Chapter 31

Oh, how wrong he was.

"Jun, is this really necessary?" Sota asked as he examined the handcuffs around his wrists. Looking up, he flinched back, giving a nervous laugh as the Earthbender narrowed her eyes.

"Why am I in trouble too?" Mai-Ling complained as she sat next to him on her bed with a set of her own cuffs on.

"You let him go, you share his punishment," told the two matter of factly. "Guilty by association.

"And why am I here?" Jinora asked, sitting on his other side with a third pair of handcuffs on.

"And where do you keep getting these handcuffs?" Sota added.

After finding the Water Tribe siblings, the Rescue Team returned to Air Temple Island to get Korra treated and started resting properly. Sota was sent to bed immediately after being checked over for any signs of hyperthermia. Imagine his surprise when Jun was waiting, not happily, for him along with Mai-Ling and Jinora who looked as if they were going to cry for help before she pulled him in and shut the door.

Pulling up a chair and making sure the bedroom door was locked, she sat in front of them before speaking, "I borrowed them from the police station. And you're here, because you've got some explaining to do. As do the rest of us. So, I've decided it's time we all had a talk and came clean." Looking at Mai-Ling, she said, "I told Jinora."

"Told her what!?" she asked quickly, her face blushing in nervousness with Sota right next to her. Jun rolled her eyes.

"I told her about your condition. You know, the reason why you spew fire from your mouth when you get irrationally angry. Remember?"

"Oh," she said, calming down before suddenly feeling self-conscious. "Oh…right. Listen, Jinora, I'm- "

"Not gonna apologize for something you couldn't control," the youngest of the group said as she shook her head. "Don't worry, I get it and it's ok."

Mai-Ling smiled, breathing a sigh of relief. "Thanks. I should have done that a long time ago. It's…been hard."

"I can imagine," she replied as Sota looked down, thinking before looking up to address Jun.

"Back when we met at Tarrlok's party you said that you two had known each other since you were 3…"

"I lied," she nodded her head. "I wasn't sure if we could trust you after just meeting you only once. So, I told Mai-Ling to follow my story."

"I guess that makes sense. And if we're being completely open about it, I've been lying too," he admitted. Giving a sigh, he paused for a moment as he contemplated how to explain his…condition. "Being the brother of the Avatar isn't the only reason that people didn't like me back at the South Pole. One day after I got beaten up, Korra found out and went to tell my parents. I got upset and ran off to go handle it myself and fight Urroq. It was just the two of us and eventually it started getting dark. Next thing I know, the moon was out, and I was bloodbending him."

Jun's jaw dropped, which didn't surprise Sota. In fact, now that he didn't have his bending, he wasn't bothered in the slightest by it. After all, why should he be? He was never going to waterbend again, a fate worse than being labeled a monster to him in every capacity. But his friends deserved to know the truth, and Jun was the only one who didn't yet.

Looking from Jinora to Mai-Ling, Jun commented, "I'm assuming that since neither of you reacted that this isn't new information to either of you?" Receiving a nod from both, she turned back to him and asked, "Is that what you were trying to tell us at the stadium?"

"Yes," he confirmed.

"…and the reason you thought you could take Tahno," she finished as she remembered the fight they got into. Dropping her face into her hands, she groaned. "Ugh, this all makes so much sense now."

"I'm sorry," he said, lowering his head. "I should have told you sooner. Especially you, Mai-Ling. You shouldn't have had to find out like that."

"You used it to try to escape, didn't you? That's why you got hurt, right?" Jinora asked. Sota said nothing but Mai-Ling nodded her head in confirmation for him. "It didn't work, did it?"

"Worse. It did," he said before looking up, meeting their eyes. Jinora now wore the same shock as Jun, but Mai-Ling couldn't look at him as the memories started to come back. Her body began to shake, making Jun and Jinora nervous but Sota simply reached out to place one of his hands on hers. Giving it a squeeze, he told her, "It's o-"

"Don't you DARE say it's ok, Sota," she commanded, looking at him in disapproval. Tears had come to her eyes, shocking the two other girls while Sota could only bite his lip. "What happened in there was not ok, and I'm not gonna let you sit here and try to lie in my face."

"Guys…what really happened in there?" Jun asked, her stomach flipping as Sota gritted his teeth and hung his head. Mai-Ling said nothing, waiting for him to speak; it was his story to tell now.

"What I'm about to tell you has to stay in this room," he said, quickly looking up and stopping Mai-Ling from protesting by adding, "for now. Just until I can find a good way to explain it all to Korra."

"Oh no, I'm not agreeing to that. I've already got a bone to pick with you two about secrets," Jun said, pointing to him and Jinora, getting a jumpy reaction from her.

"Please, Jun. I need you to trust me," he begged, shaking his head and saying, "I can't let Korra feel like a failure all because I got my bending taken away."

The sound around them evaporated as Jun's hands found her mouth, covering it to keep herself from screaming. Jinora's eyes were wide as plates and her body shook. Mai-Ling puckered her lips, finally looking to the ground as Sota let the weight of his reveal sink in.

Once she finally composed herself enough, Jun waved her left hand, unlocking the handcuffs on the three of her friends. As she jumped out of her seat, she wrapped him in a hug, something that was soon followed by Jinora and Mai-Ling. Sota closed his eyes, his body shaking as tears started to run down his face at the warm embraces of his friends.

Spirits…what was he gonna do?

Sota exited the bedroom early the next morning, leaving the sleeping trio behind as the sun had just started to rise.

The rest of the evening had been emotional to say the least. After explaining the rest of the incident to Jun and Jinora, he went on to explain how they'd met a Chi-Blocker named Loa who'd been trying to help them. Jun had felt a slight pang of guilt when he mentioned that it was the girl she'd hit in their escape, but waved it off. Her friends came before anyone else.

He refrained from telling them the full experience of losing his bending, instead choosing to tell them that Amon was just too strong willed to have been stopped by him without the full moon. From there, he and Mai-Ling explained the rest of their experience there, though things started to get a bit heated when she explained her conversation with her uncle. Thankfully, they eventually were able to get to sleep but Sota's concern for his sister had prompted this early wake up.

Reaching his sister's medical room, Sota found Mako sitting in the chair next to her. Korra was sound asleep, facing toward the Firebender who examined the various wounds on her with concern. Gently reaching out, Mako rested his hand over hers and squeezed it, never once noticing Sota standing in the doorway behind him. Nor did he notice the other person who'd joined Sota without a word.

Sota turned as she started to walk up him, making his heart drop into his stomach as he saw the hurt look on her face.

Asami watched Mako silently with her heart breaking into pieces at the scene. There was no doubt in her mind now that he loved Korra and that what happened between them was no accident. She wanted to confront him, question him about how he could do this and why, but instead turned and started to walk away with her head held down.

"Asami, wait," Sota said quietly and reached to lightly grab her arm. The girl did indeed stop but only gave him a brave smile before gently pulling away from him and continuing her walk around the corner. With his own head held down, Sota made the walk back to his room where he waited for the girls to wake before they were all called down for breakfast.

Korra happily chewed and slurped her food down as they all sat in the main dining room, though she wasn't the only one. Sota and Mai-Ling were doing much the same, leaving next to no room for either to talk in between bites. Thankfully, everyone seemed to be more focused on Korra and what she'd been through.

"Mmm. The food taste amazing, Pema," Korra complimented as she finished swallowing.

"Ah'll sah," Sota said, mouth full of rice before he went back to his plate.

"May I have some more soup, please?" Mai-Ling asked, receiving a smile and nod from Pema. The pregnant woman eased herself onto her feet, accepting the bowl from her before starting to head toward the kitchen.

"I'm finally starting to feel like myself again," Korra said, a bit of relief coming from her.

"We're so thankful you're all home safe," Pema told the three, grabbing a few empty dishes on the way.

"Let me help," Asami offered, grabbing a few as well. Stacking hers and Jun's, she made her way around as Tenzin spoke next.

"Korra, I realize you've been through a lot, but I need to know everything that happened," he said. Lin was seated next to him, a similar look on her face.

"Well, first off, Tarrlok isn't who he says he is. He's Yakone's son," she said. Sota looked at his friends, eyebrow raised, but both shrugged. Lin and Tenzin had a different reaction, however.

"It all makes sense now," the former Chief as the two turned to each other. "That's how Tarrlok was able to bloodbend us without a full moon."

Her thought was interrupted as Sota began choking, his chopsticks dropping to the table. He swallowed what he could but soon began coughing up grains of rice all over his plate while Jun and Mai-Ling paled immediately. Something that didn't go unnoticed by Lin.

"Whoa, easy there, little brother. Slow down before you choke to death," Korra said, patting him on the back encouragingly until his windpipe was free.

Of all the things that that stupid jerk could have been able to do, he could bloodbend without a full moon too!? Sota thought irritably as Tarrlok's face popped into his head. He KNEW he didn't like or trust that guy but to think that they would have something like that in common only made him all the more disgusted.

A thought suddenly struck him; had Amon been right? Had he, unknowingly, stopped Sota from ending up like Tarrlok? The thought left a bitter taste in his mouth, immediately spoiling his appetite and prompting him to collect his dishes to take to the kitchen as well.

"But how did you escape? And where's Tarrlok?" Tenzin asked Korra.

"Amon captured him and took his bending," she said sadly, looking down at the table. A crash made everyone jolt up and turn to look behind her as Sota stood in the doorway with a broken bowl at his feet. His hands shook and he felt his blood run cold at the words, but before anyone could say anything, Jun and Mai-Ling were at his side, helping to clean up.

"I told you to let me carry it," Jun said, shaking her head as she picked up the bigger pieces while Mai-Ling grabbed the smaller ones and put them on her empty plate. "You haven't gotten your full strength back yet, Water-Boy."

"Right…sorry," he said sheepishly as they stood and gently led him into the kitchen. Pema saw them immediately and accepted the broken dishes from the girls as he apologized to her. "I'm sorry about the bowl, Pema."

"Sota, please, it's no big deal," she told him before resting her hand against his forehead in concern. "I think you should go rest for a bit, though. You're looking a little pale."

Sota nodded his head, allowing the girls to lead him back out through the dining room and into the hall where the three immediately stopped. Sota shook a bit, breathing deep as he tried to calm himself and not freak out but composed himself. Pressing themselves against the wall, the three waited and continued listening in.

"Are you certain that's what happened, Korra?" Lin asked her, continuing with the questions once the kids were out of the room.

"Yeah. He showed up out of nowhere. He almost got me too," Korra told them.

"This is very disturbing news," Tenzin said. "Amon is becoming emboldened. Taking out a Councilman, almost capturing the Avatar…I fear Amon is entering his end game."

The weight of Tenzin's words was heavy on Korra, Mako and Bolin as they contemplated while at the table, as well as the three preteens listening in the hall. Sota turned to his two friends whose looks of concern and uncertainty matched his own.

Back in the kitchen, Asami assisted Pema as the two silently washed dishes, but stopped as Pema cried out and hunched over the sink in pain.

"Pema, are you alright?" Asami asked in concern, dropping her dish into the water.

"The baby is just kicking really hard, is all," she reassured before standing back upright. "I'm fine."

"Should I get Tenzin?"

"No reason to worry him. It's nothing," she promised her as Mako walked in with a tea kettle in hand.

"Can I get some hot water?" he asked. "Korra needs more tea."

"You're a Firebender. Boil it yourself," Asami shot back, leaving Mako confused at the sudden hostility. A look that Pema shared as she looked at Asami who seemed determined to ignore him. Sensing the tension building, the mother decided that it was her que to leave.

"I'm gonna step out in case you two want to talk," she said, cringing a bit as she passed Mako. She certainly wouldn't want to be him right now.

The two watched her go before Mako turned back Asami. Putting the kettle down, he asked her, "Is there something we need to talk about?"

"I've noticed how you treat Korra," she replied bitterly as she returned to scrubbing the plate from. "How you acted when she was missing. You have feelings for her, don't you?"

"What? No," Mako protested immediately, firing back with, "She was taken by a crazy Bloodbender. How did you expect me to act?"

"Really? Because you didn't seem to show that kind of concern for Mai-Ling," she threw in his face. Taking a breath, she said, "I like Korra. But you've been keeping the truth from me this whole time."

"The truth? About what?"

"You're really gonna make me say it?" Asami questioned, her voice getting slightly louder.

"Yes, because I don't know what you're talking about," he shot back, both their tempers starting to get higher.

"The KISS, Mako," she said, immediately sending his eyebrows up to his hairline. "I know."

"I—well…" he stammered before giving a defeated sigh and asking irritably, "Bolin told you, didn't he?"

"Don't blame your brother for what you did. Do you have feelings for Korra or not?" She asked him straight forward.

"Look, things are crazy right now. Can we deal with our relationship problems later?" he asked, stepping up to her and putting his hand on hers, but she immediately pulled away.

"Well, there might now be any relationship to worry about later," she declared, walking away from him and out of the kitchen. She could hear him call her name, but she didn't care, choosing to ignore him and anyone else in her path at the moment. Including the three kids who were still spying in the hallway.

The three yelped, stepping out of the way as she marched past them with a look of anger that told two of the three all they needed to.

"Well, looks like that's over…" Jun commented before cracking her knuckles and looking back toward the kitchen. "Which means Mako's mine…"

"Um, why are you threatening to beat up Mako?" Mai-Ling asked, looking at Sota who looked uncomfortable as he rubbed the back of his neck. Jun noticed and smirked.

"What's wrong, Sota? Don't tell me you never got a chance to tell Mai-Ling that you knew Mako cheated on her cousin with your sister?

"HE DID WHAT!?" Mai-Ling's muffle shout could be heard from the other side of the door, as well as Jun's cackling like crazy as a trail of sweat ran down Sota's face and a stammering plea of "MERCY" came from his mouth.

The sun was swallowed up by the clouds not long after, the cold weather blowing across the island and through the yard as Lin and Tenzin walked the grounds.

"Lin, um, I-I need to ask you a favor," the Airbender stumbled over his words. "It would mean the world to me, but I-I know it could be a potentially awkward situation. Furthermore- "

"Spit it out already," she said.

"Will you stay here and watch over Pema and the children while I meet with the council?" he asked sincerely. "With everything that's happened lately, I want to be sure my family and the others are in safe hands."

Lin smiled, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Of course I'll help, old friend."

"I didn't realize you two were out here," Pema said, walking out with Meelo in her hands and Tula behind her, much to the surprise of them both.

"Pema! Uh, yes, yes. Lin has agreed to help out around here and keep an eye on things while I'm away," Tenzin said.

"Well, I'd be more than willing to help as well," Tula offered as she carried a bag on her back as well as her water satchels.

"Thank you. I could use the extra pair of hands," Pema said, handing Meelo to Lin and asking, "Would you mind giving him a bath? He's filthy."

Tula took the opportunity to slip away, not wanting to get asked next to do something like that and instead headed inside in search of Sota. As she called out his name in the halls, the boy in question popped his head from the room and spotted her.

"There you are. Can I talk to you?" she asked, a serious look on her face. Sota turned to Mai-Ling and Jun before nodding and letting her in. Tula closed and locked the door before addressing the three. "Essa told me about what happened in there."

"Everything?" he asked, growing sad when she nodded her head and dropping his own. "I'm a failure as a warrior and a Waterbender."

"No, you're not," she said gently, kneeling and placing a hand on his head. "You all did the best you could, and everyone would be proud of you." Standing back up, she took her bag off and held it out to him. "But by the sounds of it, things may start to get…serious soon. So, I want you all to be prepared."

Sota accepted the bag, opening it to see the contents inside. His eyes widened when he saw a few small explosives, a ring of six small metal knives, a small Water Tribe machete and a club. Underneath, Sota could see there were also two pair of compact binoculars, and what looked to be water bottles. Jun and Mai-Ling followed suite, their eyes widening as Sota looked up and swallowed.

"Tula…be honest," he said, nervous about his question as he knew she wouldn't sugarcoat the answer. "What's about to happen? What are we preparing for?"

"War."

Loa groaned in pain as she lay in her hospital bed. She could barely remember much after blacking out, only waking up when her brother found her on the ground. His eyes were full of tears as he pulled her mask off, reassuring her that she was gonna be ok though the sight of her bleeding from the head had him panicking.

Thinking back on it now, she could only roll her eyes at his dramatic overreaction, but she would call the pain worth it given the three prisoners were rescued. To her surprise, no one seemed to be all that upset about this escape compared to the first attempt even though this one had been successful. Loa wondered if this was all by coincidence or if there was more to it.

"Shu," she whispered hoarsely, opening her eyes and turning to her brother as he jumped up to be at her side.

"Whoa, easy, Lolo," he said, resting a hand gently on her bandaged forehead. "I'm right here."

"Water…" she said. Shu obliged, getting the cup from the nightstand and easing her head up before tilting the glass back. Loa sighed in relief, giving him a smile. "Thanks."

"No problem. I want you to be as comfortable as possible," he replied. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I got hit by a boulder made of metal so…lousy, for starters."

Shu nodded. "Doc says you're pretty banged up, but nothing broken or out of place. Should be good to go in a few days." He paused, his face falling. "I'm sorry. I said some pretty hateful things before."

"Only for the universe to give us a bender for a little brother," she said sadly. "Shu…this isn't gonna stop at just Republic City. What do we do when this heads toward home?"

"I don't know. But we can worry about that after you get better and after we leave the city."

"Wait, leave the city? Are you serious? You think that will work?" she asked, but when she received no answer, she knew that they would be taking a gamble. Just like they always did. As she looked up to the ceiling, she said, "Did they say anything about the prisoners escaping?"

"Not really. Amon isn't bothered. Word has it that he's moving into the next phase of his plan. Majority of the squads are getting moved into positions across the city."

"And us?"

"You're on leave for the foreseeable future, and I'm on orders to stay here until you're well again. So, for now, we've got time. How much though is the real question."

Oogi growled as he landed on the roof of the City Hall building, allowing Tenzin to hop off safely. Walking around one of the towers, Tenzin paid no attention to the three window washers above him.

He did, however, notice the buzz of electricity in the air, stopping him in place as it tingled on his beard.

With a swift duck, Tenzin dodged numerous electric discs meant to incapacitate him. As he flipped on one hand, the last one slipped by his face while his three attackers jumped down to face him. Spinning, Tenzin gathered a gust between his hands to shoot out, but his hands were immediately bound by two ropes. Two of the attackers yanked him forward to prevent him from running while the third jumped in preparation to kick him but Tenzin swayed to the side to dodge.

The man rebounded and started throwing quick jabs at him that Tenzin dodged though, with his hands bound, it wasn't as easy as it could have been. With a swift turn and spin, Tenzin rose into the sky on a tornado, knocking the man near him down while twirling his would be captors. The first flew into a wall, his back cracking the cement like it was nothing while the other two were flung across the street to the adjacent roof.

As he made his descent back to the roof below, the door to the roof opened. The Council Page cried out, covering his face from the wind as Tenzin touched down lightly.

"Oh, I'm so relieved to see you," the man said while walking up to Tenzin.

"The other Council members, are they all right?" Tenzin asked.

"I'm afraid not. I just received a call from Chief Saikhan. They've all been captured!"

"This can't be happening," Tenzin said, not wanting to believe this was all becoming a reality.

"The leadership of Republic City is in your hands now," the Page pressed, but before Tenzin could say anything, an explosion nearby drew them to edge of the building to see what was happening. All along the streets, explosion after explosion went off, scattering people around as numerous airships sporting the Equalists logo flew above. Grabbing his head, the Page declared, "It is a tragic day indeed!"

Tenzin wasted no time heading back to Oogi and mounting him. Things had just gone from bad, to worse.

Sota, Mai-Ling, Jun, Jinora, Ikki and Meelo watched in fear as explosions went off all cross the city. Even from across the bay they could see and hear the bombs dropping, a signal that Amon had finally started his attack. Behind them Lin watched, her eyes narrowing as she too watched the city she grew up in and helped to protect for so long begin to fall.

Tula ran outside, along with Lee and another Sentry to see what was happening and her stomach dropped.

"That lunatic has finally started to show himself," she grumbled before turning to Lee and demanding, "Help me –"

"I'm already on it," he said, turning and heading toward her building. Tula blinked but said nothing else as she followed him, leaving the other Sentry out in the yard with Lin and the kids.

"Alright kids, time to go inside," she said to the 6 of them. Jinora grabbed the hands of her siblings and guided them inside to find her mother. The three eldest looked from one to another, wanting to protest, but stopped as the sounds of footsteps came from behind them. Korra, Mako, Bolin and Asami came rushing out past them and up to Lin, their eyes looking across the water to the city.

"We heard explosions; what's going on?" Korra asked her.

"Republic City is under attack," she told them. The four were stunned, unsure of what to think as teh looked at one another, so Lin continued. "Tenzin's is out there by himself."

"Then we need to go help him," she said, turning to see her brother and his friends watching them. "Sota, you-"

"Should stay here. I know," he agreed, surprising her that he didn't insist on coming.

Turning to Lin, she said, "I'll leave Naga here in case of an emergency to get Pema and the kids out of here. Sota will handle things if it comes to that."

"Affirmative. We'll make an emergency plan then," she told him, receiving a nod.

"How are we gonna get around then?" Bolin asked.

"We can take one of the ships to the port. I left the car parked near there when I came back," she said. Team Avatar made a break for the docks to get their boat while Lin turned back to the three kids still there.

"Jun, I'm putting you in charge of evacuation duty," she said, pointing to her. "If an emergency escape is necessary, it'll be your job to scan the island for everyone, but especially Pema and the Airbenders. Mai-Ling, I need you to coordinate the plan with the Tula and the other Sentries. Have them make prepartions to evcuate via the Sky Bisons at the stables."

The two girls nodded and prepared to take off to their task, when Sota spoke up. "What about me, Chief?"

"Be honest with me; how skilled of a fighter are you without your bending?" At the shocked look on his face, she asked, "Did you really think no one would notice or question it? I'm a detective. It's part of the job."

Sota swallowed, clenching his fist as he thought before saying, "I'm not very good. I barely learned to use weapons since…"

"You had your bending. I understand," Lin said sincerely, walking up to him and putting a hand on his shoulder. Sota was starting to dislike the gesture, the feeling of pity washing off of them and over him every time that only made him feel worse. As she pulled her hand away, she asked, "Can you prepare the saddle for the Polar Bear Dog?"

Sota nodded, and the three took off to begin preparing themselves. War was upon them.

To be continued…