Disclaimer: I do not own the Legend of Korra

Chapter Three: The Beast Awakens

Yukin blew a puff of fire out of his mouth, trying to keep himself warm. He stood with the three Water Tribe chiefs. Beneath their feet was a vast expanse of ice, with a few layers of dusty flakes scattered across it. Every now and then, a light breeze would pick up a few snowflakes and cause them to glide through the air. Behind them was the entrance to the prison, and to their left were mountains. Behind which, clouds were beginning to swirl.

Yukin's father landed the dragon in front of them.

"Did you see him?" Tonraq asked.

"I only saw a large snowstorm heading this way," Lord Zuko told them.

"That's not a snowstorm," Tonraq said, looking at the storm that was billowing beyond the nearest mountains. "That's him."

As the snowstorm emerged through the mountains, Tonraq set off at a run. Yukin, Zuko, Eska, and Desna hastened to follow. They watched as a truck flew out of the storm cloud and with it came a wild looking man who was dressed in grey and had an overall dirty appearance. As the man flew towards them, Tonraq shouted, "I put you away once, Zaheer, and I'm going to do it again!"

With a swing of his arms, he brought water over his head and whipped it at Zaheer. The man bent over, letting the water fly above him, stood upright once more, and knocked Tonraq over with a bout of air. Eska and Desna moved in unison as they fought the strange looking water bender whose only arms were made of water. They conjured spike after spike of ice to shoot at her, steadily growing in size, but somehow she evaded them all, and then encased the two prodigies in ice.

A bit further away, Yukin and Zuko dueled the third one. They shot blast after blast of fire at him while he sent a single disk of earth-turned-lava at them, which they were forced to avoid. Then, the fight rotated enough so that Yukin could see the waterbender drive a spike through the ice and disappear.

"She's getting P'Li out!" Yukin shouted.

This distracted Tonraq long enough for Zaheer to knock him out. The airbender bounded over to the two firebenders to join the fight.

"Druk!" Zuko shouted.

The dragon flew over to where the hole in the ice was just as two heads appeared from it. Druk quickly breathed fire at them. There was a swirling ball of fire that dissipated enough to reveal a woman that was bending it around her—it was the woman from the cell, P'Li, and her friend, Ming-Hua. There was silence, and then an explosion hit the dragon. Ghazan, the earthbender, hit Zuko square in the chest with a large rock, knocking the eighty-something-year-old down. Yukin managed to fire a few more blasts out before he was hit in the back by one of P'Li's blasts.

He fell to the ground with a groan, in too much pain to stop the truck as it drove off once more. As it did so, his eyes slowly drifted shut. When he awoke over twenty minutes later, snow flurries were drifting down on him and gathering on his robes, hair, and eyelashes. He looked up to see his father—who was still shaking him.

"I'm all right," Yukin grunted. Zuko sighed in relief and went over to help Tonraq up. While he did so, Yukin went over and melted the ice that held Eska and Desna.

"We've already warned Republic City," Zuko said. "Now you need to go find the other Avatar. The world may depend on it."

Yukin nodded.

OA

Kai's jaw was set in pure, raw anger as the Dai Li agent droned on and on. He was lined up with other recruits—most of them were much older than him, and some not talented at all. There was another line of airbenders across from him—their opponents for training.

"You are the property of the Earth Queen. You will become an elite fighting force and protect her at all costs." –The way Kai was feeling right now, he'd much sooner kill her the next time he saw her than protect her—"It is your duty to serve the Earth Queen."

They all started fighting their opponents. Kai sent out a slice or two and lifted his leg for a strong kick blast, but the man across from him cringed and pleaded, "Go easy on me! I'm not that good."

Kai's foot fell to the ground as he became torn. Then, he smiled kindly and sent a few weak currents at his opponent. The man smiled back at him, pleased that he wasn't being beat up. Unfortunately, the old Dai Li agent noticed. He walked up behind the young boy and growled, "Never show mercy! Now, attack your opponent like you mean it."

Kai's eyebrows drew down and he reluctantly sent out a large blast that hit the poor man square in the chest. He groaned as he was slammed against the far wall. Kai's eyes softened.

"Sorry," he said.

"A soldier never apologizes to his enemy," the man commanded.

"I'm not a soldier," Kai retorted.

"You will be when I'm through with you."

And the grouch walked off, leaving Kai with his thoughts. He clenched and unclenched his fists, wishing he had some way out of this.

OA

Their Dai Li instructor was earthbending disks at them. The man that Kai had helped earlier was beside him. Most people were getting hit, but Kai managed to block the disks for both himself and the guy next to him.

"Thanks!" he smiled.

"You again!" the instructor shouted, looking at Kai. "If you have time to help your friend, then maybe you're not getting enough rocks for yourself!"

And he threw rock after rock after rock. Kai dodged a few and deflected a few more. As he did so, his anger mounted. Why shouldn't he help someone who needed help, if he was skilled enough for the two of them? Why shouldn't he use his skills? All his frustrations in life, all his self-doubts and self-loathing, all the injustices of the world arose inside him and he wanted to cry out. His anger roared up like a beast that was thirsty and looking to kill.

Then, he saw red. His eyes started glowing orange and he rose into the air, currents of it swirling all around him. The instructor panicked for a second, and then shot out his pair of earthen gloves. The gloves got swept in the wind and several people had to duck as they soared over their heads and impacted the wall. Kai then grabbed the Dai Li agent by the throat.

"Stop!" a girl nearby screamed.

"This isn't like you!" the guy he had helped cried.

Kai's eyes stopped glowing and he sank back to the floor. The Dai Li agent shakily fell to the floor as Kai slumped to the ground unconscious.

"It's like he was possessed or something," the one that Kai had helped muttered.

Not waiting for the little monster to wake up, the Dai Li agent ordered, "Throw him in the hold!"

Another agent grabbed him and slung him over his shoulder. He went to where the individual units were to hold unruly recruits and threw the boy in there—he wouldn't be able to get out with airbending.

Kai woke up seconds later, rubbing his head. He gripped the wooden bench, trying to pull himself up and see where he was. He had no idea what had happened—all he remembered was getting really angry at the instructor, and then waking up in the cell.

He let out a yell of surprise as something—a human-like form—flashed in his cell for the briefest second. It flickered once more, and then solidified. As it did so, Kai realized the form was familiar and cried out, "Jinora?"

"It worked!" she exclaimed happily.

"How are you here right now?" Kai asked warily. Was she a ghost? How could she have died in the day he hadn't seen her? Or had it been longer than a day? Without windows, time passed oddly down there.

"Shh, quiet," she said softly, leaning down. "It's a high-level airbender move with a little spiritual stuff thrown in."

Kai breathed out a sigh of relief.

"I thought you were a ghost for a second there," he smiled.

Jinora laughed. "It's good to see you. We've been looking for you and the other airbenders. We're going to get you all out of here." She glanced around. "Where are we?"

"I don't know," he muttered. "They had me blindfolded when they brought me in—all I know is that it's underground somewhere."

"I'll figure it out," she said, holding out a hand to quiet him and turning to look up. "Don't worry."

"Jinora!" he exclaimed. She stopped and looked back at him again. "Thanks."

Even though she was all blue and ghostly, Kai could tell she was blushing this time—the area on her cheeks near her nose darkened into almost purple as she smiled at him. Then, she looked up again and rose up through the ceiling of his cell.

OA

Kai had no idea how long he waited in that cell, but it felt like an eternity. Finally, his cell door slid open Kai lifted his head from where he had been resting it on his knees and turned to see Mako and Bolin standing there.

"Come on, we're getting you out!" Mako said.

A third voice sounded as Jinora ran from behind him, exclaiming, "Kai!"

She wrapped her arms around him and then pulled back, kissing him on the cheek. His face lit up and felt very hot as Bolin started laughing and said, "Tenzin's not gonna like this!"

"Then don't tell him," Mako said.

"I have to," Bolin sniffed. "This is just too juicy."

"Thanks for coming to get me. I'm really sorry about stealing your wallets…and running away…aand getting you stuck on that train," Kai said, and this time he meant it.

"Augh, we can't stay mad at you," Bolin sighed, hugging Kai.

"Yes we can," Mako argued. "I had a lot of money in that wallet."

"Guys, come on!" Jinora called, dashing off and reminding them that they were in the middle of a rescue operation.

The three boys ran after her and skidded to a halt at the sight of the Dai Li agents.

"He's out!" one of them cried and they all ran away.

"What was that about?" Mako asked.

"Who knows?" Kai asked.

"More like, who cares?" Bolin said. "I'm just glad they aren't attacking us!"

They ran out of the building and into a full onslaught of fire. Kai looked around frantically and saw that everyone was already leaving—they were leaving him! Then Bolin cried, "We need heeeeeelp!" as they ran down the steps of the Earth Queen's temple.

The sky bison flew back down towards them. Once it began doing so, Bolin turned to them and shouted, "Everybody, hang on!" He stopped running and dropped into a crouch, thrusting a fist into the air. Suddenly Kai felt a grin split his face as he found himself flying into the air. Tenzin's bison dropped down below them and caught them, before flying off to join the airships once more.

"Woah," Kai said, looking over the side of the saddle. "That was awesome!"

They could faintly hear the Earth Queen screeching below them, but it didn't matter. They were free.

OA

They flew all night. Kai had no idea when he fell asleep, but when he woke up he was halfway leaning on Bolin and his mouth was wide open. Kai sat up with a stretch and realized why he had been awoken—they had finally landed on an earth plateau as the sun was just rising.

He slid down the side of the bison and looked around. The other two airships were parked beside the bison and airbenders were spilling out onto the plateau. He sat at the back of the group, flanked by Mako and Bolin. Standing in front of the group and speaking to them were Tenzin and Korra. While Tenzin talked, Kai looked up and saw two people standing by one of the airships—one was a woman, dressed in metal, and the other was white-bearded man in red robes.

"Who's that?" Kai asked, looking at the old man.

"Ohh, I know who that is," Bolin breathed. "It's Prince Yukin—the Fire Lord's brother—Lord Zuko's son."

"Fire Lord?" Kai asked slowly. "Why is he here?"

"I don't know," Mako muttered. "He came with Lin. He hasn't told us why."

Kai started as the man's yellow eyes met his and the old man smiled and winked.

OA

The Avatar was in this group—Yukin could feel it. After his mother had died, Yukin had told his father of his mother's last wish. Lord Zuko had then gone to the White Lotus, who were busy caring for the light Avatar—they wouldn't agree to find the other one. So, Yukin had taken it upon himself to complete this task.

For the past thirteen years, he had been immersing himself in meditation and spirit-feeling. After many sessions with Katara and Tenzin, Aang's son, Yukin had managed to connect to the Spirit World and talk with his great uncle, Iroh, and his mother. After then, he had been able to fully feel everyone's spiritual energy. The better he knew someone, the more specifically he could feel their signature.

Avatar Korra, standing beside Tenzin, was shining white like a ray of brilliant hope. The young daughter of Tenzin, who was hanging near the bison, was burning like a gentle ray of sunshine. They were the two with the strongest energy. After them was Tenzin, who was pulsing softly like the waves of an ocean. At the same time, he could feel darkness lingering in the area. Because he did not know its owner, he could not pinpoint whose it was.

As Yukin's eyes roamed over the group, he met the eyes of a young boy at the back. He smiled and winked as the boy hastily tried to pretend he hadn't been looking at him. He turned back to look at Tenzin, who had stopped addressing the group and was talking to Korra. When they stopped talking, he walked over to speak to Tenzin.

"He's in this group," Yukin told Tenzin, who had been told briefly about everything in hushed whispers before they had set off to rescue the airbenders.

"Who is?" Korra asked with curiosity.

"Avatar Korra, can you give us a moment?" Yukin asked.

Korra started, but complied nevertheless.

"He's here?" Tenzin asked.

"I can feel it," the old man replied, nodding. "If you don't mind, I would like to come with you—to find out which one it is and help them with their spiritual side."

"Of course!" Tenzin nodded. "It would be my pleasure."

"Thank you," Yukin smiled, clapping his much younger (well, by only ten years) unofficial brother on the back. "I'm sure we'll all get along swimmingly."

Up next: Original Airbenders...ish. I'm still loosely following the series, but obviously it's gonna go a bit different from canon because Korra is not the main character of the story (although she is central to most parts of it, so don't worry ;) Also, keep in mind that if Kai ever steals the lime light of something that happens in canon, he is the main character, so it's natural for me to want to test him and not Korra.

~LittleMissMycroft