Chapter 11: Direct Attack

Kuvira slumped against the corner of her cell, walls of metal that she could not manipulate. Even if she could, there was nowhere to go for her. She was in the Fire Nation, far away from the Earth Kingdom. Lit-up candles around the top of the cell illuminated the area. She held a wooden cup of water after finishing her scheduled meals. Being so isolated in her cage, her mind drifted away.

Years ago, she was a rough and wild child and a menace to her biological parents. Eventually, in one of her outbursts, the earth-bending prodigy unintentionally injured her mother, and that was the last straw. Her parents sent her to Suyin and she was adopted her into the Beifong family. However, she initially did not get along with her new family members and was often at odds with Opal. Her abrasive demeanour, in truth, was her way of covering her anxiety and her fear of loss. It was her fears and anxiety that drove her to become the 'Great Uniter', and that to led to her defeat.

She felt a lump in her throat, she brought a hand to her eyes.

I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.

The sound of a thud beyond her cell door snapped her out of her thoughts. The slot slid open, but it was too dark to see anything.

"Who's there?" Kuvira said. A wooden dart was shot through the slot, and it struck Kuvira's forearm. "Ah! Agh!" Kuvira's whole body felt numb, she dropped her cup of water and she fell into paralysis.


Back at the Asami's airship. Tenzin was on the telephone, contacting Bumi and Kya on Republic City's Air Temple Island. The rest of the group, save for Korra and Asami, gathered around Tenzin to listen in on the conversation.

"You want us to do a check on every air nomad stationed at the portal?" Kya asked with a frown.

"Check the portal's perimeter. See if there's any signs of an intruder." Tenzin answered.

"An intruder? Come on Tenzin, you can't be serious. Who in the right mind would want to loiter around the portal? There's nothing there." Bumi scoffed.

"Bumi, do I sound like I am joking here?" Tenzin said.

"Tenzin," Mako spoke out, and everyone in the Guest House turned to him. "May I?"

Tenzin did not see any reason to object. He handed to mouthpiece to Mako.

"Bumi, Kya. This is Mako." The young man took over communication. "Someone got into the portal and made contact with Tokuga. Snuck him out of the city and brought him here in the Fire Nation with his triad."

Mako's words were sinking into Bumi and Kya.

"How's that possible?" Bumi asked.

"We need you to find that out." Mako answered, "Check the portal's perimeter and any vantage point around the neighbourhood."

"Assemble our Air Nomads stationed at the portal and ask them if they have witnessed anything out of place." Tenzin leaned over and spoke to the mouthpiece.

"Sure thing, Tenzin." Kya said, "We're on it."

Once the line was cut, Mako hung up the receiver.

In the airship, Jinora let out a breath she did not realize she had been holding. "Well, now what should we do?"

"Should we carry on with our objective for today?" Kai suggested, "The school zones?"

"What about Bumi and Kya? We're supposed to wait on their call." Opal pointed out.

"I'll stay here in the airship. The rest of you can proceed to host a show for any airbenders by the school areas." Tenzin said to them.

"Alrighty. Let's do this." Kai nodded.

Mako glanced at Bolin and tapped his shoulder.

"Bolin." Mako whispered.

"Hm?" Bolin hummed. Mako gently pulled him away from the group to talk privately.

Bolin gave Mako a confused look, "What is it bro?"

"I know this is a bad time, but we have this only chance to see Mom's place." Mako said.

Bolin's lips parted from Mako's words. "W-What about our airbender mission?"

Mako sighed through his nose, he knew about Bolin's attachment to the group, especially considering Opal was part of the group. But seeing his mother's home was too important for him.

"Bolin. Opal, Jinora, and Kai can handle it. I don't see how we're of any help to promote the Air Nomads. It's their show." Mako said.

"But Mako, bro, it's their show but we're a part of the group too." Bolin shrugged, "Mom's house isn't going anywhere. Surely we can see it another day?"

"Bolin, I don't think we can spare another day. Not with Future Industries' situation." Mako replied, "We check out mom's house quick and we will back with the rest like we weren't even gone."

"Mako, I don't know…"

"Surely you can do this for mom?" Mako's voice had a slight urge in it. Bolin had a heavy in his gut, he remembered how upset Mako was when he forgot about the anniversary of their parents' deaths. But more so, Bolin was upset with himself that he failed to remember, like he was dishonouring them.

Mako realised what he said was borderline guilt-tripping. He quickly apologised. "I'm sorry Bolin. I didn't mean to put that on you."

"Mako-"

"If you wish to go with the Opal, Jinora, and Kai, please go right ahead. I won't stop you. I'll respect your decision." Mako said.

"Bolin, you should go."

Mako and Bolin turned to see Opal joining them.

"Opal?" Bolin raised a brow.

"You two should go see your mom's place. We can catch up after that." Opal cupped Bolin's cheek. "You go with your brother ok?"

Bolin glanced back at Mako before looking into Opal's eyes. Bolin had a small smile on the corner of his mouth. He made his decision.

"Thanks, Opal. You're the best." Bolin pecked a kiss on Opal's forehead.

Mako watched the couple enjoying their short moment together before Opal left to join Jinora and Kai.

Good for you, Bolin. Good for you. Mako smiled in his mind.


Soon after, Mako was on a satomobile jeep, a standard design issued by the Fire Nation Royal Family. Bolin sat beside him, and they were driving through the southern bazaar. With one hand on the wheel, Mako inspected the map held in his other hand. Bolin offered to help, but he did not know the Fire Nation districts as well as his older brother. Besides, he was never one for navigation.

"It should be a left turn here." Mako said and spun the steering wheel. A couple of bends around corners and Mako pulled to a stop. The neighbourhood was situated around a hill with terrace houses surrounding it. The markets were on the opposite side of the houses. All in all, it was a peaceful location. Just the everyday people going about their daily lives in a community.

"Check this place out." Bolin smiled with his hands on his hips. "It's like a garden with everyone being happy and all."

"Yeah." Mako nodded. "Tranquil and small. But that's why it's a good place."

"And mom left all this behind? To live in Republic City?" Bolin asked.

"Seemed she wanted to be adventurous. Just like Dad I guess." Mako said. "Come on. We should find which one of these houses belonged to mom." He made his way over to the landlord's office in the middle of the terrace houses.

"Uh hello?" Mako knocked on the door. He could hear some shuffling inside before the door opened and there was a sweet old lady with reading glasses.

"Ah. Can I help you, young man?" The lady greeted.

"Hi, ma'am." Mako greeted back. "We're looking for apartment 104?"

"104?" The lady's sweet eyes quickly turned suspicious. "What do you want with that room?"

"It is Naoki Uchida's house right?" Mako asked. Bolin soon appeared behind him.

"Who are you two? How do you know Naoki?" The lady demanded an answer, she had such a sudden change in demeanour.

"Uh…" Mako raised his hands up, "I'm Mako. This is my brother, Bolin. Naoki Uchida is our mother."

The lady recoiled, her eyes widened like a youthful vitality found its way into her. "Mother? Y-You're Naoki's boys?"

"You know our mother?" Mako raised a brow.

"Naoki- Your mother lived here with her parents. She is also a friend of mine. After she moved to Republic City, she sent a letter to me about how she made a family there. Then her parents, your grandparents, passed away, I kept the house under her name in case she returned."

"Oh wow." Bolin stepped forward, "Mom's friend. It's so cool to see mom's friend. Finally."

"Just call me Madam Tang." Tang smiled, "Where's your mother?"

The question froze Mako and Bolin in place. Bolin's eyes were saddened. Mako remained rigid, keeping himself in control.

"She uh…" Mako chose his words carefully, "She passed away. As did our father."

Tang's face fell with the grave news, "O-Oh…Oh my…Oh my dear I'm so sorry." A silence lingered over them, Tang was bringing a hand to her mouth, "Oh dear. Naoki."

Bolin quickly stepped forward, arms spread wide. "Madam Tang, do you need a hug?"

"Oh." Tang went into Bolin's embrace. "Aren't you sweet? Just like your mother."

"Mako, get in here. Join the hug." Bolin pulled him and the three hugged warmly. As much as Mako wanted to give this moment to Tang, he had to hurry. An hour had passed since he left the port. There was only an hour left before he had to make contact with the others.

"Madam Tang, I'm sorry to press, but is it possible for us to see our mother's room?" Mako pulled away from the hug.

"Of course." Tang said, "Let me get the key for you."

Minutes had passed, and Tang returned to her office while Mako and Bolin stood before apartment number 104. Mako unlocked the door and the two entered the house. They left it open, to let the stale air escape. Apart from the dusty smell, the house did not appear too badly. There was a wooden dining table and a couch on the side. To the left, there were a couple of bedrooms and a bathroom.

"Mom's home…" Mako said.

"Yeah." Bolin added.

The two explored the room a little more. Bolin checked around the empty kitchen while Mako stopped at the shelf by the couch's side. There was a row of picture frames and Mako picked up one. We wiped off the layer of dust to reveal the photograph. It was Naoki seated on a chair with a man and a woman standing beside her.

The man had grey peppered around his sideburns and a goatee on his chin. The woman had black hair tied in a bun and they were both dressed in the usual Fire Nation attire.

"Bolin." Mako called his brother, "I think these are our grandparents."

Bolin zipped over to Mako, looking at the picture. "Ohhh wow. Check out grandpa and grandma. Awesome beard."

"Yeah." Mako chuckled. Mako set the picture down and picked up another frame. Wiping off the dust, it revealed a picture of a young girl giving a big toothy grin with the same couple by her sides.

"Oh wow. That's mom when she's a small girl!" Bolin beamed in delight.

"Heh. I guess we now know who you got your charming grin from." Mako added. Bolin gingerly took the picture from Mako so he could get a proper look.

"Man…this is mom." Bolin's lips cracked a heartful smile.

"Something wrong?" Mako turned to him.

"N-No. It's just…" Bolin winced, "It's kind of weird."

"What do you mean?"

Bolin bit his lip, his mind tried to jog his memory. But all he can remember was the old photograph he had with his parents and Mako. And that photograph was left to their paternal grandmother.

"I…I…can't really remember them bro."

Mako instantly turned to him, "You what?"

Bolin placed the picture back on the shelf, "I don't know, it's just…" Bolin's face scrunched up like he was straining his brain, "I remember…I…I don't know bro. I guess I remember their faces, what they look like. But nothing much really."

"What about that picture grandma showed us back in Ba Sing Se?" Mako asked, "Do you remember we took that picture?"

Bolin shook his head. "It's weird. I should remember, but I can't. I don't even remember our house. Or when Dad gave you his scarf. I mean I remember about the day they died, but I don't remember anything clear before that. I only remember…when we were on the streets. We had to look out for each other. It was just us against the world you know?"

Mako's brows knitted together. Is this why you forgot about the day they died? Because you couldn't remember them?

"Man, now that I think about it. You really looked out for me all those years ago. When we're on the streets, then we became the Fire Ferrets." Bolin walked the old house as he gathered, "Man, we've come a long way, haven't we?"

"Yeah." Mako thought back through his life in the streets of Republic City.

"Thanks Mako. Thanks for looking out for me." Bolin looked him in the eye. "I don't think I've properly said it before. Thanks."

Mako's heart had a tint of warmth, he could feel the pressure in his eyes as if the well was threatening to break. But he held it in, he did not say anything and gave Bolin a nod.

"And then Korra joined us." Bolin said, "Oh and that uh…date with Korra…and after that match we lost, then you and Korra…and the kiss…then Asami…then me telling Asami…and then this…and then that…"

Mako flinched at that, the warm feeling he had inside quickly turned cold. "Bolin I…"

"I mean uh actually now that I think about it." Bolin rubbed the back of her head, "We really started off messy huh? I mean like really really messy."

Mako remained silent.

"But hey things worked out right?" Bolin grinned with his hands on his hips pacing around the room, "I mean look at us. We're in high places now. The Metal Clan, Dad's relatives, President Zhu Li, the Air Nomads. We're one big family. Plus, I got Opal. Jinora and Kai, everyone can see that. And Korra's got Asami-" Bolin caught himself, "Oh…"

Bolin cringed and slowly faced Mako. To his surprise, his older brother appeared impassive, like he was not even listening. Instead, Mako was back at the picture frames, removing the photographs from the frames so he could keep them for himself.

"Family, huh?" Mako's voice was so monotone. He stared at the photographs of Naoki Uchida. "Sorry Bolin, but I remember Mom and Dad. I remember how they played with us, how they fed us, how they loved us." Mako started clenching his teeth, "I also remember how they were taken from us."

"Mako…I'm…I'm sorry I can't remember them as much as you do." Bolin inched closer and carefully placed his hand on his shoulder, "Mako?"

"It's fine Bolin." Mako said, "It can't be helped now, can it? You remember we had mom and dad. That just might be good enough for them."

"Uh, y-yeah." Bolin mumbled. Then a lightbulb lit up in Bolin's head. "Can you imagine if Mom and Dad see us now? Now that you and I are a part of Team Avatar."

"Am I?" Mako could not stop himself from blurting out.

Bolin patted Mako on the back. "Hey come on, bro! Don't tell me you feel like you're 'drifting apart' from everyone again?"

Mako did not answer.

Bolin huddled Mako, "Hey don't do that! Drift back! I told you that before. I know things got a little rough because of yesterday and Future Industries today. But that doesn't make you less important to them. You get me, Mako?"

There was no answer from him.

"I think that perhaps Mako doesn't feel…how to put it…he doesn't feel comfortable with you guys anymore." Pema's words days before crept into Bolin's mind.

Mako folded up the photographs and stuffed in his back pocket.

"Come on Bolin," Mako elected to leave Bolin's question hanging, "There's nothing else for us here. We should get back to the others. See how they're doing."

The two exited the house and Mako locked it up. After returning the key to Madam Tang, they were on their way back to the jeep. They may not have gotten much from visiting Naoki's old house, but it was still something they needed. One more step closer to their mother.

Mako suddenly sensed something off. Civilians were standing in place, looking at something above. Mako snapped around to see the quarry.

"What's everyone looking at?" Bolin turned around as well.

On the roof of a house opposite stood a man, tall and muscular in a sleeveless Fire Nation attire. His head was swept back. The most notable thing about this man was his eye tattoo on his forehead.

"Mako. Bolin. Friends of Avatar Korra. I am Dahuo of the Red Lotus." The man greeted. His voice loomed low with a menacing presence. "I bring your deaths."

Dahuo inhaled deep and fired a beam of explosive chi at Mako and Bolin.


Back at the pier, in Future Industries' warehouse, Korra and Asami were taking account of every vehicle according to the manifest. Hui Lee and Kuzon were rummaging through documents in the office on the second level.

Contact to Lin Beifong in Republic City has already been made. All shipments from Future Industries have been halted, and the police were going to conduct their thorough search. Asami ticked off the last item on the vehicle list.

"We're missing…eight bikes and six jeeps. And that's only the vehicles we know our enemies have. Who knows what else they have in their arsenal."

"I can't believe this is really happening." Korra shook her head.

"Miss Sato!" Kuzon called to them from the upper levels, "You better come take a look at this!"

Asami sighed and trudged her way up the stairs with Korra following behind her. She opened the door to the office, she was not exactly pleased about Hui Lee and Kuzon's presence, digging into her files.

Hui Lee turned to her, holding an envelope to her. "This was mixed in with the list of personnel that transferred over here from Republic City. It has your name on it."

Asami narrowed her eyes in suspicion. Taking it from Hui Lee's hand, Asami opened up the envelope and pulled out the contents. Asami's eyes widened like a horror show. The contents consisted of a photograph and a letter.

The photograph showed Asami's office from the window as if the photo was taken from an adjacent tower. It captured the scene of Asami and Korra after Kuvira's court trial. Asami, with a tremble in her fingers, gripped the second letter to read it.

"Asami Sato,

You have delivered my message to Korra.

Now you will deliver my warning. When she continues down her path, she will fail. As will you and your friends. What you have built together, will fail. Team Avatar, as you call it, will fail.

An acquaintance."

"What in the world?!" Korra took the photographs and letters from Asami. "Who did…How did this…"

"What is it?" Hui Lee took a step forward, getting Asami's attention. Her height gave quite an imposing stance over them. Asami flinched and recoiled from her, much to her and Kuzon's confusion.

"What?" Kuzon asked this time. "What are those?"

Kuzon went to reach for the photos and letters, but Korra pulled her hand away. "Hey, careful buster."

The small act of defiance did not sit well with Kuzon nor Hui Lee.

"You trying to hold out on us?" Hui Lee came forward, clearly not amused.

"Korra, it's ok." Asami said, "Show them."

Korra gave her girlfriend a glance before handing the photo and letter to Hui Lee.

"It's…someone's been…someone's been following us." Asami fessed up. "Since Republic City."

At the school zones, Opal and Jinora glided through the air with her wingsuit in a display of finesse and style. School students gathered around for the airbending show. Opal and Jinora hovered to the ground with flair and the kids around them gave a round of applause.

"Thank you. Thank you." Kai, the host for the show, said out loud. "We hope you've enjoyed our show. If anyone knows an airbender, send them our way. Or if any of you is an airbender, we would very much like to meet you."

The Air Nomads bowed and the students cheered before the crowd began to mitigate. But two kids in school uniforms approached Opal. There were a couple of school girls, one sporting long black hair and the other had a brown ponytail.

"Hi!" The black-haired girl waved at Opal.

"Well hello there sweetie." Opal knelt down and a gave warm smile to them. "I'm Opal. What are your names?"

"I'm Jiayi. This is Hualong." Jiayi introduced the brown-haired ponytail girl. "And she's actually an airbender."

Jinora and Kai joined Opal, excited by the new airbender's presence.

"Come on, Hualong." Jiayi nudged her friend's shoulder, "Show them what you can do."

Hualong had a tint of pink in her cheeks, too nervous to look at the Air Nomads.

"Come on, honey. No need to be shy." Opal said.

Hualong mumbled, "O-Okay…" she took a stance and shot a fist at the ground. A gust of wind impacted the ground and a small speck of dust rose from the dirt.

"Ohhh wow." Kai cheered.

"T-Thank you." Hualong meekly nodded.

"Yeah, you guys said you know how to help people who can airbend right?" Jiayi said. "Help people to train on their airbending and become an Air Nomad?"

"Yes, we absolutely do." Opal said, "But being an Air Nomad is a commitment. So we need you to talk to your parents about this. And your parents should talk to our airbending master, Tenzin."

"It's best you head home and ask your mom and dad about this." Jinora added.

Suddenly, there was a boom in the distance followed by running and screaming. School students and civilians were fleeing from the nearby marketplace. Opal, Jinora, Kai, Jiayi, and Hualong could hear motorcycle engines approaching them.

There were four motorcyclists, their faces hidden in khaki-coloured helmets. They wore grey leather jackets with a red lotus emblem at the centre of their chests.

"The Red Lotus!" Opal shouted. Jinora and Kai readied their stances. Smoke erupted right in front of the motorcyclists, creating a smokescreen before the Air Nomads. A pair of black shrouds landed by Opal's side which made Opal shriek in surprise. The Blue Spirit masks was even more haunting to her up close.

"Air Nomads," Mei said with a low voice. "Clear the area of civilians."

"We will deal with the insurgents." Noren added.

"What?" Opal was stammering, "Who are-"

"Opal. Listen." Noren hurried her, "Create a perimeter. Lead the civilians away from the fight. Go."

The Beifong did not even want to know how the man in the blue mask knew her name. She propelled herself up. The Air Nomads took the skies, gliding across the around district.

Mei wasted no time and grabbed Jiayi and Hualong, rushing away from them and carried the kids to a corner of the buildings by an alleyway.

"Mommy!" Jiayi whispered.

"Jiayi! Hualong! Go home now!" Mei ordered.

"Okay! Come on Hualong!" Jiayi grabbed Hualong's hand and they ran off.

Opal, Jinora, and Kai circled around the markets in the air, calling out to the fleeing citizens. "Everyone, follow me! I'll lead you all out of here!"

Back with Noren, the Red Lotus insurgents road out of the smokescreen, none too pleased by the surprise attack from these new adversaries. The first Red Lotus goon leaped off the motorcycle and shot out a gust of fire from his foot. Noren jumped in a flip to the side, subtly weaving his fingers to gain control of the flames from his enemy. Spinning in his momentum, Noren blasted the flames back at his foe. The first goon barely registered the fire thrown his way and got knocked back hard.

The second goon came rushing in, this time it was a woman. She came charging in towards Noren wielding two electrified gloves in each hand.

"Future Industries tech." Noren tsked.

As the second Red Lotus follower got closer, a volley of bo-shurikens rained from above, embedding themselves into one glove and the arm. She yelled in pain stumbling away. Mei sped in and drove a boot across her face.

Mei's foe staggered to the side, giving Noren the space to focus on the last two Red Lotus followers. They were a pair of men, leaping off their motorcycles they got down into a low stance. Striking out their fists, their motorcycles broke apart. They pulled their fists back and pieces of metal from the vehicles clamped their entire bodies like suits of armour.

Noren, behind his mask, gave an annoyed groan, "Metal benders. Crooked cops on a payroll? Or defectors?"

The metal benders struck out their fists again and cables within their metal sleeves shot their way to Noren.

Mei swerved her head to the side, dodging the remaining electrified glove from the non-bender Red Lotus goon. Mei slashed her glove with her kunai, cutting through the wires. After a second of sparks, the glove's power was gone. Mei clamped on the arm and threw the woman on the ground. Mei stomped on her ankle and a crack can be heard. The lady cried out in pain before Mei slammed her knife's handle into the back of her head, knocking her out.

Noren flipped and twisted in the air, evading the twirling cables from the Red Lotus metal benders. He landed in a kamae posture, surrounded by the two metal benders and the fire bender from earlier.

The three jumped up, and a stream of fire and two metal cables came his way fast. Noren swiftly drew a martial circular motion with his hands, lightning generated around his fingers. He brought his hands together condensing the lightning in his palms, before Noren grunted and stretched out his arms wide. Lightning jutted out from his fingers and streamed all around Noren, it covered him like a large dome.

A lightning dome.

Blue light shines throughout the markets. The three Red Lotus insurgents were caught in the lightning dome, intense voltage coursed through them. Since the metal benders encased themselves with metal, they were getting grilled inside their armour. The fire bender fared no better, he spasmed while suspended in the air with the lightning. Noren exhaled out a kiai and lightning continued to generate out from him.

The Red Lotus goons flung back and Noren shut off the lightning. The metal benders sizzled stiff in their metal armours while the fire bender's body was twisted up.

"And then there were none." Noren sighed.

"Area is secured. One hostile bagged for intel." Mei said, dragging the unconscious non-bending goon by the hair.

"Jiayi?" Noren asked.

"She's ok." Mei answered before giving him an order, "Blue-three, get on the comms. Get a sitrep from all active units."


Bolin stomped the ground and raised his arms up, erecting a rock wall as Dahuo's combustion beam made an impact on the wall. The explosion was huge the shockwave sent Mako and Bolin careening back.

"Ah!" Mako and Bolin grunted in pain and they landed flat on their backs. Debris scattered all over the place. Mako rolled to his feet and pulled Bolin up onto his.

"Bolin! Come on!" Mako shoved Bolin away from Dahuo's line of sight, taking cover behind a house. The combustion bender was about to release another beam. Mako exhaled and swung an arm, bright orange fire arched toward the hulking man.

Dahuo blasted his beam of combustion energy, despite the flames blocking his view he had a general direction of where Mako was. The beam pierced through the orange fire, Mako narrowly pulled his head away and the combustion beamed soared past him. However, Mako did not anticipate where the beam would strike, right into the house behind them. Naoki's house.

The combustion beam smashed through the door, detonating the house. The roof blew upwards and the walls burst into pieces all over. Splinters of charred wood scattered around and Naoki's house was nothing left but a smoking rubble.

Mako, still behind cover from Dahuo's assault, was left frozen. His mother's house was completely destroyed. But there was no angered roar or a cry of despair, there was only silence in him. A void in his core.

"Mom's house!" Bolin yelled. "That did not just happen! He did not just do that!"

Combustion beams continued to blast indiscriminately. Screams from fleeing citizens right after. Explosions bombarded around them, but all Mako could hear was the last thing his mother said to him.

'San…Ma…ko…'

"Bro?!" Bolin grabbed Mako's collar to get his attention.

Mako turned to his brother, his face showed a simmering rage Bolin had not seen before. Unlike the brooding bad boy Bolin described him as this was a look of cold and focused fury.

"Bolin, we have to steer him away from civilians." His voice was low and oddly serene, "We keep Dahuo distracted. You have to create some walls, funnel him towards me and away from innocent people." Something azure ignited in Mako's soul.

"What?" Bolin tilted his head.

"The priority is protecting the citizens here. I'll deal with Dahuo. Let's go." Mako pulled two kunais from his boot and leaped out of cover, gaining Dahuo's attention.

Dahuo gave an intense stare, blasting his combustion beam his way. Mako breathed in deep, and roared out, extending his hands out and a giant ball of blue fire was thrown at the beam. They collided with each other, the beam lost its structure as it became engulfed in the might of the blue flames, detonating itself in the air.

Smoke surrounded the entire area, providing cover for Mako and Bolin.

"Whoa! Bro, what was that?!" Bolin gawked with eyes wide like dinner plates.

"Bolin…" Mako panted with a strain in his throat, "Rock wall barrier. Draw him away from the citizens. Now." Mako threw his two kunais, they soared through the smoke. Dahuo barely saw the two knives coming towards him. He blasted the first knife into pieces, but the second one stuck itself his chest.

Dahuo plucked the knife out and tossed it away, blood leaked out from the wound. Dahuo began to give chase. Mako ran while Dahuo pursued. Walls made of earth began rising from Dahuo's right, essentially blocking him off from one side of the residential area. Bolin ran on top of the wall, throwing debris at Dahuo.

The big man blasted any projectiles coming from Bolin, that distraction earned him another stiletto into his thigh thrown by Mako as he kept running from him. Dahuo felt the searing pain in his leg, but he did not show it to them. Dahuo pressed on, Bolin kept raising walls to funnel him towards Mako. Dahuo decided not to play with Bolin's game anymore. Shooting a combustion beam at Bolin's walls. It detonated and Bolin was flung off it.

"Whaaa!" Bolin, in the air, raised a ramp from the ground and he slid down into a roll.

Bolin immediately moulded the ramp into a thick wall when Dahuo fired another combustion beam at him. Bolin found himself pinned down, he could feel the shockwave every time Dahuo blasted his earth wall.

"I'm hardly impressed, Bolin." Dahuo spat, firing a beam that bent around Bolin's wall.

Bolin saw it coming and lunged away just before the beam made contact with the floor. The blast tossed Bolin away, he crashed and rolled painfully across the dirt. Bolin, bruised and battered, groaned and whimpered.

Before Dahuo could attack again, yet another pair of kunais stuck into his back. The stinging pain all over was starting to get Dahuo irate. Mako revealed himself a good distance away behind Dahuo.

"You want to protect your brother I see." Dahuo turned to him, "Then you can die for him first. You'll just have to imagine his despair."

Dahuo fired a beam at Mako, stronger than before. Mako flipped to the side, taking cover behind the walls Bolin made. The beam hit the ground and it erupted into a crater.

With the citizens gone from the vicinity, Mako had to find a way to close the gap between him and Dahuo. If there was one thing that he was grateful at the moment, it was learning strategies and counterattacks from Jiandao and the rest of the Blue Spirits. Combustion benders were all about long ranged attacks. One would have to get in close so the bender could not fire a beam. The only question was how.

Mako checked through what he could do. Throwing knives all day would not work, not if the combustion bender was on guard. A combustion beam is condensed energy that can overpower water, earth, and even fire. Blue fire was powerful enough to cancel out a combustion beam, but it would not get Mako any closer to Dahuo. Mako needed to keep Dahuo's attention on him, and he needed to overpower that beam. That was when he realized he had one more thing in his arsenal. Something even more powerful than a combustion beam that it can slice right through it.

Mako spaced his legs and his right hand gripped his left. He concentrated and generated lightning out from his fingers. Guiding all the lightning back it condensed into his hand, creating his lightning blade.

Mako launched himself up into the air and over the wall with propulsions of fire from his feet. Mako landed in a crouch, glaring at the man who destroyed his mother's house. Bolin shook himself awake and got up to see Mako with the lightning blade.

Mako rushed towards Dahuo. The big man sucked in his stomach and fired a combustion beam at him. Mako pointed his lightning blade, once it made contact, the beam was split into two soaring past Mako's sides and into the wall behind him. Dahuo had no clue what had just happened and kept his beam going.

Mako lunged forward with a raging bellow, cutting through the beam with cracks of thunder rumbling around. Dahuo started staggering back, unable to comprehend how Mako was able to advance onwards. Piercing through the combustion beam, Mako roared and rammed the lightning blade right through Dahuo's chest. A hole was blown into Dahuo's back, lightning started coursing through Dahuo's entire body.

Mako shut off the lightning blade and ripped his hand out of Dahuo. Everything inside Dahuo was completely fried and charred beyond recognition, what was Dahuo's chest was now ashes. His eyes were rolled into the back of his head and he crumbled down like a bag of marbles. Mako stood there amidst the smoke, breathing heavily through his mouth. The front of his hair was no longer spiked up like it was before. Now it was a down like a fringe, shading his eyes.

"Mako?" Bolin's jaw hung down, having witnessed the devastating attack.

"Bolin." Mako, composing himself, quickly rushed over to his brother. "Are you ok?"

"Y-Yeah," Bolin patted the dirt off him. "What was that?"

"Huh?"

"I-I never seen you do that before." Bolin stammered, "What did you do? What did you do to him?"

"We finished it. It's over already." Mako helped Bolin up to his feet, "We have to report this."

"R-Right." Bolin stammered, still processing the power he had witnessed.

Mako's thoughts went back to his mother's house, now gone. He dug into his pocket, pulling the photographs he had taken from there, the only pieces of memories left of Naoki Uchida. Another notion then came into his mind.

"This doesn't add up." Mako said.

"Huh?" Bolin asked while rubbing his shoulder to soothe the pain.

"Why would the Red Lotus carry out a direct attack?" Mako pointed out, "What would there be to gain from this assault?"

Bolin hurried over to their jeep, "We have to find Korra and Asami. They could be in trouble."

"This doesn't make any sense. We're missing something." Mako said, "Something happened that we don't know about."