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-

"Are we actually going through with this?" Mako asked, incredulous at what was happening.

"Yes, we are," Korra said, rolling her eyes. "You know we can't trust Amon. This whole thing could be a trick."

"Or we could be playing right into his plan," Mako countered. "He's a very smart guy, and he knows how to play people."

"So that's why we're doing it this way," Korra replied, looking out the restaurant window. "Take him out hard and fast, get it over with before he can go any further with his plans."

"Do you actually have a plan?" Mako shrugged.

"Rush in, beat the info outta him, throw him in prison," Korra replied in a huff. "Simple, straightforward."

"And guaranteed to fail or backfire," Mako quipped, making her fume in frustration. "It's way too obvious, and too likely for innocent people to get hurt."

"Well do you have a better plan?!" Korra snapped, turning to him. "Because I don't hear you coming up with any bright ideas?!"

"Now now, Korra," Bolin reassured. "We're just saying that we need a better approach. We can't mess this up even in the slightest. If Amon gets his hands on us, you know what'll happen."

"That's why we WON'T mess this up!" Korra fumed, balling her fists. "I won't let him get his hands on us no matter what! I'll rip his hands off with my own bare hands!"

"Uh, yeah," Mako and Bolin said, eyeing each other. "But a lot can happen before you close the distance."

"We've seen his Equalists at work," Mako said. "They held their own against some of the most dangerous Benders in Republic City. Not as powerful as yourself but they have decades of experience and are very tricky. And the Equalists managed to stand toe-to-toe against them. What chance do you have against that?"

"Did you forget?" Korra urged, looking out the window once more. "They lost against the Benders and had to get bailed out by Amon."

"They don't need to win!" Mako argued. "They just need to buy Amon time to get close to us. For this to even remotely work we need to keep them at bay, and we have no idea how many of them there are."

"Shh!" Korra shushed, eyes narrowing. "I hear them coming."

The trio huddled near the window, staring out into the avenue toward a dilapidated department store that had been closed for years. The windows were grimy and filled with cobwebs while the walls were covered with graffiti, whose bright paint formed a sharp contrast with the dull-red brick and rusted steel pipes. Littered across the sidewalk they could see broken shingles that had fallen from the corrugated roof, along with smashed furniture and discarded garbage.

'Good thing Bolin suggested this place,' Korra thought, inhaling deeply. 'Narook's a really great cook, and it was nice to get a taste of home. Not as good as mom's but still…'

Outside the view was obscured by the arrival of six vehicles, three police cars on the left and three Satomobiles on the right. As the doors opened with a metallic clunk, two figures emerged and stepped into the glare of the headlights. On the left, clad in her customary armor, Chief Beifong glared at the man standing across from her, the white of his mask accentuated by the intense headlights.

'Amon,' Korra shuddered, her blood running cold. 'Keep it together Korra. You're the Avatar! You've got this!'

"Chief Beifong," Amon intoned. "I must say this is a surprise. Have you decided that your duty to the people of Republic City supersedes your pride as a Bender?"

"That has always been my stance," Beifong replied. "As is the stance that no one is above the law, regardless of their power, wealth, class, beliefs, or intent. You break the law, you pay the price. The law applies to everyone fairly and equally."

"Do your actions match your words?" Amon countered, making her eyebrow twitch in irritation. "I've been reviewing your past record as an officer and there are some…interesting cases to say the least."

"Is that what you came here to talk about?" she snapped. "I believe you wanted to discuss a deal with the police: the whereabouts of the missing citizens for a pardon. Or was that statement false? Making false claims or statements to a police officer regarding criminal activity is a felony, punishable with a fine or five to eight years in prison."

"I assure you that my claims about the missing citizens are not false," he reassured. "I know precisely their whereabouts and condition at this time, and I am fully prepared to cooperate with the police to ensure their expedient return to their loved ones."

"Then why the delay?" she asked, shrugging her shoulders. "If you have the intelligence, then tell me. Why drag it out?"

"Present police performance has been particularly poor," Amon replied, sweeping his arms wide. "The triads have committed grievous crimes against the people of Republic City. Theft, extortion, kidnapping, to name a few. I applaud your highly visible and notable efforts to curb their despicable deeds but your efforts have failed to deliver any substantial results. If you were actually effective in your work against the Triads, would I have taken it upon myself to defend the people with my own hands? Would my friends and comrades have risked their lives and well-being to confront corrupt Benders who freely and openly abuse their powers upon those impotent to stop them?"

Just then, someone moved in front of the window, blocking Amon from Korra's view. Turning about, she saw that a crowd had gathered in the avenue, clustering close to the buildings in case things went violent. Realizing that Mako's words had been prophetic, she cursed her hesitation, furious that she had let her opportunity slip away. Desperately, she looked here and there for a way through, but found the crowd was too tightly packed.

Turning, she saw that the other customers had joined her and the brothers near the window, blocking much of her view. But through the onlookers, she could see a spiral staircase leading up the second-floor. Grabbing Mako by his scarf, she edged her way through the customers, turning and pirouetting with ease as they hastily moved aside for her. Exiting the crowd she made a beeline for the spiral staircase, the brothers in tow.

"Excuse me," a voice called out just as she took the first step. "But where are you going?"

"Narook!" she exclaimed, slightly flustered. "How is it going?"

"I can't complain," he shrugged. "But answer my question: where are you going?"

"Upstairs," she replied, unsure why he was asking. "Where else would I be going?"

"I'm sorry but the upstairs rooms require reservations beforehand," Narook said, pointing to a sign on his counter. "I may be getting on in years, but I am not senile, and I don't recall receiving or making a reservation for you."

"Oh right!" she said, slapping her forehead. "I knew I forgot something! I don't suppose you could make an exception just this once."

"I'm afraid not," he said sharply. "If I made one exception where would it end?"

"Are you sure?" she pressed, leaning over the handrail. "I mean it's not every day you meet the Avatar, you know."

"Sure, and I'm the Earth King," he waved her off. "I've heard that one before, many, many times, and it's not going to work now."

"I am the Avatar!" she exclaimed. "I'm the real deal!"

"So am I," he pressed. "No means no. So get off the stairs already."

"Guess there's nothing for it," Mako said from behind. Before Korra could react, she felt him grip her shoulder and spin her around. Winking, he leaned in and pressed his lips to hers, holding her head with his rough, calloused hand. Eyes wide in shock and disbelief, Korra felt herself flush red with anger and embarrassment. Breathing deeply to calm herself, she took in Mako's scent, one that reminded her of the industrial center: heavy, metallic, with a hint of smoke.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa there!" Narook exclaimed. "Get a room, you two!"

"We would love that," Mako said, breaking off the surprise kiss. "But we can't leave due to the crowd. And we don't have a reservation so we can't go upstairs. And we're not staff so we can't use the kitchens. So…"

Seeing Mako shrug innocently, Narook glared fiercely and said "I'll charge you the normal reservation fee on top of your tab."

"Thank you," Mako bowed and pulled Korra upstairs, Bolin following in his wake. Crossing the threshold Korra caught a glimpse of a wide dining room with long tables covered in red tablecloth lined with fur trim. Separating the tables were bamboo screens that rolled vertically like mats to open or close spaces off. Upon closer inspection, she could see the bamboo screens were painted to depict exotic animals and landscapes from the South pole, from orca-koi chasing penguin-otters and tiger seals beneath the waves to icebergs shining beneath the full moon.

'Feels like home,' she thought, smiling at the memories. 'We ought to go visit mom and dad when we get the chance.'

Just then, she felt Mako tug her toward a secluded area, and her anger at his earlier behavior returned with a vengeance. Yanking her arm out of his hand, she grabbed him by his shoulders and pinned him to the table, their faces mere inches from each other. To her annoyance, Mako merely looked at her while she glared at him.

"Okay Mako what was that?!" she demanded. "You don't just kiss a girl from outta nowhere!"

"I got us up here," he replied. "Which was what you wanted right?"

"Yes!" she snapped. "But was that the best you could come up with?!"

"It was that," Mako countered. "Or try knocking him out and sneaking up here. Too risky and we cannot afford to add assault and trespassing to our criminal records."

"Yes but-" she continued but stopped as Mako's eyes widened in shock.

"Don't tell me," he said, stalling as he processed what was going on. "That was your first kiss."

"Yes!" she replied, face turning red in anger and embarrassment. "No! I mean I-"

"I had no idea," he said. "I know your first is supposed to be a special thing."

"That sounds like Jinora's romance books," she muttered, but Mako heard her.

"Jinora? Tenzin's daughter?" he asked. "I didn't know she read those."

"Uh guys," Bolin interjected. "I know we're having a big emotional moment here, but I think we ought to check in on the situation outside."

Quickly, Korra moved toward one of the windows, and gaped at the number of people below. Where before the crowd clung to the buildings like living wallpaper, now they filled the avenue, all clamoring to see what was going to happen, while Amon and Beifong stood eye-to-eye, a narrow empty space surrounding them like two islands in a sea of humanity. Looking all around, Korra gnashed her teeth in frustration as she tried desperately to find a way to Amon but to no avail. There were simply too many people around Amon for her to jump over, and trying to leap from the top of the building was far too risky.

"Koh! Koh! Koh!" Korra cursed under her breath, but a new noise broke through her fury. A steady rhythm that grew louder and louder. A moment later, she realized that it was the crowd chanting "Amon! Amon! Amon" again and again. Fighting a sense of deja vu, she resumed her search for some way to reach Amon, but the tumult of the crowd kept breaking her concentration, the chant seeming to echo inside her skull.

"Amon! Amon! Amon!" the crowd chanted.

"Stop already!" she muttered, trying to drown it out but to no avail. In desperation, she held her hands as Tenzin tried to teach her time and time again. Breathing deep, she tried to envision herself as a leaf on the wind, floating through the air without a care in the world.

'I am the leaf on the wind,' she intoned, trying to feel the breeze envelope her like a protective cocoon, the current carrying her away from the crowd. 'I am the leaf on the wind. The leaf on the wind. The leaf on the wind! Wait, am I shouting?!'

To her immense frustration, she found herself pulled back into reality, the chanting seemingly louder than before. Checking outside, she found that the crowd had grabbed pipes, canes, and sticks and were now banging the brick walls, light posts, and cobblestone streets. The clanging of metal on metal and the dull thudding of wood on stone added their own tones to an ever growing cacophony, and Amon seemed to revel in it. Chief Beifong, on the other hand, had not moved an inch, nor had her gaze left Amon's, her only response being a more intense death glare.

'How is she doing that?!' Korra asked herself. 'How can she ignore them all?! What's her secret?!'

But before she could get any farther, a flash of movement caught her eye. Turning, she saw an officer stamp the ground and levitate a column of earth into the air, towering over the ground. Punching his arm forward, he flew out toward Beifong on a sheet of earth, showering the crowd in dirt and pebbles as he scurried next to Beifong. Whispering in her ear, Beifong's eyes widened in shock before quickly reverting back to her customary glare.

"Amon, what treachery is this?!" she screamed, yelling so loud that the whole crowd went silent.

"What treachery do you speak of?" he asked, giving nothing away in his tone or mannerisms.

"There's been another attack!" Beifong yelled. "I just received a report just now! Gangs of men wearing black gas masks with red neck gaiters led by a mustached man with brass goggles attacked a number of targets, including Air Temple Island, City Hall, and the Hospital. Is that NOT the standard equipment of your Equalists?"

"Indeed it is," he replied. "However, I know nothing of this attack."

"The hospital?!" Korra realized, eyes wide in fear. "That's where my brother is! I gotta go!"

Before either brother could say anything, she tore down the stairs and ran for the kitchen. Running at break-neck speed, she spun and ducked under the startled kitchen staff before slamming through the back door. Jumping down the short staircase, she ran out the alley and raced past the crowd where she caught a glimpse of Beifong apprehending Amon. Holding his wrists behind his back she said "Amon, I am charging you with aiding and abetting this string of attacks. You have the right to remain silent."

"I'll take care of Amon later!" Korra hissed and resumed her run. "Right now, Ryuukhan comes first!"

-Line Break-

'How could this have happened?!' Tenzin thought, sidestepping the Equalist's outstretched fingers. 'How did they elude our security?! And why would they do this?!'

Slipping behind his attacker, Tenzin pressed his fingers against his back, easily keeping pace as the Equalist desperately twisted to face him. As they circled, Tenzin caught a glimpse of the ongoing battle as the Councilors desperately fought against at least ten or fourteen Equalists. Tarrlok and Tluku had encased their arms in water tendrils to ward off their attackers while Fuku fell back as hers darted in and out around her.

'They could NOT have picked a better time,' he thought angrily. 'With Chief Beifong preoccupied with Amon, security would have been light. And we were called in for a meeting to discuss what terms to demand of Amon when we apprehended him. But how did they…?'

Just then, a shiver ran through his skull and he backflipped away from his target. Landing behind a pew, he saw that mere seconds later an Equalist had landed from the overhead balcony. Spinning his arms above his head, he gathered a funnel of air above his head. Pivoting, he swept his hands and slammed the Equalists into the far wall.

Turning to his fellow Councilors, he saw that Fuku, encircled by the Equalists, was dangerously close to her breaking point and rushed to her defense. Sweeping his arms around his waist and then above his head, he gathered a rushing vortex and jumped into the center. Nestled in the Air-wheel, he raced around her, knocking the Equalists off their feet and careening into the walls and nearby benches.

"Are you all right, Councilor Fuku?" he asked, to which she merely nodded. "Call for help. We'll handle them."

As Fuku ran to the side, Tenzin surveyed the area and found that Puo had ripped up the slate tiles into a stone barricade that he sent flying into a line of Equalists. Seeing the oncoming wall, they effortlessly vaulted over it or somersaulted out of the way. But as the first landed to face him, he stomped the floor and clenched his fists, breaking the wall into thousands of fragments as it trembled under his power. Pulling his hands to his hips, he punched the floor and the wall exploded, sending the fragments flying everywhere. The Equalists, caught in the open and lacking any armor, were pummeled by the stone shrapnel and many fell to the floor, screaming in agony as they tried to set broken bones back into place.

But just as Puo turned to face his next attackers, he threw up his hands like he had been shot with lightning. Reaching behind his back, he tried to grab something as he collapsed to the floor. Seeing his colleague immobilized, Tenzin raced over and found a tuft of feathers poking out from his neck. Pulling it out, he felt cold, thin metal protruded from a wooden shaft, Puo's warm blood sticking to his fingers.

'Poison darts?' he wondered as he pressed his fingers to Puo's neck. 'There's a pulse but faint. He needs help.'

Feeling another shiver through his skull, Tenzin flipped overhead before pivoting in midair as two more darts hit the floor. Crouching low, he pirouetted and propelled himself onto the balcony above with a tornado, catching a glimpse of men on the opposite side. Sweeping his arm back, he ran as fast as he could, leaving a rush of wind in his wake that ripped ornaments and tapestries from the walls. Dodging between them, he heard them yelp in surprise as they were blown off the balcony onto the main floor by the trailing wind.

"How much longer?" he asked aloud as he peered over the side. "They're pulling out already?!"

Jumping over the side, he created an Air-scooter to land softly before kicking it like a ball. Racing along the walls, the Air-ball slammed into the escaping Equalists, knocking them off their feet as Tenzin raced to head them off. Jumping overhead, he slammed the doors shut and took up a defensive stance.

"Going somewhere?" he asked as the Equalists got to their feet. "You will have to get past me."

"Fine by us," they responded as the first row attacked.

"Too easy," Tenzin said as he surrounded himself with a rush of wind, knocking them away. "Give up, and I'll ensure you'll receive a fair trial."

"Fair and equal?" one scoffed, picking himself up. "Yeah right."

"I ask you once more, surrender," Tenzin repeated, taking his stance.

"Never!" they yelled back and charged.

"Very well," Tenzin sighed in resignation. But as he prepared another whirlwind, he found his arms strangely heavy, like he was wearing lead weights. Seeing them close the distance, he tried to kick them away, but found that same sensation had gripped his legs. Helplessly, he felt the Equalists grab him and pull him to the ground.

'What is this?!' he panicked. 'My arms and legs won't move as they should! What is going on?!'

Breaking his train of thought was another shiver through his skull followed by a prick of pain in his neck followed by a sensation of numbness down his spine.

'Poison!' he realized. 'I need to-break free-somehow!'

Mustering his strength, he pulled hard and managed to throw off the two holding his right arm. Twisting he managed to yank his left arm free but then felt his arms suddenly freeze in place, the inertia knocking him off-balance. Hitting the floor, he felt his arms and legs refuse to move as the Equalists jabbed him with another two darts.

'How can I be paralyzed?!' he thought as he saw his vision fade to black. 'They hadn't blocked my chi! And their poison could not have acted that fast! The only other way is-no! Not that!'

-Line Break-

"What's going on?!" Xin asked, huddling close to Ryuukhan as they heard footfalls proceed along the hallway, along with the sounds of shattered glass and patients screaming in fear.

"I don't know," he replied, tensing as the footfalls came closer. "But we may have to fight. Get ready."

Sensing someone just outside, Ryuukhan and Xin huddled against the wall just as the door slammed open. Hidden behind the door, they watched as a shadow filled the light from the hallway. They tensed, Xin in fear and Ryuukhan in anticipation, as the shadow grew larger, and the sound of muffled breathing came to their ears. Hearing rubber boots on the floor, Ryuukhan clenched his fists, wincing as pain shot up his right arm, ready to pounce but to his confusion the shadow withdrew.

'What the-?' he wondered, pressing his ear to the door.

"We got him!" someone exclaimed.

"Are you sure?" another asked.

"Who cares?!" the first replied. "Let's go!"

'Who?' Ryuukhan wondered, as he heard them race back down the hallway. Turning one eye around the door, he caught a glimpse of a black mask with glowing green eyes before they disappeared down the stairs.

"Who was that?" Xin asked. "Amon's men?"

"Looked like them," he replied. "They looked like the men Korra described. Black mask, glowing eyes."

"But why would they attack a hospital?" she asked. "I thought Amon was trying to make a deal with the police. Why would he attack when he's trying to strike a bargain?"

"You know," he said, eyes furrowing. "I really don't know."

Outside, they heard the sound of a vehicle engine backfire. Rushing to the window, they saw multiple Satomobiles and motorcycles in the street, one of which had just rushed off down the street.

"Only one way to find out," Ryuukhan said, opening the window.

"Ryuukhan!" Xin exclaimed. "What are you doing?!"

"I can't pass this up," he said, clamoring onto the window ledge. "And I'm sick of being in bed all the time."

"Ryuukhan stop!" Xin yelped, grabbing his sleeve as he gripped the gutter pipe. "Think about this!"

"Xin!" he pressed, exasperated. "What else are we going to do? Stay here and wait for the police to sort it out? This might be our only chance to find out what is going on."

"But your hand!" she objected. "It's not healed yet!"

"I can make do for now," he hissed. "I'm not going to fight, just get intelligence. You stay here and let the others know what happened."

Tugging his sleeve away, he shimmied down the gutter pipe, wincing as he ran his right hand over the seams that held the pipe in place. Moreover, he felt the pipe shudder under his weight, and a soft metallic groan filled his ears as he shimmied down the pipe.

'I must be apricot-nuts,' he mused to himself. Pausing on a ledge, he looked down and saw the men frantically scurrying around their vehicles, completely oblivious to his presence as two more motorcycles screamed down the street followed by a Satomobile.

'Better hurry,' he thought as he resumed his descent.

About halfway down, he heard another Satomobile race off, followed by another motorcycle. Desperate to reach the ground, he eased his grip and slid down the rest of the way, the pipe squeaking far too loudly for his liking. Coming to a stop at the end, he scurried off behind some trash cans and looked around.

'Doesn't look like anyone saw or heard me,' he thought, relieved. Looking to the last remaining Satomobile, he saw the men jump inside as they prepared to flee. Moving quickly, he took up a Horse stance and stomped hard, buckling the ground and forming a fissure. Stomping again, he widened the fissure and, using a series of punches, directed it under the front tire just as it turned to follow its compatriots.

'Gotcha!' Ryuukhan thought triumphantly as the Satomobile's tire was caught in the fissure. Coming to an abrupt halt, the doors of the Satomobile burst open as the men dashed forward to try and get the tire unstuck.

Seeing his chance, Ryuukhan darted off behind them and slipped into the trunk, finding a blanket covering some boxes.

"Looks like there's enough room for both of us," someone whispered from behind.

Turning quickly, he grabbed whoever was talking but found their fingers pressed over his lips.

"Hurry up and hide," Xin hissed, pulling him next to her as she laid the blanket over them. "And keep quiet."

'In for a cent, in for a yuan,' he thought to himself as the vehicle lurched forward.

-Line Break-

"Korra, will you stop already?!" Mako said. "You're driving us nuts!"

"Well, what do you expect?!" she yelled in frustration. "My brother's gone! Tenzin's in a coma! And Beifong won't let me near Amon!"

"Well what do you expect?!" Mako asked, throwing his hands up in exasperation. "Going anywhere near Amon is WAY too risky! And even if you COULD get near him, what were you planning to do? Beat him up? Burn him? Torture him? What is your plan exactly?"

"Korra, please," Asami pleaded, putting her hand on Korra's shoulder. "Please calm down. I'm worried about him too, and Xin, and Tenzin. The whole situation has me worried and not just for those three. This is the largest attack to date, with two of our Councilors being hospitalized. The whole city is on-edge, with Benders and non-Benders more divided than ever before. People that were simply protesting are now fighting in the streets, and the police cannot keep up. Every time they attend to one riot, at least one more erupts elsewhere."

"Speaking of the police," Bolin interjected. "The police found no sign of a struggle in Ryuukhan's hospital room, and there was a note saying 'we're fine'. Ryuukhan is NOT the type to go down easy, and the note was in Xin's handwriting, so perhaps they left of their own accord."

"Why?" Korra asked, looking him in the eye. "Why would they do that?"

"Ryuukhan's been stuck in bed for weeks," Bolin replied, placing his hands on her shoulders. "Patience is not exactly his strong suit, so he might have left to try and figure out what was up. Or perhaps to get Xin out of danger when he saw the attack occur. Knowing him, he would do what he could to keep her safe."

"Then why hasn't he, or Xin, contacted us?" Korra pressed, grabbing him by his biceps. "Why haven't they come back? What are they doing right now?"

"I-I don't know," Bolin shrugged, rubbing her shoulders. "There's any number of possibilities, but we don't have enough evidence to say with any certainty."

"Then what are we waiting for?" Korra pressed, squeezing tighter. "We should be out there looking for him! Naga could track him down! She's got the best nose in Republic City!"

"Great idea!" Bolin exclaimed. "And who's going to be crazy enough to take on a full-grown polar bear dog?!"

"Even a polar bear dog can be defeated," Mako interrupted. "Naga's big and strong, but she can only take on one threat at a time. If we get waylaid or caught up in an on-going brawl, she could be seriously hurt."

"Mako-" Korra started, but then they heard a disturbance nearby. "What's that?"

Turning toward the noise, they found a cloud of dust rise from behind a small hill. Racing across the bridge, they found a full-on brawl had broken out, men rolling around on the ground as they grappled and struck each other. Nearby, they saw two groups cheering on the ongoing brawl while holding up posters and chanting slogans.

"Equality!" one man yelled out, holding a poster of Amon.

"Peace!" another yelled in return, holding up a poster of Tenzin, much to their surprise.

"This is your fault!" someone yelled out. "If you'd just given us equality we wouldn't be here!"

"How dare you!" another screamed. "Tenzin tried his best to follow the laws and look what happened to him! How much more must we endure?!"

At that, the two groups drew closer and closer to each other, the chants growing louder and louder. Seeing things escalating, Korra rushed in and stomped the ground, raising a three-inch high ridge beneath the brawlers who stopped in stunned confusion. Stomping again, she went into her Horse Stance and raised her arms, lifting the ridge into an earth-wall that towered over the two parties, ending the brawl.

But much to her surprise rather than thank her or appreciate her Bending prowess, the two groups rounded on Korra in fury.

"Bender!" one yelled out. "What do you think you're doing?!"

"What does it look like?" she shrugged. "I stopped the brawl."

"By leveraging your unearned power over non-Benders?!" one exclaimed. "An unwarranted display of force aimed at the under-privileged underclass?! Is that what you mean?!"

"I'm the Avatar!" she exclaimed. "It's my duty to-!"

"To bring balance to the world," one side interrupted, mocking her. "What does balance even mean?! How do you determine balance?! And what gives you the right to decide?!"

"You're the Avatar?!" the other side yelled out. "What took you so long?! What were you waiting for?! How much more damage must be done?!"

"I was in training!" she replied, trying to explain herself but her words were drowned out by the crowd.

"Your training was more important than our lives?!"

"What training was so important?!"

"You're the Avatar!"

"Whose side are you on?!"

"I-I'm on no one's side!" she exclaimed, but this simply set everyone off.

Screaming, the two sides surged forward from behind the barrier. Running into one another, the two groups resumed the brawl from earlier, forcing Korra and the others back as fists, feet, and heads flew everywhere.

"Enough!" Korra yelled, sending a tremor through the ground with a stomp. But while the parties lost their balance, they simply began grappling with one another.

"I said enough!" Korra yelled, but to no avail. Infuriated, she ran to the stream and raised her arms, beckoning the water to her. Gathering it into a large ball, she twisted toward the crowd and flung her arms downward, flooding the brawlers.

"See that?!" someone yelled. "The Avatar is using her Bending to oppress us!"

"No, I'm not!" Korra yelled back as a man raced toward her. Sidestepping their punch, she grabbed him by the collar and threw her over her shoulder. But then, someone slammed into her back, forcing her to the ground. Infuriated, she kicked blindly, sending her new opponent flying backwards as the brawl encompassed her.

"Korra!" Bolin yelled out and stomped the ground, shaking them away. "Are you all right?"

"Don't worry about me!" she replied, facing the angry brawlers. "We got to stop these guys!"

Stomping the ground, Korra brought the oncoming brawlers to their knees with another tremor. Glaring, they tried to tackle her but found themselves immobilized. Looking down, they found their hands had sunk into the ground, which had hardened into a concrete-like substance.

"Useful technique," Bolin said, coming up from behind. "I'll teach you some time."

"Thanks," she replied, cracking her knuckles. "All right, who's next?"

"Korra, Bolin!" Asami exclaimed, coming up in front of them. "We should be trying to deescalate the situation!"

"I tried that," Korra replied. "And look what happened."

"But-!" Asami started to argue but yelped as a powerful arm grabbed her from behind. Looking behind, they saw a large man yank Asami back, as though Korra and Bolin were rabid wolf-bats aiming to bite her.

"Keep back, Benders!" he yelled, holding himself between them and Asami. But before he could continue, Asami grabbed his wrist and locked his elbow, forcing her release. Twisting hard, she threw him to the ground, bringing his arm behind his back and pinning him down.

"I don't need protection!" she hissed.

"Traitor!" he muttered from below.

"Nice!" Korra remarked, smiling at her prowess.

But then, another man tackled Asami and began whaling on her, unleashing his fury with a barrage of punches as Asami screamed in pain. Meanwhile, the man that Asami had pinned pulled himself up and scrambled toward Asami's assaulter, but was struck down with a fire-ball. Soon after, they heard Mako collapse to the ground with a groan as Bolin and Korra strode forward to Asami's aid, her screams intensifying as the man slammed his fist into her gut.

Just then, they heard sirens scream out, indicating the police had arrived. Hearing this, the crowd broke up and tried to flee the scene, but Bolin moved too quickly. Delivering a low kick, he sent a ripple through the ground, mixing the water with the earth to form a thick mire. The brawlers soon found themselves stuck in quicksand as the police arrived to assess the situation.

Meanwhile, Korra turned to Asami and found her friend was in rough shape. She had a black-eye and her nose was clearly broken, but the most shocking injury was to the cheek. Instead of a bruise, her cheek had been ripped and cut down to the teeth, blood flowing down her jaw.

"What happened?!" Korra asked, holding Asami's hand for comfort.

"Pha Jyaku Nagh," Mako replied, looking her over. "Tiger-armadillo claws. They're a common melee weapon for criminals and terrorists. The Yellow Necks used them, as did the Tong and others. They're also highly illegal because of the damage they can cause."

"Indeed they are," an all-too familiar voice cut in. "I've rounded up these latest offenders, and I've got an emergency healer on hand."

"Chief Beifong!" Korra exclaimed, happy to see the armored woman.

"And," she continued, glaring at Korra. "I've got a lot of questions for you and your friends."

-Line Break-

"So once again," Chief Beifong ground out, pinching her eyes in frustration. "You decided to take matters into your own hands instead of leaving it to the authorities."

"I had to!" Korra replied. "There were no police officers anywhere! I didn't know where the nearest phone was, and I had no idea how long it would take for the police to show up! What else was I to do? Let them duke it out?"

"I applaud your intentions," Beifong groaned, picking her head from her desk. "But I cannot allow anyone, even the Avatar, to operate above the law. Tenzin himself broke the law to set an example for us."

"And look what good THAT did," Korra muttered darkly.

"Don't think I didn't hear that!" Beifong snapped. "We cannot beat the Equalists by stooping to their level! We must, MUST live up to the ideals of the United Republic! And in the United Republic absolutely NO ONE is above the law!"

"You're in trouble again," she continued, glaring at Korra. "And this time, Tenzin is not here to bail you out."

"Excuse me," someone asked from outside. "But I couldn't help but overhear you two."

"Councilor Tarrlok!" Beifong exclaimed. "What are you doing here?!"

"Like I said," he shrugged. "I couldn't help but overhear. Avatar Korra, I understand that you intervened during a brawl and have been apprehended for vigilantism again."

"Yes," Korra replied, torn between relief and caution. "I was trying to break up a fight but I was dragged into it."

"I see," Tarrlok said, mulling it over. Turning to Chief Beifong he said "I understand that the penalties for disturbing the peace, destruction of public land, assault, battery and vigilantism include fines, prison-time, and community service. Is that right?"

"Yes Councilor," she admitted. "That is correct. But that depends on the accused pleading guilty to the crimes without a trial and is up to the discretion of the Chief of Police."

"Yes, that is correct," Tarrlok replied. "So I propose the following: Avatar Korra, you plead guilty to the crimes Chief Beifong has charged you with, and your sentence will be 100 hours of community service, namely joining the Task Force that I've created to sweep out the Equalists."

"Councilor Tarrlok!" she exclaimed, rising to her feet. "I am the Chief of Police! You do not have the authority to decide her punishment!"

"Indeed not," he said, holding up a finger. "But consider this. Avatar Korra, do you have any money?"

"Uh, not really," she shrugged sheepishly. "Bolin once asked if I had a massive vault of Avatar gold underground, but nope. I've always had people taking care of me."

"So fines would be pointless," Tarrlok concluded. "And while Republic City prison is a marvel of metallurgy, it also has a state-of-the-art heating system and water lines. So what would stop Korra from breaking out?"

"Not on my watch!" Beifong growled. "I'll assign triple security and put her in a straight-jacket if I have to!"

"You could do that," Tarrlok conceded. "But can you afford to do so? With things as they are, can you afford to invest so many people into one prisoner? And have you forgotten the threat Amon poses? Simply keeping him under wraps is costly enough. And do we really want the Avatar in close proximity to a man that can remove her Bending on a whim?"

"No, obviously not," Beifong agreed. "If he were to commit such an act, it would be catastrophic for us."

"Yes, yes indeed!" Korra piped in, her voice higher than expected. Hearing her voice crack, she blushed as the two adults turned toward her in shock and surprise.

"So," Tarrlok continued. "Since Avatar Korra cannot pay any fines, and imprisonment would be both dangerous and ineffective, the only reasonable punishment you can give would be community service."

"Would that not be a reward for her?" Beifong countered. "She needs to learn that violence is not always the proper response. Recruiting her for a task force organized to take on dangerous criminals would require her to employ violence. How is that a punishment?"

"Do not worry," Tarrlok replied. "There are many openings on the task force that do not require or employ violence, like water-wearers or stretcher-bearers."

"Tarrlok!" Korra yelped, ashamed at the thought.

"Well, in that case," Beifong said, ignoring Korra's outburst. "I think we can arrange that."

"Beifong!" Korra exclaimed, disbelieving what she had heard.

"Avatar Korra," Beifong continued, turning to her. "You are charged with vigilantism, assault, battery, and destruction of public land. How do you plead?"

"No-" Korra began, but caught a glimpse of Tarrlok in the doorframe. He was shaking his head while moving his hand up and down, turning the fingers to face the floor before sharply depressing his palm.

'Water Tribe hunting signals,' she realized. 'Back down.'

"I mean, guilty," she continued, swallowing hard. "I plead guilty."

"Very well," Beifong sighed. "I hereby sentence you to two hundred hours of community service, as per Councilor Tarrlok's discretion. This will be part of your record, and a repeat offense will result in a harsher sentence. Understood?"

"Yes Chief Beifong," Korra ground out.

"Good," she replied, ushering toward the door. "You're dismissed."

Sighing, Korra left the room, Tarrlok stepping in line behind her as the staff hurried to step aside.

"I have much to discuss with you," Tarrlok stated as they exited Police Headquarters.

"You mean my punishment?" Korra asked bitterly.

"Yes, exactly," Tarrlok said, guiding her toward City Hall. "I'm afraid things are progressing far faster than anyone expected. Even as Amon awaits trial, the people rally to his banner and lash out against their neighbors. Those on the receiving end of this violence then turn to violence in kind, leaving no room for negotiation or reason. No one is safe."

"Don't I know it!" Korra yelled out as they entered the double doors. "Tenzin argued against escalating the situation, and he was poisoned! And Asami's a non-Bender, and she got her face ripped up! They're some of the best people I know, and this is what happened to them?!"

"I share your outrage," Tarrlok replied, heading for his office. "As well as your desire for decisive action. It is clear that the police are in over their heads, and we do not have time to train additional officers. We must regain the initiative by going on the offensive."

"You mean the task force?" she asked. "Where I'm going to be a water-wearer or stretcher-bearer?"

"That will be your official role, yes," Tarrlok replied. "But…things can happen. I surmise that the Equalists are far more numerous and armed than people make them out to be."

"Yeah, Asami can testify to that," Korra muttered.

"So," Tarrlok continued. "You will be a back-up for the front-line fighters if they slip up or encounter stiffer resistance than we expect. But if you think this is too much for you…"

"Too much?" she exclaimed in shock. "No way! I'm the Avatar! I can totally handle it! Just tell me where I'm needed and I'll be there!"

"That's the way!" Tarrlok replied, smiling. "I knew I could count on you. You'll be deployed with my subordinate Narak. He'll fill you in on tonight's operation."

"Tonight?!" Korra said. "We're doing this tonight?! That's so fast!"

"Like I said," Tarrlok replied. "We have to regain the initiative, which means taking action. I'll make the announcement tonight when the operation gets underway. In the meantime, you should best get ready."

"Understood," Korra replied and headed out the door. Pausing, she turned back and asked "When will the operation occur? And where will Narak be?"

"Head back to City Hall in about two hours," he replied. "Narak and the rest of the task force will be waiting."

"Okay," Korra said, heading out the doors.

'Finally!' she thought, smiling. 'We're getting some action at last! Now we can put an end to all of this and-'

"Korra!" someone yelled in a panic.

"Who's there?!" she asked, whirling around but finding she was all alone. "Who said that?!"

"Korra!" the voice came again.

"Where are you?!" she asked frantically.

"Korra, look within yourself!" the voice replied, though in a strange manner. It sounded distorted, both distant and close, like an echo in the ice-caves. It also seemed to be both high and low-pitched, like a man and a woman speaking in perfect sync.

"Within myself?" she asked. "How? What do you mean?"

"Look within yourself!" the voice repeated. "Look to your past!"

"My past?" she said, before recognition took her. "You mean my past lives?!"

"Yes!" the voice replied, this time in a distinctly male voice.

"Okay, okay!" she said and sat down to meditate, palms together and eyes closed.

"Anything yet?" she asked, but realized she spoke aloud. "Oh no! Okay, try again."

Resuming the position, Korra tried to focus on her past lives, starting with Aang. She remembered seeing him from a family portrait with Katara and their children, a stately man with orange-and-saffron robes, his blue Air Nomad tattoo prominent on his bald head and a close-cropped beard on his cheeks.

'He really looks like the Avatar,' she thought. 'Okay Aang, talk to me.'

But despite her best efforts, she heard nothing. The image simply stared back at her, immobile and silent.

'Come on Aang!' she thought in frustration. 'Talk to me already!'

But still, nothing.

'Fine!' she yelled internally. 'What's the point of demanding my attention if you're not going to answer?!'

"Korra!" the voice said at last. "Blood! Blood!"

"Took you long enough!" she fumed. "But is that it?! Come one!"

Hearing nothing she sighed in aggravation and ran off towards Air Temple Island.

-Line Break-

"Are we ready?" Narak asked.

"Ready!" Everyone responded.

"All right," he replied, popping the door open. Spilling out onto the street, they approached the target, a run-of-the-mill shop illuminated by the street-lamp.

"This way," Narak said, gesturing toward the alleyway. Crouching down, he peered into a window and nodded toward his subordinates. Turning to the water tank, he closed his fist twice before holding up two fingers, signaling for water.

'Here I go,' Korra thought ruefully, turning the valve and passing the water to him. 'Avatar Korra, Water-girl for the home team.'

"Here it comes!" her partner whispered excitedly. "Tarrlok's announcement!"

"Citizens of Republic City!" Tarrlok's voice called out from their portable radios. "This is Councilor Tarrlok, speaking on behalf of our beloved nation. It pains me greatly to see how dire the situation has become. Our valiant police force battles daily to keep the peace, uphold the law, and protect the innocent, but they are no match for extremists that have taken up the banner of rebellion."

'Rebellion?' Korra thought, feeling an old chill go up her spine. "I don't think that's a good sign.'

"These rebels," Tarrlok continued. "Have grown far too bold and too brutal in their attacks. They have left one of our finest statesmen, Tenzin, a man who has advocated for peace and justice throughout this crisis, comatose. And they scarred the daughter of one of our greatest genius entrepreneurs and inventors, Hiroshi Sato, simply for being at the wrong place and the wrong time. If such individuals could fall prey to their brutality, who will be next? Children? Infants? Where will they draw the line?"

'Yeah when?' Korra asked bitterly.

"We all know the answer," Tarrlok finished. "When we are all dead and gone. They will not stop until they have destroyed every last one of us. As such, I have mobilized the United Forces to put down these extremists once and for all. The flagship Tui and her escort have already been dispatched to Yue Bay, and our ground forces have taken up positions at the border to prevent any and all unauthorized crossings. One way or another, this rebellion will be crushed."

'Wait, what?!' Korra thought, as the ramifications bore into her. 'Tarrlok's mobilizing the military to put down criminals and gangsters?! I knew the situation was bad but…but this?!'

Suddenly, a flash of light ran through her mind as a terrible pain split through her skull. The flash gave way to a view of a street with soldiers clad in black and red marching through, burning all in their wake as people clustered indoors, terrified to leave.

'The Hundred Year War!' Korra realized. 'Aang! Is this what you meant by blood?!'

"Hey!" Narak called out. "Water!"

"Right!" Korra replied, summoning water into a ball as large as a boulder. Levitating it in front of her, she froze as she caught a glimpse of Aang in the water. Blinking, she looked again and froze in shock as her reflection switched between her and Aang's faces in rapid succession, the headache growing worse and worse.

"What's the hold-up?!" Narak yelled. "Let me have it!"

"You got it!" she yelled and threw the water-ball into the alley, knocking Narak into the wall.

"Korra!" her partner yelled out as she jumped down and buckled the ground underneath the water-tank. Tipping past its balance point, the tank collapsed onto the ground, spilling its water into the street. Seeing this, Korra extended her arms and, breathing slowly and steady, froze it solid into a sheet of ice on the street. With the task force preoccupied, she raced into the truck and pulled the driver out onto the pavement.

'I gotta get back to City Hall!' she thought desperately, climbing into the truck. 'I need to talk sense into Tarrlok before this becomes a blood-bath!'

Putting the truck into high gear, Korra floored the gas pedal and sped off down the street. Checking the mirrors, she saw the task force regaining their footing just as Equalists flooded onto the street, engaging them in melee combat.

Suddenly, the front exploded forth, showering the street in splinters and shards of glass. In shock, Korra slammed on the brakes and watched as a large metallic frame emerged from the ruined bookshop. Standing well over ten or twelve feet tall, it had a large glass bubble that glowed a bright green and long, clawed arms that swept the task force standing below. As they jumped back, the figure threw out an arm and she saw lightning shoot out from its arm.

"What is that?!" she wondered as the battle intensified. "How did the Equalists get something like that?! Was Tarrlok…right?!"

Shaking her head furiously, she floored the gas and sped down the street.

"Tarrlok, one way or another I WILL get you to talk!" she hissed.

-Line Break-

'Sounds like the military has been called in,' Amon thought, watching the police frantically run through the hallways. 'Exactly as planned.'

Feeling an explosion rock the prison, he smiled as his assigned guards took up defensive stances just as he heard the door slam open. Throwing their cables down the hallway, they twisted their hands to guide the cables toward their target, but Amon smirked as their bodies stiffened into paralysis.

'Sorry gentlemen,' he thought, raising his hand outward before twisting the palm up, holding the policemen in place. 'Not this time.'

Pulling his hand back, he slammed the policemen into the bars of his cell, knocking them out just as three men appeared outside his cell.

"Amon!" one man, his lieutenant, called out. "It is as you said. The Benders are finally showing their true colors."

"Indeed, lieutenant," Amon agreed. "Now, it is time. Release me from this cell and prepare for us to take the next great step toward equality and justice."

"Spare me your pretty speeches," the second man said as he picked the lock. "I just want one thing: that Ryuukhan brat."

"Are you still angry with him, Yichi?" Amon asked. "I understand the need for vengeance, but he is a child."

"A child who put me in here!" Yichi hissed furiously. "No one does me dirty! Man, woman, or child, you do Gun Yichi dirty and Gun Yichi will have his day!"

"Hurry up already," the third man said. "This is boring."

"Do you think YOU could do better?!" Yichi snapped.

"Are you offering for me to try?" the man replied, his flippancy a rather comical contrast to Yichi's fury.

"Gentlemen," Amon interjected. "We have business to attend to. Yichi, get me out. Kuan, stand guard."

"Yes Amon," Kuan replied while Yichi huffed in fury. Soon, the click of the lock rang through the air and Yichi threw open the cell doors.

"Well done," Amon said, stretching out his limbs and cracking his neck. "Gentlemen, we have work to do. Fulfill your assignments, and by morning Republic City will be ours."

-Line Break-

"I-REALLY-need to-learn how-to drive!" Korra wheezed out as she exited the truck. "Lucky that lamp-post was there."

Looking over the truck, she found the fender had bent the lamp-post and the truck was straddling the curb, leaving half on and off the sidewalk. Shrugging she ran toward City Hall, ignoring the ache in her side from when she collided with the wheel. Suddenly, she heard a thumping sound from above. Looking up, she saw zeppelins flying overhead, similar to those used by the police but with a more streamlined, triangular build and a far darker color.

'They look like praying manta rays,' she thought, shivering at the reminder. 'Nasty things.'

Soon after, she saw lines descend from the zeppelins right as people zipped down to the rooftops. Hunched in the dim light, they surveyed the streets before hunkering out of sight. Meanwhile, intense beams of light emerged from the zeppelins and began sweeping the streets.

Suddenly, she saw an explosion erupt from a nearby apartment block as several windows were blown out in a massive fire-ball. Soon after, more explosions rocked the buildings, filling the streets with smoke while glass and brick showered upon the streets. Inside, she heard screaming and yelling, followed by a strange new sound obscured by the smoke.

"What is that?!" she asked. "It sounds like a motorcycle engine, but not quite."

Searching the sky, she saw a streak fly over the zeppelin right before a series of explosions rocked the vessel. Briefly knocked off-balance, the zeppelin sought to right itself before another streak flew overhead. This time, the zeppelin veered off-course and several objects impacted the ground before setting off a massive explosion that sent Korra flying off her feet. Looking to the impact site, she saw a column of black smoke that reeked of rotten eggs and sewage rising into the air while the zeppelin rose shakily into the air.

"Things are really getting out of control!" Korra gasped as she struggled to her feet. "How did the Equalists get their hands on all this?! Tarrlok, what have you done?!"

Turning back to City Hall, she saw the door had been blown open by the explosion and raced through the double doors. Inside she saw the windows blown in by the blast, the floor strewn with glass and splinters, but to her surprise she saw the pews packed with people.

Suddenly, the lights lit up and she instinctively backed behind a column to avoid detection.

"The court is now in session," she heard an all-too familiar voice call out, her blood chilling cold. "The accused, Councilor Tarrlok and Councilor Fuku. The charges: negligence of the common good, gross incompetence, and use of violence against the people of Republic City. How does the accused plead?"

"By what lawful authority are you charging us?" Tarrlok asked in a haughty tone. "Do you have a legal license to charge us? If so, where did you obtain it from and from who?"

"Councilor Tarrlok," Amon continued, ignoring the question. "How do you plead to the charges?"

"By what lawful authority are you charging us?" Tarrlok repeated. "There are many unlawful authorities in this world. Thieves, murderers, and daofei in the back-country. How do you claim to have lawful authority over us?"

"By the people of Republic City!" Amon boomed, sweeping his arms wide. "As the leaders of Republic City, you ought to be held accountable to the people! If your actions harm the people, then such actions should be weighed as crimes against the people! As the voice of the people, I hold the right by popular support to judge the leaders for their crimes!"

"Popular support is not a lawful authority in and of itself," Tarrlok countered. "If the popular consensus was that the sun revolved around the earth, would that make it true? Does not lawful action require something more than popular support? Doesn't policy and law rely more on facts than popularity? If popularity should make facts, or alter the fundamental facts, then who in Republic City can be assured of their safety or liberty?"

"If it is facts you desire," Amon replied, leaning in close. "Then I shall bestow upon you the facts of your crimes. Fact: despite years of leadership, you failed to end or even significantly hinder the criminal activities of the Triads or the Tong. Fact: I accomplished in one night what you failed to do for years; capture and defeat the Triad leadership. Fact: you ordered the use of military force against the people of Republic City, even after I had surrendered myself to the 'lawful authorities' as you call them. Do you dispute these facts?"

"A very impressive list," Tarrlok answered, closing the distance. "But allow me to illuminate some 'facts' of yours. Fact: you admitted your actions against the Triads were unlawful as you had no authority to prosecute them. Fact: you surrendered yourself on the condition of a deal, indicating your motives were not based in remorse. Fact: Republic City suffered a surge of attacks on the very night you were supposedly surrendering yourself. Fact: your people have caused tremendous damage to Republic City tonight rather than surrendering to the authorities, proving the necessity of military force. Fact: you have NOT been tried or cleared of your crimes, yet you stand here, meaning you broke out of prison in violation of Republic City law. Do YOU dispute THESE facts?"

"Spoken like a true politician," Amon said, his mask mere inches from Tarrlok's. "But such words are to be expected. You entice the audience with large words and long prose to distract them from your true objective. I noticed that you did not dispute the facts I presented to you regarding your actions against the people of Republic City. Does this imply that you plead guilty to them?"

"No, far from it," Tarrlok replied. "I merely stated facts that illuminate your unlawful authority this night, but your reaction is to be expected. You bemoan the harshness of justice, conveniently forgetting what you did to deserve such punishment, as all criminals do."

"Strange," Amon hissed, leaning back. "I was thinking the same about you."

Stepping back he yelled out "On the charges, how do you find the accused?".

"Guilty on all charges!" the crowd in the pews yelled out.

"Councilor Tarrlok, Councilor Fuku," Amon said, turning his back to them. "You have been found guilty on all charges, and shall be stripped of your power here and now for the rest of your lives. May the people of Republic City be merciful upon you."

"You have no idea what you're dealing with!" Tarrlok said, rising to his feet.

Infuriated, the crowd surged forward to grab him, but as he raised his arms, they suddenly halted. Twisting his hands, the onlookers fell to the floor, twitching and screaming in pain as their arms moved behind their backs. The crowd struggled to get to their feet, but their bodies refused to move, as if some invisible force was holding them down.

"What is this?!" someone yelled out, groaning from the floor.

"Behold!" Amon yelled, pointing towards Tarrlok. "The Bender's true face on naked display! Drunk on his own power, utterly unconcerned with the needs of his fellow Man! Driven by his own ego and greed for more!"

Smirking, Tarrlok extended his hands just as Amon's men jumped back. Turning his palms over, the men froze in mid-air, limbs convulsing in a grotesque manner. Pulling down, Tarrlok slammed them to the floor, breaking the tiles and twisting their limbs like a scorpion centipede writhing in its death throes.

'How horrible!' Korra thought, fighting a bout of nausea as she watched Tarrlok utterly ragdoll all the men around him. Suddenly, her head split from an intense headache as a light flashed over her eyes. Blinking it all away, she saw another vision from her past.

It was the same courtroom, but with different actors. In place of Amon, she saw Sokka, and instead of Tarrlok she saw a man in a business suit sporting a vicious smile, like a shark squid right before the kill. In her vision, she saw the man pronounced guilty of Bloodbending before the people all around him started convulsing and screaming in pain before being pulled down by an invisible force. Standing, the man offered his hands as a police-woman floated toward him, her hands forcibly extending to unlock his handcuffs. And a bald man in Air Nomad robes struggled to move as the Bloodbender departed with a victorious smirk.

A man she recognized instantly: Aang.

'Bloodbending?' she wondered, shaking her head vigorously. 'Is that what you meant by blood? Tarrlok's a…Bloodbender?!'

Raising her head, she saw Tarrlok standing triumphantly as he watched his opponents twitch feebly under his power before finally giving out.

All but one: Amon.

To her shock, Amon simply stood there, watching Tarrlok subjugate his followers, utterly impassive like a stone pillar.

Seeing Amon's impassive stance, Tarrlok smirked and threw out his hands, yanking hard. But his smirk gave way to shock as his efforts did nothing. Clawing his hands, he tried pulling upwards but while Amon's frame seemed to shiver slightly, he remained firmly in place. Then, slowly but surely, he walked toward Tarrlok.

"Impossible!" Tarrlok exclaimed as he frantically clawed and thrust his hands. "Impossible!"

"Impossible?" Amon mocked, keeping his slow, steady pace despite a convulsion here and there. "If it is impossible, how can it be happening?"

Closing the gap, he stared Tarrlok straight in the eye before grabbing him by the hand. Locking his elbow, he threw Tarrlok to the floor into a kneeling position. Grabbing the back of his neck, Amon pressed his thumb to Tarrlok's forehead, a scream rending the air before he collapsed onto the floor.

"Justice is served," Amon hissed, staring down at his prone victim. "One more step towards equality."

'How did he...?!' Korra wondered, trying furiously to figure out how Amon triumphed over Tarrlok. 'Has anyone…Katara! Katara was able to take back control when Hama used it on her! But that would have to mean that Amon is…a Bender himself! The man who hates Bending is himself a Bender!'

"And now," Amon said, cutting the silence. "Your turn, Councilor Fuku."

Terrified, Fuku tried to run but found herself paralyzed and levitated towards Amon's waiting hand. Instinctively, Korra rushed out and threw a fire-ball at Amon, striking him in the back. As he stumbled, Fuku collapsed to the floor and quickly raced away as Amon turned toward the new threat.

"Avatar Korra," he said, chuckling as Korra stood before him. "I was wondering when I would deal with you. It is truly fortuitous that you have delivered yourself into my hands."

"I-I know your secret Amon!" Korra yelled out, sending off a fire-ball. "I know the truth about your power!"

"Do you?" Amon scoffed, effortlessly dodging it. "And what good will that knowledge do you?"

"Once your followers know the truth," Korra replied, sending off a series of fire-punches. "They'll abandon you. What good is a leader without followers?"

"How typical," Amon said, sidestepping her attacks. "You underestimate the people because you're a Bender, and have power they do not. Well, I will show you what true power is!"

Thrusting his hands out, Korra jumped back, but found herself paralyzed in mid-air. Her eyes widened in terror as Amon flexed his hands up, bending Korra backwards like a contortionist. Adding to her torment, he twisted his palms, pulling her arms and legs behind her back, her joints cracking under his power.

'This…is…horrible!' she panicked. Every time he flexed or twisted his hands, she felt her blood surge within her, stretching the muscles and tendons to their limits. She could even hear her bones creaking under the strain. The pain alone was unbearable, but worse of all it was her utter helplessness. The feeling of being under another's absolute, total power, awake and aware of what was happening but completely unable to do anything about it.

"This is rather enjoyable," Amon hissed, pulling Korra towards him. "But I really must get back to business. I have a city to take over, and I cannot allow you to escape."

Flipping her over, he slammed her into the floor, her limbs weighed down by her blood. Grabbing her neck, he pulled her head upward toward him as he pressed his thumb against her forehead. Staring up into his cold eyes, she frantically tried to break free, but her limbs refused to move. In desperation, she inhaled deep, hoping to use the Dragon's Breath technique, but her lungs would not cooperate. Inside, she felt something move along her spine, like a burrowing mole-viper but with claws sharp as glass and an icy-cold body.

'Aang, please help me!' she begged, closing her eyes as Amon's gleamed in triumph.

Suddenly, Amon released her from his grip as he staggered off-balance. Falling forward, Korra felt the cold, ripping sensation cease as she gulped down air to try and stabilize herself.

"Who-?" Amon asked, turning to face his new attacker as Korra slowly turned toward her unexpected ally.

-Line Break-

Author's Notes: Sorry for the long wait. This was a rather challenging chapter to write because I wanted to both do Amon and the Equalists justice but not drag it out any longer than I had to. I felt like Korra and Ryuukhan's time in Republic City was being drawn out without any good resolution and I wanted to wrap it up but Amon is such a fantastic villain that I wanted to do him justice. Even after all this, I feel like this is one of my weaker chapters.

I do appreciate your feedback, and if possible please consider becoming a beta reader.