Happy Lesbian Visibility day, this was no intentional and is barely making the cut-off! Chapter Text
Asami sat alone in her office, her eyes out one of her large windows, following a whiff of a cloud drifting by. She had been thrilled by Korra's sudden second call until Korra asked for her very big favor. It made sense, all of it. Who better to check in on Kuvira undetected than herself? Part of her was even relieved Korra didn't try to take it back and offer to just go herself. She might have let Korra, as stupid of a plan as that was.
Getting Bolin to stay behind on this mission took more convincing than Asami anticipated. He bowed out of Ba Sing Se for the mover, so she assumed he'd ask to do the same. Bolin stressed it was because she was planning on going alone. His insistence made Asami question the safety of this mission, so now here she was getting her affairs in order, just in case and because a lot of the loose ends she needed to tie were long overdue.
Many of her father's assets were put in her name after his incarceration. A significant portion was only recently released to her after his death. One was a Republic City Memorial Gardens grave plot for the whole family. Asami needed to fill out the paperwork putting the remaining empty two spots in her name. Was it sweet her father purchased one for her future significant other or was it presumptuous that this person would want to join her family all the way into the afterlife?
"Korra probably has an ancestral burial ground, if they even do such a thing where the ground is frozen all year round," Asami murmurs to herself. Asami realized that these were the little details she would need to sort out for Kuvira's new life. "Earth Kingdom tradition is a burial, but should I make her half Fire Nation, on her father's side. Whose traditions she followed more closely. Was it cruel to not let Kuvira choose how she'd like to be laid to rest? She denied many others this privilege.
Creating an identity for Kuvria was a welcome distraction from actually thinking about Kuvira herself, for the most part. She planned for several meditation sessions before and during her trip to somehow cultivate the strength to face the woman responsible for her father's death.
The aspect she was getting most hung up on was how little she knew about the real Kuvira. A fake identity needed to be built on some foundation of truth, or it would be unsustainable.
Asami threw her pen across the room. It collided with the floor a few feet away. Its slow roll could be heard for a few seconds after impact. "You get a whole new life because we all felt a little too bad about letting you fry."
Asami pushes herself away from her desk, and her chair rolls back a few inches. She leans her head back and closes her eyes. She sees Korra's face. She just needs to remember who this is for. Korra has so many emotional burdens as Avatar, and she will have all the more as the years go by. If Asami can take on this one weight of Korra's conscience, it'll be worth it.
Korra and the gang rose early to meet one last time before the trial began later that morning. Korra and Opal reused the dress clothes they wore to the cocktail hour, while everyone else had a new outfit that was a little less formal.
"I need some new clothes. I can't be wearing this one dress for every formal occasion," Korra moans. "Why didn't you bring the dress Bolin got you for your engagement party?"
Opal grabs a bit of her cloth. "Tenzin advised me that I was representing the Air Nation on this mission, so dressy orange drapery is all I am allowed to work with. Why don't you quite whining and talk to your sugar momma when we get home about it."
Suyin, who had stepped out of the sitting area for a moment, rejoined the youths. "As nervous as I am, I'm relieved we are at least going to finally get eyes on Wu. I really hope he is unharmed."
"They have to display him, so any bruises would have to be where his clothes would cover."
Suyin stamps her foot. "Opal!"
"Mom, I'm sure he's fine." Opal dares a look at Mako. "Physically."
"So, should we go?" Korra asks the room.
The palace throne room was arranged like a courtroom. Chairs were lined around the small stage in a half-moon. At the raised platform where the Queen's throne used to rest, they built a small platinum cell for Kuvira to sit in on display for the audience. On each side of the stage stood two palace guards. Then in each corner of the room, two additional guards stood at attention. Satchi nervously paced up and down the walkway created between the two halves of the rows of chairs.
The Dai Li had taken over most of the far right side of the audience seating. Wu was in the very front row with three Dai Li agents on either side of him. A dozen or so Dai Li were then sitting behind them. Serpent and a few other Dai Li stood and watched people as they entered the room.
Satchi perks up when he notices Korra and the others entering the throne room.
"Avatar Korra!" Satchi chirps as he shuffles over to them. "I have a space reserved for you and your companions if you wish. Right up in the front row."
Korra looks at the group and shrugs. "Works for me."
"We'll take up a few rows back," Suyin whispers as she pinches some fabric on Opal and Mako's clothes. "I want Mako out of plain sight."
"Why do I have to go with you then?" Opal moans.
"Because I'm your mother," Suyin bows to Korra. "Thank you for your time, Avatar Korra."
Korra's confused and contouring face nearly gave Suyin's ruse away, but she quickly recovers. "Anytime, Mrs. Beifong."
Satchi's eyes dart back and forth between the groups. "Just two seats then?"
Korra nods. "Yes, for me and my council; Zhou Rhen of the White Lotus."
"Ah, with The White Lotus, wonderful. Please follow me to your seats. I assure you, the best view,"
Satchi turns around, and once his back is to theirs, Korra rolls her eyes.
They arrive at the first row, and Satchi motions to the left side. A chair had been removed to accommodate Korra's wheelchair. A palace guard rushed towards them with a chair to replace the gap.
"Congratulations on your speedy recovery Avatar Korra," Satchi says with a deep bow. "I'll be joining you in this row once the event gets started."
Satchi bows again and then flutters back down towards the entrance door.
The room continues to fill with representatives, and the din of conversations slowly grows louder. At the top of the hour, the main doors close at the back of the room. A side door opens, and Lian is escorted in by several palace guards. She has one holding her at the elbow on either side. Her hands and feet are shackled in platinum. Lian is dressed up in a United Republic military uniform, similar to what Kuvira wore, but clearly a much lower rank and at least one size too big.
"Smart, dressing her up in uniform," Suyin mutters to herself.
Lian looks so meek as she takes her restricted little steps toward the stage. The room was silent except for the soft clinking of her shackles and swishing of the guard's uniforms. The guards at her elbows lift Lian up the steps to expedite the process. A guard at the cage opens the door, then they push Lian inside. Another guard unlocks one of her wrist shackles and puts it around a bar of her cage. They then lock her inside.
The sound of Lian's door closing was Satchi's cue to scurry to the front of the stage. "Welcome. The informal trail to determine what should be done with the escaped war criminal Kuvira is now in session. Leading today's forum-style trial will be Chi Gao of Siaw Jong as lead prosecution and Bingwen of Gaoling as lead defense."
As their names were mentioned, the two men stepped forward. Chi Gao puffs out his chest and throws out his belly as he does a triumphant lap around the front of the stage. Bingwen takes a more reserved bow and stays put on the left side.
"I'll let Chi Gao start with his remarks and call upon any members who wish to speak," Satchi says, gesturing to Chi Gao before taking a seat next to Zhou Rhen.
Korra shoots a discreet look to Zhou Rhen to acknowledge Satchi's uncomfortable proximity.
"This is very exciting, isn't it," Satchi whispers to Zhou Rhen.
The younger man awkwardly nods in response
Chi Gao moves to the center of the stage to address the audience. "My fellow representatives of our beloved Earth Kingdom, I believe we have an obvious answer to the question of what to do with Kuvira. Kuvira had a trial. Through that trial, she was sentenced to death. During her transport to face her punishment in the land she affected most, an accident occurred, and we were led to believe she had died. And then what do we discover? She's been hiding out in a small town. There were zero consequences for her actions. The fact that she is still alive changes nothing. We need justice. Kuvria must carry out her sentence, which is death. Justice has been delayed, but no longer."
A few members of the audience applaud. One of the other 'six' raises his hand. Thin and with graying hair. He appears to just be starting to stoop over with age. Chi Gao points to him, then motions for him to stand. "Dong, of Jein Sin."
Dong slowly rises from his seat, his hand still hovering above his head. "I fully agree with Chi Gao. We carry out Kuvira's sentence as planned. The only difference is it the sentence is served later than we had hoped."
Chi Gao claps as Dong lowers back into his seat. He spies another raised hand and points at another older male representative. He wears silky emerald robes, and his mustache near touches his navel.
"Bai Bao of Rong," the man starts. "This trial is a waste of all our time. Hang Kuvira, electrocute her. Whatever you all choose, let's be done with the matter," the man then turns to the Dai Li. Bai Bao raises a shakey fist. "What I want to know is when you cowards will release the prince and should-be king of our kingdom."
Dong stands back up to face the other aging man speaking. "We must know how Kuvira survived a deadly airship crash and managed to sneak out of the middle of the desert. She had to have been aided and abetted by someone on that ship. It was Prince Wu who put together that entire crew."
Satchi gets out of his seat and starts toward the stage. "Gentlemen."
Bai Bao starts shuffling towards Dong, pushing through the small space between the chairs of the seated representatives. "Prince Wu would never aid the woman who stole his crown!"
"Gentlemen, if you please!" Satchi tries again, waving his arms to get the attention of any one of the representatives participating in the argument.
A guard pulls handcuffs out of his pocket and raps them against Lian's cell. The clanging gets the attention of the feuders.
Satchi lets out a long sigh before speaking. "Please keep this portion of the trial to Kuvira-related discussions only. Why don't we hear a little from the defense."
Chi Gao smirks and shrugs his shoulders. "Can't wait to hear what anyone could say in her defense." He moves away from the center of the stage and leans against a nearby pillar.
Bingwen chooses to stand below the stage, level with the audience. "My fellow representatives, I have no argument against Governor Chi Gao's main point. Kuvira had her trial and received her sentence. If Kuvira was sitting before us today, I would wholeheartedly agree we carry out her punishment, but I am not convinced the woman we have captive is Kuvira."
A few in the audience gasp. Side conversations broke out. Dozens of murmuring voices hum throughout the throne room.
"Not Kuvira? Are you blind?" Chi Gao scoffs from the sidelines.
"Besides a striking resemblance, what proof do we have that this truly is her? We cannot charge ahead on the execution unless we are certain we have the right person." Bingwen gestures to Lian. "Please tell us who you are."
Lian looks around the room. The blood pumping to her heart is so loud she doesn't know if she'll be able to even hear herself speak. "My name is Lian."
"Speak louder!" Someone shouts.
Lian presses her face between the bars to get closer. Her hands tremble, rattling her handcuff. "I had just recently moved to New Gaipan. I've never hurt anyone before. This has all been a terrible mix-up."
"She's lying!"
"Look how meek she is pretending to be."
Satchi shifts uncomfortably. "That sure doesn't sound like her." He mumbles to himself.
Zhou Rhen hears the comment and dares a glance at the man beside him. When he settles back, he notices Korra is looking at Satchi as well. Zhou Rhen points to Satchi and then holds his hand palm down and wavers it side to side like a boat at sea. Korra replies with a nod.
Bingwen stretches out his arms to try and capture the crowd's attention once again. "I'd like to call Bataar Jr. of the Metal Clan to testify."
The side door that Kuvira entered from opens again with Bataar Jr. and two guards. Bataar's shuffling into the palace room was not unlike Lian's pitiful entrance. His glasses that were tapped together kept slipping down. Bataar Jr. had to lean forward to get his cuffed hands close enough to push them back up his nose.
Bataar Jr. looks up at the stage and makes contact with Lian. His heart skips a beat. From his vantage point, she looks so much like Kuvira. His guards continue forward, pulling him along until he ascends the steps. He was stopped a few feet from the cage. At that distance, he could see it wasn't Kuvira. As her former fiance, he would know he better than anyone.
In that very public moment, Bataar Jr. couldn't decipher how it made him feel. His mother and sister had advised that this woman was not the actual Kuvira. Perhaps a tiny part of him had hoped they were wrong. But that would mean maybe a crueler end for his ex. No, he decides. Already dead is better.
Lian's eyes search Bataar Jr.'s. She has never seen this man before. The lost look on Bataar Jr.'s face makes it clear that he feels the same.
After a few moments, the guards tug Bataar Jr. and makes him face the room.
"And what do you see?" Bingwen asks.
"She is not Kuvira," Bataar Jr calls out with all the strength he could muster in his voice.
The room broke out in a chorus of dissent.
"He's in cahoots with her, obviously!"
"Of course, Kuvira's husband would want to save her neck!"
"Bataar Jr. is a war criminal. He can't be trusted!"
As the audience shouts insults at Bataar Jr., Opal seeks out her mother's hand. Suyin squeezes back.
Bingwen holds up a hand, attempting to quiet the room. "If you don't trust the assessment of her ex-fiance, then how about the family she betrayed? Suyin Beifong, can you please come to look at the defendant?"
Suyin passes her son as he is escorted off the stage. She could see all the pain in his eyes in the brief moment they were able to connect.
The guards don't bother seating Bataar Jr. They remove him from the room to return to his cell. His meager purpose was fulfilled.
Suyin takes her time to consider Bingwen's request and then makes her way to Lian. "The resemblance is uncanny, but it's not her."
"This is ridiculous!"
"I want to look at her with my own eyes!"
"Yeah!"
Bingwen looks to Satchi and shrugs.
The older man gets up and joins Bingwen on the stage. "Yes, I think it would be best if we all took a look to make the determination for ourselves. Let's do one row at a time, to now overcrowd."
Satchi points to a row and waves them over. As the representatives gather into a line at the side of the state, the entrance doors fly open. The doors banging against the walls echo in the great hall, capturing everyone's attention.
"Stop the trial! Prince Wu is innocent!"
Mako's head whips around as he recognizes his cousin's timber.
Tu stands in the door, drenched in sweat, his typically fluffy hair sticking to his face. He charges into the room and towards the stage. Bingwen, Satchi, and Chi Gai all shuffle back as the hulking young man approaches.
"What the hell is he doing?" Opal hisses at Mako as she elbows him in the side.
"Why would I know? I haven't been miraculously able to get in touch with him and kept it from everyone."
Suyin turns to her younger companions. "Intervene, now!"
Mako jumps up from his seat and scooches past his future in-laws and other reps seated in their row. "Tu!"
Korra sees Mako moving toward the stage. She darts out of her seat and also aims for Tu.
Tu takes over the stage and spreads his muscular arms out to the crowd. "The only thing that Prince Wu has done-"
Tu's words falter as he feels two different pairs of hands grasp his forearms. He looks between the panicked Mako and Korra. They both scream 'no' at him with their eyes, shaking their heads ever so slightly, so the audience wouldn't catch on.
"Young man, this is Kuvria's trial," Satchi says, appearing at Tu, Mako, and Korra's side.
"Let the boy speak!" A rep shouts.
Tu takes a big breath, visibly expanding his broad chest. "The only this Prince Wu has done is captured my heart!"
Mako's eyes bug out of his head, and he loses his grip on Tu. "What?"
Tu seeks out Wu's eyes in the sea of people. The shackled Wu jumps up from his seat and makes small squealing noises.
Tu continues. "I'm sorry it took me so long to realize, but it's true."
The room starts to lose focus. Conversations and grumblings broke out. Bingwen looks to Chi Gao. The portly man's expression was of pure shock and confusion. His gaze moves on to Satchi, who was also unsure of how to react.
Bingwen decides to step in and take the lead since everyone else was apparently petrified by this revelation. "Well, this is all very, uh moving, but a little irrelevant to the proceedings, so maybe we should take a short recess and then reconvene in twenty minutes."
Satchi wakes up from his daze and looks out at the crowd. "Yes, a twenty-minute recess."
Korra and Mako pull Tu from the stage.
"Wait, what about Wu!" He moans as he walks with them.
Korra grunts. "He's not out of the woods yet."
"Do you think he feels the same way?"
Korra glances back and seeks out Wu. He was still standing and watching them haul Tu away. His eyes were shining, and his expression hopeful. "Yeah, I think he does."
"It was your article that made me realize like, how I felt."
Korra lets out a small breath. "Of course it was."
They got Tu to the row with Opal and Suyin. They had remained seated while the rest of the row mainly had cleared out for recess.
Korra lets go, and Mako tugs at Tu, bringing him to the middle of the row where Suyin and Opal are seated. Korra follows them in the next row. She takes a seat in front of them and turns around to continue her conversation with Tu.
Tu picks it back up without a beat. "I was confused for quite some time about Wu. I didn't know what my feelings were or what they meant. And then we saw the magazine, and I realized that kind of relationship was possible."
Korra dares a look at Mako. He was pale and slumped into his seat. "It totally is."
Tu nods. "But no one talks about it."
Opal leans into the huddle. "So where ya been all this time? We've been looking for you."
"Well, I had this big realization, and I was scared. I shacked with this girl I met at a bar for a few days, and it was a good time, but my heart was still only beating for Wu. So I found a place where you know, guys who like guys go and like learned all I needed to know. Then I, on my way to the fruit stand a buddy of mine, you know, one of the guys who-"
"You don't need to," Mako barks, breaking his silence.
"Okay, okay. So, he told me what happened to Wu and about the trial, so I rushed over here."
"It's good to know you are okay. We were worried you had been kidnapped too." Suyin says, joining the conversation. "Your cousin was especially concerned."
Suyin looks over to Mako, expecting him to be expressing said concern, but instead, his eyes were forward, eyebrows raised in a confused expression. Opal follows her mother's gaze.
"Oh no, you broke Mako."
At his name, Mako blinks a few times and addresses his family. "I'm fine, just ah- just a little surprised, is all."
The trial resumes with all the representatives lining up to pass by Kuvira's holding cell. One by one, they peer at her like a curious onlooker at the zoo. Lian wished she could turn away from all the scowling and scrutinizing faces, but her locks and the desperate need to be seen as not Kuvira kept her forward-facing.
After everyone had taken their turn, the hall again was filled with the noise of several side conversations. Korra tried to listen as best as she could to read the vibe in the room. It sounded like many were unsure, but that might not be good enough.
Chi Gao throws his weight back onto the stage. "So, now aren't you call convinced," Chi Gao made air quotations with his hands. "The Great Uniter is standing here before us?"
Chi Gao's confident smirk fell from his face as the murmured replies around the room were hesitant. "Are you all serious?"
"Is there some immutable proof she died in the crash?"
"The proof that she survived is right behind me!" Chi Gao says, waving a hand at Lian.
"Is there some kind of test?"
"Yes, a test!"
Chi Gao looks to Bingwen. The younger man touches his chin, considering the proposition.
Satchi hesitantly joins the two. "Perhaps a bending test? Kuvira was, is a most skilled metal bender. Is there a way to test for that?"
"They use tests to discover the next Avatar," Bingwen offers.
"Metalbending was created after Avatar Aang was established as Avatar."
"There isn't a metal bending Avatar!" An older woman adds to the debate.
"Hey, I can metal bend!" Korra shouts to whoever made that claim from her seat.
The older woman scrunches her face in frustration. "I mean as part of the cycle!"
"We don't need an Avatar test."
"Suyin Beifong would know the Metal Bending test."
"She can't be trusted on this matter!"
Suyin shoots up from her seat. "There is no test, only the ability to Earthbend and the desire to learn."
"Mo-sow shit, I've tried to metal bend a thousand times, and I'm an Earthbending master!"
"There is always one sure-fire way to get someone to use their bending abilities," Chi Gao booms, cracking the knuckles on his thick hands. "Make them fight. I'd be honored to be her opponent."
"Yeah, a match!"
"Wait!" Lain calls out, but no one is listening to her. "I'm not a bender."
Chi Gao forcefully raises an arm and looked around the room. "All in favor."
Lian's knuckles turn white as she grasps the platinum bars in front of her as she witnesses a sea of raised hands. She calls out over and over, but no one notices. She tries to make eye contact with Korra, but her eyes are unfocused, her expression lost.
Korra stole a look back to Suyin. The older woman gave Korra only a slight tilt of her head. The Avatar turns back around in her seat.
"Is this a good turn of events or bad," Zho Rhen whispers to Korra.
"Well, they'll definitely see she's not a bender, but," Korra looks to Chi Gao. He was riling up the crowd with a few bending stances. "I wish it wasn't this guy she was up against."
Satchi scans the room, counting the raised hands. "I think they yay's have it. An hour recess, and we'll reconvene in the courtyard for the duel.
Korra and company remain seated as the throne room quickly empties. Satchi instructs the guards to unlock Lian's cage.
"Avatar Korra?" Lian cries out as the guards pull her out.
"Bring," Satchi pauses, considering whose name he should use. " Her , back to her primary holding cell for a bit of lunch. And then I will walk with you all to the courtyard.
"I can't bend! I can't do this!" Lian desperately turns to Bingwen. "Please don't let them do this."
"We won't let him hurt you. Please try to remain calm," Bingwen shouts back to Lian, following her and her escorts towards the door. "It'll all be over soon, don't worry!"
The door slams closed, and Bingwen stares at it for a moment. He pulls out a notepad he had stashed under his arm and starts fanning himself. He makes his way to Korra and her group. Suyin, Mako, Tu, and Opal had claimed the row behind Korra after the room cleared out.
"He's not going to hurt her, right?" Korra asks no one in particular.
"Chi Gao most certainly will," a quiet and unfamiliar male voice replies.
The group turns around to see who just spoke. It was one of the six, in his late forties, with short hair that was more salt than pepper, but his long mustache was still black.
"My name is Seok, Govoner of Kun."
"We've noticed you and your group," Suyin starts, leaning towards the gentleman. "About six of you, it seems?"
Seok nods. "We like to think of ourselves as the Fourth Ring of Ba Sing Se."
"Jien Sin, Siaw Jong, Kerkaw, Kun, Ru, and Bai," Mako murmurs.
"Precisely."
"So why are you talking to us?" Korra asks.
"That woman is not Kuvira," Seok replies flatly.
Korra places a hand on her chest as a sincere gesture. "I assure you, she's not."
"We wanted revenge on the real Kuvira. We've been petitioning to be considered the Fourth Ring of Ba Sing Se for some time, but the Queen never took us seriously. The outer wall is the city's true defense, but we provide the first line of defense for the capital. We are also their main source of produce and meat."
"For a proud Queen-like Hou-Ting, that's quite the ask," Suyin comments.
"Kuvira actually took our petition seriously. When she first came to Ba Sing Se and started cleaning up the mess, she relied heavily on the cooperation of other states and their governments. It was a collaborative effort that required give and take. We gave her lots of support and aid, and in exchange, she promised to make our case to Wu when he took the throne. But once she rejected Wu's right to the throne and made her grab for power, the 'Fourth Ring' did not fit her vision of Earth Kingdom originalism. Just like how she wanted Zoufu and Republic City back."
Korra leans back in her seat thoughtfully. "I never understood why she got so fixated on reverting back to the Earth Kingdom before Aang's time."
"She always needed things to be whole, even as a child, " Suyin sighs, recalling a few frustrating moments with Kuvira where the girl pushed back on her reasoning for why things were the way they are.
"Chi Gao took it especially hard. He was basing his reelection campaign on that accomplishment. His competitor withdrew after Kuvira started stepping over the line, not wanting to be the one who had to bow down to her."
Mako fidgets in his seat a few times, desperate to chime in with a few burning questions. "The trial in Republic City..." Mako starts, unable to hold back any longer.
Seok stiffens.
Suyin nudges Mako in the side with her elbow. He groans and grabs the tender spot.
Mako clears his throat and tries again. "Were you all perhaps a little disappointed with the outcome in the desert?"
"Personally, no. Dead is dead and good riddance. But Chi Gao and Dong are especially frustrated. They wanted to witness justice."
Suyin shakes her head. "So that is why he's so desperate for this woman to be Kuvira."
"I believe so. I will also assume Chi Gao thinks being tough on Kuvira will help his presidential campaign. I wanted to speak with you because I won't be attending the duel later. I am done with the matter. I want to move on and move forward." Seok rises from his chair, giving his robes a few swats. "Chi Gao will not get the outcome he wants, but if you could somehow figure out how to let him lose this trial with grace, it will be better for all involved."
Korra and crew silently watch Seok leave.
"They totally rigged the trial," Mako starts, bitterly crossing his arms. "He just wasn't going to admit to it."
"For the intel he just gave us, I think we let that one go," Suyin mutters back.
"So, when do you think I can talk to Wu?" Tu asks.
The rest of the group groans.
Satchi and the other palace attendants waste no time creating a small dueling ring for the Earthbending match. The center of the originally lush garden was replaced with a simple sand circle with a line down the center, dividing the two halves.
The steps from the palace to the garden are long and wide. They use them like bleachers, setting up rows of chairs along the steps. This way, the observers were far enough away from the action they wouldn't get hit by a stray bolder.
When Korra and company arrive, Satchi quickly intercepts to escort them to the 'reserved for the Avatar' section. This time Korra was not shy about having the whole crew sit together.
Chi Gao enters the courtyard waving his arms and baiting the crowd. He ditched his suit for a more athletic bending outfit. He wore a tight sleeveless top that didn't do his belly any favors. Around his middle was an elaborate gold sash. Then, he wore tan shorts that sinched at the knee on the bottom. Across his forehead, a green scarf with the symbol for Earthbending is stitched in gold.
Many in the audience call out to Chi Gao. Their enthusiasm for the duel starting to kick in.
Suyin, seated beside Korra, leans over to the younger woman. "Isn't kind of odd you dueled Kuvira before her release as well?"
Korra nods. "This all is very cyclical, isn't it?"
"You're the Avatar," Opal says, nudging Korra. "Cyclical is your whole schtick."
"Here comes Kuvira, I mean Lian." Zhou Rhen points to the nearest half of the dueling circle. Satchi shuffles across the sand to meet them. The guards hold Lian's arms as they walk her to the arena. A third guard trails behind them. When they stop Lian, the guard from the rear unlocks her shackles and removes them.
"This is to be a friendly match to test this young woman's abilities in Earth and Metal bending." Satchi motions to the audience. "Serpent of the Dai Li has offered to act as referee."
At his name, Serpent emerges from the crowd and walks down to the courtyard center.
"I don't love that," Korra mutters.
Lian looks to the audience. "Please, believe me. I'm not a bender."
The crowd boos.
"Enough of all this talking. Let's bend some earth!" Chi Gao calls out to the masses.
The guards at Lian's side release her arms and step out of the circle.
Chi Gao saunters over to his half of the circle. Swinging his arms and rotating his shoulders, warming them up for the fight. Once he reaches his mark, Serpent raises a hand. "Begin," he shouts as he chops through the air with his arm.
Chi Gao waits for a moment to see if Lian will make the first move. As expected, she did not. He raises his left leg and sends over a boulder about the size of his head at her. Lian scrambles to move out of its way. It lands with a thud to her right, then cracks in half.
Chi Gao groans and sends another two boulders Lian's way, one to each side of her. Lian sees them coming. She steps backward and stumbles. It was fortunately far enough back, and she escapes
both.
"Come now. No one wants to watch you dodge rocks all day." Chi Gao curls his right arm, summoning another rock from the earth. He brings it up into the sky, blocking out his view of the sun. With a quick downward thrust of his arm, he crumbles the rock into bits but still hangs in the air. Chi Gao waves his arms and sends the shards down at Lian, still sitting in the sand. With no time to get up and run, Lian's only option is to shield her face with her arms. The pebbles rain down on Lian with enough force to tear her flesh and clothes at some of the contact points.
A cry from Lian gets Korra out of her chair. Suyin pulls at her side to bring her back down. "That should be enough for everyone."
Chi Gao shakes his head, "I had a feeling you'd take that one too. Trying to show how tough you are, huh?"
Lian's eyes sting with tears she desperately is trying to keep in. She lowers her arms from her face and inspects her wounds. Small scraps run along her arms, and sharp shards stick into the skin in a few places.
Lian attempts to remove a substantial piece in her thigh with a shaky hand, but she backs off when it resists her tugging.
"So, you figured it out?"
Lian closes her eyes as Chi Gao bellows in her direction. She wishes the earth would just swallow her up and she could be done with all this.
Chi Gao moves closer to the center of the ring to make sure the unresponsive Lian hears him. "You fight back, we all see who you are, and you die. But, if you take beating out here, risking death, you might convince enough people and live, right?"
"You're wrong," Lian moans. She tries to find the will to stand but only gets as far as upright on her knees.
Chi Gao punches a quick brick-sized stone at Lian, catching her in the stomach. The force knocks the wind from her lungs, and she bends over on her knees, her head touching the sand.
"I stop, and you get away with all the horrible things you've done. Unfortunately for you, there is a certain point where the body overtakes the mind. The bending reflex will kick in once you're in mortal danger.
Chi Gao lowers himself into a wideset squat. He raises his fits and then pounds them together. A chunk of earth twice his height and four times his width emerged from the ground. He holds it for a moment, so all can see its crushing size.
Korra's stomach drops as she witnesses Chi Gao's finishing move. He wasn't going to waste any more time proving she was a bender.
Chi Gao tears his fists apart and flexes his chest outwards, sending the boulder to Lian. She makes it to her feet when she sees a wall of rock racing toward her. Lian's body collapses around itself in a feeble attempt to protect herself. The unimaginable body-crushing impact she was expecting never came.
The bolder was still raised in the air, hovering just inches from the top of her head. Lian hears the gasps coming from the audience, so she looks over at them. Korra was out of her chair, legs apart, her right arm taught in front of her body.
"You can't interfere, Avatar!"
"That's enough, Chi Gao," Korra shouts as she pushes the boulder away from Lian. The earth around them shakes a little as it collides with the ground. "You could have killed her."
Chi Gao petulantly kicks a rock out of the area and over a nearby palace roof. "Her bending would have kicked in. You stopped the boulder before she had a chance to do it herself."
"That boulder was seconds away from crushing her, everyone saw. It's over. This woman is not Kuvira."
Chi Gao growls and then summons another boulder. He positions himself and the massive rock at Korra, who readies herself for the attack. The representatives in attendance gasp again as Chi Gao makes sweeping gestures to raise the boulder. It slowly drifts towards Korra. Chi Gao jerks his arms, and the mass shoots instead at Lian.
Caught off-guard, Korra could only react fast enough to break the boulder into pieces before it collided with Lian. Rocks fall around her, a layer of soot coating her head and arms.
Korra rushes to stand in front of Lian to stop any further trickery by Chi Gao. He doesn't waste any time and slings more boulders Korra's way, but she effortlessly waves them aside.
Chi Gao's body begins to shake with frustration. His head flies back, and he lets out a roar. He was about to change his stance, but his legs didn't move. Chi Gao looks to his feet and sees they are covered in earth.
Serpent appears at his side. "Sir, you were permitted to spar with the defendant, not the Avatar."
Satchi joins the four in the ring and then turns to the audience. "I think we have all seen enough to reach our decision?" He pauses for a moment to gauge the mood of the representatives. Their nods and small murmurs seem to be consenting. "We shall cast our votes in the throne room."
Satchi lifts the hem of his robes and delicately steps out of the sand ring. "Everyone, please head directly to vote. There will be no more recesses."
Two guards appear at Lian's side and pull her from the ground, with little consideration for her injuries. She lets out a pained squeak as they steer her to leave the circle.
Once Lian is out of range, Serpent releases his rock grip on Chi Gao. He then motions to his fellow Dai Li to go to the throne room.
"Thank you," Korra calls out. Serpent looks back, gives her a small nod, and continues with the crowd.
Chi Gao grunts as he passes Korra. She sees one of the other members of 'The Six,' Dong, rush to his side. Chi Gao's head scans the crowd searching for his other fourth ring members but sees none.
"I fear they might have turned on us," Dong murmurs, his head low.
"Unbelievable!"
Satchi made all the representatives stay and witness the counting of the votes to ensure there was no dissent regarding the results.
Korra and the crew sat together for the verdict. All in the same row, with Korra and Mako closest to the aisle in case anything else crazy happens.
Korra bounces her left leg at the knee as she anticipates the results. She still felt adrenaline working its way through her system from the scuffle with Chi Gao. She tried to make eye contact with him a few times, but he wouldn't look her way. His gaze was fixed on the ballot counting. Korra was prepared to fight him again if necessary if the results did not go his way.
Satchi holds the last vote slip up high for all to see. The two scribes counting for Kuvira and not Kuvira signal they have tallied their numbers.
Suyin reaches for her daughter's hand beside her.
"How many votes for she is not Kuvira?" Satchi asks.
The first scrib stands. "One hundred and twenty-seven."
"And that she is Kuvira?"
The second scribe rises to read his tally. "Forty-Two."
"Oh, thank goodness," Suyin moans. She slumps down in her seat slightly, releasing Opal's hand. Opal uses that free hand to wipe the sweat forming on her brow.
"No!" Chi Gao shouts. He starts to get out of his seat, but Dong catches him by his shirt. Chi Gao pulls the fabric from the other man's grip and smooths it down. "Alright, alright."
Bai Bao, the representative who argued for Wu earlier, stood. "I do believe this verdict absolves Prince Wu of any accusations of wrongdoing?"
Wu perks up at the sound of his name. "That's right, Wu is innocent!"
Serpent's lips narrow into a straight line. "Release him."
A younger man with the Dai Li steps in front of Serpent. "You can't just let him go!"
Serpent's eyes dart around the room. Everyone is watching them. "Formation!" He cries out.
All of the seated Dai Li members rise and encircle Serppant, Wu, and the dissenting young man.
The room starts to fill with side conversations. Many of the representatives strain their necks to get a peek at what's happening amongst the Dai Li.
"Step down, Nimol, we have no grounds to hold Prince Wu anymore," Serpent hisses.
"Yes, we do. Clearly, something suspicious happened out there in the desert."
Serpent takes a step forward to get into Nimol's face. "All hearsay at best. Besides, holding the prince now will jeopardize our re-integration into Earth Kingdom governance."
"Forget being a part of the Earth Kingdom governance. It's never going to be based on truth. We're just swapping the figurehead again. Nothing is going to change in a meaningful way. Fusai was right!"
Serpent gestures to the exit. "Then why don't you go join him and his band of traitors!"
Nimol checks his shoulder into Serpent's as he rushes past him and through the Dai Li barricade. A few members follow Nimol out of the throne room. The door slams behind them with a loud thud.
The circle of Dai Li remains in formation until Serpent gives them a frustrated wave. "Stand down." He lowers himself to his seat and covers his face with his hands.
Wu patiently waits a few moments for someone to unshackle him, but the Dai Li have all taken their seats, his release forgotten.
"Um..." Wu starts.
"Release him!" Serpent moans.
At Serpent's words, Tu bolts from his chair. "Wu?"
"Tu!" Wu calls back as he waits for the Dai Li to unlock his handcuffs. Once free, he scurries to the center of the room where Tu is waiting.
"Wu," Tu starts holding out his large hands. "I'm sorry I left that day so abruptly. I was confused, but not anymore."
Wu places his much smaller hands in Tu's. "I am a bit surprised, but I think we should give it a shot."
"Um, gentleman, could this maybe wait till after we wrap things up with the trail?" Satchi asks as he makes a shooing motion with his hands. Wu and Tu awkwardly shuffle to Korra and the other's seats.
"Hey Mako can you scoot down one, so I can sit next to Wu?" Tu whispers.
Mako, who had almost forgotten about the earlier confession of feelings, wordlessly slumps to the empty seat to the left. Tu sits down in his chair, then Wu takes Mako's old one.
"Mako, it's good to see you," Wu says with a shy smile.
"Yeah.." is all Mako can mutter.
"I'm digging the beard, by the way."
Mako reddens and touches his furry chin.
"So," Satchi starts, hoping to regain the room's attention. "Miss Lian needs to be returned to her home, perhaps with some type of formal palace document exonerating her of... being Kuvira."
Satchi looks around the room for any dissenting voices. No one seems to disagree, and most are anxious to leave. "Alright, I believe that concludes the trial. Thank you all so much. Dinner will be offered for an extra hour later this evening, so no need to rush."
Opal leans over to Zhou Rhen. "Now that would be the real crime, not enough time for an outfit change before dinner."
"I am starting to wonder about the Earth Kingdom's government's priorities," Zhou Rhen replies, shifting in his seat.
Satchi steps away from the front of the stage and over to Lain's cell. He gestures to the locks, and two swiftly move to open the door. The platinum lock clangs as they remove it.
"And just like that," Suyin sighs.
Bingwen trotts over to the group. "We did it! Want to skip this joint for a victory dinner with real food?"
Korra looks to Suyin. Suyin makes a shooing motion with her hands. "Why don't you kids go ahead. I want to stick around and make sure Lian is appropriately handled from here on out."
"We can stay too," Korra offers.
"Go have a little fun."
Korra, Mako, Opal, Zhou Rhen, Bingwen Wu, and Tu walk through the palace halls, passing small groups of representatives holding small conversations. Soon they are passing through doors to one of the many courtyards and finally away from other people.
"So," Bingwen starts, moving to Korra's side. "I was thinking of trying the Sighing Lotus."
"Oh yes, let's go there!" Wu chirps excitedly. He reaches for one of Tu's thick arms and holds it with both of his. "I can't believe we've never gone there together."
Mako and Opal's ears perk up at the name of the restaurant. "No!" They bark in unison.
"Oh, get over that dinner already! It wasn't that bad!" Wu moans.
A few steps ahead of the rest, Korra looks back at her friends. "Now I'm really curious about this infamous restaurant."
"You humiliated me!" Chi Gao bellows across the courtyard.
The gang stop walking and try to locate where the voice came from. They spy the older gentleman crouched into a fighting stance in the far corner. His sparring clothes from earlier still draped over his body.
Korra saunters towards Chi Gao. "Do you want an actual match?"
"C'mon, Korra, don't encourage him," Mako says, reaching for her arm, but she's moving too quickly.
"I can take you," he sputters, wavering slightly.
Korra stretches an arm over her head. "I'll only use Earthbending."
Chi Gao's face reddens. "I don't need the handicap."
"You need all the help you can get," a third voice calls out.
Both Korra and Chi Gao swivel their heads to find where the voice had come from. In the far corner of the courtyard, obscured by shadows, Nimol and a few other Dai Li began to emerge from the darkness.
"The Dai Li," Chi Gao hisses.
"Hey, who's ever out there, help!" A female voice calls out from the shadows.
Mako's stomach drops. "Yasmine?"
"Damnit, Mako?" Yasmine replies back.
Opal reaches for Mako's sleeve and tugs him close. " She's here? Did you know this?"
"Well..." Mako starts.
Nimol waves at the dark corner, and two men holding Yasmine on either step into the light. "We found one piece of the puzzle trying to sneak away during the trial."
After seeing Opal and Mako's interaction, it jogs Korra's memory as to who this woman is. She takes a stride forward. "I'm not really sure what you are talking about."
"Yasmine was aboard the aircraft carrying Kuvira when it went down. Isn't that right, Chi Gao?" Nimol asks.
The group looks back to find the governor, but he is nowhere in sight.
"Fricken coward..." Nimol curses.
"So," Korra starts, moving towards Nimol. "I was about to have a little match with Chi Goa, but it seems you scared him off. So, that must make you a worthier opponent."
"You want to do this the old fashion way, Avatar?"
Korra moves her head from side to side, cracking a few bones. "Yeah, I'm sick of all this talking. Let's just make this simple. A fight for the girl."
"So you do have a thing for women after all," Nimol says with a smirk.
Korra puts her hands on her hips and puffs her chest out proudly. "Yes, I do."
Opal looks to Bingwen. His eyes are wide and excited. "I'm finally going to get that bending demonstration from Avatar Korra!" He squeals.
Opal leans toward Zhou Rhen. "We have got to get out of the Earth Kingdom as soon as possible. This group can't help but embarrass themselves here."
Mako rushes to Korra. "This is ridiculous, and if anyone should be fighting for Yasmine, it should probably be me."
Bingwen steps forward. "What about a good, old-fashioned mele? Your lot vs. ours?"
"Uh," Wu, Tu, and Zhou Rhen utter in unision.
Bingwen deflates. "Really, none of you can bend?"
Korra counts seven Dai Li, including Nimol. "We got this."
"This should be interesting." Nimol motions for his fellow Dai Li to drop Yasmine. Before she gets a chance to think about running away from them, rock encircles her body up to her neck.
Tu, Wu, and Zhou Rhen shuffle out of the line of fire to stand near Yasmine. Tu gives her a small wave. Yasmine can only roll her eyes and look away.
Korra positions herself to still be the one fighting with Nimol. Bingwen and Opal to her left, Mako to the right. One of the two paired up with Mako knocks him off the ground with a surprise pillar, and the fighting starts.
The chaos breaks out on either side of Nimol and Korra, but neither has moved. Korra expected this young and brash seeming Dai Li agent to start chucking bricks at her as soon as the mele began, but he just stood, eyes fixed on hers.
Nimol crouches and continues to wait for Korra to make the first move. Tired of standing around, Korra releases a stream of fire from her fists. Right before it comes in contact with Nimol, a wall of rock slides up in front of him.
Korra moves to send more fire to try and catch him unprotected on the right, but he sidesteps to the left and raises a new wall behind the old, tilting it to his right.
Korra gives the move one more try. Nimol blocks it again but then jumps from behind the wall when a second fire blast catches him from the unprotected side. Korra notes to thank Mako later for the assist. The young man was now on the wrong side of his rock walls. Korra's wrists move quickly to conjure a gust of wind to pin him against the slab of earth. She then curls and punches the other rock pieces to pin Nimol between them. As the second piece is about to make contact, she lessens the force to not cause any actual harm. Nimol's body goes limp as he lays between the boulders, looking like a sandwich.
Korra stops to survey how the rest of her group is fairing. Most of the Dai Li were down, with Opal and Bingwen knocking over a couple of stragglers. "Kinda an easy for Dai Li."
"Kinda young too," Mako says, walking up beside Korra. He looks down at Nimol. He was conscious but not moving. He looked to be about their age, maybe even a few years less.
Palace guards suddenly start pouring into the courtyard. Wu waves at them. "Over here!"
Nimol lifts his head as much as he can. "Obsidian, sand storm!"
One of the defeated Dai Li pulls himself from the ground. In pain, he stays hunkered over. His arms begin to move, not unlike an Airbender would when making a tornado. All the dust and sand generated from the Earthbending started to move into the air, circling around him.
Korra and her group take a few steps back and shield their faces as the air around them becomes flooded with sand. Still trapped in the rocks, Yasmine can only close her eyes and bow her head. The growing sand storm stops the palace guards in their tracks to protect their own faces.
All visibility around the seven Dai Li is lost. The sand whirls and howls for a few more moments and then stops. It rains to the ground like a sudden shower. A few clouds of dust waft by as it all settles. The Dai Li are gone.
"That guy must have been from the Si Wong Desert with that kinda move," Korra says, followed by a big breath of the clear air.
The palace guards jog over to the group.
"Is everyone alright?" One asks.
"I could use a hand!" Yasmine calls out.
Attention turns to the young woman still encased in rock. A guard stamps the ground, and she is freed.
Yasmine stumbles a bit as she rights herself. Mako rushes to her side. "Are you okay?"
"I'll live," Yasmine sighs, brushing the dust off her skirt. "Just another adventure with Mako and the Avatar."
Bingwen saunters over. "You're welcome to come to join us for dinner. Let us make it up to you."
Yasmine is ready to turn him down, when she looks up at Bingwen's face. Her cheeks pinken as she takes in his handsome features. She is especially drawn to his strong chin and perfect five o'clock shadow. "Dinner would be a good start," She squeaks.
Bingwen offers his arm. "I'm Bingwen, by the way."
Yasmine takes his arm. "Yasmine. You were quite impressive at the trial, by the way. How'd that Kuvira look-alike get so lucky?"
"I can't turn down a request from the Avatar,"
Yasmine steals a look back at Korra and the others. "Few can."
Ikki sat on the edge of Asami's bed in her apartment bedroom. She kicked her skinny little legs back and forth, too short to touch the floor. She watched Asami go in and out of her expansive walk-in closet, bringing out clothing, examining it, then placing some next to Ikki on the bed and returning others.
"Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?"
Asami pokes her head out of the closet. "You've got a mover to be in. Besides, this is going to mainly be a business trip. I do have some contacts in the Jiushu region who just so happen to be hiring and will appreciate an in-person visit accompanied by a gift basket of Republic City delicatessen treats."
Ikki looks down at her dangling feet. "I just want to make sure you'll be safe."
"If Kuvira does want to pick a fight, I think the playing field has been evened a bit, wouldn't you say?"
"I guess."
"Korra said that she was appreciative of the help in the end," Asami collects the clothes she pilled beside Ikki and begins to fold them. "And I am going to provide more help. A decent existence she can live out her days in."
"And you know where to find her?"
"A general idea. The hope is she hasn't wandered too far." Asami points to a pair of shoes in the corner of the room. "Can you grab those? I want to see if they'll fit in this suitcase."
Ikki obediently slides off the bed and brings over the elegant suede Chelsea boots. She turns them over in her hands, admiring the look.
"Like them?" Asami asks.
Ikki pinkens. "Yeah."
"We can get you a pair for when the mover premieres."
Ikki looks up. Her pupils were full of hope and excitement. "Really?"
Asami takes the boots. She turns them over a few times, finding the best way to tuck them into her very full suitcase. "We'll get you a whole outfit."
"Can we match?"
Asami smiles. "I would love that."
To be continued...