Exodus

Before Teraria can leave for the Fire Nation, riots break out in the streets of Republic City.

Teraria makes her way to the Pro-bending Arena; people of all ages flock to the arena for Republic City’s main entertainment venue. Pro-bending consists of teams of three- a fire bender, an earth bender and a water bender. The goal is to knock the opponents off the open-back battle field and best three out of four wins. In the event of a tie, then the teams have to pick one bending style to fight off to decide a victor. Tonight is the reunion of Republic City’s number one team- The Fire Ferrets. Despite being the Avatar, Korra is allowed to fight, but can only use water. Mako is the fire bender and Bolin the earth bender. They has disbanded when Amon and his followers were attacking Republic City and again when the Civil War started; Korra was dealing with her uncle, Mako was investigating and doing cop duties while Bolin became a Mover Star. Since things have calmed down, Korra decides that she can enjoy free-time from being the Avatar every now and then.

                 The arena has recently been updated and now has big screens to display the action live and in color. Since Varrick invented “Movers” (movies) those watching in the arena can see the action up close even if they are in the back rows. Varrick is a business man from humble beginnings as the song of a seal-hunter. He was able to become a billionaire by gaining controlling the world’s shipping industry. When Hiroshi Sato was imprisoned after helping Amon with his revolution, Asami took control of her father’s business. However, the company was going bankrupt and she sought Varrick’s help to save it. They became partners and eventually he bought share in the company. When the civil war started, Varrick used Bolin for a propagandist Mover called, “The Adventures of Nuktuk: Hero of the South”. Working with the Agni Kai Triad, he orchestrated the bombing of the Southern Water Tribe Cultural Center to make it appear that the Northern Waterbenders were the culprit. He wanted both sides of the war to invest in Future Industry technologies and they did.

 His last act was to kidnap President Raiko and blame the North, but the plan backfired when Mako warned Bolin that Varrick was a crook. Varrick was arrested by Lin Beifong and her officers. He had already prepared a jail cell so even in jail he was living in the lap of luxury with his life-long assistant, Zhu Li. When Vaatu/Unalaq attacked Republic City, Varrick and Zhu Li escaped and ended up in Zaofu, a metal city in the earth kingdom. With the invention of The Screen, many believe that Varrick is still inventing or investing in inventors to help him profit from the movement from radio to television. The man responsible for The Screen is Luzon of Ba Sing Se who is also working on developing a device to produced photos in color. His co-inventor was cited a “V”. Currently no one knows where he is.

                Inside, Teraria looks for Asami knowing who she is and what she looks like. In one of the private balcony seat areas, Asami sits with Opal, Desna and Eska.

Desna and Eska are Korra’s cousins and children of the infamous Unalaq. This is the first time they have been back to Republic City since the conclusion of the Harmonic Convergence and end of the civil war. Eska was in an on and off again relationship with Bolin and left off on the off phase. Opal is the current girlfriend of Bolin.

“Hello all! My name is Re Teraria or Re or Aria for short. Mako invited me to the match and I was wondering if it is okay to sit with you.”

“And how do you know Mako?” Asami steps towards Teraria.

“Well my father is Saikhan and Mako is a cop. Ran into him at headquarters and he was inviting a bunch of people to this match.”

“A bunch of girls I bet. Why did he tell you to find me?”

“Best seats in the arena! Duh! And I want to meet all his friends. You all seem so cool.” She smiles as she makes up her reason. Desna and Eska stare at her expressionless while Asami just accepts her presence.

“Well Tenzin and his family are coming too. You can sit next to Desna.”

“Hello Desna.” She smiles at him as she sits down.

“You smile an awful lot. You try to hide your nervousness with enthusiasm.” He says with the same blank expression on his face.

“Hehehe, yeah you’re right. I get nervous around a lot of people I don’t know, but I get over it. I’m ready to have fun!” He gives her a quick smirk and continues to wait or the match to start.

                She takes her seat as more citizens fill the arena. Asami and Eska talk about how the north and Eska’s mother is doing without her husband. Tenzin and his children, Jinora, Ikki and Meelo accompany him to the match while his wife Pema and their two year old Rohan stay at home. Meelo can’t sit still and runs around the booth on an air ball while Ikki chases after him. Tenzin taps Teraria on the shoulder and motions her to sit next to him.

“Your father, Saikhan notified me about your unusual bending abilities. If you are indeed an airbender I suggest we start your training as soon as you return.”

“Yes, of course. I look forward to mastering air and hope to visit all the air temples. I’ve always admired your home from afar. It looks so tranquil compared to the rest of the city. I’d rather live somewhere more secluded with beautiful surroundings.”

“Yes. I can see that you have an airbender spirit. You seem very calm and in control- at peace with yourself.”

“Yeah, I still wonder how I am an earth bender and fire bender too. I’m not strong or aggressive.”

“Do you have any other bending abilities?”

“I can metal bend, my father taught me that. I also learned how to redirect lightning. That was an accident though. Playing outside during a thunderstorm near a metal tower wasn’t the smartest idea.”

“Interesting indeed; I wonder if there are other benders like you.”

“There was one apparently that your father and Zuko knew. I wonder if she was just like me.”

“Yes, I can’t wait to learn more about you and your ancestry. The only duel bender I know is Avatar Korra and now you. More airbenders are always needed too."

“I hope so too. The world is going through rapid change. It would be nice to see people who live a simple life in a complex world.”

“Some non-benders and benders have begun to occupy the air temples, embracing our ancestors’ way of life. Maybe an air spirit can be awakened in them too. It's hard trying to recruit those who can air bend but won't become air nomads.”

“If only Lion Turtles were still alive. They could have granted anyone the ability to bend air.”

“My father said he meet the last one. That Lion Turtle taught him how to energy bend which he used to take Fire Lord Ozai’s bending away.”

“I want to find it, it is out there somewhere I know it.”

“Who knows, it may just bring a miracle.”

                The match begins and the announcer calls out the line-up. The crowd roars when Bolin’s name is called for his fame as an actor and having the longest career as a Fire Ferret when compared to Korra and Mako. As the match begins, the crowd cheers on their favorites and the arena is filled with the shouting of die-hard fans. But soon the cheering becomes an uproar as the crowd becomes restless; not so much over the match but with each other. Reports about the non-benders in the other nations driving benders from their homes and declaring it a “non-bender refuge” has circled around the city. Teraria hears a conversation between two security guards when she takes a bathroom break.

“We already had the threat of Amon trying to rid the world of bending and now this.” The guard who is an earthbender says.

“Well Shu Jing and Gaoling don’t have large bender populations. The Earth Kingdom in general has more non benders than benders. If non-benders want a place where they don’t have to fear benders, then we should have one.” The non-bender guard says.

“But I have family who are benders and non-benders all under one household. You can’t split up families or force them to live in one place or the other.”

“Well that’s what Republic City is for. Everyone is welcomed here. Other parts of the world are not as accepting. Earth and Water may seem like they are civil with Fire and each other but tensions from a century of war is still there. Cultures are still conflicting, the world is unbalanced.”

“But their relationship has improved for the better of all the nations. Their business ventures have led to the sharing of knowledge to benefit all and the prosperity of the world’s major cities”

“And the neglect of smaller settlements. They don’t have the technology to keep up with the times. Many of these settlements are non-bender population heavy too. It seems benders are trying to keep non-benders in their place. At least that is what they are thinking.”

“Well I heard they are using the latest and greatest technology to drive out benders, so they have access to everything the cities have. Besides, Hiroshi Sato was a non-bender and he created technology geared towards helping non-benders. If they stick together, then non-benders won’t have to fear benders for someone in their immediate family will be one.”

“Not everyone wants the burden of bending. You’re forced into a greater societal role. Some just want a simple life with no war or crime. The world would be better off being separated into distinct nations as before. Benders need control over their own people and non-benders should find their own leader. Amon wasn’t right about trying to rid the world of benders but he was right about the inequality issues our world faces and the dominance of benders over non-benders.”

“I have faith that benders of different nations and non-benders came make it work. The road may be rocky, washy, turbulent and fiery but the day will come when out world is one nation.”

“Wishful thinking my friend.”

                Teraria makes it to the bathroom door, but does not enter. She can hear explosions going on outside. She rushes back to the booth to alert Tenzin. He tells the guards to escort his children home while Teraria, Asami, Desna, Eska and he head outside. As they are leaving, the announcer tells everyone to exit the arena in an orderly fashion. Mako, Korra and Bolin catch up with the rest of the group.

 Outside the arena, the streets are cluttered with people. Shops are being raided and supplies are being dispersed throughout the city. Benders and non-benders are fighting over the goods. They split up and try to capture as many looters as they can while trying to figure out what is going on. Korra goes off with her cousins, Tenzin takes Asami and Bolin with him while Mako and Teraria go off together. Mako and Teraria hide ready to ambush any looter trying to get away with stolen goods.

“It seems that either the non-benders are looting bender shops and the benders are trying to get their good back or it may be the other way around.” Mako deducts.

“Let follow someone them to see what’s really going on.” They tail a firebender with bags of bread. They follow her as she heads to central station. Mako tells Teraria to stay hidden while he confronts the looter. Mako walks past her and she follows him with her eyes. Holding lightning in his hands he glares at the statue of Zuko. He knows someone is hiding behind it.

“I know you are behind the statue. Hand over the stole goods and I will let you go.” The woman appears from behind the statue and stands at the base.

“Why do you want to take the food from me? Are you supporting the non-bender revolts? This food needs to go to the refuges.”

“Wait, so everyone is stealing food to aid…”

“Republic City wants to expand and push out non-benders who want their own nation to their own territory. Non-benders are trying to push out bender and both sides are aiding their revolt by sending supplies. Both need to be stopped. Neither has a right to drive out anyone from their homes!”

The ground starts to shake and the night sky brightens with a fiery glow. He turns to Teraria and mouths the words, “Run, Teraria! Go find Lin quick!” It seems that the firebender that led them to central station has back-up.

                Mechanical flying creatures breathe fire and take to the sky. They look like the dragons from time passed. She looks up at the sky to see what she thinks to be shooting stars but she realizes that they are balls of fire blazing across the night sky. From the underground, giant mechanical badger moles drill through the streets and businesses owned by benders and non-benders. Waterbenders in submarines flood and sink ships bound for towns, villages and cities with large non-bender populations. Some of Republic City’s benders are retaliating against non-benders who are driving out benders from their homes around the world. Some non-benders are retaliating against Republic City’s expansion. A mixture is retaliating against both sides. Their enemies’ mentality: if non-benders want their own settlements free of benders, then Republic City will be the city of all benders and all non-benders will be forced to those settlements outside the city.

                 She runs through the streets that have become an inferno.  A family runs out of their burning home but the mother cries; one of her children is still inside. Teraria bends the fire as she walks through the apartment building. A cry is heard from the third floor and she propels herself upward like a rocket. The fire acts as engines as the short concentrated burst of fire energy leads her to the girl. The building is becoming more unsteady by the second and the building is ready to cave in. Beams fall down around them and the building collapses. As the debris settles, Teraria breaks through her rock dome and hands the girl over to her mother.

                 A scream is heard and she looks around to find the source. Bolin runs by flailing his arms as a rebel trails him. The rebel shoots an arrow at him but Bolin earth bends to deflect the arrow and attacked back with rock shards. Teraria encases the rebel in ice.

“There is so many of them. I don’t know who I can trust and who I can’t.”

“I know. The whole city has gone crazy. We need to find Lin.”

                Teraria runs towards the police station. The station had been attack and a giant hole is in the side of the building where many of the jail cells are. She heads to Lin Beifong’s office hoping she is still there. Surprisingly she is.

 “I had just sent out two men to get you” she says. Lin coughs uncontrollably from the debris dust. She gets up from her desk drags Teraria to her airship.

“We have to get these flying mechanical dragons under control and then clear the streets.” One of them comes straight at Lin’s ship. They have metal benders and fire benders on board to combat the metalbending police. They set off a smoke bomb and darkness encloses them. Teraria closes her eyes and feels a strong burst of energy come from deep within. She heads to the top of the ship and bends the blackened air away from their ship. Eventually she sees a smoky orange light rapidly approaching. She concentrates and begins to generate lightning. Aiming right at the metal dragon she electrocutes it and causes it to malfunction. It falls towards the police headquarters but Lin and her officers bend it away from the building and towards the open area in front of it. Lin is overwhelmed by how large the riot has grown. Lucky for her, General Iroh and his fleet were headed to Republic City to retrieve Teraria. He handles the waterbenders and their submarines while Lin continued to handle the dragons.

“Teraria, you, Mako, Bolin and Korra need to handle those badger moles. Tell Korra that she needs to resolve this issue as Avatar.”

                Teraria runs through the streets looking for Korra, but she isn’t that hard to find. She is already in her Avatar state. She washes away the fire on shops and homes from the dragons. She fills in the holes made by the metal badger moles. She cages the submarines is a giant ball of water. She holds the dragons in a vortex. When all is said and done all those who were operating the machines were sent to jail but since most of it was destroyed the criminals are held in the underground cells. Even with thousands arrested, Teraria knows that they are many more responsible for these riots are still free.

                In the morning, Teraria, Mako, Bolin, Korra , Asami Desna and Eska are at the police station waiting for Lin, Tenzin, Saikhan and General Iroh to finish their meeting. When they arise from her office, Lin gives the command,

“Desna and Eska, please return to the north and help your uncle with the revolts in that region. Korra and Asami I want you to stay here and deal with the revolts in the surrounding area of the city. Teraria you will be escorted to the Fire Nation capital by Mako and General Iroh. Saikhan will head directly to Shu Jing. Bolin and I will head to Gaoling. Tenzin will stay here just in case Korra and Asami need back-up. Understood?” The all nod to confirm and move out. General Iroh leaves some of his fleet in the city and contacts General Bumi, brother of Tenzin, telling him to send United Forces troops to Ba Sing Se hoping that the Earth Queen will help them.

                Making their way to the Fire Nation, Teraria is excited for her first trip outside the city. Mako has never been to the Fire Nation capital either and never dreamed of meeting the Fire Lord and her father. They make their way through the Gates of Azulon to the security checkpoint at the base of a giant volcano. Inside this non-active volcano is the capital city. A long path winds up the side of it but now travelers have to option of taking a plane or train to reach the entrance.

The capital is even more extravagant than it was during the Hundred Years War. Buildings have become taller but still keep their Asian architecture. Houses are kept in pristine condition, the market has goods from all over the world, more greenery fills the scenery and the people wear formal and casual clothing. The palace has expanded and houses not only the royal family but their servants and their families as well as high ranking political figures and their families. A statue of Aang, Zuko, Katara, Sokka and Toph stands in front of the palace while a statue of Sozin’s comet with the dragons Shaw and Ra around it are built into a fountain occupies the courtyard. As they enter the palace, General Iroh leads them to his grandfather’s quarters.

“My mother is currently out of town and won’t be back for a while. I hope for you two to meet her, but maybe some other time.” He knocks on the door and hears footsteps approach. Expecting a servant to open the door they are surprised when Zuko greets them.

“Grandfather, it’s good to see that you are doing well.” He hugs him enormously. “This is Re Teraria and a friend of ours, Mako.” They bow and Zuko shakes their hands.

“Please come in.” He leads them to his living room were tea and lunch are setup. Iroh lets Mako and Teraria sit next to Zuko while he sits across the table.

“Thank you, Fire Lord Zuko for welcoming us into your home. It’s truly an honor to meet such a strong-willed and kind master firebender and former leader of the fire nation and founder of my home.” Mako says out of respect while losing his breathe because of nervousness.

“Thank you for escorting Teraria here safely, young man. It’s an honor to meet one of Avatar Korra’s friends and brave companion. I heard about your efforts in saving benders and the water tribes by exposing Amon and Varrick for who they really were…impressive work.”

“Thank you, sir.” Zuko turns to Teraria.

“So you are the airbender my grandson informed me about; daughter of Saikhan and great-great granddaughter of Java. I never thought this day would come in my lifetime.”

“My father had mentioned that his grandmother could bend both earth and fire like I. If I may ask, who is Java?”

“She was the mother of Re Yan-your father’s grandmother. Java is the only known airbender, excluding Avatar Aang, who was alive after the air nomad genocide. It’s strange that she was an airbender since her grandfather was a fire bender, her grandmother an earth bender and parents a non-bender and a fire bender. To this day, I have yet to find out if there was an airbender on her father’s or mother’s side, but you all must have an ancestor that was an airbender.”

“Or by some miracle the ability to bend air was given to us despite the spirit world portal being open or closed. I know I dreamed about a spirit and I felt that she gave me the power.”

“Maybe the spirit world and the mortal world weren’t as separated as we thought; even before Avatar Korra left the portals open, some were able to travel into the spirit world. My uncle, Iroh for whom you are named after” looking at General Iroh “was one of these people. He told me he could see the spirits and now he will forever live among them.”

“Fire Lord Zuko, please tell me all you know about Re Yan and Java.”

“I hope what I know will help you understand where your family came from and I hope you will become a full-fledged airbender and continue the legacy. Maybe you will be another Avatar this world may need with the growing unrest. I guess I will start from the beginning. My uncle told me the first time he meet Java was at my father’s welcoming party…”