the legend of khione || korra

and the winner is...

KHIONE

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.

Needless to say, Korra, Mako and Bolin had completely freaked out when the announcement had come over the radio as they practiced their shots at pictures of Tahno. They rushed out immediately, taking Khione with them (against her will), to City Hall.

It was a beautiful building, although a little garish for Khione's taste. White marbled walls, golden curved gable roofs, and a green glass dome. Korra rushed forward, slamming open the golden doors to the council meeting.

"Korra, you shouldn't be here. This is a closed meeting, Tenzin stood up, his face stern.

"As the Avatar and a pro-bending player, I have the right to be heard," Korra retorted.

"You can't cancel the finals!"

"I know winning the championships means a lot to you, but as far as I'm concerned, we need to shut the arena down," Tenzin said.

"What about the rest of you? Tarrlok, there's no way you're backing down from Amon, right?" Korra turned to Tarrlok, who stood up.

"Actually, Tenzin and I agree for once."

"Korra, the council is unanimous. We're closing the arena." Tenzin insisted.

"No, you can't!" Bolin pleaded.

"I don't understand. I thought you of all people would take a stand against Amon." Korra turned to Tarrlok.

"While I am still committed to bringing that lunatic to justice, I will not put innocent lives at stake just so you and your friends can play a game." Tarrlok admitted.

Mako stepped forward. "Pro-bending may only be a game to you, but think of what it means to the city. Right now the arena is the one place where benders and non-benders gather in peace, to watch benders-"

"Beat each other up in peace!" Bolin interjected helpfully.

"I appreciate your naive idealism, but you're ignoring the reality of the situation." Tarrlok said smoothly.

"The reality is, if you close the arena, you let Amon win!" Korra replied, her voice rising in frustration.

"I'm sorry, but this decision has been made. This meeting is adjourned." Tarrlok raised the gavel, preparing to finalize the decision, when a metal wire snapped it in half.

Everyone turned around to see Chief Beifong standing there, her face pulled in a scowl.

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I agree with the Avatar." She said grudgingly.

"You do?" Korra asked disbelievingly.

"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 the equalists." Chief Beifong said.

"We must prevent the conflict between benders and non-benders from escalating into all out war! The council is not changing its position, Lin." Tenzin argued back, his mind made up.

Khione watched her father intently as his expression began to change as he contemplated Beifong's words. Her eyes narrowed as a small smile crept onto his face.

"Now, just a moment Tenzin. Let's hear what our esteemed Chief of Police has in mind." He said slyly, gesturing towards Beifong.

"If you keep the arena open, my metalbenders and I will provide extra security during the championship match. There's no better force to deal with the chi-blockers. Our armour is impervious to their attacks." She reasoned.

"Are you saying you will personally take responsibility for the safety of the spectators in the arena?" Tarrlok asked, his smile growing.

"I guarantee it." Beifong said proudly.

"It is hard to argue with Chief Beifong's track record. If she is confident that her elite officers can protect the arena, then she has my support. I am changing my vote. Who else is with me?" Tarrlok raised his hand, smiling as the other Council members raised theirs.

All except for Tenzin.

"The arena stays open. Good luck in the finals." Tarrlok said.

The three of them began to celebrate, smiles on their faces as they hugged each other.

Khione mustered a small smile, but glanced back at her father. He gave her a wide smile, like he'd been handed everything he'd wanted.

Something was very wrong.

Khione felt like a bundle of nerves as she sat in the stands. Asami had apologised earlier, her father having asked her to sit with him in a private booth. Khione shook her head politely, opting to sit in the stands alone. 

She twisted her fingers on the fabric of her pants, watching as the crowd roared for her friends. Maybe she was being paranoid, but she had a terrible suspicion that something terrible was about to happen. Metal benders, Chief Beifong's most elite squads, lined the isles, alert.

"Introducing... the challengers, the Future Industries' Fire Ferrets!"

Her friends walked to their positions, waving at the audience.

"And their opponents, the three time defending champions; the White Fall's Wolf Bats!"

The Wolf Bats were illuminated by the spotlight, all wearing wolf bat masks and cloaks. They swept up their cloaks in imitations of bat wings, howling One cue, fireworks exploded around them. Tahno took off his mask, and his cloak in one smooth gesture, smirking.

Both teams faced off, ready in the fighting stances as they stared each other down. The bell rang, and Tahno raced to the edge of their side, swinging his fist, surrounded by water, upward in an attempt to hit Korra. The crowd gasped at the illegal move, but the referee said nothing.

The game continued as the Wolf Bats made foul after foul, throwing Bolin into the water with another illegal icing move. Korra and Mako followed soon after.

"It's a knockout! Hold on a second! The ferrets are still alive!"

Khione held her breath, and the entire crowd seemed to lean forward with her, watching as Korra swung Mako back onto the platform, before plummeting into the water below.

The Fire Ferrets won the second round, Korra knocking Tahno off the raised platform easily, knocking off his helmet with the force of the water.

Khione couldn't believe no one was objecting more to the blatant fouls from the Wolf Bats. It was honestly impressive, the number of illegal moves they had gotten away with.

"Knockout!"

All three Fire Ferrets tumbled off the edge, knocked out by jets of water filled with crushed discs. The arena erupted into cheering and booing as the bells rang again, signalling the edge of the match. Khione scowled to herself, disappointed by the outcome. Her eyes strayed from the Wolf Bats to the people screaming and cheering. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw something- no, someone moving next to Tenzin and Chief Beifong.

A hooded figure emerged from the shadows.

An equalist.