*Metalbending Police HQ: Lin's office*
Well, it was only a matter of time, after all the noise about what happened at both Amon's rally and the brutal defeat of the chi blockers at Aang Memorial Island. It makes sense that Lin would be forced to call in Akira; said ravenette was currently doing his best not to shrink under the glare of the annoyed police chief/mother.
"I thought told you to keep a low profile. Instead, you decided to put twenty chi blockers into the hospital" Lin noted, her tone firm and clearly she was doing her best not to explode. "Do you not understand how to keep quiet?"
"Well to be fair it was all Tarrlok's fault" Akira reasoned. "If he didn't force Korra into his task force none of that would've happened Mom."
Lin just threw her head back in frustration as she personally also held the councilman responsible for manipulating the Avatar. But she wasn't about to give Akira a break just because he's her kid. She was about to give the ravenette a few choice words when her radio station cut off in favor of an unwelcomed interruption.
"Good morning, citizens of Republic City. This is Amon. I hope you all enjoyed last night's pro-bending match, because it will be the last. It's time for this city to stop worshipping bending athletes as if they were heroes. I am calling on the council to shut down the bending arena and cancel the finals. Or else, there will be severe consequences."
"You know she's going to be there" said Akira, there was no doubt in Lin's mind as to who he was referring to.
"Come on" Lin sighed, seeing no point in not bringing Akira along. After all he was just going to end up there anyway.
*Republic City Hall*
Arriving at city hall, neither Lin nor Akira were surprised to find Korra, Bolin, and Mako standing before the city council pleading for the arena to be kept open. Unfortunately the council wasn't listening, thinking it'd be too dangerous to keep the pro-bending tournament going.
"I told you, she was going to be here" Akira murmered. Lin said nothing, preferring not to respond to her son's words. As Tarrlok was about to bang his gavel to close the discussion, Lin shatters it into pieces with a metal cable, announcing their presence.
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I agree with the Avatar" she said as she walked into the chamber.
"You do?" Tarrlok questioned.
"Yeah....you do?" Korra repeated also confused by the chief's support.
"I expected this kind of cut and run response from Tenzin, but the rest of you? Come on, show a little more backbone. It's time that the benders of this city displayed some strength and unity against these Equalists" said Lin.
"We must prevent the conflict between benders and non-benders from escalating into all-out war!" Tenzin argued. "The council is not changing its position."
"Now, just a moment, Tenzin. Let us hear what our esteemed Chief of Police has in mind" said Tarrlok.
"If you keep the arena open, my metalbenders and I will provide extra security during the championship match. There's no matter force to deal with the chi blockers. Our armor is impervious to their attacks."
"Are you saying that you will personally take responsibility for the safety of the spectators in the arena?" the councilman smirked.
"I guarantee it." Lin said confidently.
"It is hard to argue with Chief Beifong's track record. If she is confident, her elite officers can protect the arena, then she has my support. I am changing my vote. Who else is with me?"
Much to Tenzin's frustration the rest of the council sided with Tarrlok. The arena was staying open. The Fire Ferrets cheered loudly. Akira just sighed as he knew that somehow, this whole plan would backfire on them.
As the Korra and Akira left the council chamber, they noticed Lin and Tenzin finishing what looked to be a rather heated conversation. Knowing that the police chief was Akira's mother and her dislike towards herself, Korra made her way to Lin.
"Excuse me Chief Beifong, I wanted to thank you for your help." But much to Korra's frustration, Lin just walked past without even acknowledging her. "Ugh! What is her deal? Even when she's on my side, she's against me."
"She's not that bad" said Akira. "Remember she did agree to look after us."
"You're just saying that because she's your mother" the Avatar muttered. She really didn't want to admit that they were lucky Lin took over their case, when they first got off the boat.
"I have known Lin since we were children. She's always been... challenging" said Tenzin.
"What did your father do to make her hate the Avatar so much?"
"My father and Lin got along famously. I'm afraid her issues are with me."
"Probably should've let her down easy, huh Dad" Akira giggled.
*Pro-bending Arena*
The arena was packed and the crowd was alive as everyone eagerly waited for the start of the final round of the tournament. Of course not everyone was there to have a good time as Lin was finishing the final security sweeps.
"How is the security sweep going?" asked Tenzin, approaching Lin with Akira, who had chosen to watch the finals with his father.
"Fine" Lin said curtly.
"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 every nook and cranny of this place covered. Now leave me alone and let me do my job." Lin snapped.
"Father, please calm yourself. Mother has this" said Akira, hoping to prevent seeing his mother knock his father's lights out. "Besides even if she's understaffed, I can literally teleport to every inch of this arena using my hiraishin markers I placed all over the place"
"You are going to stay quiet for once" Lin said seriously. She was getting tired of having to cover up reports on her son's powers.
"Heh, right like I said; mother can handle everything" the ravenette murmured quietly.
"Lin, with so much on the line, it would be nice if we could help each other out. At least for one night" said Tenzin. Lin's features softened as she remembered their past friendship.
"Like old times?"
"Like old times."
"Okay. I'll try to be less abrasive than usual." Lin offered.
"I would appreciate that."
"Introducing the challengers; The Future Industries Fire Ferrets!" the announcer, Shiro Shinobi shouted, drawing the crowds attention as Korra, Mako, and Bolin entered the ring.
"Let's go Fire Ferrets!" Akira cheered.
"And their opponents, the three time defending champions, The Whitefalls Wolfbats!" Tahno's team had gone heavy on the theatricality, entering the ring wearing wolfbat masks and long black capes. Spreading their capes open like bat wings as a pyrotechnics display went off behind them.
"Not impressed" Korra scoffed hoping to ruin that so called 'pretty face' of his.
The teams met in the center, a determined look on each of their faces. Finally the bell rang and the match was underway. Tahno rushes Korra, who pulls back in surprise as he tries to nail her with a water covered uppercut. Korra backflips out of the way but the Wolfbat leader isn't finished yet as he follows up with a spinning kick, sending an arc of water into the Avatar, knocking her into zone 2.
"Oh come on Korra defense!" Akira comments. "Don't lose that that smug little..."
"Akira" Tenzin said aghast, surprised that his son would use such foul language all the while Lin just wearing an amused grin.
"Sorry for my crude language father" Akira said.
Bolin sends an earth disk at the opposing team's firebender, who evades and counters with a fire blast that the earthbender is quick to defend against using two earth disks to act as a shield. But what the Wolfbat firebender failed to notice was Bolin ricocheting a disk off the arena ropes, taking the bender by surprise as he's knocked into the ropes.
"Nice shot!" Mako compliments, sending a smile to his brother.
Tahno looks to his teammates silently signaling them to follow his lead. Blocking an attack from Korra, the Wolfbat leader counters with a blast of water that the Avatar manages to evade. The focus is now on the two waterbenders fiercely going at it. But in a display of foul play, Tahno abandons the trade of light quick water blasts to instead summon a massive stream of water to hose Bolin, knocking him into the third zone.
"What the hell ref!" Akira raged. "That's a foul!"
"Akira" Tenzin warned, though he was of the same opinion. But the referee simply signals for them to keep playing. Even the radio announcer was questioning the ref's judgement things weren't looking good for the Fire Ferrets. The match continued with the Wolfbat's earthbender lifting a disk out from under Mako's foot, tripping him up long enough to be hit in the chest.
"What the hell ref!" Tenzin argued. "There was some funny business in that last play."
"Father" Akira teased, sharing an amused look with with his mothers as the ravenette brought attention to the man's slip up.
"Never would've guessed that you knew the rules of pro-bending" Lin said coyly. Embarrassed by his outburst, Tenzin coughed and regained his composure.
"Ahem, I've been brushing up. That Wolfbat blatantly bent a disc outside of his zone."
Unfortunately their moods weren't about to improve as the Wolfbats continued to use illegal moves against the Fire Ferrets making it obvious to everyone that they'd paid off the referees. To their credit the Fire Ferrets stayed tough and played fair but ultimately the cheating Wolfbats were named champion.
"I can't believe this!" Akira raged. "Huh. Hold on, wait a minute, look out!" In an impressive display of speed, the ravenette dashes behind Chief Beifong, landing a solid punch to an Equalist's jaw before he could hit Lin with what looked to be an electrified glove.
"Nice work kid" Lin complimented proud by Akira's quick reflexes. But the ravenette wasn't paying her any attention as he could feel his blood boiling as he saw Amon step onto the arena stage and easily defeated the Wolfbats, taking away their bending.
Microphone in hand Amon began to address the city. "I believe I have your attention, benders of Republic City. So once again, the Wolfbats are your pro-bending champions. It seems fitting that you celebrate three bullies who cheated their way to victory. Because every day you threaten and abuse your fellow non-bending citizens, just like the Wolfbats did to their opponents tonight. Those men were supposedly the best in the bending world and yet it only took a few moments for me to cleanse them of their impurity. Let this be a warning to all of you benders out there, if any of you stand in my way, you will meet the same fate. Now, to my followers, for years the Equalists have been forced to hide in the shadows but now, we have the numbers and the strength to create a new Republic City! I'm happy to tell you the time for change has finally come."
"You guys handle the Equalists in the stands. I'm going after Korra" said Akira, pointing to the unconscious Fire Ferrets tied up under the stage. "And don't worry I'll keep it quiet."
Before Lin could protest the idea Akira was already on the move sneaking his way down to Korra, Mako, and Bolin.
"Great there he goes" Lin groaned, seeing as it seemed all her officers had been taken out she and Tenzin went to work to take back the arena.
"How do we get out of here?" asked Mako, struggling against their bindings.
"How about I get you out" said Akira, swimming up to them.
"Alright Akira!" Bolin cheered. The cheers stopped as the entire building was rocked by an explosion as an airship lowered platforms for Amon and his men. Not wanting to let the masked man get away, Akira quickly freed the Fire Ferrets. With plans for Akira and Korra to go after Amon, Mako and Bolin wished them good luck before leaving to help with evacuation.
"Ready" asked Korra.
"Please like you even need to ask." Akira grinned. The Avatar then bent a large water spout lifting them into the air after the retreating Equalists. They were moments away from catching one of them when to their horror, Korra's water spout ran out. Just as they were about to fall to their deaths Lin came to rescue, swinging in on a metal cable she fires a second line catching Akira and Korra.
"Don't screw this up!" Lin orders, flinging the pair up through the roof. Knocking a few Equalists of a platform, Korra and Akira were prepared to go for a ride. Spotting Amon looking down on them, Korra launches a fire blast at the Equalist leader but the masked man calmly leans out of the way, his cold eyes practically looking right through them before finally turning away.
"Argh!" Looking down at the arena's glass dome, Korra and Akira were shocked to see Amon's lieutenant had taken down Chief Beifong, a squad of chi blockers already moving in finish her.
"Go, I'll help Beifong" said Korra, trusting Akira to handle Amon as she dropped off the platform to help Lin. Knowing Korra and Lin could handle themselves, Akira turns his attention to Amon's airship. Jumping as high as he can Akira falls short of reaching the airship, feeling creative the ravenette creates a spinning wheel of air under his falling form giving himself a kickoff point for only more jump.
Launching himself through the ship's cargo doors, Akira makes it inside of the airship, facing off against Amon and a small group of chi blockers.
"Very impressive. You continue to intrigue me, Akira" said Amon, surprising the ravenette that he knew his name. "Don't be so surprised. How could I not want to know the name of such an interesting individual?"
"Yeah it'll be real interesting when I ram my fist through that mask" Akira uncharacteristically sneered.
"I'm afraid that will have to wait until our next meeting. After all I'm sure you care about the Avatar's wellbeing." A second explosion then rocked the arena below, drawing Akira's attention to the shattered dome and Korra falling to her death. Shooting Amon one last glare, the ravenette dived out the airship, passing Lin on the way.
He starts to metal bend some cables of the metal bender who near him and shoots one out to catch Korra.
"I got you" said Akira, wrapping the cables around her midrift.
"Great but you can't fly" said Korra, she's that instead of panicking Akira starts grinning promising that the raventte had a plan.
Shooting out another cable, he wrapped it around a stone pillar and started to swing around until they lost all they momentum from their descend and just crash on to the bending field.
"Ok that hurt" Akira groaned.
"You are very right" replied Korra.
"Ahem" the two teens attention was then directed to Chief Beifong, standing there giving them a look they couldn't quite place. "If you two are done."
Akira and Korra separated as they looked to the sky to see Amon's airship flying away.
"Looks like we lost this one" Lin commented as Tenzin, Mako, and Bolin joined them.
"I'm glad you guys are alright" said Mako, slinging his arms around Akira and Korra's shoulders.
"Yeah me too" said Bolin, pulling them all into a big hug.
"I can't believe Amon did this. I played right into his hands" said Lin.
"He played us all" said Tenzin, placing a comforting hand on Lin's shoulder. "Republic City is at war."
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