorgeous!" said Bolin with a confident smile.
"Okay, but what about Ahsoka? She's a girl too." said Mako.
"Yeah, I may also think Ahsoka is smart, funny and pretty for being from another planet, but I see her more as a great friend, nothing more." said Bolin.
"Just saying." said Mako.
"Okay, I don't care what you think, I'm gonna ask Korra out." said Bolin with a confident smile.
"Look, it just isn't smart to date a teammate, especially during the tournament. Keep your head out of the clouds and your priorities straight, okay?" asked Mako acting like a big brother.
"Yeah, yeah, I know, gah." said Bolin reluctantly accepting his brother's advice. "You know what I'm talking about, Pabu, I'm talking about real love."
Meanwhile, as the snow was falling, on Air Temple Island, Korra, Ahsoka, Kaxey, Jinora and Ikki were busy placing food in a cage for the flying lemurs.
"So, how's it going with the tall, dreamy firebender boy? You've been spending a lot of time together lately." said Jinora as Korra came down the ladder.
"Oooh, yeah! Tell us all about the magical romance." said Ikki.
"What? Haha. Listen to you two, I-I'm not interested in Mako or any romantic stuff. *cough* Besides he's all into that prissy, beautiful, elegant, rich girl…" said Korra.
"Don't lie, Korra. I knew from the first moment that you were interested in Mako." said Ahsoka.
"What? That's not true!" declared Korra blushing slightly.
"Right and I'm not a droid." said Kaxey in disbelief.
"Okay, let's just pretend for a second I am interested in him. What would I do?" asked Korra.
"Ooh! I just read a historical saga where the heroine fell in love with the enemy general's son, who's supposed to marry the princess. You should do what she did!" said Jinora.
"Tell me!" said Korra.
"She rode a dragon into battle and burned down the entire country. Then she jumped into a volcano. It was so romantic!" said Jinora.
"If that's romantic for humans, I'm glad I'm not one." said Kaxey.
"No, no, no! The best way to win a boy's heart is to brew a love potion of rainbows and sunsets that makes true lovers sprout wings and fly into a magical castle in the sky, where they get married and eat clouds with spoons and use stars as ice cubes in their moonlight punch. Forever and ever and ever!" said Ikki before jumping off while using air control to spin in mid-jump.
"Now the volcano is starting to make a lot more sense." said Kaxey.
Then, Korra turned her gaze to the togruta.
"What about you, Ahsoka?" asked Korra.
"What?" asked Ahsoka in confusion.
"Well, I know you fought in many battles, but I'm sure you met someone special." said Korra.
"That's right. Great-uncle Sokka and Great-aunt Suki met during the war and they were very happy together." said Jinora.
Ahsoka thought for a moment until she remembered a certain person.
"Well, actually there was an interesting person in my life." said Ahsoka.
"Really? Who was it?" asked Ikki.
Ahsoka smiled before sitting down on a nearby rock, with the others sitting in front of her on the ground like a storyteller.
"His name was Lux Bonteri. He was the son of a separatist senator." said Ahsoka.
"Wait, you said you were in a war with the Separatists." said Jinora.
"Yes, but there was a Republic senator who wanted to end the war peacefully. Her name was Padme Amidala and one day, she asked me to accompany her to the Separatist planet to meet with Lux's mother who was a friend of hers. While they were talking about ending the war through negotiations, Lux and I were talking and I saw that we weren't so different even though we were from opposite sides. We became good friends then." recounted Ahsoka.
"What happened in the end?" asked Korra.
"A negotiation plan was proposed between the Republic and the Separatists, but an attack on Coruscant stopped it and the war continued. I didn't see Lux again for a while." said Ahsoka.
"Oh, no." said Ikki in surprise.
"Sometime later, I went to a peace conference between the Separatists and the Republic on the planet Mandalore. There, Lux appeared accusing Count Dooku of killing his mother." said Ahsoka.
"What? That's horrible!" said Korra surprised to hear that.
"Count Dooku intended to assassinate him, but I saved him in time. Since he could no longer stay with the Separatists, I tried to convince him to go to the Republic, but he told me he had a plan with an independent group intent on revenge against Dooku. That group was the Death Watch." Ahsoka said.
"Death Watch?" asked Jinora in confusion.
"You see. Mandalore was, at that time, a neutral planet that wanted to stay out of the Clone Wars. However, before that, it was a planet of warriors with customs and traditions. The Death Watch was a group that still retained those customs and they intended to bring Mandalore back to that time." said Ahsoka.
"And Lux wanted to ally with them? That doesn't sound like a good idea." said Korra.
"You know what wasn't a good idea either? Since he couldn't say he was a Jedi, he introduced me as his betrothed." said Ahsoka with a frown.
"Aw. That's nice." said Ikki with a smile.
"No, it wasn't. The worst was, when I was telling him about how bad it was to ally with the Death Watch, do you know what he did to shut me up?" asked Ahsoka.
"What did he do?" asked Jinora.
"He kissed me. On the lips." said Ahsoka.
"AW." expressed the girls in unison.
"That wasn't nice!" said Ahsoka angrily.
"And what happened after that?" asked Ikki.
"Well, we had trouble with them, but we managed to escape. Lux still didn't want to join the Republic and left on his own. I haven't heard from him since." said Ahsoka.
"What a pity. I'm sure you two would have made a good couple." said Jinora.
"I feel the same way." they all looked to the side to see Pema nearby.
"Oh, hey Pema. Uh, how long were you standing there?" asked Korra.
"Long enough. But trust me, I know what you're going through. Years ago I was in the exact the same situation, with Tenzin." said Pema coming closer.
"Daddy was in love with someone else before you?" asked Ikki.
"That's right." said Pema.
"What exactly happened?" asked Ahsoka rather curiously.
"Well, for the longest time, I did nothing. I was so shy and scared of rejection, but watching my soulmate spend his life with the wrong woman became too painful." said Pema recounting events from the past.
"So what did you do?" asked Korra.
"That I hung my chin out there and I confessed my love to Tenzin. And the rest is history." said Pema.
"Wooow!" said the girls in unison.
Korra looked away thinking about Pema's story and smiled as she made up her mind.
"You humans certainly have some strange relationship stories." commented Kaxey.
Later in the evening, many people gathered at the pro-bending arena for the match.
"Folks, after a year of waiting the Pro-Bending Championship Tournament is finally here. Tonight is the first set of matches in our single elimination sixteen team bracket. And I gotta tell ya, these are the most tenacious and talented bending trios this arena has ever seen." said Shiro as the platform moved the Fire Ferrets onto the field.
"Let's go, guys!" shouted Ahsoka.
"Yes. Let's go." said Kaxey without much encouragement.
"Introducing our first team, the Future Industries Fire Ferrets! And their opponents, the Red Sands Rabaroos!" announced the announcer as the opposing all-girl team was led into the ring.
The two teams got into position with a serious and determined look on their faces. Soon after, the starting bell rang, but as soon as it rang, everyone threw their respective element into the same place, causing an explosion that sent them all tumbling backwards.
"What an explosive opening volley." began Shiro as the opposing team launched their respective elements while the Ferrets defended, though Korra had to duck to the side to dodge a fireball. "Both teams quickly recover and unleash a barrage of bending. I am astonished with the level of improvement displayed here by the Fire Ferrets."
Bolin threw an earthen disc at an opponent who was distracted blocking a stream of water, which caused the disc to hit her and send her into the back zone.
"No wonder the Avatar has been absent from the papers lately." said Shiro as the Ferrets advanced one zone.
"She's obviously had her nose to the grindstone in the gym." said Shiro as the two teams continued to launch attacks on each other and defend against opposing attacks.
"The Ferrets advance into Rabaroo territory and are holding nothing back." said Shiro just as Bolin threw a ground disc and a jet of water knocked down an opponent.
"Nice sprawl there by Mako." Shiro said when the disc hit an opponent, pushing her backwards until she collided colliding with her partner before a fireball and an earth disc hit both, knocking them both down.
"Bolin strikes, Ula dodges, and all three Rabaroos are down. The Fire Ferrets easily take round one!" said Shiro as the final bell rang.
"Round two!" shouted the announcer just before the opening bell rang.
The second later, one of the opponents squirted a stream of water directly at Bolin.
"The Rabaroos are looking for payback and they go straight after Bolin." said Shiro as Bolin lifted an earthen disc to block another water jet.
"Korra comes to his defense and she water-whacks Umi back into zone two!" said Shiro as Korra jumped in front of Bolin and launched a jet of water that hit the waterbender, sending her rolling into the back area.
The firebender threw fireballs that Bolin dodged as Mako destroyed an incoming earth disc before jumping to dodge another while throwing a kicking fireball. He then ducked to dodge a water jet before launching more fireballs.
"The Ferrets are on fire tonight and they win round two." said Shiro.
"Round three!" shouted the announcer before the starting bell rang once more.
"With the Rabaroos down two rounds they'll need a knockout to win, and with the way the Fire Ferrets are playing I don't see that happening." said Shiro as one of the opponents was hit by a ground disc while Bolin dodged a water jet, stepping in front of Mako.
Bolin threw an earth disc and then ducked to allow Mako to throw a horizontal fire wave in mid-jump that hit an opponent, who was sent to the back area just like her partner.
"These Ferrets are working together like a well-oiled bending machine." said Shiro as Korra and Bolin continuously launched attacks from their respective elements.
One of the discs thrown by Bolin managed to hit another opponent, sending her into the back zone.
"Bolin passes Adi back into zone two and the Ferrets get the green light to advance." said Shiro as the Ferrets advanced forward.
The opposing team was overwhelmed by the continued attacks, unable to defend or counterattack.
"The Rabaroos are just fighting to stay at their feet at this point." began Shiro as the opposing team members were pushed back to the edge. "Out goes Adi, and Ula, and Umi!"
"All three rounds go to the Future Industries Fire Ferrets to win the opening match of the tournament!" said the announcer.
"Woohoo!" shouted Korra jumping for joy.
"Nice!" said Mako.
"That's what I'm talking about!" said Bolin before the three gathered in a group hug.
As Bolin stayed behind to thank the spectators, Mako, Korra returned to the box where Ahsoka and Kaxey were standing as the first two removed their helmets.
"Good job, guys. You did phenomenal." said Ahsoka.
"Thank you, Ahsoka." began Korra before turning her gaze to the droid. "How did you like your first pro-bending match, Kaxey?"
"Honestly, I found it quite entertaining. Especially when you beat your opponent into the water. How humiliating." said Kaxey.
"I must admit, you worked really well. It almost reminded me of how the clones worked during the war" said Ahsoka.
"That's right, we were really connecting out there in that ring." said Mako.
"Yeah! You know, I feel like the two of us have been connecting really well out of the ring, too." said Korra a bit flushed.
Ahsoka knew what Korra was about to do and had a feeling it wouldn't end well.
"Uh oh." said Ahsoka.
"Uh, sure." said Mako.
"So, I was thinking we should spend some time together." said Korra a little nervously.
"Oh, we've been spending lots of time together." said Mako.
"I mean outside of the gym, and not while searching for kidnapped family members or fighting chi blockers." said Korra still blushing.
"I don't know. Asami and I have..." said Mako thinking he knew what the Avatar was talking about.
"Look, I really like you and I think we are meant for each other!" said Korra quickly, confessing her feelings.
Ahsoka patted her face at the confession.
"And... she said it." said Kaxey.
Mako turned around with a sad face as Korra quickly turned around and hid her face that had a blush of embarrassment.
"Korra, I'm really sorry, but I just don't feel the same way about you." began Mako.
"Forget I ever said anything." said Korra still blushing with embarrassment as she walked away a little.
Just then, Asami entered the room, as did Bolin.
"Congratulations, guys! You were so amazing out there." said Asami going to Mako's side and giving him a kiss.
Mako and Korra looked at each other sadly before the Avatar looked away and Mako smiled at his girlfriend before the two left.
At that moment, Bolin approached Korra sporting a gallant smile.
"So, Korra, I was thinking, you and me, we could get some dinner together, sort of a date situation." said Bolin.
"Oh, that's really sweet, but I don't think so. I don't feel very date-worthy." said Korra.
"Are you kidding me? You're the smartest, funniest, toughest, buffest, talentedest, incrediblest girl in the world!" said Bolin causing the Avatar to blush and chuckle.
"You really feel that way about me?" asked Korra with a smile.
"I felt that way since the moment I saw you! Trust me, I know we're gonna have so much fun together." said Bolin.
"I'm sure you will." said Ahsoka crossing her arms.
"Hey, you and Kaxey can join us if you want" said Korra inviting her friend and the droid.
"I appreciate the invitation, but I have business to attend to." said Ahsoka.
"And I have better things to do than, as the humans say, hold candles." said Kaxey.
"I'll see you around," said Ahsoka as she and Kaxey left.
"So, what do you say, Korra?" asked Bolin.
"You know what? I could use some fun. Okay, sure!" said Korra feeling more encouraged.
"Yes! Who's the luckiest guy in the world? Right here, Bolin!" said Bolin walking out of the room with Korra, though she paused for a moment.
Mako stood for a while looking away from Asami to turn his head a little and listen to the conversation between the two.
When they left Asami put her hand on his cheek to turn his gaze back to her.
They both looked into each other's eyes affectionately before Asami rested her head with her eyes closed on his shoulder, but after that, Mako turned his narrowed gaze back to the exit where Korra and his brother went.
Later in the evening, Ahsoka and Kaxey went to the police station to talk to Lin.
"I see you brought your little metal friend." said Lin looking at the droid.
"You can bite my shiny metal ass, old lady." said Kaxey.
If it wasn't because it was a meeting, she would have used her metalbending to turn her into a crushed tin can.
"What did you call us here for, Chief Beifong?" asked Ahsoka.
"I suppose you'll be aware of the newspapers." said Lin placing a newspaper on her desk showing a picture of Tarrlok and his task force carrying the blaster pistols posing behind a group of held Equalists.
"Not to be seen." said Kaxey.
"Looks like Tarrlok is getting good at handling those guns." said Ahsoka looking at the newspaper image.
"Yeah, but you don't know what happened before that. It was like a war. Shots going back and forth from both sides and there have been several injuries and wreckage during the fight." said Lin.
"Do you think that could bring serious consequences?" asked Ahsoka.
"I don't think so. I know. If this continues like this, it could mean a lot of problems to the city." said Lin.
"Yes, such as some triad getting hold of those weapons or Tarrlok starting to abuse the power he already has." said Kaxey.
"Exactly." said Lin.
"So what do you want us to do?" asked Ahsoka.
"For the time being, I suggest you keep your eyes and ears open in case something happens and report it immediately to me and the Avatar." said Lin.
"You want to work with Korra?" asked Ahsoka.
"Yes, I reckon she didn't do too bad during that chase and she may have potential." said Lin.
"Wow. Who knew the iron lady would have a heart?" asked Kaxey.
"Keep talking like that and you'll end up in the junkyard you came from." said Lin.
"Try it if you dare." said Kaxey challenging the metalbender.
"Uh… Enough for today. We'd better get going." said Ahsoka with a nervous smile as she pushed Kaxey towards the exit.
"Yeah, we'd better, otherwise I would have shown you what dough I'm made of." said Kaxey before she and Ahsoka left the office.
"Hmm. Droids." said Lin before going back to her work.
Later in the evening, Korra and Bolin were at a restaurant having a quiet dinner, with Naga sleeping near the entrance.
"So, how do you like it?" asked Bolin as he ate a bowl of noodles.
"Hmm, it's delicious and totally authentic! I didn't realize how much I missed Water Tribe grub." said Korra as she ate her meal.
"That's great, 'cause this is my favorite joint. See? You love Water Tribe food, I love Water Tribe food, just another reason we are so great together." said Bolin as Korra slurped down more noodles.
"They are good noodles!" began Korra before realizing something. "Hey, who's that creepy guy over there who keeps glaring at us?" asked Korra referring to a boy who was walking with two other boys and three girls, all of them looking at them.
"That's Tahno and the Wolfbats, the reigning champs, three years running. Don't make eye contact." said Bolin warningly, but Korra narrowed her gaze at him.
Soon after, Tahno stood up and with a wave of his arms, the rest of his group proceeded to follow him to where they were.
"Uh-oh, here he comes. Now don't mess with this guy, he's a nasty dude." said Bolin nervously and when he saw that they were very close, he set about continuing to eat his plate while Korra continued to scowl at them.
"Well, well, well." began Tahno as he approached the table they were at with their group. "If it isn't the Fire Ferrets. Pro-bending's saddest excuse for a team. Tell me, how did a couple of amateurs like you luck your way into the tournament? Especially you, Uh-vatar." said Tahno, receiving a snort of annoyance from the Avatar before moving a little closer to her. "You know, if you'd like to learn how a real pro bends, I could give you some private lessons."
"You wanna go toe-to-toe with me, pretty boy?" asked Korra a bit annoyed and annoyed as she stood up with her face very close to Tahno's.
"Go for it. I'll give you the first shot." began Tahno provoking the Avatar. "And if you're not interested, maybe your friend will take you up on the offer. I wonder how someone from another planet gets around."
Korra could take being picked on, but she wasn't about to let them tease her like that who she considered her best friend.
She clenched her fist in rage, wanting to give that boy the beating of his life.
"Korra, don't. He's just trying to bait you. If you hit him, we're out of the tournament." whispered Bolin trying to keep his friend from doing something crazy.
Tahno would smile superiorly, hoping the Avatar would fall for the trap, which it looked like she would when Korra raised her hand, but then, she used her hand to let out a hiss and Naga appeared through the nearest window to let out a mighty roar at Tahno, who screamed in dread as he backed up a bit.
After that, Tahno put up his hair that had been tousled by the roar and smiled again before raising his arms to signal to his group that they were done and then, off they went.
When they were far enough away, the two burst out laughing loudly.
"Whoa, ho, ho, I've never seen someone harass Tahno like that. You are one of a kind, Korra." said Bolin with a smile that Korra returned.
Later, the two were at another restaurant having a couple of milkshakes.
Bolin let out a small burp and then covered his mouth in embarrassment.
Korra, however, smiled before letting out a burp of her own.
Seeing it now as a game of dare, Bolin let out a burp louder than the previous one and then, Korra let out a burp so powerful that it made Bolin's hair flip in the wind.
The two looked at each other for a moment before bursting out laughing, though it wasn't the same for the other patrons in the room who looked on in shock and horror.
Then, in an illuminated tower (which resembled the Eiffel Tower), Korra and Bolin stood at the top enjoying the view.
While Korra was in awe of the view, Bolin was happy to spend some fun time with the girl he had romantic feelings for.
A short time later, Korra returned to the island to rest for the rest of the night, but as she was walking to her room, she stopped when she saw Ahsoka and Kaxey in the dining room as the togruta sipped some tea.
"Hey, did you just get here?" asked Korra entering the dining room.
"No. We arrived a few minutes ago. I just wanted to have some tea before bed." said Ahsoka.
"Can I have some?" asked Korra sitting down with them.
"Sure." said Ahsoka before pouring another cup of tea for her friend.
"So, what have you been up to tonight?" asked Korra.
"Well…" began Ahsoka before telling her about the meeting they had with Lin and what Kaxey told her.
Needless to say, that made Korra burst out laughing out loud.
"HAHAHA. Did you really say that to Lin Beifong, the police chief? HA. You're awesome, Kaxey." said Korra extending her palm out to her.
"Never doubt that." said Kaxey before high-fiving the Avatar, who let out a wince as she rubbed her hand as the droid's metal hand was so hard.
"And you, how did your 'date' with Bolin go?" asked Ahsoka.
"About that…" began Korra before telling her what happened in the night, from the meeting at the restaurant to when they parted ways.
"Sounds like you had a lot of fun." said Ahsoka.
"Yes, you're right." said Korra.
"Especially considering the failure of your confession to Mako." said Kaxey.
"Oh, I was afraid you would bring that up." said Korra embarrassed.
"Listen, Korra, I don't want to meddle in your love life." started Ahsoka.
"I much less so" added Kaxey.
"But if you're not careful with your feelings, there could be consequences for you and others. Especially when you're in the middle of the tournament." said Ahsoka.
"I know. I know. Don't worry, I've got it all under control. I'm going to bed. Good night." said Korra before leaving the dining room.
"As you keep saying, I have a bad feeling about this." said Kaxey.
"Me too, Kaxey. Me too." said Ahsoka worried about her friend.
The next night, Mako was sitting on the stairs at the entrance of the pro-bending arena and stood up when he saw Korra walking towards the entrance.
"What kind of game are you playing?" asked Mako.
"Uh… Pro-bending? We've got the quarterfinal match." said Korra not understanding the firebender's question.
"No, I mean with Bolin. You've got him all in a tizzy and I know you're only using him to get back at me." said Mako.
"I am not, we're just having fun together. What do you care, anyway?" asked Korra.
"I'm looking out for my little brother. I don't want to see his heart get broken." said Mako.
"Wait a second… you're not worried about him, you're jealous! You do have feelings for me!" said Korra with an amused smile.
"What? Jealous? Don't be ridiculous." said Mako.
"Admit it! You like me." said Korra.
"No. I'm with Asami." said Mako.
"Yeah, but when you're with her you're thinking about me, aren't you?" asked Korra.
"Get over yourself!" said Mako.
"I'm just being honest." said Korra.
"You're crazy!" shouted Mako.
"You're a liar!" shouted Korra.
Suddenly, they both felt something grab them by the back of their clothes and lift them above the ground.
Looking up, they saw that Kaxey was lifting them with her own strength.
"All right, listen to me both of you. As much as I'm interested in your human soap opera, there's an important match tonight and I didn't pay my ticket for you to lose because of your ridiculous bickering." said Kaxey.
"You didn't pay anything." commented Ahsoka.
"Stay out of this, Kaxey!" said Mako trying to free himself from her grip.
"For once, I agree with him!" said Korra trying to free herself from her grip.
In the next instant, Kaxey released them, causing them to fall to the ground on their butts.
"You two better save that energy for the match, got it?" asked Kaxey.
"Good!" said the two getting up before walking towards different entrances.
"Human teenagers." said Kaxey.
"Yeah, good thing I didn't go through that." said Ahsoka crossing her arms.
When Korra and Mako arrived at the box to change into their equipment, Bolin was there.
"Hey guys. Are you excited for the match tonight?" asked Bolin excitedly.
"Not now, Bolin!" replied the two in unison still angry from the earlier conversation, leaving the earthbender confused.
Once they were in full uniform, the team went to the ring.
"Eight teams have been eliminated and eight advance into the quarter finals, which get underway tonight." began Shiro with the two teams in position for the bout. "The rookies are about to take on the former and longest-reigning champs, the Boar-q-pines. Youth clashes against experience in a battle for the ages, or rather of the ages."
Just then, the starting bell rang.
In the next instant, the two teams proceeded to launch elemental attacks at each other while defending themselves.
Korra flipped to the side with a somersault to dodge several attacks.
"Korra dodges and..." began Shiro when suddenly, Korra, while dodging, ended up colliding with Mako. "Ooh, slams right into her teammate!" said Shiro as the opposing team managed to hit them all, sending them to the back area. "Down goes Mako and Bolin and Korra!"
"Round one goes to the Boar-q-pines!" said the announcer before the end bell rang.
"You were supposed to defend while I attacked!" said Mako.
"I had an opening so I took it!" said Korra.
"What is up with you two? All right, whatever, just pull together, guys." said Bolin.
"Oh, I feared this might happen." said Ahsoka.
"Now I regret betting on them." said Kaxey, bringing an arched eyebrow from the togruta.
Soon after, the bell rang for the start of the second round and the Fire Ferrets began to throw their respective elements.
"The Ferrets looking to mount some offense here in round two." said Shiro as Bolin threw an earth disc that hit one of the opponents.
The waterbender threw a jet of water that hit Mako while another was hit by an earthen disc.
Meanwhile, Bolin threw earth discs continuously while dodging enemy attacks.
"Bolin lets fly a flurry of attacks, he's a one-man bending battalion." said Shiro as Bolin continued to throw earth discs while dodging.
One of his discs managed to hit an opponent that he sent to the back area just as the end bell rang.
"The Ferrets are having a rough time finding their rhythm tonight, but thanks to Bolin, they narrowly notch round two." said Shiro making the earthbender smile.
Then the bell rang for the start of the third round.
Both teams again launched attacks on each other, but the ones who got the worst of it were the Ferrets.
"Not sure what's eating them, but this is not the same team who took out the Rabaroos." said Shiro as the Ferrets team was constantly being beaten up.
Finally the final bell rang.
"Round three is a tie! We go to a tie-breaker to decide the match." said the announcer.
The referee flipped up a coin with one red and one blue side. When the coin landed on his hand, everyone saw the red side of the coin.
"The Fire Ferrets win the coin toss! Which element do you choose?" asked the referee.
"I got this." said Mako.
"I know you usually handle these, but frankly, your head's not in the game. I'm gonna take this one." began Bolin before taking a few steps ahead of his team. "We choose earth."
Bolin and the other team's earthbender stood in the center of the ring while the others stood back.
Afterwards, the area where both masters stood began to rise a little.
"Looks like the earthbenders will collide in the tie-breaker face-off." said Shiro as Bolin and his opponent positioned themselves to fight.
Soon after the opening bell rang, the two began to throw a pair of earth disks at each other which destroyed each other.
The earthbender leaped toward Bolin to knee him along with an earth disk, but Bolin rolled on the ground to dodge it.
Before the earthbender reacted, Bolin lunged towards him and grabbed him by the waist as he tried to push him away, but he stepped heavily on the ground to avoid being dragged.
"Bolin goes in for the grapple." began Shiro as the earthbender grabbed Bolin by the waist to then throw him through the air. "Chang reverses."
While in the air, Bolin attracted a disc of earth which he threw at his opponent, hitting him and pushing him back.
"Bolin strikes from midair, knocking Chang to the edge of the circle." began Shiro as Bolin landed before throwing a pair of ground discs, hitting him, and throwing him out of the ring and out of the ring. "Another strike from Bolin, and Chang is in the drink!"
After that, the bell rang for the finish.
"The Future Industries Fire Ferrets win their quarterfinal match!" said the announcer as Bolin celebrated the victory and Korra and Mako sighed in relief, though then looked away from each other with a frown.
"Oh, that was a close one folks! Youth trumps experience tonight." said Shiro.
"Ha. I never doubted them." said Kaxey contradicting what she said before.
Ahsoka shook her head as she smiled at the droid's behavior.
After the game, Korra stood under a gazebo outside the stadium, looking out at the scenery relaxedly.
"We need to talk." began Mako approaching her. "Look, sometimes you can be so infuriating. But I..."
"Save your breath." began Korra interrupting the firebender. "You've already made it clear how you feel about me."
"No, I haven't. What I'm trying to say is: as much as you drive me crazy, I also think you're pretty amazing." said Mako surprising the Avatar.
"So you do like me?" asked Korra turning to look at him.
"Yeah, but... *sigh* I like Asami, too. I don't know, things are complicated. I've been feeling really confused and..." began Mako before suddenly Korra lunged towards him and kissed him on the lips.
At first he was surprised at such an act, but then he began to return the kiss with pleasure.
The two parted and everything was beautiful until suddenly Korra saw something behind Mako that made her lower her head in sadness.
Mako turned around to see Bolin, who had Pabu over his shoulder, a bouquet of flowers, and was in shock at what he had seen.
He was paralyzed for a few seconds until he began to burst into tears and shed tears and snot.
"Bolin, this isn't what you think!" began Mako trying to explain himself, but Bolin ran off as he continued to cry, knocking over the bouquet in the process. "Great, look at what you did!" said Mako to Korra.
"You're blaming me?" asked Korra.
"You kissed me." said Mako.
"You kissed me back!" said Korra.
"Ugh!" groaned Mako very frustrated at the situation before running off to find his brother, leaving the Avatar alone.
"Well played, Korra." said Korra frowning sadly.
Meanwhile, Ahsoka and Kaxey were leaving the stadium until they saw Bolin running in front of them while still crying.
Soon after, Mako appeared running after his brother.
"What the hell happened?" asked Kaxey.
"I think I have a faint idea of what happened. Would you mind going with them?" asked Ahsoka.
"Better than staying here." said Kaxey with a shrug before leaving the way Mako went.
After that, Ahsoka went towards the gazebo where Korra was.
"Korra, what happened to Mako and Bolin?" asked Ahsoka.
Korra lowered her head in sadness.
"Well, I… kissed Mako… and Bolin saw it." said Korra embarrassed by what she did.
"Ugh." expressed Ahsoka patting her face. "Of all the stupid things you did or could have done, this is without a doubt the biggest of them all."
"I know, okay?! I acted without thinking again and got carried away with my emotions! Now I've messed everything up!" began Korra pissed at herself before calming down a bit. "What am I going to do now?" asked Korra lowering her head in sadness until she lifted it up when she felt Ahsoka put her hand on her shoulder.
"Don't worry. I'm sure you'll work this out. As always." said Ahsoka with a smile.
Korra smiled back at her friend, feeling a little better, though deep down she was worried that the friendship she had forged with the two brothers would be broken because of her.
Mako was walking through the streets of the city trying to find his brother.
"Bolin! Bolin! Bolin!" shouted Mako waiting for his brother to answer him.
"Velma!"
Mako startled as he turned around to see Kaxey.
"Weren't we yelling names?" asked Kaxey.
"Kaxey? What are you doing here?" asked Mako.
"Ahsoka asked me to accompany you. Let me guess, Bolin found out about you and Korra?" asked Kaxey.
"There's nothing going on between me and Korra! We just… kissed… and he caught us." said Mako embarrassed by what he did.
"Whatever you say. Listen, I don't want to waste my time on your love triangle, so we better find your brother, okay?" asked Kaxey.
"Fine." said Mako agreeing to the droid's idea before the two set out to walk the streets in search of his brother.
The search had continued into the next morning and Kaxey looked very bored and annoyed.
"What a stupid thing to do. We've been looking for it all night and we haven't found anything." said Kaxey.
"I don't care how long I lasted. I'll keep looking until I find him." said Mako determined to find his brother.
"And can't you think of any place where he could, as the humans say, drown his sorrows?" asked Kaxey.
Mako started thinking of several places where Bolin might have gone, but then, he remembered one in particular.
"I think I have an idea where he might be." said Mako.
Soon after, Mako and Kaxey went to the restaurant where he and Korra had their 'date'.
"Morning, Narook. My brother here?" asked Mako to the restaurant manager who pointed to a nearby table where Mako could see his brother lying on the table that had several empty food bowls, with Pabu sleeping on one of them.
"Thanks." began Mako before walking over to his brother and putting his hand on his back. "Come on. Wake up. Taking you home, bro." said Mako before Bolin lifted his head to look at him, showing that he had dark circles under his eyes from being up all night and crying, plus a noodle in his nostril that he absorbed from sniffing.
" Don't call me that. You're not my brother! You're a brother betrayer! The only ones I can trust anymore are Pabu. Pabu love me." said Bolin dramatically and still sad.
"You're a mess, and we've got the biggest match of our lives tonight. Let's go." said Mako approaching his brother, but he pushed him away with a sweep of his arm.
"No! I'm not going anywhere with you, you traitor!" said Bolin.
"Oh, for the sake of… Listen, Bolin. I will tell you this only once in your life, understood?" asked Kaxey receiving a nod from the earthbender. "Korra hurt you. Yes. But you can't let that get you down. I may have only known you for a short time, but I have noticed that you are kind, funny and brave. I believe there is a human saying that every shoe has a foot and I'm sure there will be some shoe or foot for you too."
Both Mako and Bolin were surprised to hear the droid being kind for the first time since it was activated.
"Why, thank you." began Bolin with a smile before… "But that doesn't heal the wound in my heart!" exclaimed Bolin before dropping his face to the table.
"Okay, so much for the friendly droid." said Kaxey before grabbing Bolin and slinging him over her shoulder.
"Why?" asked Bolin kicking like a little kid.
"I told you dating a teammate was a bad idea." said Mako as he followed Kaxey towards the exit.
"You're a bad idea! Put me down! Put me down!" said Bolin as Mako paid Narook for Bolin's food and left the restaurant with his brother on top of the droid's shoulder as he kicked and cried.
Pabu tried to follow them, but because he was bloated from all the food he scarfed down, he ended up crawling on the floor like a snake with legs.
Meanwhile, Korra was sitting on the steps of the Air temple, still feeling guilty about what she did last night regarding Mako and Bolin.
"Still thinking about last night?" Korra raised her head to see Ahsoka across from her.
"Yes. I thought if I confessed my feelings to Mako, everything would be fine like it was with Pema. Instead, it only made things worse between us and when the kissing thing happened… Oh, I ruined everything! Why did I think that would work on me?!" asked Korra in frustration.
"You're clearly full of frustration and if you don't fix it, you could make things worse." said Ahsoka.
"So what can I do? How do I get this feeling out of me?" asked Korra.
"Simple. Fight me." said Ahsoka, to the Avatar's surprise.
"You want me to fight you?" asked Korra.
"Yes. Unlike Amon, this will indeed be a fair and even match. No domination, no lightsabers and no Force. Just our own fists." said Ahsoka.
Korra thought about it for a moment and saw that it really was a way to get her frustration off her chest.
Besides, she would be lying if she said she had never thought about having a fight with Ahsoka, even though that one was only physical and they wouldn't be using all their power.
"Alright." began Korra getting up and getting ready to fight. "Let's do it."
Ahsoka positioned herself to fight and they both stood there looking at each other.
They stood like that for a few seconds until then, they charged towards each other.
Korra tried to throw a punch, but Ahsoka dodged it before punching her in the chest that knocked her back.
Korra went on the attack again and threw several punches and kicks, but Ahsoka managed to dodge all of the attacks before spinning leaping to deliver a horizontal kick to Korra that knocked her down.
Korra got up shortly after and tried to hit Ahsoka again, but she would either dodge the attacks or block them.
That's when Ahsoka dodged a punch, grabbed Korra's arm and spun her over her shoulder to throw her to the ground on her back.
She was about to get back up, but Ahsoka put her foot on her stomach as she continued to grab her arm.
"Feeling better now?" asked Ahsoka with a smile.
Korra took a couple of heavy breaths before letting out a deep sigh.
"Yes, I really am." began Korra before Ahsoka helped her up. "You really are good."
"Fighting with the Force and lightsabers wasn't the only thing they taught us in the temple, but you're not bad at it either. You should just focus a little on analyzing and defending instead of just attacking." said Ahsoka.
"I'll keep that in mind." said Korra with a smile.
The night arrived and the arena was about to host the match that would decide whether the Fire Ferrets would go to the tournament final or not.
The only problem standing in the way of that was the great tension among its members.
Korra and Ahsoka made their way to the box and on the way, Korra was hoping they could patch things up between them, though a part of her wished Mako and Bolin had talked it over earlier so she could help her out a bit.
But when they walked in, they saw Bolin sitting on the bench looking very sad, which implied that they hadn't.
Now even she didn't know how to talk to him.
So, for the time being, all she could do was to get ready and focus on the match and leave the conversation for later.
Meanwhile, Ahsoka approached Kaxey.
"How did it go?" asked Ahsoka.
"It was like dealing with a human baby that did nothing but whine. If you thought they could work it out between them, you were wrong." said Kaxey.
"I'm afraid this match will be very tough for them." said Ahsoka.
"Maybe I should have bet against them." said Kaxey.
"What?" asked Ahsoka looking at the droid with an arched eyebrow.
Later, both the Fire Ferrets and the opposing team were in the center circle of the ring, waiting for the moment of the start.
"You can't find two teams more evenly matched in age, size, and strength than the Fire Ferrets and the Buzzard Wasps. Believe me, I've looked! This should be a pulse-pounding semifinal, folks!" said Shiro just as the starting bell rang.
The next instant, the opposing team began to launch elemental attacks as the Ferrets defended and dodged.
"The Buzzard Wasps open with a flawlessly executed combo." said Shiro as Mako was hit by a fireball.
Korra managed to block a jet of water with her own jet of water, but a disc of dirt hit her and sent her into the back area.
"All three Ferrets take an early visit to zone two." said Shiro as Mako fell back into zone two and Bolin was sent into the same zone by a fireball, but soon after, Mako was hit by a water jet that sent him into zone three.
"And Mako is knocked all the way back into zone three! The Fire Ferrets have been struggling to stay alive since the opening bell." said Shiro as Bolin threw a ground disc to block an incoming ground disc.
"All three players are totally out of sync tonight." said Shiro as a ground disc hit Bolin hard in the stomach, pushing him into zone three and making him groan in pain as he tried to keep his mouth shut.
Suddenly, Bolin, stepped to the edge of the ring, took off his helmet and threw up to everyone's disgust.
"Ugh." expressed Ahsoka.
"How I'm glad I don't have a stomach." said Kaxey.
"And Bolin loses his noodles! Literally. Which reminds me, this match is brought to you by our sponsor, Flamey-O Instant Noodles! Noodliest noodles in the United Republic." said Shiro.
The waterbender threw a jet of water at Korra which she dodged by jumping as she spun to throw a jet of water with a kick, but while she was in the air, a disc of dirt hit her in the chest and sent her into zone three.
"The Buzzard Wasps fly deeper into Ferret territory." said Shiro as the opposing team advanced one more zone.
The Ferrets began to launch elemental attacks, but their opponents were able to defend themselves as they countered. Mako used a fist wrapped in fire to neutralize a jet of water before beginning to dodge a pair of fire and earth attacks, but then, a disc of earth hit him and threw him out of the ring.
"And Mako plunges into the pool! Can the Fire Ferrets hold on?" asked Shiro as Korra and Bolin tried to fend off the continued attacks from their opponents who kept pushing them to the edge of the ring.
"The Wasps have the Ferrets backed up to the edge now." said Shiro just as the bell rang for the finish.
"And the Ferrets are bailed out by the bell! They had better pull themselves together folks for round two, otherwise they can kiss the finals goodbye." said Shiro as Korra and Bolin gasped a little from exhaustion and Mako climbed up the ascending platform to get back in the ring.
"Yeah, I think so too." said Ahsoka watching the match with slight concern for her friends.
Shortly thereafter, the bell rang for the start of the second round.
The Ferrets launched their elemental attacks, but their opponents were able to dodge or block them before proceeding to attack. A pair of earthen disks struck Mako, sending him backwards.
Suddenly, Mako launched a fireball directly at Bolin, causing him to fall to the ground.
"Hey! Watch it!" shouted Bolin turning his back to the enemy.
A big mistake, because they took advantage of that to hit him with a stream of water that rolled him out of the ring.
"The Wasps take advantage of Mako's unforced error and Bolin is in the pool!" said Shiro.
Korra dodged a couple of jets of water before throwing one, but instead of hitting her opponent, she grabbed her by the leg and tripped her before causing the water underneath a breathy one below her to jump like a geyser several times, sending the opponent bouncing away.
"Ooh, and a blatant hold by the Avatar!" said Shiro just as the referee blew the whistle.
"Unnecessary roughness! Move back one zone!" said the referee.
"I'll unnecessarily rough you up!" said Korra angrily as she stepped back and splashed some water at the referee who pulled out a yellow fan.
"And the Avatar is slapped with the yellow fan. The Ferrets are their own worst enemy right now. It's just sad to watch." said Shiro.
"With the Buzzard Wasps leading two rounds to zilch, the Ferrets' only hope of winning is with a knockout." said Shiro as the Ferrets gathered to decide what to do next.
"Well, I guess there's always next year." said Mako with his head down and eyes closed, accepting that they were going to lose.
"Come on! We still have a chance, even if it is a slim one!" said Korra trying to give them hope.
"The way we're playing, we don't even deserve to be in the finals." said Bolin in the same situation as his older brother.
"Look, if we don't pull together and work as a team, we'll never forgive ourselves." said Korra trying to cheer them up, but to no avail.
"Let's just get this over with." Mako said.
"The sooner, the better." said Bolin as the three of them got into position.
"I guess it all comes down to this." said Kaxey.
"Yes. It's all or nothing." said Ahsoka.
But while the two brothers accepted defeat easily, Korra wasn't willing to give up so easily.
She was going to keep fighting for her team and for her friends.
Just then, the starting bell rang.
At that moment, the starting bell rang.
In the next instant, the Buzzard Wasps began to launch elemental attacks.
Mako was hit by a water jet before dodging another water jet and an earth disk.
He then launched a fireball, but suddenly, an enemy fireball hit him from the side.
Meanwhile, Bolin managed to block a water jet with a ground disc, but another ground disc and another water jet pushed him down into the back zone.
"Bolin's knocked into zone two." began Shiro as Mako was hit by a ground disc that pushed him until his foot stepped on the zone boundary line. "Followed quickly by his brother!"
The earthbender threw a pair of earth disks at Bolin.
One veered off course, much to the earthbender's confusion, but that distracted him long enough for the other earth disk to hit him squarely in the shoulder, making him scream in pain.
"And Bolin takes a zinger to the shoulder!" began Shiro as Bolin sat on the ground while clutching his shoulder. "Looks like it's a clean hit."
"Oh, come on, that's a foul, ref!" shouted Kaxey.
"Ow!" groaned Bolin from the pain in his shoulder.
"Bolin!" yelled Mako worried for his brother, which was a small mistake because a fireball ended up hitting and throwing him out of the ring.
"Mako's in the drink and out of the match." said Shiro as Bolin tried to get up and keep throwing ground discs.
"And Bolin keeps playing with one good arm! I gotta hand it to him, this kid's got grit! But how long can he keep it up?" asked Shiro just as a ground disc hit Bolin's legs, causing him to be airborne and a spray of water sent him out of the ring.
"Apparently, not very long." began Shiro as Korra threw a jet of water before starting to dodge elemental attacks. "The Ferrets' dream of making it to the finals now rests in the Avatar's hands. But with three on one, I don't like her odds."
Meanwhile, Bolin leaned on the platform while gasping for air after falling into the water.
Mako offered him a helping hand with a smile and Bolin accepted it, managing to pull himself onto the platform.
"Are you okay? How's your shoulder?" asked Mako worriedly.
"Ahh, it's messed up pretty bad. But I think I'll be all right." said Bolin holding the injured shoulder before the two went to the ascending platform.
As they made their way up, they decided to talk about the subject of the night before.
"Are we gonna be all right?" asked Bolin.
"Of course we are. We're brothers. We'll get through this mess. I'm sorry." said Mako who stood with his arms crossed.
"Me too! Girls." said Bolin.
"Seriously." said Mako.
When they both climbed high enough, their eyes widened in horror, for they could feel that someone was behind them with their arms crossed.
"Ahsoka is behind us, isn't she?" asked Bolin.
"Yes and I heard what you said." said Ahsoka before the two brothers turned around.
"Are you mad at us because we're going to lose the match?" asked Mako.
"I would be if it weren't for that." said Ahsoka pointing towards the playing field, where the three saw Korra nimbly move to dodge attacks as she took every opportunity she had to squirt a stream of water.
"What an unbelievable effort here by Korra! She's dodging every element the Wasps throw at her!" said Shiro just as Korra launched a water jet that pushed one of the opponents into zone three before the other two opponents launched water and ground attacks at her that she dodged.
"The Avatar finally gains some ground." began Shiro as she launched a water jet that hit another opponent. "But with only ten seconds remaining, it might be too little too late!"
But suddenly, Korra created around her a ring of water before shooting the water from the ring as a single jet that hit the three opponents in a row, sending them all out of the ring.
"It's the big kibosh! What a knockout!" said Shiro before the end bell rang and the crowd erupted in cheers, as did the two brothers in the box next to Ahsoka.
"I knew she could do it." said Ahsoka having trusted her friend.
"Gah. Now I'm sorry I didn't bet on them." said Kaxey with annoyance, though she was glad they won.
Korra stood at that moment, waving to the crowd cheering their victory.
"It didn't seem possible, folks, but the Fire Ferrets are headed to the finals!" said Shiro.
Mako was so happy to hear that that he hugged his brother, who groaned in pain from his injured shoulder.
"Ha, ha! Shoulder! Shoulder!" said Bolin getting his brother to release him as he realized what he was doing.
"Sorry." said Mako just as Korra reached the box.
"Nice move, Korra." said Ahsoka.
"Thank you. I honestly didn't expect it could work." said Korra.
"Are you kidding me? That, was pretty much the coolest thing I've ever seen." said Bolin.
"You've got talent, girl." said Kaxey.
"Thanks for not giving up on us. We never would have made it this far without you. I owe you. Big time." said Mako with a smile.
"You're welcome." began Korra before deciding to settle the matter she wanted to talk to them about from the beginning. "So… I know things are confusing right now, but I hope we can still be friends." said Korra.
"Definitely." said Mako.
"Take it for granted." said Bolin.
Ahsoka smiled to see that things had been settled between them.
But then, through the door came the Wolfbats and their leader, Tahno, who still wore the same smile as the first time they saw him.
As he walked, Tahno sniffed the air with an inhale.
"Ooh, oof." groaned Tahno stopping and waving his hand in front of his face to push the smell away. "You boys smell something in here?" asked Tahno walking again, but with his nose plugged, which he then released. "Wait, I know what that is; yeah, that's the scent of losers." said Tahno as he walked past the Ferrets just before noticing a certain togruta. "Oh, you must be the famous Ahsoka Tano. I admit you are more beautiful than I imagined."
"And you, no doubt, are as much of an idiot as I had been told." said Ahsoka crossing her arms.
"Oh, I didn't think you'd have heard of me. You know? I offered the Uh-vatar personal lessons, but she declined. However, the offer is open to you." said Tahno.
Korra felt like punching his pretty face, but then...
"I'd rather be with a hutt than with you." said Ahsoka.
"Heh. Whatever you say, snips." said Tahno with his usual smile.
That made Ahsoka very angry before grabbing the boy by the collar of his shirt and pulling him to her.
"Don't. Ever. Call me. That. Again." said Ahsoka with anger in every word.
Needless to say, the Fire Ferrets were shocked, as they had never seen their alien friend so angry.
After that, she let go of Tahno, who shook it off.
"I hope we see you in the finals. Then we'll see who the losers really are." said Kaxey.
"Yeah, I'm peeing my pants over here, tin man." said Tahno sarcastically as he and his team went to the ring.
"And now, the defending champs, the White Falls Wolfbats!" said the announcer.
"Ahsoka, if it's not personal, why did you get like that?" asked Korra with slight curiosity and being considerate of her friend.
Ahsoka let out a sigh to calm herself.
"That nickname he called me by was the same one my master used on me. I guess it pissed me off that he used it that way." said Ahsoka as the others understood perfectly what happened.
"You know? You could have asked me to smash his face in. It wouldn't be that easy for me." said Kaxey.
"No. The only place we're going to beat that guy up will be at the match tomorrow." said Ahsoka.
"Well said. We'll wipe that smug smile off his face." said Korra with a determined grin.
"Great job!" began Asami suddenly appearing to hug Mako before turning her gaze to the Avatar. "What a comeback, Korra. I've never seen a hat trick like that."
"Thanks! But, if it hadn't been for you and your father, we wouldn't have had the chance to play. So thank you." said Korra.
"Yes, your father is a great man." said Ahsoka.
"Thank you." said Asami.
"Uh, if everyone's done with the little 'thank you' party, need some medical attention over here." said Bolin, sitting up and holding the injured shoulder that was now in plain sight, with no clothes on and a small bruise.
"Ooh, let me help!" Korra said placing her hands on the earthbender's wound, causing him to cry out in pain.
"Owww! Gah! Haven't you hurt me enough, woman?" asked Bolin with a frown.
"Relax, I'm a healer! I learned from Katara, the best there is." said Korra as she scooped a large drop of water from a nearby water bucket.
Suddenly, the drop of water began to glow before Korra placed it on Bolin's shoulder who became a little nervous.
"No, no, oh… Ooh!" expressed Bolin as the pain began to fade. "That's the stuff!" said Bolin as Korra sat up to focus on the shimmering water.
"Fascinating. I never imagined that the waterbending could be used in such a way." said Ahsoka in amazement.
"Bolin, I'm sorry I hurt your feelings. I didn't mean to let things get so out of hand."
"Ahh, I'll be all right. But we had fun together, didn't we?" asked Bolin with a smile.
"I had a great time, honestly! You are one of a kind, Bolin." said Korra with a smile.
"Please, go on. I enjoy praise." said Bolin.
Suddenly, the final bell rang, to the surprise of Bolin, Ahsoka and Korra, who dropped the water she was using to heal Bolin.
"Your winners, the Wolfbats!" shouted the game announcer.
"What? How is it over already?" asked Korra quickly getting up to go watch it as did Bolin and Ahsoka.
"With a brutal round one knockout, the defending champs secure their spot in the finals." began Shiro as medics carried the opposing team members away on stretchers. "I hope the Fire Ferrets know a good doctor, because they're gonna need one!"
Korra, Mako, Bolin, Ahsoka and Kaxey stared at the team they were about to face in the finals with a mixture of shock, fear and concern, as they seemed to be really good.
"Dank Farrik." said Korra, Mako, Bolin and Ahsoka in unison.