Chapter 3

"All clear, Chief," one of Lin's officers said to her as her squad was checking the stadium.

"How is the security sweep going?" Tenzin asked Lin as he walked up to her.

"Fine."

"They've checked underneath the stands?"

"Yes."

"And you have enough officers to cover all points of entry?"

"I have the skies, the bay, and each nook and cranny of this place covered," Lin snapped. "Now leave me alone and let me do my job."

"Lin, with so much on the line, it would be nice if we could help each other out. At least for one night."

"Like old times?" Lin said face softening.

"Like old times."

"I'll try to be less abrasive than usual."

"I would appreciate that."

"Besides, there's word that some special guests might show up to watch the match," Lin added. "At least one of the Three Dragons is rumored to be showing up."

Tenzin nearly jumped at the news. "What! Those criminals! Are you going to arrest them before the match?" Tenzin asked, worried.

"It depends on when they show up, if they come early we could. But if they show up right before the match, then we'll wait for them to leave or it might cause a disturbance. But in any case, the Equalists have our top priority."

"Did you finally find out who the third one is? What does he look like?"

"No, but we think that the third one is in fact a she."

"A girl! You can't be serious! And she's the leader?"

"Of course I'm serious. Is it impossible for a female to be the leader?" Lin said sharply, glaring at Tenzin who gave a sheepish look. "She has never been seen, so her position is unknown, but it's not so unlikely. But except for some rumors and conflicting accounts from our officers, we have nothing on her. Except…" Lin spoke quietly, "several members of the Triple Threats we've interrogated have said that she is an airbender."

"Impossible, the only airbenders are me and my children," Tenzin said quickly. "There is simply no way that can be the case."

"Perhaps, I've also heard she was a skilled healer, so maybe she's a waterbender. In any case, our priority is the Equalists, not the Triple Threats. We're ready for that at least. If we were to capture a Dragon or two," Lin smiled, "that would make the victory all the better." The smile dropped as quickly as it appeared, "Given what they have done to my officers."

"We just need to make sure that the game goes on as planned."

"I know Tenzin, that's why I have most of my men here protecting us."

"Are you sure it'll be fine?" the small girl asked the man standing next to her. "What if the police recognize you, Mr. Viper?"

"It'll be fine Windstorm Wendy," Viper said, sighing. "We've been over this, Black Steel Gajeel will be watching from the shadows, and Thunder King Laxus will be around somewhere. They just can't show themselves in public like you, but they'll help if something happens. Besides," he said proudly, "our disguises are perfect."

Wendy looked at him, he was wearing traditional earthbending clothes. He didn't even hide his face, the other men were wearing typical clothes as well. She was wearing a dress shirt and suit with a skirt and dark stockings to match. She also was wearing a large hat to cover up her hair, which is apparently an unusual color. "They can easily see your face," she pointed out, "and don't call me that, just call me Wendy. Especially when we're in public."

"Ok Boss," Viper said, ignoring Wendy's pouting face, "and the police aren't expecting a waterbender to wear earthbender clothes. Not to mention such low-quality clothes. I'll be invisible to them."

"Okay, let's just find our seats," she said quietly, glancing at the police standing at the entrances to the stadium.

"Over here Boss we have reserved seats," Viper led her to a boxed seat with a good view of the arena. "The match will start in a few minutes. Do you want to place any bets?"

Wendy breathed deeply through her nose and exhaled. "Bet it all on Fairy Tail," she said with a wide smile on her face.

"Are you sure Boss? That's a lot of money."

"I'm sure. I know them, and they're strong."

"Okay, you're the boss," Viper said as he sent one of the other men following them to place the bet.

'I can't wait to see them again,' Wendy thought as she settled into her seat.

"Alright guys, remember the plan?" Mako asked as they prepared for their match.

"Ugh, yes! We've been over it a hundred times bro," Bolin groaned, turning to Pabu who was dressed in his own Fire Ferrets uniform, "Now I know it's a big crowd but you're going to do great Pabu."

"The tension in the air is palpable tonight," the radio broadcaster said. "Not since the sport was founded has there been two rookie teams vying for the championship title! This is going to be the match of the century folks. Between the Fire Ferrets and Fairy Tail, both teams are made of powerhouses who blow away their competition and that's not hyperbole folks. Whatever happens, it's sure to be an exciting match."

The center of the arena rises and the match announcer, with all the spotlights on him, starts the introductions. "Introducing," he gestures towards one side of the ring, "the Future Industry Fire Ferrets!"

As They made their way to the stage, Korra noticed Asami in a boxed seat sending a kiss towards Mako and Mako sending her one in kind. In the box next to Asami's, she noticed a familiar figure. 'The thug from before. Is that his daughter?' she thought, looking at the small girl sitting next to him.

"Alright Pabu, you're on," Bolin said as they stepped off the platform. Pabu stiffened his body for a moment then jumped to the floor into a handstand while chirping. Bolin bowed and Pabu did a flip. Bolin then raised an earth disc from the floor and knocked a hole in the middle. Pabu then did two back flips and jumped through the disc, then jumped back through and landed on his front paw. Bolin raised his arms in triumph. "Yes, nailed it! He's so talented," Bolin said to Mako, who was the only other person who saw the display.

"And their challengers: Magnolia's Fairy Tail!" The announcer said as he pointed to the other end of the stage. The platform that was moving towards the stage was only carrying two of the three.

"As usual, the firebender of the team, Natsu, chose to not join his teammates at the introduction," the radio announcer said.

"Ready?" Mako said as Natsu walked across the platform, joining his teammates.

"For the last time, yes," Korra said quickly, "We know what to do."

Then the bell rang and the match began. With a yell, Natsu launched several blasts at Korra who jumped back and with a spinning kick sent a glob of water at him. He swiped it aside and jumped to the side, kicking a wave of fire at Bolin. Bolin sent two discs flying at Gray while Korra blocked Bolin from the fire. Juvia shot water from the grate in between them, destroying the discs and sending several smaller blasts at Mako. He jumped aside and sent two blasts at Gray, who dropped and rolled to avoid the blasts. As he rolled, he picked up a disc, which he flung at Mako. Mako sidestepped and sent two quick blasts at Gray but they were intercepted by Natsu. Gray picked up another disc and threw it at Korra, who ducked, but was then hit by a well-placed blast of water by Juvia and was knocked into the second zone.

Without Korra to defend him, Bolin soon joined her from a powerful blast of fire. Mako was fighting Gray, who was mostly dodging his quick strikes, but then Mako' was hit by Juvia and Gray landed a hit. It didn't knock him back, but Juvia hit him again, a blast full in the face, causing him to be disoriented, and a hit from Natsu sent him stepping over the line. With the first zone cleared, Fairy Tail charged and a few seconds later, Bolin was once again knocked off his feet and swept into the third zone.

While that was happening, Korra sent two blasts at Gray, his jump which avoided one sent him right into the other, causing him to tumble back into his first zone. Juvia glared and sent several blasts at Korra, ignoring Mako who sent a quick blast of fire at her leg. It would've connected but Natsu got in the way again and sent a spinning handstand fire wave at Mako. He ducked to avoid it and to his horror, it hit Bolin. But Bolin was prepared and brought up two discs to shield him from the worst of it.

Juvia and Korra were going at it. Blasting at each other and dodging or blocking. Korra with her quick movements and Juvia's water blocking Korra's strikes. Natsu smiled and sent a few more waves of fire at Mako, who either had to dodge and let them possibly hit Bolin, or block them and possibly get knocked back. Then Mako smiled and dove out of the way, sending a kick of fire at Natsu just as two disks appeared behind him sent by Bolin. Natsu ignored the fire and knocked one disc out of the way and took the other one full in the chest. It knocked him back a single step. With a smile larger than Mako had ever seen, Natsu laughed and burst into a wall of flames, and out of the flames, two discs came flying through, each one heading towards their targets. Bolin caught it, but Mako was knocked into his last zone. Natsu stopped his flames and started to send a flurry of flames at Mako, who dodged as many as he could but was nearly knocked off in the end. Bolin sent the caught disc at Natsu, who dodged it easily but was then hit by an accurate shot by Korra.

Korra tried to hit Natsu again, but with Juvia attacking her, she couldn't shoot straight. While she was focused on Natsu and Juvia, Gray sent a disc low, hitting the rope next to her, bouncing off and about to sweep her off her feet. But Bolin turned it around and sent it back at him. Gray rolled out of the way but was then hit by a blast by Mako. Juvia turned to glare at Mako and sent a blast of water at him. With her attention elsewhere, Korra was able to land a solid hit on her and knock her down. Natsu, who was focusing on Mako and Bolin, was again wide open to Korra's attacks. She sent two globs right at him. Both found their mark and hit him upside the head. Dazed by the unexpected attacks, Natsu turned to send a wave of fire at Korra.

Juvia hit both Mako and Bolin with blasts strong enough to send Mako flying off into the water. Bolin managed to block the brunt of it with his disks. Korra was too focused on Natsu and Juvia to see the earth disk heading towards her. It hit her in the side and sent her staggering into the third zone. With the green light to move on to the next stage, Natsu and Juvia showed no mercy and within the span of three seconds, Korra and Bolin joined Mako in the water.

"Knockout!" the referee cried as Korra hit the water.

"I don't believe it, folks," the radio announcer said, "Fairy Tail has done it again, the Fire Ferrets started off strong, but they ultimately were helpless in the face of the powerful Fairy Tail members. Well, folks, it's a day to remember, with a first-round knockout to win the match against the Fire Ferrets. Magnolia's Fairy Tail will be crowned tournament champions!"

"There's no way that boy's an earthbender, I want an investigation, they clearly cheated!" Tenzin shouted in the crowd. As he turned to face Lin he noticed something behind her. "Look out!" he cried as an Equalist with a strange glove electrified Lin, a second later, he too was electrified. All around the stadium sparks of electricity were seen, each one hitting and incapacitating an officer. In the water, Korra turned and saw the lieutenant from the rally, she gasped and shot a stream of water at him. But it was too late, and he electrified the water, shocking them into unconsciousness.

"Folks," the radio announcer said, "there is some sort of electrical disturbance in the stands. Metalbender cops are dropping like bumbleflies. There appear to be masked members of the audience wielding strange devices on their hands. One of them is in the booth with me right now, folks. He is leveling one of those gloved devices at me now and I believe he is about to electrocute me. I am currently wetting my pants!"

Natsu took off his helmet and looked around in confusion. He heard the center of the platform rise behind him and Amon and six chi-blockers appeared. He, Gray, and Juvia looked cautiously at the known revolutionary.

"Don't mess with us, man," Gray said, as he threw his shirt aside leaving him only in his pants. "With no rules to hold us back, you won't walk away." Amon nodded and his men attacked. "We warned you, Ice-Make: Floor. A sheet of ice coated the floor underneath the attackers and two slipped right into Natsu who promptly punched them into the side of the ring, where they slumped over. But the other attackers got across the slippery floor and attacked. A bolo wrapped Gray's arms behind his back. Two went after Gray, their fast movements striking at his vital spots, as they paralyzed his arms and went for the legs a torrent of water blasted them away.

"You won't touch my darling Gray!" Juvia yelled as she charged and shot another torrent of water, those who she blasted attacked her and came in close to strike her. "Water Jigsaw!" her body became surrounded by sharp blades of water, slicing at her attackers. It looked like she would be able to take them out all by herself when the lieutenant appeared and shocked the swirling water. Juvia yelled as the spell faded and she fell down, breathing heavily. She tried to stand but a second hit from both batons knocked her down again with a scream.

"Juvia!" Gray yelled as he fought a chi-blocker. Without the use of his arms, he could only kick at them. 'We need help' Suddenly, he had an idea, giving one last kick he prepared to jump over the side and plunge into the water. Just as he was airborne, a chi-blocker grabbed one of his legs, knocking his head against the side as he fell unconscious in his hands.

"Gray! Juvia! You'll pay for that!" Natsu yelled. He was fighting the remaining chi-blockers, "Fire Dragon's Wing Attack!" His arms sprouted giant fans of flame, and as he swept them downwards, sent the chi-blockers flying. With a shout, he charged at Amon. Just as he jumped at Amon to land a flame-covered punch, a bolo wrapped around him. It spoiled the jump and he fell into the middle of the arena. As he tried to break out of the ropes, the last chi-blocker struck, quickly paralyzing Natsu on one side, while the lieutenant paralyzed his other side. With Natsu down, the chi-blockers who could stand dragged Juvia and Gray into the center with Natsu. Amon raised his hand and stepped right in front of Natsu, placing his hand on his head. "Bad move pal," Natsu said as he smiled. "Fire Dragon's Roar!"

The blast hit Amon point blank, sending him flying into the stands. The audience, already shocked at the events, could only stare as Amon struggled to stand up. When he did, he lifted his hand, which was holding a strange device with a button. The lieutenant and the chi-blockers ran to the platform connecting the stage to the stands. Juvia sat up and undid Gray's binds and shook him awake as Natsu's arms and legs started to regain their feeling. By the time the chi-blockers fled they were all up and preparing for a rematch. But the platform that connected them to the stands was already removed and Amon pressed the button.

Suddenly, there was a huge explosion beneath their feet which blasted the arena.

The already stunned crowd gasped in horror as Amon and his men returned to the now destroyed arena with a large hole in the center. The members of Fairy Tail nowhere in sight.