The Good and the Bad: Kainora

Chapter 3: At First Sight

Everyone sat around the table, disheartened. They had not counted on the new airbenders' refusal to join the Air Nation. Jinora couldn't help but notice that the group's optimism was waning with every rejection. The X'es that marked the location of the airbenders were now the locations where the airbenders refused to join the Air Nation. 

"I just don't get it! Why don't they wana be part of of this?" Korra began incredulously. "They can help rebuild an entire culture!" She seethed.

"Seriously, being an airbender is awesome! Who doesn't want to be an airbender?" Bolin interjected.

"And who doesn't want a flying bison as a pet?" Tenzin added depressingly. He sighed. "Well, I guess we should just go to Ba Sing Se and try our luck there."

"I don't know what to do," Korra said. "I just thought more people would be excited about coming with us." She buried her head in her hands in frustration. Jinora patted her shoulder. "Thanks Jinora."

"Well, maybe you gotta do more to get them excited," Bumi cut in. "you need to add a little razzle-dazzle."

Bolin perked up. "Yeah, razzle-dazzle!" He exclaimed. "We could put on some sort of airbending street performance!"

"I was gonna say we could cover Tenzin's robe in sequins, but that's even better!" Tenzin did a double take. 

"It sounds ridiculous, but it might work," Korra ventured cautiously.

"I'm willing to try anything at this point," Tenzin said exasperatedly.

"Okay then, this is what's gonna happen..." Bolin began. Everyone, even Jinora, huddled in closely as he laid out the parts and everyone's roles.

***

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, if you, or anyone you know is an airbender, please, send them our way! Master Tenzin and Avatar Korra would love to teach them all they know!" Bolin announced through a megaphone as the crowd dispersed. Their act involved tossing around Mako using air, Oogi flying around, and Jinora zipping over on her glider. 

" I think we did pretty good," Korra said to Tenzin. "We've got to have at least one who's gonna come."

"If one does show up and agree to join us, that's fine by me," Tenzin replied. Just then, a small boy wearing green and carrying a small sack rushed up to them. 

"Hey! Hello. If you're looking for airbenders, you just found one." Everyone stared at him in wonder. He demonstrated some moves, gusts of air coming out of his fists. "I wanna join you guys."

And that's when everything stopped.

There was a gleam in his eyes when he came up to them that at first looked innocent, but there was plenty of mischief behind it. His unruly and unkempt hair made him look like a wild child. He might've sounded sweet and innocent too, but there was a look that subtly gave away a plan cooking in his mind. 

He should've been the the last person Jinora would have a crush on. But for some reason, she couldn't help it. That touch of a really bad boy that the newcomer had attracted her, and now she was crushing on him really hard. 

"Get outta town!" Bolin exclaimed.

"Well, we got our first recruit," Korra said, matter-of-fact. Then she looked at the boy. "Just to be totally clear, we're going to be heading to Ba Sing Se, then the Northern Air Temple to live as nomads and rebuild the Air Nation. All that sound good to you?"

"Yeah, Ba Sing Se, rebuild the temple, Air Nomad, whatever you do, I'm in. Let's go right now."

Bolin jumped up and down in delight. "This is going to be so great!" He turned to the young airbender. "You're going to love it, er...ah...real quick, what's your name?"