Chapter 8 : Equalists

*Equalist rally*

"This is the place." Mako comments.

"To think they hid it under a four-piece puzzle. We should expect some really smart people behind those doors." I add my own two cents.

As we approach the meeting place in disguise Korra loops her arm around mine.

"We'll attract less attention this way." She justifies herself.

"Go ahead. You won't hear me complaining."

"Can you two take this seriously?" Mako is getting annoyed with us judging by his tone

"We are, the one who looks sus is you. At least try looking relaxed." I replied.

Getting to the entrance we are stopped by a big-bellied bodyguard. I just flash the poster and he lets us through.

"The revelation is upon us, my brothers and sister."

The inside is packed. I wonder if Equalists have some snacks around here. What? A man's got to eat.

"I knew a lot of people hated benders but I've never seen so many in one place. Keep your eyes out for Bolin." Comments the Fire Ferrets firebender.

After we get to the ground floor the show starts as the announcer, well announces.

"Please welcome your hero, your savior. Amon!" Applauds follow as Amon and his lackeys rise up on the platform in the middle of the stage surrounded by fog.

"You've got to give it to him, he knows how to set up the atmosphere. How long do you think they practiced that?" I whisper to my companions.

Amon starts his speech.

"My quest for equality began many years ago. When I was a boy my family and I lived on a small farm. We weren't rich and none of us were benders."

"This made us a very easy target for the firebender who extorted my father. One day my father confronted this man. But when he did, that firebender took my family from me…" He lets his words sink in before continuing. "Then he took my face."

You can hear ahhs of pity.

"I've been forced to hide behind the mask ever since." Putting on makeup each time takes too long.

After a short moment of silence, he continues.

"The Avatar has recently arrived in Republic City." The sound of booing follows his statement.

"Boohoo!" I join in just for fun. Only to get Korra to stomp on my foot in return.

"And if she were here, she would tell you bending brings balance to the world." Ah! Nothing like putting words in your opponent's mouth.

"But she is wrong. The only thing bending has brought to the world is suffering. It has been the cause of every war in every era. But that is about to change."

"I know you have been wondering what is the Revelation. You are about to get your answer."

"Since the beginning of time Spirits have acted as guardians of our world. And they have spoken to me. They say the Avatar has failed humanity."

"That's why spirits have chosen me to usher in a new era of balance. They have granted me a power that will make equality a reality. The power to take a person's bending away!"

"Permanently." Dun dun duuun!

The crowd gasps.

And so does Korra. "That's impossible, there's no way…"

"This guy is insane." Mako doesn't believe it.

"Now for a demonstration. Please welcome. Lightning bolt Zolt. Leader of the Triple threat Triad and one of the most notorious criminals in Republic City."

People boo at him. "Ah! Boo yourself." Zolt replies.

"There's Bolin!" Korra spots him and gets ready to pounce on the equalists.

""Wait."" I and Mako stop her.

"We can't fight them all." He tells her.

"We need a plan." I add.

"Then come up with one geniuses." Snaps the young Avatar not used to waiting around.

"Zolt has amassed a fortune by extorting and abusing non-benders, but his reign of terror is about to end! Now in the interest of fairness, I will give Zolt the chance to fight to keep his bending."

"You're gonna regret this, pal." He replies.

To be honest the following fight was just pathetic. Zolt was supposed to be the Leader of the Triple threat Triad. The most infamous and feared group of criminals in Republic City. But the way he used his firebending was just sad.

As Amon closed in on him Zolt tried using his signature move but it meant all the same. Amon put a hand on the criminal's head and using bloodbending severed his chi pathways essentially rendering Zolt a non-bender. Of course, he didn't know that just yet.

After an unsuccessful fire jab, Zolt understood something was not right. "What did you do to me?"

"Your firebending is gone. Forever." He turned to the audience. "The era of bending is over! The new era of equality has begun!" Cheers ensue.

"Do you have any ideas guys?" Korra asks, getting impatient.

"I think. You see those steam-powered machines..." I cut off the resident firebender.

"Too slow. Mako, you go get your brother, Korra you get Naga, and get them out of here. I will act as a distraction. We meet back up at my place. Now move on my signal."

I lightly tap my foot on the ground and the floor slightly vibrates before crumbling to a layer of dust. All this happened in a split second before anyone could notice.

""Wait! What?""

"Go!" I shout, and with a single stomp the dust shoots up in the air covering most of the room. The cheers change to screams of terror and confusion as people rush to evacuate.

My comrades quickly get a hold of themselves and spring to action. Soon after the dust clears I'm left with a big group of about thirty equalist chi blockers surrounding me. A short period of silence later I speak up.

"Did you know that during mating season singing groundhogs compete for female attention by forming groups of five singers and creating elaborate musical numbers? Females judge the groups in a tournament like singing competition until the best group gets to pass on their genes."

"Really?!" Asks one equalist female in the back.

"Yeah! Now, let's dance!"

The next instant earth pillars spring up from me in every direction knocking out more than half of my enemies.

Getting out of stupor from my fun fact the remaining equalists try to take me down by chi blocking. Keyword try.

I dance around them avoiding any attacks coming my way by a small margin. But dodging is not all I do. A punch here, a kick there, a headbutt somewhere in the middle, and five minutes later I'm the only one standing.

Not wanting to test my subpar bonebending skills against Amon's bloodbending I skedaddle out of there and head home.

*Sometime later*

Back home I see Korra finish filling Bolin in on what happened. He looks over and seeing me he stands up and stiffly bows to me.

"Thank you for helping to rescue me, Dr. Vulcan…I mean sir Hanzo…I mean uhh…"

"Your welcome Bolin and Hanzo is just fine." I smile at his antics.

Before we could continue any further Korra stomps over and jabs her finger right in the middle of my chest. Quite painfully I might add.

"You have some nerve showing up here after the stunt you pulled back at the rally!"

"Huh?"

She jabs again with a bit more force. Again that stuff hurts.

"What do you mean huh?! You out of nowhere drop a half-baked plan on us and before consulting it jump into action!"

"What do you mean?" I ask her still not getting what the problem is.

She jabs me yet again in the same place with even more force. And yet again that shit hurts!

"What I mean is your plan of acting as a distraction to a group of people that can literally take your bending away forever! Alone!"

I look at her in bewilderment for a minute before thinking to myself.

'Ahhh… she cares about me! That's so cute!' Of course, as the petty man that I am, I still need to win an argument so instead of saying sorry I say something else.

"Firstly this is my home! Secondly, it wasn't a half-baked plan it was a simple plan. Big difference! Finally, the equalist and Amon can barely scratch my shadow, much less take away my bending!"

Korra slams her foot on the floor. "How can you be so irresponsible?!"

"Why do you even care?!" The shouting continues.

"I…Ugh! You're just imposible! I don't have time for this. I need to warn Tenzin. Naga let's go!" She leaves my place with Nage after slamming the door.

I turn to my two remaining guests. "Women! Am I right?"

They stare at me then at the door then at each other then back at me and just nod wry smiles.

Afterward, I asked what happened while I was busy. It seems Mako and Bolin still ran into the mustache guy and got destroyed. I gave them something for the burns from the electrified kali sticks and sent them off.

On a positive note, it looks like my light flirting with Korra worked! Hehe..he I knew she couldn't resist me.

"Ouch!"

Dammit! I stubbed my toe!