Join The Revolution: The Bender Games: Chp. 2

"Are you prepared to be equalized, Avatar Korra?"

"What are you talking about?" I demanded.

Addressing the crowd, Amon started his speech: "I have come up with a completely sure way to cleanse Republic City of its impurity." He turned to face all the benders on the stage. "Many of you here are former pro-benders. And even if you are not, you were still praised for your ability. Praised for your tyranny over non-benders. You were proud of what you could do and used it to your advantage every day. Your punishment for doing so still allows you to use bending to your advantage, but not in a way you'll like.

"All of you will be put into a closed off area - an arena of some sort," Amon continued. He looked me straight in the eye as his voice boomed "You will be forced to fight to the death."

This received several whoops and hollers from the crowd. They roared on and on while my trembling reached its maximum. I looked over at Mako with scared eyes. This couldn't be happening. I could lose all of them!

I just knew Amon was smiling under that damned mask of his. "Of course, the Avatar will not fight."

The crowd went silent. Bolin gave me a concerned look and I heard Mako sigh in relief.

"She will be forced to watch her dear friends die!" Amon announced.

It was a sea of screams in front of me. This was going to be worse than death.

Of course, Amon already knew that.

"Take them away!" he ordered. Then, crouching down in front of me he said, "You will have a moment with each of your friends of whom I'm sending into the arena. Those include the two street boys, the Wolfbat team, Chief Bei-Fong, and the eldest air child."

My stomach dropped. Jinora. No no no no no, he couldn't! She didn't stand a chance!

"Get her out," he snapped.

The chi-blockers unbound me and, holding my arms behind my back, led me into a small room with my favorite street boy in it.

Mako turned to face me and I instantly ran into his arms, tears streaming down my face.

"I'm so, so sorry. I should've beaten him, I-"

He held me tight. "Shh, it's okay Korra."

"No! No it's not! Mako, he's putting Jinora in there!" I sobbed.

"What?! That's not right! Does Tenzin know?"

"I wouldn't doubt that Amon has rubbed it in his face by now," I said bitterly.

Mako rubbed his forehead. "Dammit... dammit, dammit, dammit!" He threw a fist of fire at the wall, which caused the chi-blockers to come storming in there and hold both of us down.

"That's it, this session is over," one said and started dragging me out.

"Wait, no!" I resisted.

"Korra, I-" the door closed between us before I could even wonder what he was going to say, and they threw me into the next room."

"Avatar," Lin Bei-Fong said, shocked.

"Chief Bei-Fong, I-" I stopped myself, realizing that I didn't know what to say. "I just... I'm sorry about all of this."

She looked at me and said softly, "I think we all are, Korra."

"But I really am. It's all my fault," I whimpered.

She put her hand on my shoulder. "Korra, you are an incredible Avatar. I know that if you could stop this you would, but unfortunately nobody can stop that monster." She sighed and shook her head. "And don't ever think that I or anyone else isn't proud of you, isn't... honored that we got to know you."

I swallowed. "You're fully prepared to die, aren't you?"

"If it's the last thing I can do to protect my city, then yes, I am prepared to die."

I looked down. "Is that all?"

She sighed again and crossed her arms. "It takes a lot of my dignity to do this, but I have one final request. I am aware that Tenzin will not fight, but his oldest daughter will. Would you please tell him that I promise to do everything in my power to protect her, and... and that if I could go back in my lifetime and change one thing..." she took a shaky breath. "I would change the day that it all fell apart. He'll know what I mean."

I nodded and right on cue, the chi-blockers came in and lead me to the next room.

"Bo." My heart broke when I saw how crushed he looked.

He looked at me, sadness and confusion flooding his eyes. "Am I really going to have to kill people?"

I ran up and hugged him. "I'm sorry, Bo."

"Yeah, me too," he whispered."

For a minute, we just stood there holding each other when I finally said, "I'm gonna try and get you all out of this. Even if it means sacrificing myself."

"No Korra, you can't do that," he snapped. "Mako, you know he wouldn't want that. I don't want it either. If anything, you need to take down Amon. I know you can do it."

I gave him a sad smile. "Thanks for the confidence, but I don't think I can do that."

He looked me in the eye. "You have to do it. You're the only one who can. You know what he's like, he has to have some sort of weakness. You have to find it and take him down."

I hugged him again. "You're a great friend, Bo."

"You too, Korra."

After that, the chi-blockers came in and led me to Jinora's little room.

She instantly wrapped her arms around my waist, hugging me and sobbing "I can't do this! I just can't!"

I reached down and smoother her hair. "Shh, it's going to be okay. Lin Bei-Fong is going to protect you. She told me so and promised your dad she would."

She looked up at me with tear-filled eyes. "R-really?"

I smiled reassuringly and hugged her. "Really. She's not going to let anything happen to you."

Jinora sniffed. "What about Ikki, Meelo, and Rohan? What about mom and dad?" she asked.

"If Amon lays a finger on them, I'll kick his ass for you."

She smiled and wiped her eyes. "Dad wouldn't appreciate you using that language in front of me."

I nudged her arm and hugged her again. "You're going to be fine, I just know it."

"Thanks Korra," she whispered.

"Anytime," I said ruffing her hair.

Finally, the chi-blockers led me to the final room.

Tahno.

Oh God.

"Hey Uh-vatar," he said, giving me his signature little wave.

"Hey Tahno." I smiled and approached him. "I'm sorry about this whole mess. I mean... I was supposed to get him for you."

He smirked and shook his head. "Forget about it. At least you gave me my bending back. It's something I'd like to have with me at the end."

"So you're prepared to die, too?" I asked.

"Not really 'prepared to die', just..." he shrugged. "I don't know. Giving up, I guess."

That got me mad. "What? You can't just give up!"

He chuckled. "Kidding, Uh-vatar. I was just playing with you."

I crossed my arms. "You better have been. But you know I don't like to be played with."

Tahno smirked again. "Tell you what. I'll kick ass for you in there," he leaned down and started stage-whispering, "and then maybe I can give you those private lessons I was talking about. Sound good?"

I cockily raised an eyebrow. "So you really do want to go toe-to-toe with me, pretty boy?"

He laughed again. "Ha! We'll see about that." Then, out of the blue, he leaned down and slowly kissed my cheek.

Now I was positive I was blushing. "W-why'd you do that?"

He crossed his arms. "'Cause I knew it'd make you uncomfortable."

I shoved him by the shoulders and gave him an awkward hug. "Hope we can have that match soon."

Right then, the ch-blockers came in and started leading me out.

He smiled and waved again. "See ya 'round, Uh-vatar Korra."