The wind off Yue Bay hit her face sharp and cold, but Korra didn't care. She leaned forward on Naga's back, eyes wide as Republic City came into view. The skyline shimmered with towers of glass and steel, cables of suspended bridges stretched across the bay, and airships floated lazily in the sky like metal whales.
"Wow," Korra whispered. "Look at this place."
Naga barked, tail wagging as they galloped down the docks. The city loomed closer, the hum of Satomobiles echoing through the bridge ahead. For a second, she slowed down and looked up. In the distance stood a massive statue, Avatar Aang, one arm raised holding a staff, watching over the city he built.
Korra smiled at the sight.
She took a deep breath, eyes gleaming. "Alright, girl. Let's go see what all the fuss is about."
Naga grunted and sprinted across the bridge. The city swallowed them in noise. Horns blared, engines roared, and people shouted over one another in a dozen different ways. Korra's head turned in every direction, drinking it all in.
Shops lined the streets: washing machine shops with glass walls, so passersby could stand outside and watch people's laundry tumble in circles. She laughed at the sight of it.
Satomobiles packed the roads bumper to bumper. Some were shiny and sleek, others coughed out smoke that stung her eyes. She passed a line of food stalls and caught the scent of grilled meat. Her stomach growled loud enough that Naga perked up.
"Alright, alright," Korra said. "Let's grab something before I start gnawing on your tail."
She slid off Naga and walked up to a stall, grinning. "Hey, can I get one of those skewers?"
"That'll be twenty yuans," the shopkeeper said flatly.
Korra patted her pockets. Empty. "Uh… I don't have any money?"
The man's face hardened. "Then you don't have any food." He snatched the skewer back.
"What?! H-Hey, I can pay later, I promise!"
"If I trust every people that says that I'll go bankrupt," he snapped, waving her away.
Korra groaned and walked back to Naga, who gave her a pitiful look. "Don't look at me like that. I tried."
They wandered until they reached a park. The city noise faded into the rustle of leaves and distant chatter. That's when she heard someone shouting.
"Are you tired of living under the tyranny of benders?"
Korra turned. A man stood on a crate, holding a megaphone. Behind him hung a poster of a masked man with the word 'Equality' painted in bold red letters.
"The Equalists stand for freedom!" the man shouted. "For too long, the bending elite have oppressed the nonbenders of this city!"
Korra frowned. "What are you talking about? Bending's the coolest thing in the world."
He looked down at her, sneering. "Of course you'd say that. You're a bender, aren't you?"
"Yeah," she said proudly. "And what's your point?"
The man jabbed his finger toward her. "That's exactly the problem! Arrogant benders like you think you're above everyone else!"
Korra folded her arms. "I'm not arrogant, you're just wrong."
The crowd murmured. Someone shouted, "Get out of here, bender!"
"What? I didn't even do anything!"
Boos followed. A cabbage hit the ground near her foot. She scowled, turned on her heel, and walked off. "Whatever. Enjoy your speeches."
She wandered deeper into the park, frustrated and hungry. After spotting a quiet pond, she crouched by the edge and used her bending to flick a fish out of the water. It slapped onto the grass, flopping. She grinned, lit a small flame in her palm, and roasted it on a stick.
"Dinner's served," she said with a smirk.
After eating, she wiped her hands on her pants and looked around. The city still stretched ahead. "Come on, Naga. Let's see what else this place has."
They strolled through the streets again. Near the university, a group of students held signs that read 'Equal Opportunity for Non-Benders!' and 'Justice for All!' The police stood across from them, arms crossed, watching. The crowd chanted, voices rough with passion.
Korra slowed down. "So it's not just one angry guy," she muttered.
A protester yelled, "We build this city, but they control it!"
Korra frowned. "Huh."
She moved on. The roads narrowed, shops stacked close together, people shouting prices over each other. The smell of oil and dumplings hung thick in the air.
Then—crash.
An old woman had dropped her basket of vegetables, green cabbages rolling onto the street. Korra jumped off Naga and helped her gather them.
"Thank you, dear," the old woman said, smiling gratefully. Then she looked up the road. Her face drained of color. "You should go. Now."
Korra blinked. "What? Why?"
A red Satomobile turned the corner and rolled to a stop. Three men stepped out. Their suits were fine, but their smirks were mean.
"Triple Threats," the old woman whispered.
The leader tapped the hood of the car. "Afternoon, folks. You got our money?"
The old man came out of the shop, shaking his head. "Business has been slow. Please, we just need a few more days."
"Days cost money," one of the thugs said. He flicked a bit of fire from his hand, burning the corner of their shop sign. The old couple flinched.
The leader grinned. "Pay up, or—"
"Or what?" Korra said, stepping forward.
The three men turned, eyebrows raised.
"You heard me," she said. "Or what?"
The leader chuckled. "Listen, sweetheart, this isn't your problem. You're in Triple Threat territory. So why don't you—"
He didn't finish. A wave of water smacked him in the face, knocking him flat.
"Big mistake," his friend growled, fire bursting from his hands.
The fight exploded. Korra ducked and countered, water swirling from a nearby gutter. She froze one man's feet, kicked the other into a cart. Fire flared, earth cracked, water splashed, and then she switched. The pavement buckled under her as she stomped, launching one of them into a wall. She spun, fire blazing in her fists, knocking the last one into a stack of crates.
People stopped and stared. Someone whispered, "She's the Avatar."
Korra dusted her hands. "Now you know who you're messing with."
Before she could even catch her breath, a deep horn echoed above.
"Police! Freeze where you are!"
She looked up. Metal cables shot down from an airship. The metalbending cops landed hard, cables retracting into their armor.
Korra grinned. "Cool! Metalbenders."
The lead cop, a tall man with a sharp face, pointed at her. "You're under arrest."
Her jaw dropped. "What? Me? I just took down those guys!"
He gestured to the wrecked storefronts and bent pavement. "From the looks of it, you took down half the street."
"Hey, that's not fair—"
He launched a cable at her. Korra sidestepped and grabbed it. "Wait, wait! You can't arrest me! I'm—"
The cop yanked the cable back, but she held firm. "Let me explain!"
"Explain it at headquarters," he said, firing another line.
Korra ducked, rolled, and whistled. "Naga!"
The polar bear dog charged in, knocking the cop over. The others jumped into action, cables flying in every direction.
"Sorry, gotta run!" Korra leapt onto Naga's back. They bolted through the alleys, metal wires snapping inches behind them.
"Go, girl!"
They burst onto a main street, dodging carts and shouting pedestrians. Cables whizzed by, one catching her hair. She grunted, yanking it loose and freezing the stream beside them into a wall of ice. The sound of a crash followed behind her.
For a moment, she laughed. "Ha! Got you—"
Then more cables shot down from above, wrapping around her arms and chest. Naga's paws were caught mid-leap, lifting both of them into the air.
Korra struggled, breath heavy, hair disheveled.
"Alright," she muttered, glaring up at the airship. "Guess we're doing this the hard way."
Naga huffed softly beside her, hanging limp. Korra groaned, head dropping in defeat as the cables tightened.
The city buzzed below. Her first day in Republic City—and she was already under arrest.
—
Korra rubbed at her wrists as she stepped out of the interrogation room. The metal cuffs had left faint red marks that throbbed with every movement. The station's lobby was buzzing with chatter, cops walking in and out, phones ringing somewhere behind the front desk. She spotted Tenzin near the exit, hands behind his back, waiting.
"Hey," she said, trying for a smile. "So… thanks."
Tenzin didn't smile back. "You're lucky Chief Beifong didn't press further charges and accepted my request. You destroyed half a street. What were you thinking?"
"They were extorting old people!" Korra shot back, her voice echoing in the marble hall. "I couldn't just stand there and do nothing."
"Like Lin said, you could have called the police."
"I am the police!" she snapped, then paused, realizing how dumb that sounded. "Well, not literally, but— I'm the Avatar. I'm supposed to help people."
Tenzin exhaled. "The Avatar also needs to show restraint, patience, and humility. You're not ready for this city, Korra."
"I am," she insisted, stepping closer. "I saw the streets, Tenzin. People fighting, angry at benders... Maybe I can learn something here. Maybe I can help."
His eyes softened for a second, but he shook his head. "No. You'll return to the South Pole. We'll resume training there once my business here is settled."
Korra's voice dropped, almost pleading. "You don't get it. I can't keep hiding in that compound forever. I need to be out here. I need to learn airbending now."
Tenzin turned toward the door, his robes brushing the floor. "You need discipline first."
Korra sighed, following him out into the outside. Naga waited by the steps, wagging her tail as Korra came down. Korra climbed onto her back without another word, Tenzin walking beside them toward the dock.
—
The sun was setting when the ship arrived. Air Temple Island stood quiet in the background, the lanterns already lit.
Korra stood near the edge of the dock with Naga, who pawed restlessly at the wood. A few White Lotus members stood by, waiting. Behind them, Tenzin's family, Pema and the kids, had gathered to say goodbye.
"Do you really have to go?" Ikki asked, tugging on her sleeve.
Korra crouched down, smiling sadly. "I guess so, Ikki."
Meelo hugged her leg. "You just got here. We haven't even raced yet!"
"I know."
She straightened, looking out at the waves. The city lights shimmered across the bay, distant. For a long moment, Tenzin said nothing. His face was unreadable, his hands folded in front of him.
Finally, he sighed. "You were right."
Korra blinked. "Wait, what?"
"The city's not what it used to be," he said, stepping closer. "My father's dream is slipping away. I thought keeping you at the South Pole would protect that legacy, but…" He looked at her, tired. "You are his legacy."
Korra's mouth fell open. "Does that mean—"
"You may stay," Tenzin said. "Train airbending here with me."
Her grin spread instantly. "Yes! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" She lunged forward and hugged him, nearly knocking him off balance. The kids cheered, Naga barked, and even Pema laughed softly at the chaos.
Korra turned to the city lights again, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Looks like Republic City just got its Avatar."
And for the first time that day, Tenzin actually smiled.
—
The sun hit Republic City Hall like it wanted to make it shine. Reporters crowded the plaza, elbows out, camera bulbs flashing like tiny lightning bolts. People stood on benches, light poles, anything they could climb just to catch a glimpse. Everyone was buzzing, because the Avatar was here.
Korra stood behind a wooden podium that looked a little too big for her. Five microphones stuck out in front of her like spears. She stared at them, then at the crowd that stretched all the way to the fountain. Her heart was pounding so hard she thought it might echo.
"Hello?" she tried.
The microphones screamed. She flinched back as feedback screeched through the square. Korra's cheeks burned.
"I'm Korra," she said, louder now. She took a breath. "Your new Avatar."
The plaza erupted. Cheering, shouting, camera flashes. Someone even threw confetti.
Then the questions came like a flood.
"Does this mean you've moved to Republic City?"
"Were you trying to send a message to the Triads yesterday?"
"Are you going to fight the Anti-Bending movement?"
"Will you work with Chief Beifong?"
Korra blinked. "Uh… yes, I'm definitely here to stay, but… I don't exactly have a plan yet."
A few chuckles rose from the crowd. Tenzin, standing behind her, rubbed his temple. Lin didn't even try to hide her sigh.
Korra pushed on. "See, I'm still in training, but look, Avatar Aang built this city to be the center of peace and balance in the world. And I believe we can make that dream a reality."
She raised her fist in the air, the nerves gone now. "I look forward to serving you all!"
The crowd exploded. The square filled with applause, camera flashes bursting like fireworks. Kids on their parents' shoulders waved little Republic flags. Naga barked beside the podium, tail wagging.
Maybe she wasn't perfect. But she was here. And that counted for something.
—
Across the bay, the light of Jinyong's workshop flickered as he was working out in the corner. The radio was turned on, and the air buzzed faintly from its crackling.
Korra's voice came through, bright and proud. "I'm so happy to be here. Thank you, Republic City!"
He stopped his workout, and reached forward to turn the knob. The voice died.
Jinyong didn't move. He stood just looking at the radio, face somber, sweat glistened over his body.
Outside, the wind howled. In the distance, the morning lights shimmered against the bay.
The Avatar had arrived, and so had the storm that would change everything.