Heads or Tails

.

Book 1 – Arin's Tale

I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender or Legend of Korra or any of the characters. Only the OC's.

Chapter 8: Reality Hurts

Mako's POV

Time: 191 A.G.

When we first made our way through these long hallways we walked. It was a reasonable pace, not too slow since there was no hurry, no need to rush, no time limit to beat. But now it seems like the complete opposite as the three of us run back down the stone brick halls heading for the courtyard, the one place the kids like to play the most since it was such an open space. We ran as best we could, even Lin and Tenzin were able to keep up the pace (although who's to say Tenzin wasn't using his tricks of air?). The two elders were determined to make it on time as if it were a race to the finish, the first person to cross the line to the outside world wins.

But the thing is, I don't want to win.

Winning would mean seeing the possible truth. Winning would mean that everything Bolin and the others said was true. Winning would mean that our entire world was about to change, just like it did thirteen years ago when we were saying our goodbyes to Korra, only this time, our dear friend won't be here to join us.

Although I've ran plenty of times during my time in the police force, weekly trainings with the recruits and fellow officers, my breath felt like it was being taken away from me; heavily panting, heavy exhales matching my racing heart, matching my repeating thoughts. It can't. It can't be. It can't be true.

We kept running. We ran like our lives depended on it, only ours didn't, but Korra's fate did. We kept running, even when we saw the sunlight at the end of the hallway, and we didn't stop until we slammed into the stone sandy-white railing, hunched over as we look around, our eyes landing on what we dreaded the most.

In the courtyard by the wall fountains was Hana and Kya, Tenzin's seventy-five-year-old sister, a master waterbender and Hana's teacher, guiding Arin through the same steps of waterbending.

There was so many things that were different about the girl, my little niece. For starters, she was wearing water tribe clothes, clothes she most likely borrowed from Hana for the feel of their culture. Dark blue pants with brown boots, a light blue short-sleeve decorated with dark blue waves going from her waist up to her shoulder, the light blue matching her eyes. If it weren't for her earthbending background, you would almost think she originated from the tribe; perhaps she did somewhere down her line of unknown ancestry. But what was even more different and concluded to believing she could be from the water tribe, was the trail of water she was slowly guiding through the air, with Kya and Hana on each side of her with their own perfect trails of water to follow at a slightly faster pace, the young girl trying to repeat the moves. It wasn't perfect, the water wobbled through the trail, the trainee struggling and getting frustrated when a few drops escape her focus, but she was waterbending nonetheless. Arin was waterbending. She really was waterbending. Having witnessed her earthbend plenty of times, this solid evidence only proves everyone's theory correct: Arin is the avatar and Korra … she really was gone.

Our stunned disbelief of silence was disrupted when the rest of the group arrives next to us, having walked unlike us: Su, Bataar, Rohan, Opal, and Bolin. Though the sadness and defeat remain on their features, there was something else there. Acceptance.

Lin was the first to break the verbal silence. "Unbelievable." It usually takes a lot to surprise the elder, having Toph as a mom helped a lot with that. As for Tenzin, I'm surprised the man hasn't fainted yet. I sure feel it, my heart weak feeling, legs wobbly.

"The avatar, reborn into the Beifong family," Tenzin narrated, eyes wide in shock.

"Mom would have a field day," a small sad smile lingered on Su's face as she glanced down at her clasped hands.

"So it's true," Lin breathes out. "We wouldn't lie about this," Opal said softly.

My eyes remain on Arin's movements. The water, shaky yet remains afloat, wiggling as it flows, moving side to side as it follows Arin's moving hands, moving them wherever Kya tells her to. So different from her earthbending. So different from before. And yet so similar to Korra, the girl who could bend three elements at the age of four, the girl who had probably mastered water by the time she was Arin's age, and the girl who was forever lost. "I can't believe it." My legs felt weak as I take a few steps away from the railing, still watching Arin with her new bending teacher and fellow cousin. The words stumble out of my mouth just as my legs collapse, falling back onto the top steps we were by in a seated position. "She – she really is gone." With my legs bent close to me on the few steps below, the crook of my arms meet my knees, my gaze cast down to them.

Thirteen years. Thirteen years we have spent apart, a good bit of those years we spent looking for her, only for it to be a waste because somewhere during that time, Korra wasn't missing. She was dead. Dead and never coming back, reliving another life, her spirit within the form of my niece. Korra the avatar, our friend gone, and in her place was Arin bending the same element that Korra was born in years ago. It felt like the breath was knocked out of my lungs, an empty void in its place.

A gentle hand was placed on my back, and the next thing I knew, someone sat next to me, placing their head on my shoulder. Only one person here would be brave enough to do that, the only one I could quietly accept comfort from, and that person was my brother, Bolin. He must've thought – felt the same way when he discovered the news. I wasn't there to comfort him, but he is for me. The two of us sat in our grim silence, my head meeting his as we listen to the ongoing conversation behind us.

"How long have you known?" Tenzin asks. "Right before the call. The kids were playing around with their bending, and the next thing we know, Arin was bending water," Opal explained. So everyone in the Southern Air Temple knew. Of course they would. Such a big open space, anyone could've seen it.

"Well, why didn't you tell us sooner?" Lin's voice grew louder, her rush of anger spilling out from the conversation. "There's already too many eyes and ears here who know the truth. We can't let this get out any more than it has until we know more information," Opal says.

"And truthfully, I don't think we should let it out. Meelo, Ikki, and Jinora will be informed once they arrive, and close family can be told, but other than that, I do not want word leaking out of this temple," Rohan adds.

"What?" Lin exclaims.

"This is ridiculous! You can't keep this a secret! The world should know who the avatar is. This shouldn't be hidden from them, the world needs the avatar," Tenzin says in his fit of disbelief. "And they will, when the time comes. When Arin masters her abilities more and is ready herself, she will. But until then, this is to not get out. And in this temple, my word is final, father." If the mood wasn't so dire, I could imagine a smug look on Rohan's face telling Tenzin what to do. I'm sure all his kids enjoy it.

"Yeah, we really don't need a repeat of last time. Remember? Not long after Korra was discovered and the world was told, she was almost kidnapped. I'm not letting the same thing happen to my granddaughter," Su declared.

"Then we'll get the White Lotus involved. They know how to take care of the avatar," Tenzin continues to insist. "Like they did with Zaheer?" Although they didn't know Zaheer had suddenly became an airbender overnight, Bataar was right, they could have handled him better. In the end, their efforts to keep Zaheer behind bars was useless, he and the rest of the Red Lotus had escaped and captured Korra once more. I remember seeing that battle, seeing the pain she was in. The pain that shown from her glowing white eyes, not just physically but spiritually, as it had hurt her avatar state as well, affecting Korra for months. The pain she endured from the bending, the poison, the torture, the near-death experience, physically, spiritually, and mentally. Did Korra have to go through that all again in her last moments? Did everything she went through before repeat in her head as she took her last dying breath? Was she afraid? Was she alone? My hands ball tighter against my head, a tear slipping through as I clench my eyes tighter. What I felt, was probably nowhere near what Korra experienced right before she had returned to this world.

"We can take care of our child just fine, avatar or not," Opal said, annoyance seeping through her tone. "We can increase security another way. I'll have a few private guards move to the air temple. If anything happens, they'll be here for Arin. But they won't interfere with her life, she can have fun, learn, and live life exactly the way she wants. She can be herself around them," Su mentions. "That will be fine, but we don't need the White Lotus. They'll shut her up just like they did to Korra. She was lonely for years with no experience of the outside world. Arin needs a life, she needs her freedom," Bolin turned to them, not once leaving my side as he includes himself for the first time in this awful conversation.

"And look where it got her," Lin said, her cold tone echoing in my ears of just how realistic the situation was, how bold this was, to speak of Korra like she's not even here. And she's not, she won't ever be again, only her new life, the new her.

Smoke exhaled from my nose, showing the emotions of pain, anger, and sadness that I felt, that I couldn't express. The way Lin, Tenzin, and the others spoke of her. Did they not care? Did they not realize how they were talking about Korra? "It got her to us. She came back to us," Bolin said, and I knew he was looking at me, rubbing my back more with his gentle hand. They do care, they always will, because Bolin would never talk bad about Korra. He would defend her, even after death. The only reason they spoke of this so soon was because they had more time to think about this, to deal with it, to feel, and to accept this awful new reality. Korra was gone, and Bolin was right, she did come back to us …

"just not the way we wanted."

In the end, I guess the avatar was always meant to come back to the Beifong family, but not in the way anyone expected.

"Uncle Mako!"

My head snaps up, just in time for a blue blur to suddenly wrap me in a hug, surprising me. The blue clothes. Hana was at the bottom steps with Kya. Its Arin.

She pulls away and smiles at me. Her big smile, those big blue eyes with the water tribe clothes. It was like I was looking at a younger version of Korra, which, technically in a way, it is.

The first time we met Korra was in the city, in her water tribe clothing, quite similar colors to the light blue Arin was wearing now. I could picture her smiling, could hear her laughing right now. It kept flashing between her and Arin. Her and Arin. They were the same now, just different lives, a distant memory, and hopefully a different future.

"Uncle Mako, guess what? Mommy says I'm the avatar! And I'm going to be the best one!" There was a sparkle of glee in her eyes, one that one day might disappear just like Korra's did. She had that same spark Korra had when we first met, when she teased us by revealing who she was. How it was so contagious as that glee spread easily to Bolin, eager to get to know the avatar. I didn't realize till later that day that I was too. Arin smiles at me, and for just a moment Korra's face replaces her before going back to a confused Arin.

"What's wrong?" she asks. What was wrong? What was she talking about? What was that tickling feeling on my cheek? I wipe a hand across to rid of the feeling, only to find that it was wet. A tear. Not just one, but multiple tears. I'm crying? Quickly as I can, I wipe the rest from my face, trying to think of an excuse for my niece.

"Uh, I – I miss her. You. I missed you." Cheeks now dry, and another cheeky smile is put on my face, hoping it'll disguise the true feelings I felt, the tears having already exposed me enough.

Arin hugs me once more. "Don't worry, you can visit anytime. And we can always visit you too." This time, I slowly wrap my arms around her in a hug, fighting back the rest of the tears that want to escape.

"You're right, kiddo. It's been a while. I should have in the first place." I should have hugged Korra again, I should have told her not to go, I should have made her stay, I should have gone with her. If only I knew it would be the last time I saw her alive. If only.

Arin pulls away and looks at me with her questioning gaze, a smile still on her face. "Uncle Mako? Will you teach me firebending?" The question causes my thoughts to stumble. Teach her? Right now? After everything we just learned? How could I possibly do that, or even think about it? How could she think about it?

"Uh, sweetie? Why don't we give Uncle Mako some time to think about it? He could show you some moves later, okay?" Bolin gives her a sad smile. "Okay." Arin then looks up to the others behind us, placing her hands on her hips. "As my duty as the avatar, I will protect you all. I'll be just like Avatar Korra. A hero!" Then without another word from anyone, the girl runs down the steps giggling in her glee as she runs past Kya, Hana joining her, and they disappear underneath the balcony tunnel entrance, probably to go find her siblings.

Kya walks up the steps and joins her brother, nephew, and the others on the balcony, leaving me and Bolin to be the only ones to remain on the top steps. Due to the interruption before, I couldn't possibly go back to that level, I couldn't focus on the past. Just like them, I need to focus on the next steps for Arin. Instead of standing like the rest – I don't think my legs would be able to – we twist around on the steps and face the others. They were all scattered around on the balcony, facing each other, but Opal was the only one who remained the closest in case her husband and brother-in-law needed her. Opal was the closest thing I have to a sister, aside from … from her. I gulp down the sob that wanted to escape. I couldn't go back there. I can't. For Arin, Korra's new life.

"How's she doing?" Tenzin asks Kya. "Her progress is a little slow, but she did just start a few days ago. Her bending will strengthen within time, she just needs to be patient and focus." Huh, just like Korra. The water tribe avatar was never one with patience, you could ask Tenzin that about airbending.

"We need to get back on topic. Arin needs to be kept safe with the outside world having limited knowledge of who she really is, but she also needs her freedom," Rohan brings up. "We need to discuss her future as both herself and as the avatar," Bataar says.

I sigh. "I'll teach her firebending later. I know the avatar is normally supposed to learn them in order, but she's already learned how to waterbend. First, she needs to master that element, then we can focus on fire."

It stays quiet for a moment. "We need to tell Korra's parents."

Everyone turns to Lin, who remains looking over the balcony with a downcast gaze. "They need to know." About their daughter, how she was never coming back. How could we possibly breach that subject to them? We barely got through it ourselves.

"You can go back with me to the Southern Water Tribe. We all can go. Arin and Hana could benefit from seeing the other benders," Kya suggests. Opal tightens her grip on her crossed arms, looking down. Sensing her distress, Bolin stands and wraps his arms around her shoulders. I knew what she was thinking. It's cruel, but what choice did we have? We're going to have to tell Tonraq and Senna that their daughter was gone, and we have no idea what happened to her or where she is. The terrible news no parent ever wants to hear, that their only bloodline was lost forever. And unfortunately, they'll have to hear it from us.

"We'll leave in a few days." Everyone was looking down now by this point, everyone thinking the same thing we were. Rohan kept the conversation moving. Opal lets out a shaky breath. "Okay."

"We'll go to the Southern Water Tribe. Arin can travel wherever she wants to go, but her identity as the avatar must remain a secret," Rohan reminds everyone. "She needs to see the world and meet everyone. But aside from her parents, no one needs to know that Korra is gone."

The message was clear. No one needs to know about a new avatar yet. Until Arin is ready for the task, no one else needs to know about who she is, or what she is. No one needs to know about the next avatar. No one must know.

I stand up, traveling down the steps and looking over the mountainside into the valleys. The fog was cleared up now, everything could be seen from here. The rocky mountain tips, the grass climbing up from the bottom of the mountains, random plants that grew out from the sides. And in the far distance, a tiny bit of sun gleaming from the ocean waters could be seen. It was a beautiful sight, one that Korra would've admired. One that maybe Arin could admire too, just like she did before.

My mind was made up. I'll teach Arin firebending within time, but from now on, I'll protect her to the best of my abilities. I'll protect her from the dangers of these worlds, stand by her side and fight, like I should've done last time. I'll protect her from whatever got to Korra. I'll protect her. For my family, and for Korra.