Ozai walked out of the Cabbage company while the sun of Republic City cast a strong light over the whole place. Men around him were walking, sweaty, carrying work materials, and although Ozai was wearing his typical clothes, his face reflected how tired he was. He looked a little pale and with black badges under his eyes.

He made his way toward a nearby street vendor, and as he approached, the sounds of laughter and conversation wafted through the air, mixed with the aroma of freshly grilled meat and spices. Ozai had been inside the factory for hours, conducting a discreet inspection, checking the information of their trucks, and confirming that each of them matched the information he was given. What he found was cleanliness, not only within the factory walls but also in the books. It seemed the factory owner was an honest one.

"What can I get for you?" asked the vendor, eyeing Ozai with curiosity as he leaned against his cart. Ozai's face was lined with tiredness but with a smile.

"Just something cold to drink," he replied, reaching into his pocket for coins. As he counted them, the radio sounded, broadcasting the voice of the leader of the extremist group.

"It's time for this city to stop worshiping bending athletes as if they were heroes. I am calling on the Council to shut down the bending and cancel the finals, or else there will be severe consequences." The voice said in a cold tone.

"And to our brothers in arms! Our time has come!" the voice boomed. "We shall not rest until justice is served upon those who oppress us!"

The speaker continued, "For those who dare to stand against us know that we have allies everywhere, even where you least expect them."

Could there be someone working undercover at the factory, feeding intelligence to the extremists? Or perhaps the leader's message was a ruse meant to sow seeds of doubt and distrust. Either way, Ozai needed more information.

Without another word, he paid for his drink and walked away, deep in thought. He then decided to go to the Council to request an emergency audience.

Ozai ran toward the Council Hall, and in an instant, he finally arrived at the tall building. Upon entering, Ozai noticed the four councilmen already moving inside the main chamber.

"Mr Ozai," said the Fire Nation councilwoman. "You arrived in time. Please follow us." Ozai nodded and walked behind them.

Inside the chamber, the atmosphere was thick, and all of them heard the proclamation from the Equalists. Tarrlok, the Chairman, called the meeting to order. "Gentlemen, thank you for coming on such short notice. We have gathered here today to discuss matters of grave importance."

Each councilman took their seat, their faces showing frowns that showed either their anger or their mind's thinking on the situation. Tenzin cleared his throat to be the first to speak. "I believe we should consider postponing the upcoming Pro-Bending Tournament finals. Given the current situation, it might be prudent to err on the side of caution."

The Earth Kingdom representative nodded gravely. "Agreed. However, we must weigh the implications of such a decision. Postponement could send a signal of weakness, which could embolden our adversaries."

The Fire Nation representative then spoke up. "We must not let fear dictate our actions. If the tournament continues as planned, we will show strength and defiance. Yet, if we postpone, we demonstrate solidarity and commitment to public safety."

Tarrlok then turned to Ozai. "Detective. I've heard you have gotten leaps in your investigation, and your presence here lets me believe that you may have something to say about the situation."

Ozai stood up stiffly, surprised to be called so suddenly but ready with his answer. "I'm with the mind that if our enemy strikes, we should strike back."

Tarrlok smirked mockingly, and Tenzin frowned, but Ozai continued talking. "But I was thought to defeat my enemy in the best way possible. Putting innocent citizens in danger to take the Equalist is not worthy."

Tarrlok's smile vanished, and Tenzin's frown relaxed.

"That, I do believe, is reasonable," said the Water tribe representative.

Tenzin nodded before speaking, "It seems we have reached a consensus, then. Our primary concern is the safety of our people."

All the councilmen nodded.

Tarrlok banged his gavel, signaling the end of the discussion. "Very well, it is decided. The Pro-Bending Tournament finals shall be postponed until the situation has been resolved. Now, we need to prepare for what comes next. Any suggestions?"

The Water tribe representative took the initiative, "We could offer rewards for information leading to the capture of known Equalists or those involved in the bombings and kidnappings."

"Excellent," chimed Tarrlok, "And perhaps we could organize a rally to show unity against these terroristic acts."

Tenzin thought for a moment, "A public gathering would display our collective resolve." He then addressed Ozai directly. "Detective, how do you feel about these measures? Would this help in your investigation?"

Ozai considered the proposed measures. "I agree that union is needed in these times, but we must ensure that we are not letting any information be filtered because of it. Perhaps delegating that task to someone who is not at the Council will be better."

"Well thought," prized the Water tribe representative.

Tarrlok, who was already thinking of taking care of it to gather more influence, nodded hesitantly. "We can name a citizen who we trust to take care of it. I can help looking for the right…"

Tarrlok was interrupted when the doors of the chamber were opened wide with a big 'bang.'' When the councilmen turned, they saw Korra entering the place, followed behind by Mako and Bolin.

Tenzin raised from his seat right away, "Korra, you shouldn't be here. This is a closed meeting."

Korra did not stop walking and talked confidently. "As the Avatar and a pro-bending player, I have a right to be heard. You can't cancel the finals!"

"I know winning the championship means a lot to you," Tenzin said, more like a father than a councilman or politician. "But as far as I'm concerned, we need to shut the arena down."

Korra frowned and looked at the rest of the people present until her eyes landed on the Chairman. "What about the rest of you? Tarrlok, there's no way you're backing down from Amon, right?"

"Oh, Ozai is there!" said Bolin while waving his hand.

"Actually," said Tarrlok while standing up. "Tenzin and I agree for once."

"The Council is unanimous. We're closing the arena." Tenzin said in a graver tone.

"No!" yelled Mako. "You can't!" yelled Bolin.

Korra's frown deepened and looked at Tarrlok, "I-I don't understand. I thought you, of all people, would take a stand against the Equalists."

Tarrlok sighed, shaking his head, "Avatar, while I am still committed to bringing that lunatic to justice, I will not put innocent lives at stake just so you and your friends can play a game."

Korra's jaw tightened. "So, you'd just let Amon win without even trying to fight back?"

Tarrlok shook his head again.

Korra snaped. "That's not fair. What kind of message does that send to the citizens? To give in to terrorism?"

"It sends the message that we value human life over a game," Tenzin added quietly.

Korra narrowed her eyes when she saw Tenzin. "Look, I get it. But canceling the tournament doesn't solve anything. In fact, it might make things worse. We deserve to compete."

Tarrlok interjected, "Deserve? Deserve what exactly? A medal? The satisfaction of beating another team? At what cost?"

Korra took a step closer to Tarrlok, "Don't you see? That's exactly the point. If we let Amon intimidate us into hiding, what's next? Are we going to let him dictate how we live our lives?"

Tarrlok held up a finger, "Let me ask you something. Is Pro-Bending really a united sport? Do they have any rule so Air Nomads or non-benders can compete?"

Korra hesitated, "Well...no..."

Tarrlok nodded grimly. "In fact, even among the benders, the Pro-bending does not have any rule to allow airbenders to compete. So, let's not pretend this tournament is some grand symbol of unity. It's entertainment, pure and simple."

Mako stepped forward, "Pro-bending might only be a game to you, but think of what it means to the city! Right now, the arena is the one place where benders and nonbenders gather together in peace!"

Tarrlok turned to Ozai, "Detective, perhaps you could explain to our young friends here why Pro-Bending isn't quite the united sport they think it is. I heard you were also trained by Master Toph Beifong, even when you are a nonbender yourself."

Ozai stood awkwardly. He cleared his throat, looking uncomfortable, "Well, while I do think that a sport can bring unity to the people… and, er, I also admire the spirit of competition, I must admit that Pro-Bending has its divisions. We could push the sport in which any person could compete, making the unity between any person, bender, and nonbender together." Ozai finished and sat down.

Tarrlok raised an eyebrow and spoke before Korra could. "Fascinating proposal, Mr Ozai. Do you have a sport in mind?"

The Fire Nation representative spoke first. "I think he was referring to the Martial Arts tournament that Tu Zin holds every 3 years."

Tenzin turned his face to Ozai. "You think that a fighting tournament where the nonbenders are at a disadvantage is a better solution?" Though his voice was loud, he apologized for his abruptness right away.

Korra crossed her arms, smirking.

The old woman from the Fire Nation smiled and answered instead of Ozai. "Well, he, a nonbender, is the 3 times champion, defeating benders and non-benders. You can ask members of the White Lotus, as some of them participated in it."

Korra and Bolin's mouths opened wide at the revelation.

Tarrlok cleared his voice to take control of the conversation again. "As you can see, our decision about the tournament has been made. This meeting is adjourn-"

Tarrlok was stopped again when a metal cable knocked off the gavel head. Everyone turned to look toward the entrance of the courtroom, and except for Ozai, they were surprised to see Lin entering the chamber while she coiled her cable back and looked at the Council.

"I also disagree with your judgment," Lin said while standing straight. "I expected this kind of cut-and-run response from Tenzin. But the rest of you? And especially to the one who claimed to be my mother's discipline." Her eyes went to Ozai for a moment before she continued. "Come on, show a little more backbone. It's time that the benders of this city displayed some strength and unity against these Equalists."

"Isn't that the problem?" asked Ozai, and everyone turned to see him. He gulped as he just thought aloud, but now that he had the attention, he needed to continue. "We should show unity between everyone, not only between benders."

Tenzin turned to Ozai for a moment and nodded. "Well said." Then he turned to face Lin, "We must prevent the conflict between benders and nonbenders from escalating into all-out war! The Council is not changing its position, Lin."

Tarrlok saw an opportunity there, and his face showed a small smirk before talking. "Now, just a moment. Let us hear what our esteemed Chief of Police has in mind."

Lin stood straight with her hands behind her back, "If you keep the arena open, my metalbenders and I will provide extra security during the championship match. There's no better force to deal with the chi-blockers. Our armor is impervious to their attacks."

Ozai wanted to say something, but Tarrlok spoke first, "Are you saying that you will personally take responsibility for the safety of the spectators in the arena?"

"I guarantee it," Lin said without hesitation.

Tenzin and Ozai looked at Tarrlok, who looked satisfied by the answer. "It is hard to argue with Chief Beifong's track record. Although I do see how… the investigation has great advances thanks to our guest," Tarrlok said with a tone close to disapproval, but it vanished right away when he continued talking. "But if our Police Chief is confident her elite officers can protect the arena, then she has my support. I am changing my vote. Who else is with me?"

The councilmen looked at each other before casting their votes, in which the Water and Earth representatives raised their hands. Tenzin closed his eyes, disappointed with the result.

Tarrlok smiled at the result, "The arena stays open."

Korra and her friends celebrated the decision. Tarrlok then turned to Lin Beifong and smirked, "Good luck to you, Chief Beifong."

Lin gave no response, maintaining her usual stoic expression.

Once the meeting was over, Ozai stood up from his seat and left the room to try to catch up with Lin. He knew this would be the only opportunity to speak with Lin about the security arrangements for the tournament. As he approached her, he saw her standing by herself, hands clasped behind her back, her face as hard as the steel she was known for bending. He cleared his throat nervously, unsure how she would react to his presence.

"Chief," he began hesitantly, "I wanted to discuss..."

Before he could finish, she cut him off with a sharp retort, "I do not require your input. The security of our city is my responsibility, and I assure you that we are prepared." With that, she turned and walked away without another word.

Ozai watched her go, disappointed and still not quite sure why she was so cold. But it seems that it's her personality, as that's how she behaves with everyone.

As Ozai made his way out of the Council, Bolin approached him with a grin. "Hey, Ozai! Good job holding them all together!"

Ozai nodded, relieved to see Bolin's friendly face after the tense encounter with Lin. "Thanks. But I don't think I was that important back there."

Bolin chuckled, "Of course you were, and you handled yourself well. But you didn't want to leave the tournament? Why?"

"Well, it's complicated..." Ozai trailed off, deciding not to explain too much. Instead, he said, "the tournament could gather people together, but it can show the gaps between a normal citizen and a bender, too."

Bolin nodded thoughtfully. "That makes sense. So, speaking of safety... guess who came to visit?"

"Who?" Ozai asked, wondering if something bad was about to happen.

"Your little bro, Sozin!" Bolin exclaimed. "He's hanging out with Tenzin's kids at the air temple. He arrived yesterday, and I took him to our training. In the end, Korra took him with her so he could be around other kids."

Ozai's eyebrows shot up. "What? I didn't even know he was planning on visiting." His thoughts raced as he tried to imagine why his younger brother would show up unannounced and how their parents would react. Had something happened? Was everything alright?

"No worries, man," Bolin reassured him. "I think he just wanted to play with you and maybe enjoy the city. Korra says that Tenzin's kids keep him busy, running around like a wild boar."

A smile tugged at Ozai's lips. "Sounds like him. Alright, thanks for letting me know. I'll swing by the air temple later on today."

/

Sozin couldn't stop laughing as he ran through the courtyard of Air Temple Island, his spiky black hair bouncing with every step. The sun shone brightly overhead, giving him more energy than anyone else on the island. Meanwhile, Meelo was trying to hit him with a gust of wind without much luck. The little bald airbender huffed in frustration while Ikki giggled from the sidelines, clapping her hands excitedly.

"Sozin's way faster than you, Meelo!" Ikki teased, cupping her hands around her mouth. "You're too slow!"

Meelo's face turned red, and he puffed out his cheeks. "No way! I'm just warming up!" he shouted, kicking off the ground with a burst of air and soaring after Sozin. The young firebender grinned, ducking while Meelo flew straight against a rock wall face first.

Jinora sat nearby, reading a book under the shade of a tree, occasionally glancing at the commotion with a small, knowing smile. Tenzin had left for the city, and Pema had left the island to buy some groceries, trusting Jinora to be the responsible one.

"Alright, alright, everyone listen up!" Jinora suddenly shouted while standing up. "Since Mom and Dad aren't here, I'm in charge! So you better stop doing games that could hurt you!"

Ikki ran and stood in front of her, beaming. "Then what should we do, Captain Jinora?" she asked, saluting dramatically.

Jinora thought for a moment. "You should do something, like... um... training!"

Meelo groaned. "What? But we already trained with Dad!"

"What if you trained as I do back home?" Sozin asked with a smile. "I've done all your Airbender exercises... well, the ones that don't need bending. So, you should also train as I do, right?"

Ikki nodded, beaming at more possibilities of teasing her brother in case he failed.

Meelo crossed his arms stubbornly, narrowing his eyes. "Yeah? If you've done all our training, then I bet I can do yours too!"

Sozin blinked before smiling, thinking about the training exercises, and remembered a small game that he and his older brother used to do, and a small grin formed on his face. "Okay, Meelo. I'll show you how my brother and I used to train!"

Meelo raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. "What is it?"

Ikki perked up. "Yeah, what is it? It better not be boring."

Jinora nodded with confidence that she had solved the problem with her siblings and their guests. She then sat back under the tree to continue reading her book.

Sozin grinned and pointed to a rock wall near the shore. "Alright, here's the deal. One of us stands in front of that wall," he strutted over and dramatically spread his arms out, facing them. "… and the other throws pebbles as fast and strong as they can!"

Meelo's eyes widened.

"The thing here is that you need to dodge them all because they will hurt a lot," Sozin said proudly. "It's all about speed, reflexes, and being super cool."

Meelo grinned and ran out to find the best pebbles and rocks to use. Sozin and Ikki remained in front of the wall.

Ikki then turned to see him, "Are you sure you will be alright? Meelo seems very kin to beat you."

Sozin shrugged, "Pretty much. He won't be faster than my brother or my Mom's fireballs."

Ikki nodded slowly, imagining an ogre of a Mom throwing fireballs against Sozin.

Meelo then comes back with his arms full of pebbles. "I hope you are ready because you are going down!"

Sozin only nodded with a smile.

Meelo, grinning from ear to ear, bent down to let the pebbles fall down and gathered a handful with only one hand while leaving his strong hand free, ready to throw them. "Get ready to lose, Sozin!" He wound up his arm dramatically and hurled the first pebble.

The pebble flew quite fast, and Ikki could see it, but Sozin only tilted his head to dodge it while the pebble whizzed past his ear and clinked against the wall behind him. A smile still on Sozin's face.

"You missed him," Ikki said to her brother.

Meelo narrowed his eyes and threw another and another. Sozin ducked, weaved, and spun with ease; each movement looked effortless and quite boring for him.

Ikki clapped excitedly, seeing Sozin's performance and how annoyed Meelo looked.

"Wow, you're really good at this!" she said to Sozin

"Years of practice, I guess," Sozin said, dodging another pebble without missing a beat. "My brother is way faster than Meelo, though!"

Meelo growled in frustration, grabbing more pebbles and speeding up his throws. "Hold still!"

Meelo was doing his best to hit him, but he did not hear the steps coming his way until it was too late.

"MEEELO! WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING?!" Pema yelled when she was close enough to see her son throwing rocks at maximum speed against their guest.

"Oh-oh," said Ikki. "You are in trouble," singed Ikki.

"You too, young lady," Pemma was now a few steps from them. "Why didn't you stop your brother?"

Ikki's eyes went wide open, and now Meelo was the one giggling.

"Ah, Ms Airbender," said Sozin, and Pemma turned to see him. "Oh, I am sorry. You shouldn't have passed to any of this…"

"Ah, but Ms, we were just training," said Sozin when Pemma was already hugging him, which froze Sozin for a moment. He could not remember his mother ever hugged him, and now since he came to Republic City, he has been hugged by Asami and now by Meelo and Ikki's Mom.

"I'm… I'm sorry?" Pemma pulled him to see Sozin's face. He smiled awkwardly because of the situation with the training and the hug.

"Ah… We were training. I told them about how I trained without using fire-bending."

Pemma frowned and looked into his eyes, trying to see if he was lying to protect Meelo and Ikki, but found no deception in his gaze. Then she remembered that Tu Zin followed the old customs from the Fire Nation while it was at war. 'What kind of childhood did he have?' thought Pemma, imagining Sozin following a soldier's strict regime.

She sighed and stood up. "You should all go inside and prepare for a bath before lunch is ready."

Sozin's stomach started to groan at that moment, "great, I am hungry already."

The three kids then leave the place to enter the bath.

/

After a few minutes, Sozin and Meelo took the bath first for themselves. They splashed around in the warm water, laughing. Sozin dunked his head underwater before popping back up with a wide grin, shaking his spiky hair like a wet dog.

"Hey! Watch it!" Meelo complained, wiping water from his eyes. Sozin just laughed.

Meanwhile, outside, Pema hummed softly as she kneeled down carefully so as not to bother her unborn child inside of her. She gathered up the discarded clothes, shooking her head at the mess the two boys had left behind. She picked up their clothes with ease, but when she reached for Sozin's black undershirt, her hands stopped mid-motion. She tugged at it once, twice, then with both hands, but nothing. The undershirt barely moved.

Pema blinked in confusion. "What in the spirits...?" She tried again, gritting her teeth and pulling with all her strength, but the fabric remained on the ground. Panting slightly, she decided to stop to not put too much strength into it and have any problems with her pregnancy. She stepped back, staring down at the seemingly ordinary black shirt with suspicion.

Just then, she heard the sound of voices outside. Tenzin and Korra had just arrived on the island, accompanied by Sozin's older brother, Ozai.

Pema's eyes widened in relief. "Korra!" she called urgently.

The Avatar, who was walking a few steps behind Tenzin, perked up and jogged over. "Pema? What's wrong? Are you okay?"

Pema waved a hand. "I'm fine, I'm fine. It's just..." She gestured at the pile of clothes. "Could you help me with Sozin's undershirt? I can't lift it!"

Korra blinked, clearly expecting something more serious. "Uh... sure," she said, confused but smiling. She reached down casually and grabbed the black undershirt, but when she tried to lift it, it barely moved.

"What the… ?" Korra was surprised, and she grunted lightly as she put more strength into it. Finally, the shirt lifted off the ground, but it was clear she had to put in some effort. "This thing weighs a ton!" she exclaimed, holding it up. "How heavy is this?"

Pema, still wide-eyed, shook her head. "I have no idea. But why would a kid wear something like this?"

Korra examined the fabric. It looked normal enough; it was just a black undershirt, and there was nothing unusual about it, but the weight was undeniably heavy. She set it down carefully and reached for the rest of Sozin's clothes with curiosity. Picking up his shoes, she nearly dropped them. "No way... these are heavy too!" She set them down and whistled. "This kid's been walking around with these all day?"

Pema folded her arms, concern written all over her face. "It's not normal for an eight-year-old to wear such heavy clothes, is it?"

Korra shook her head, still processing the discovery. "Not even close. That shirt alone must be at least 60 pounds or more (thirty kilos)... Who even makes clothes like this?"

At that moment, Tenzin and Ozai approached, their conversation pausing as they noticed Korra and Pema staring down at Sozin's belongings. Tenzin arched an eyebrow. "Is something the matter?"

Korra gestured at the pile of clothes. "These things are ridiculously heavy! Did you know Sozin was wearing this?"

Tenzin frowned. "Heavy?" He moved closer, adjusting his robes before reaching down to pick up the shirt himself. As soon as he tried, his expression shifted to one of surprise. "Great spirits... How did he even walk around in this?"

Ozai, who had remained silent, did not understand the big fuzz. He casually picked up the undershirt with one hand, lifting it effortlessly. "Oh, this? It's just his training shirt," Ozai said nonchalantly, tossing the shirt over his shoulder like it was nothing.

Korra's jaw dropped. "Training shirt? For what, lifting boulders?"

Ozai, still confused, replied. "Ah-no. It's to help him get stronger and faster." He felt the gaze of the adults around him and stepped back. "Our parents started to do this when they were young. Wearing weighted clothes all the time makes your body get used to the weight."

Pema looked incredulous. "But he's just a kid!"

Ozai caressed the back of his head. "Yeah, our parents wanted us to train as soon as possible, just like them."

Korra crossed her arms, still staring at the pile of heavy clothing. "That's... insane."

Ozai smiled awkwardly, not knowing what else to say.

Meanwhile, inside the bathhouse, Sozin and Meelo finished cleaning themselves and walked out of the bathroom wearing similar airbending robes. Sozin tugged at the collar awkwardly, unused to the airy feel of the attire, while Meelo grinned, striking a dramatic pose.

Sozin was frowning, not used to the clothes. Then, his eyes looked around when he heard a familiar voice. He walked to the courtyard with Meelo behind him, and there he saw his older brother talking with other adults.

Ozai's face lit up when he saw his little brother, and he spread his arms wide in invitation. "Sozin!"

But instead of running into his brother's embrace, Sozin frowned, crossed his arms, and stayed put, clearly upset, glaring at Ozai.

"You weren't home yesterday," Sozin said. "You promised when you left home that I could go your home once you were settled down!"

Ozai's smile fell for a moment, but he walked to him and kneeled down to be at his height. "I know, Sozin. I'm really sorry," he said earnestly. "I got caught up with something important, but I should have been there."

Sozin's frown deepened, his small hands clenching at his sides.

Ozai sighed softly as he reached out, placing a hand gently on Sozin's shoulder. "I mean it, Sozin. I won't let you down again. Okay?"

Sozin stayed quiet for a moment. Finally, he gave a small nod, though his expression remained pouty.

Ozai chuckled and ruffled his hair. "Alright, alright. I'll make it up to you. Promise." He then turned to Korra, Tenzin, and Pema, holding Sozin's heavy clothes in one arm with practiced ease. "Thank you for taking care of him. I really appreciate it."

Tenzin nodded with a polite smile. "It was our pleasure. Sozin is always welcome here."

Pema chuckled, watching the two boys exchange knowing looks. "It was nice having him around."

Korra folded her arms, grinning at the young firebender. "Yeah, he kept the attention of the ladies, like Ikki and Asami," Korra then winked at Sozin, who gave no mind to the words of Korra.

Ozai gave a small bow of gratitude using the old Firebender hand sign. "I'll make sure to send back these airbender robes once we're home. Thanks again for everything."

Sozin did the same, saying, "Thank you for taking care of me."

With that, Ozai took Sozin's hand and led him toward the waiting ship. Sozin, still pouting, followed reluctantly, though he occasionally glanced back at Meelo, who waved energetically.

"Bye, Sozin! Come back soon!" Meelo called.

Pemma frowned for a moment, "weren't you competing all the time?"

Meelo nodded, "Yep! It was fun to play with another boy!"

/

Once at Ozai's house, Sozin stood up, still upset, not wanting to get inside.

"You didn't play with me anymore!" yelled Sozin.

Ozai tried to reason with him that it was time to go to bed, but he did not want to sleep yet.

"I wanted to stay with Meelo! He's way more fun than you!" Sozin wined again.

"SOZIN!" called Ozai in a firm voice, but his little brother whistled. After a few seconds, a guttural growl was heard, and Ash appeared, Sozin's Blue Dragon.

"Sozin!" Ozai called, but his little brother already jumped over the Dragon. Ozai sighed and decided to follow his brother to make sure he arrived back home with no problem. Due to that, he came back home quite late.

The next day, Ozai was sleeping in his bedroom, but the heat woke him up, and he stirred awake, blinking groggily at the ceiling. He stretched lazily before glancing at the clock on the wall and immediately shot upright.

"No way!" he groaned, running a hand through his unruly hair. "I overslept!"

In a flurry of motion, he ran out of bed and dressed as fast as he could. His reflection in the mirror still bore dark circles under his eyes. He grabbed a piece of bread from the kitchen counter and took a quick bite, his mind racing.

Today was the day of the Pro-bending tournament finals, and he wanted to assist with security.

As he left the house as fast as he could, he didn't notice the small note and neatly folded ticket sitting on the dinner table. Bolin had personally gave it to him yesterday when he finally came back home. And now the ticket lay untouched, forgotten in the rush over the dinner table.

Slamming the door shut behind him, Ozai hurried into the bustling streets of Republic City.

By the time he arrived at the Pro-bending arena, the evening was starting, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple. The stadium was hoarded with activity, with spectators lining up to enter and metalbenders officers patrolling the area.

Ozai slowed his pace as he approached the entrance. He couldn't help but think of Sozin again. 'He would've loved this,' Ozai thought. 'I should've asked him to come with me. It seems that he and Korra got along pretty well. He'd probably have a blast seeing her in action.'

As he reached the gate, Ozai walked to one of the entries.

"Ticket, please," said the guard with a smile.

Ozai blinked, momentarily thrown off while he was rummaging through the pockets of his clothes. "The ticket?"

The guard shook his head firmly. "Sorry, sir. You can't pass without a ticket."

Realization dawned on Ozai like a bucket of cold water. He stared at the guard for a moment before slapping a hand to his forehead. 'The ticket! Bolin gave me a ticket yesterday, and I left it at home!'

"Look," Ozai said, trying to keep his tone calm, "I am a detective, and I am here because the Equalist threat."

The guard shrugged, unmoved. "If you don't have a ticket, you don't get in. Those are the rules. If you really are a detective, you'll have to speak with the captain if you want to contest it."

Ozai clenched his jaw, the frustration bubbling inside him. He briefly imagined himself contacting Lin, but he knew she wouldn't help him in this situation. With a defeated sigh, he turned away from the gate.

Ozai's mind raced with frustration. He wanted to assist with the arena's security from the inside, but now that plan was out the window. His brows furrowed as he scanned the perimeter. Perhaps he can help from the outside.

He walked along the perimeter, looking at the activity around the stadium. Metalbenders patrolled the area, keeping an eye on the crowd that had gathered. Many hopeful spectators without tickets lingered near the entrance, trying their luck at purchasing last-minute entrance. The atmosphere was buzzing with energy, excitement mixing with tension over the Equalist threat.

Ozai's stomach growled loudly, breaking his concentration. He sighed, realizing he had just a slice of bread in his stomach. Spotting a street food stall nearby, he made his way over, drawn by the tantalizing smell of grilled meat and spices.

The small stall was bustling with people, most of whom seemed to be fans who hadn't managed to secure tickets. They chatted animatedly, their attention divided between their food and the radio on the counter. The commentator's voice boomed from the speakers, commenting on the Pro-Bending finals.

"Welcome back to the Pro-Bending Tournament finals! The tension in the arena is palpable as the White Falls Wolfbats face off against the Fire Ferrets!"

Ozai ordered a skewer of grilled meat and a bottle of chilled tea. The vendor, a burly man with a kind smile, handed him the food and gestured toward the radio.

"Crazy match, huh?" the vendor said, wiping his hands on a rag. "Too bad I couldn't watch from the inside, but work is work."

Ozai nodded politely, taking a bite of the savory meat. The smoky flavor was not something he was used to, but it was delicious nonetheless. As he chewed, he listened to the radio, the commentator's voice rising with excitement.

"And it's a tight game! The Fire Ferrets are putting up a valiant fight, but it looks like the Wolfbats have the upper hand."

The crowd around the stall murmured in anticipation, some cheering while others groaned in disappointment. Ozai noticed how diverse the gathering was, benders and non-benders alike, united by their love for the sport despite the growing tensions in the city.

"White Falls Wolfbats take the lead! And... wait, what's this? The referee appears to be turning a blind eye to some questionable moves by the Wolfbats!"

The vendor shook his head in disbelief. "Figures. The refs are always in on it."

"Oh, come on!" said a young man who was also eating. "That's part of the show."

"And that's it, folks! The White Falls Wolfbats have won the finals with a controversial victory, thanks in no small part to the referee's questionable decisions!"

Cheers and boos of disapproval rippled through the crowd.

"Yes!" yelled another client of the food stall. "I won! I won!"

Some guys around him laughed, "You mean White Falls Wolfbats?"

"No, no. I bet on them, so I won!" replied the guy again with a wide smile. And the others laughed.

The commentator's voice suddenly shifted to a tone of alarm. "Folks, there is some sort of electrical disturbance in the stands. Metalbender cops are dropping like bumble flies. There appear to be masked members of the audience wielding strange devices on their hands." Then, there was a small silence before the commentator spoke again, "One of them is in the booth with me right now, folks! He is leveling one of those glove devices at me now, and I believe he is about to electrocute me. I am currently wetting my pants."

Gasps and exclamations filled the air. The crowd around the stall fell into stunned silence, Ozai eyes following their gaze.

"They're here," someone whispered.

Ozai shot to his feet, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the sky. What he thought was a Police Airship, in reality, was an Equalist airship.

Ozai's fists clenched at his sides. The Equalists had made their move, and the city was on the brink of chaos.