Chapter Text
It was a busy day in Republic City. The first signs of snow fell on the streets, heralding the arrival of winter. People went about their daily tasks—sweeping sidewalks, serving customers, or hurrying to work. Amid the bustle, a woman who appeared to be nineteen, with blue eyes, tanned skin, and black hair tied in two ponytails, walked alone. She wore the traditional attire of the Southern Water Tribe.
That was Korra, the powerful Avatar, feared and respected across all nations—or at least, she was supposed to be. At that moment, she looked more like a homeless wanderer, head bowed, a sad expression on her face. She stopped when she spotted a small street stall selling skewers. Her stomach growled in protest, begging for something to eat.
"Excuse me, ma’am. Could you give me some of those?"
"Got any money?"
"No, but… I have this!"
Korra pulled a necklace from her pocket. The chain was golden, adorned with a blue gem, clearly worth far more than a few skewers. But the young woman was tired of rummaging through trash, afraid to fish in the central park because the guards had memorized her face, and no jeweler in the city would buy a gem from a beggar. The older woman took the necklace, examined it, then looked at Korra with a raised eyebrow. Korra resembled a frightened puppy, wary of upsetting anyone. With a weary sigh, the woman placed five skewers in a paper bag and handed them to Korra along with the necklace.
"You’re not keeping the necklace?"
"I only take cash, kid! But don’t expect me to give you anything for free again—this isn’t a shelter!"
The woman watched as Korra’s hands trembled and her eyes welled with tears. It was a heartbreaking scene, but not uncommon for someone who had lived in Republic City their whole life.
"T-thank you so much. I’ll pay you back someday, I promise!"
"Yeah, sure. Now get out of here—your crying’s scaring off my customers!"
Embarrassed, Korra nodded with a faint smile and walked away. She wanted to find a quiet spot to eat in peace, but her stomach had no patience. Before she knew it, she was already on her third skewer. As she walked, she passed a stand where a man was handing out flyers to the crowd. The image of a man in a menacing mask was printed on the papers, which were either given out or plastered on walls.
"Join us to end bending in all nations and to end the Avatar!"
The man offered Korra a flyer, which she politely declined with a smile. That seemed to irritate him.
"Got a problem, miss?"
"Uh, no, I just don’t want the flyer, but thanks."
"I see. You’re a bender, aren’t you?"
"Y-yes, but that’s not the point. I don’t have anything against the Equalists."
"Really? And knowing we want you to lose your bending doesn’t make you angry? Don’t you feel like using a waterbending attack to knock me off this platform?"
"W-what? No! I’m not a criminal—I’d never do that!"
"Then why refuse the flyer? Why deny true equality?"
"That’s not equality. You look at me like you want me dead!"
"And how many of us will have to die before the threat of benders is eradicated? How long will we have to fear people like you?"
"B-but I haven’t done anything!"
Korra’s heart raced as the group stared at her. Despite her evasive words, they didn’t seem convinced she wasn’t a threat. The man grabbed his microphone and pointed at her.
"And what about all the waterbenders oppressing people in this city? What do you have to say about them? The Red Monsoon gang, extorting and oppressing the innocent—can you speak for them?"
"N-no, I’m not part of any g—"
"See? What’s the word of a child worth against the harsh reality we face every day? The truth is, elemental bending is nothing but a cancer. People like this girl are a cancer. The Avatar is a cancer! Down with benders! Down with benders! Down with benders!"
Korra’s lips trembled, and her eyes filled with tears as the crowd chanted against her. She ran away as the people cheered, as if scaring off a young woman was some kind of victory for Republic City’s “non-bending” population. Minutes later, Korra stopped running when she realized she was far enough from the angry mob. She wiped a stubborn tear from her cheek. It was in moments like this that she cursed being the Avatar.
If it weren’t for this wretched destiny, she’d still be at home in the South Pole, dining with her family, or maybe even married with a nephew for her parents. But the reality of her situation always came back to haunt her.
As she walked, she noticed posters on a bulletin board in front of the police station. They read: “Child disappearances in the Earth Kingdom; curfew for those under sixteen after 6:00 PM.” “Terrorist attack in upscale neighborhood leaves five injured; Equalists suspected.” “Masked Vigilante leaves two officers injured and three civilians in comas. Any information shared will be rewarded.”
"Masked Vigilante?!"
"Do you have any information?"
Korra jumped in fright when she noticed the armored woman behind her. She had green eyes, gray hair, and appeared to be in her fifties.
"What?"
"I asked if you have information about the Masked Vigilante! You’re looking at his poster, aren’t you?"
"Sorry, I was just curious."
"Great, another young girl swooning over a criminal! Let me give you some advice, kid—stay away from people like that man. His kind only brings trouble."
"Y-yes, ma’am!"
The woman studied Korra more closely. She seemed shy, perhaps even submissive if you were intimidating enough. Her Southern Water Tribe clothes hid her frame, and her red eyes suggested she’d been crying recently. She clutched one arm, trying to make herself smaller, perhaps to avoid others’ gazes as much as possible.
"Have I seen you before?"
"I’d better go now."
Korra ran off as the woman watched. Aside from her clothes and tanned skin, there was nothing particularly striking about the girl, yet she felt she’d seen Korra before—she just couldn’t place where. Chief of Police Lin Beifong glanced at the Masked Vigilante’s poster and silently prayed the girl wasn’t another teenager infatuated with psychopaths or serial killers.
By late afternoon, Korra reached her makeshift shelter in the underground district, where the homeless took refuge at night. She approached an elderly man with a cheerful demeanor, sitting by a fire, cooking something.
"Hey, Gommu."
"Ah, you’re finally back! How’d your job search go?"
"Horrible. I barely found anything!"
"Still struggling with that shyness, huh? You’ve got to get over it, kid, or you won’t get anywhere!"
"I brought something for you!"
Korra pulled the paper bag from her coat and handed it to the old man, who accepted it gladly. He stripped the meat from the skewers and added it to his soup, making it look slightly more appetizing. The smell made Korra’s mouth water, even though she knew where the ingredients came from. The old man smiled and served her a bowl, which she eagerly accepted, sitting on the ground and devouring it. A few skewers couldn’t make up for two years of poor nutrition and nights without food. Gommu watched with a smile as he served himself; the girl reminded him of his long-lost son.
They spent the rest of the afternoon talking and laughing. Gommu was Korra’s only friend in all of Republic City since she’d arrived. She’d always done her best to stay off the radar of those who knew her, like Tenzin and his family, who spent much of their time at City Hall. She stood up with Gommu, who began collecting the bowls and pot.
"Thanks for the food, Gommu."
"Don’t thank me—it wouldn’t have been as good without those skewers you brought!"
"I’d better go now!"
"Where to?"
"Looking for nighttime work."
"Wouldn’t it be better to rest? You’ve been job-hunting all day."
"You know I can’t. I only got those skewers out of charity. If this keeps up, I’ll have to look for work in the Red Light District!"
Gommu’s expression soured. He didn’t like the idea of any woman in a place like that. Every woman he’d met on the streets had done unsavory things there. But Korra swore she’d never done anything and was still a virgin. He had no reason to doubt her, so he wasn’t worried, but the mere mention of it was enough to upset him.
"Korra, if you ever have to do that, just come to me, and I’ll give you something to eat, got it?"
"Alright, see you later, Gommu."
Korra waved and left the underground. The sun had set, and the city was aglow with lights. She wandered in search of any work she could find, from cooking to garbage collecting, but no one was interested. She was on the verge of giving up and preparing to go hungry the next day when she landed a job as a dishwasher at a restaurant. Relief flooded her heart as she used waterbending to clean pots, plates, and cutlery.
"Hey, wash those faster—we’ve got tables to serve!"
"Y-yes, sir."
The night passed in a blur until two in the morning when Korra finally finished. Exhausted but happy to have earned some money, she stood with the boss in the back of the restaurant. He was overweight and reeked of grease. She waited patiently as he counted the bills and handed them to her, which she accepted with a small smile.
"Good work. You coming back tomorrow?"
"Yes, absolutely!"
"Hm… Want to earn some extra cash, kid?"
Korra’s smile vanished. She knew exactly where this was going.
"It’s late. I’d better go."
"Won’t take five minutes. I can give you double what you just got!"
"I-I…"
The man touched Korra’s waist, pulling her close. He kissed her neck as she grimaced in anguish and disgust.
"Please… stop."
His hand slid down, groping her backside, his fingers slipping into her pants as he continued kissing her.
"I SAID STOP!"
Korra shoved the man hard, sending him crashing to the floor. He glared at her as another employee appeared at the door, laughing at the scene.
"So she turned you down, huh, idiot? I told you she wasn’t that desperate."
"Shut up! Get out of here, you’re fired!"
Tears streamed down Korra’s face as she ran through the deserted city streets. Just when she thought she’d secured a steady job, something went wrong. She kept walking, wiping away tears that wouldn’t stop, until she stumbled upon a suspicious scene. A young couple had been dragged into an alley by a gang of four. Korra’s body froze. Two years ago, she would’ve rushed to help without a second thought, but living on the streets had taught her about infections from wounds and the cost of wasting energy on situations that weren’t her—
"Damn it, Korra, what are you thinking?"
Pushing her doubts aside, Korra ran to the alley, ready to bend water from any nearby sewer or pipe. But when she reached the entrance, her eyes widened. The couple was huddled near a dumpster, one thug was on the ground with a broken nose, and another was unconscious inside the dumpster. The remaining two were circling a man in a tight black suit that highlighted his muscular frame. He wore a mask covering his entire head, with green-lensed goggles attached.
One of the thugs drew a large amount of water from a nearby pipe, freezing it into sharp ice crystals and launching them. The vigilante dodged with swift steps to the right and left, moving at astonishing speed. He closed in on the attacker and landed a punch to his face so powerful it sent him crashing near Korra’s feet. The other thug, paralyzed with fear, acted in desperation, attempting to unleash a fire blast. The vigilante struck his throat with an open-palm blow, cutting off his breath, followed by a punch to the shoulder and a rapid five-hit combo to his ribs—all in less than a second.
The thug tried another fire blast, but nothing came. He stared at his hands in terror and fled the alley, running past Korra. The one with the broken nose also staggered to his feet and escaped, leaving his two accomplices behind. The vigilante turned to the cowering couple. The man pulled out his wallet and offered it, but the masked figure crossed his arms and nodded toward the exit. The couple understood and fled, with Korra watching them go.
For a moment, their eyes met. The vigilante’s gaze was piercing, even through the goggles, making Korra shrink back. He tilted his head slightly, a flicker of curiosity in his demeanor. Korra didn’t know what to say. She’d thought the vigilante was just a serial killer, but he’d just saved that couple. Yet, as quickly as his curiosity appeared, it vanished. He turned, ran toward the alley walls, and with a faint crackle of black electricity around his feet, scaled the walls as if glued to them, leaving Korra slack-jawed. At the top, he gave her one last glance before disappearing across the rooftops.
By now, the Avatar’s eyes sparkled like a child’s. She raced back to the underground district, slipping through a manhole. Reaching her tent, she noticed everyone was already asleep and lay down to rest. It had been an exhausting day, and fatigue was taking its toll, but excitement kept her awake. Her thoughts drifted to the Masked Vigilante whenever she closed her eyes. Before she knew it, it was five in the morning, and she was still lying on the cloth stretched across the ground, with a rag for a pillow and her eyes wide open. Only when everyone else began stirring did she finally drift off, until someone woke her.
"Korra, wake up, kid! Are you sick?"
"Huh, what? Gommu?!"
"Thank the spirits. I thought you were ill."
"What time is it?"
"It’s almost noon. You slept through the whole morning!"
Korra bolted upright, wondering why she’d slept so long. Snow fell on the streets above, drifting into the underground, as she recalled the previous night’s events.
"Here, eat this. You need to eat."
Gommu offered the same scavenged soup he made from dumpster scraps. She accepted gratefully and ate while the old man watched her with concern.
"Did you do something to get so exhausted?"
"I…"
Gommu braced for her answer, fearing she hadn’t found work and had resorted to the Red Light District. That would break his heart and make him feel he’d failed her.
"I saw him!"
"Who?"
"The Masked Vigilante."
"Did he hurt you? Is that why you’re like this?"
"No, he didn’t hurt me. He’s actually different from what they say! I saw him save a couple from being robbed by four thugs in an alley!"
"Really? And all those rumors about him kidnapping kids?"
"I don’t know if that’s true, and now I really doubt it. He even refused the money the couple tried to give him. I think he’s a masked hero protecting the city."
"Even if that’s true, it doesn’t mean he’s not dangerous. You’re not planning anything reckless, are you?"
"Of course not. I just ran into him by chance. It’s not like I’m going to track him down or anything."
"That’s a relief. By the way, I found a job for you!"
Korra perked up at the news. The money from dishwashing wouldn’t last long. But her excitement faded as she followed a stern-looking man through the slum’s streets at night. He had long black hair tied in a ponytail, a lean build, and wore a sleek black suit that clashed with the surroundings. Walking through the slums dressed like that was asking to be robbed—unless you were Kuroh, the leader of the Red Monsoons.
Korra carried a water skin and wore a mask, her hair tied in a single ponytail to ensure no one would recognize her, not even her employer. It would be disastrous if she drew the attention of a mafia boss like him.
"Are you a waterbender, as I was told?"
"Yes!"
"What can you do?"
"Ice, steam, and vine control."
"Can you bloodbend?"
Korra froze as the man stared at her with a subtle smile. Katara had taught her that bloodbending was taboo, something to be forgotten with time.
"No, and I’ve never considered it!"
"That’s a shame. The Red Monsoons could make good use of that skill."
"Anyway, how much longer until we get to this place?"
"No need to rush."
The two walked deeper into the slums, where only dangerous criminals and addicts dared to venture. They arrived at a large abandoned house guarded by two men at the entrance. The guards stepped aside, allowing them to enter and descend into a basement. Inside, Korra was met with a horrifying sight. The space was vast, clearly expanded by earthbenders. Everywhere she looked, there were children—some tied up, others locked in cages. Many matched the descriptions on the missing persons posters at the police station.
"Don’t stare too much, girl. Curious people don’t last long here."
Korra suppressed the urge to vomit and attack everyone in sight. A deep rage made her clench her teeth beneath her mask. When they reached a room at the end of the basement, they entered and met “Lightning Bolt” Zolt, the leader of the Triple Threat Triad. Beside him stood “Two-Toed” Ping, a firebender with a thin, pointed mustache and a faint scar on his face.
Both bosses sat at a table, while Korra and Ping stood in opposite corners, facing each other.
Zolt: "Finally, I thought you wouldn’t show. Who’s your friend?"
Silence.
Ping: "The boss asked you a question, girl!"
Kuroh: "Why don’t we skip the introductions and get to business?"
Zolt: "Agreed. I’ve got the kids you asked for—two five-year-old earthbenders, twins with red eyes and blonde hair, right?"
Korra was puzzled by the description. Why would the appearance of two children matter, and why was their bending ability relevant?
Kuroh: "I’m impressed you managed to pull it off."
Zolt: "It wasn’t easy. Took a big search through the Earth Kingdom, so the payment better be worth it."
Kuroh: "Oh, it will be."
Kuroh pulled a brown envelope from his coat and slid it to Zolt, who opened it and seemed pleased. He snapped his fingers, and Ping left the room. Minutes later, Ping returned with two sleeping children in his arms and handed them to Kuroh. Korra’s heart raced. She wondered what this man planned to do with them.
Kuroh: "Have a good night, Zolt."
Zolt: "You bet I wi—"
An explosion outside interrupted them. The group rushed out of the room and found the other children in a panic, many crying and huddling together. Several adults stood guard at the basement exit, bracing for any threat.
Kuroh: "What’s going on, Zolt?"
Zolt: "Someone betrayed us, or…"
"Or what?"
A bead of cold sweat rolled down Zolt’s face. Ping seemed to understand, and Kuroh caught on moments later.
Ping: "I-It’s the Masked Vigilante!"
Korra paled at the revelation. If true, it meant she was a target too, given her involvement in a child trafficking deal.
Kuroh: "You! I paid you to protect me! Stay here and do your job!"
"And where are you going?"
Kuroh: "I’m sure our firebending friend has a plan, don’t you?"
Zolt: "Very perceptive. Ping, you stay here! Once we’re through the tunnel, collapse it."
Ping: "Y-You’re leaving me here?"
Zolt: "Don’t worry. After that explosion, the police will be here in minutes. You just hold the line with the guards outside."
Though hesitant, Ping didn’t argue. The two bosses returned to the room and entered a trapdoor connected to a tunnel. The firebender shot at the ceiling, collapsing it once the bosses were clear. All the while, Korra wanted to stop them from taking the children, but she was already in over her head. She left the basement and found several benders down. The explosion from multiple cars had killed those too close, while others suffered second- and third-degree burns. Whoever attacked knew about the water compartments in the vehicles used by benders for defense.
Amid the chaos, Korra saw no one—no rival gang members, no sign of the Masked Vigilante. Only a few surviving benders tried to help their comrades. Korra considered using her waterbending to heal them but questioned whether it was worth it.
Within minutes, the police arrived. Korra fled to an alley and climbed the stairs of an old, decrepit building. Regret weighed on her heart as she lamented not knowing the children’s fate.
She watched as the police subdued the remaining Triad members and loaded the injured onto stretchers. As she prepared to leave, she spotted the Masked Vigilante standing atop a building, arms crossed. Once the children were carried out, he turned and walked away. Not wanting to miss her chance, Korra chased him across the rooftops, trying to stay unnoticed. He was fast, agile, and flexible, navigating the roofs as if he’d done it thousands of times. Korra struggled to keep up. After fifteen grueling minutes of pursuit, they reached Republic City’s Junkyard.
The vigilante leaped to a lower building, vanishing from Korra’s sight for a moment. She ran and jumped after him, spotting his figure among the scrap and iron husks. She followed from a distance until she lost him around a corner. When she reached the spot, he was gone. Korra continued through the scrapyard until she heard a hatch opening. Hiding inside the shell of a tram, she watched as both Triad bosses emerged. Zolt exited first, taking the two sleeping children, then Kuroh followed, reclaiming them.
Korra considered confronting them, but a hand clamped over her mouth with an iron grip. She tried to bend water, which stirred faintly in her pouch, but her attacker pinned her arm, stopping her.
"One wrong move, and I’ll snap your neck!"
The vigilante’s voice sent a chill down her spine. It wasn’t what she’d expected—not deep and menacing, but youthful, soft, and calm. Despite the surprise, the threat in his tone was serious, especially with those thick fingers gripping her jaw hard enough to nearly crush it.
"I’m going to let go of your mouth. Don’t scream!"
His hand slowly released her face, taking her mask with it, revealing Korra’s identity. He grabbed her water pouch, opened it, and tossed it out of the tram, letting the liquid mix with the dirt.
"Go home, kid, before you get hurt!"
"Why spare me after killing all those people back there?"
"You’d have died anyway. Don’t push your luck."
"What are you talking about?"
"A street kid hired to witness a deal between two mafia bosses trafficking children. You really think they’d let you walk away after seeing something that incriminating? Go home, forget what you saw, and take this second chance."
The vigilante slipped past Korra and left the tram, moving through the scrapyard without a sound. She watched, cold sweat dripping down her face. She hadn’t even sensed his presence, as if he were an inanimate object floating in the air. By now, Zolt and Kuroh had parted ways, and the vigilante chose to follow the Red Monsoons’ leader. Korra knew she was tempting fate, but she had to ensure the children were saved—whether by the vigilante or herself. The guilt would haunt her forever if harm came to them. She trailed the waterbender from a distance until he reached a warehouse near the industrial district and entered.
Korra followed, slipping through the same door and hiding in the shadows. She searched for Kuroh in the darkness but found no one. Realizing the place was empty, she lit a flame in her hand to illuminate the area. The warehouse was bare except for support pillars connected to the ceiling.
"This doesn’t make sense. Where could he have gone?"
"I thought I told you to leave!"
Korra spun reflexively, launching a fire attack, but her wrist was caught before it hit the vigilante. The flames extinguished as moonlight streamed through the windows, illuminating them both. The lenses on his mask glowed an eerie green, while Korra’s blue eyes met his gaze. This time, she wasn’t afraid—not with such a clear goal in mind.
"So, you’re the Avatar!"
"When did you enter the warehouse?"
"Before you did! Now tell me, why is the Avatar living on the streets and working with criminals instead of training in the Southern Water Tribe?"
Korra’s brave expression faltered into one of hurt, causing the vigilante to loosen his grip. The Avatar was clearly not what he’d expected.
"You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to, but being the Avatar changes everything. Want to help me rescue the kids?"
"That’s why I’m here!"
"Great. There’s a hidden entrance in the floor right in front of us. Can you open it?"
Korra turned, sensing the earth beneath the concrete, and located the entrance to a tunnel. With a firm earthbending motion, she opened it, revealing a staircase. The vigilante descended, followed by the Avatar.
"We don’t know if there are bending-triggered traps in this corridor, so no flames!"
"And what do you suggest? I can’t see an inch ahead."
"Just follow me, and I’ll guide you!"
The vigilante grabbed Korra’s arm, and they moved slowly, with her stumbling occasionally. After three minutes, they reached a spiral staircase leading deeper underground.
"I think it’s safe to light a flame now."
Korra nodded and took the lead, her orange flame illuminating the path. As they descended, she felt the vigilante’s gaze on her back. She didn’t think he’d harm her, but it was unnerving to be watched in a dark tunnel where no one would hear her scream. After at least nine minutes, they found another corridor, this time lit by torches at the far end.
"You’d better put this on."
The vigilante handed Korra a spare mask from his pocket.
"You carry a mask in your pocket?"
"You never know when you’ll need one. Now let’s go!"
He led the way as they reached the corridor’s end. They entered a massive chamber with stone pillars supporting a rocky ceiling, a large double stone door on the opposite side, and a nine-meter-tall statue of a humanoid deity with an octopus-like head. In front of it stood an altar with a stone bed, stained with blood on and around it.
"What is this thing?"
"It’s an ancient god from a higher dimension, worshipped thousands of years ago. Some said it was a malevolent entity that invaded people’s dreams, causing madness, frenzy, and suicidal thoughts. Others claimed it was just an angry deity demanding sacrifices to appease its wrath. None of the records were clear."
"Where did you learn that?"
"I’ve been dealing with this kind of stuff for a long time and investigating this cult for years."
"So they’re behind the Earth Kingdom disappearances?"
"Yes, using the Equalists as scapegoats and Republic City as their base of operations."
"You’re not going to report this?"
"I would if the police were trustworthy."
The vigilante ran his fingers through the still-wet blood and sniffed it.
"Spirits, is that the children’s blood?"
"No, it’s still wet, but the smell suggests it’s just starting to decompose. The kids are still alive… for now."
"Where do we go next? Opening those doors will make a lot of noise!"
As the vigilante pondered, the massive doors slowly opened. Korra hurried to hide behind the statue, while he used that same black energy to climb a pillar. She had to ask how he did that. They watched as two earthbenders cleared the way for three priests carrying the naked twin children, their faces painted white and likely drugged to keep them asleep. The cultists gently placed the children side by side on the stone bed.
One priest, seemingly the leader, stood before the bed and raised his arms to the statue, while the other two and the earthbenders prostrated with their foreheads to the ground. The priest began chanting in a language Korra didn’t understand, but it was already making her nauseous.
"O great Cthulhu, who dwells in the abyss of dreams, hear our call and grace us with your presence. We, wretched mortals, offer the flesh and blood of the Lamb as proof of our gratitude. Quench your thirst with pure liquid and sate your hunger with the bread of an immaculate soul."
The priest drew a dagger from his robes and raised it overhead. Panic surged through Korra as she saw the vigilante, now just steps from the group, land a punch to the priest’s ribs, sending him flying five meters. She didn’t know when he’d descended from the pillar but didn’t hesitate to join him. The other two cultists ran for the exit, but Korra raised a stone wall to block the doors. One earthbender attacked her, but she dodged his boulder with a spin, bending a rock with her foot and striking the edge squarely into his forehead.
The other earthbender targeted the vigilante with a boulder the size of a Satomobile, but he sidestepped to the right and delivered a knee to the man’s stomach, followed by five punches to the face that knocked out eight teeth, and a final, harder punch that broke his jaw. Korra’s opponent rose, blood streaming from his face and a grotesque gash on his forehead. He launched nine smaller rocks at her, but she dodged them with grace, as if dancing between the stones, and finished by raising a boulder that struck his chest, sending him flying ten meters while spitting blood.
The two cultists exchanged glances, unsure of their next move. Korra rushed to the children, relieved to find them unharmed, but she needed something to cover them. She tore the priest’s robe to fashion makeshift clothing. Glancing aside, she saw the vigilante stepping on one cultist’s head, the man writhing in agony. Korra couldn’t care less.
"Where’s the leader of this operation? What do you plan to use during the star’s passage?"
The other cultist, trembling on the ground before the vigilante’s imposing figure, struggled to respond. But the vigilante’s patience ran out. He stepped on the cultist’s neck, snapping it, then grabbed the second by the collar, lifting him overhead.
"If you don’t cooperate, I’ll break every tooth in your mouth!"
He removed the cultist’s hood, revealing a balding middle-aged man. The man’s eyes quivered briefly before going lifeless, as if he’d died instantly. The vigilante clicked his tongue and dropped the body. Korra approached, cradling the children, staring with disgust at the corpse and disbelief that he’d gone so far as to commit suicide to avoid leaking information.
"I wasn’t expecting that."
"Suicide pill. They’ve gotten more extreme in recent months."
"You can still interrogate the priest!"
"No, he’s dead. Probably swallowed the pill after the first hit."
"Uh… Well… What now?"
"I’ll deal with this guy, and you take the kids to the surface."
"Wait, you’re staying down here?!"
"I need to investigate what’s beyond those doors. You’ve helped enough."
"No, you may not remember, but I’m the Avatar! It’s my duty to get to the bottom of this."
"You’ve got two kids to protect, Avatar. If there are more of them here, you might not be able to keep them safe. Just take them and go, please."
"…Tch, fine, but only if you promise to tell me what you find here!"
"Deal. You have my word. Now go!"
Korra gave a faint smile at the vigilante’s cooperation. For the first time in a long while, she felt useful. She turned and headed for the staircase as the vigilante moved toward the stone doors. When she reached the surface, dawn was breaking.
She breathed in the morning air, relieved to have the children safe. Then she walked toward the police station as the city began to stir. Minutes later, she arrived, climbing the steps when a policeman, unlike the others, noticed her. He didn’t wear the standard metal uniform but had a badge pinned to his coat. He approached her curiously.
"Need any help?"
"Yes, I heard about the kidnapped children, so I brought them here!"
"Where did you find them?"
"Uh… well…"
A bead of sweat rolled down Korra’s face. Her original plan was to leave the children at the police station’s entrance and slip away before anyone noticed, but it seemed her plan had fallen apart.
"The Masked Vigilante saved them and asked me to bring them here!"
The officer’s eyes widened. Korra knew she couldn’t admit to helping the vigilante, or she’d be arrested as an accomplice to the previous night’s attack. But giving him the credit might make her seem like a mere bystander, and since no one knew her, there shouldn’t be any risk of someone recognizing her as the Avatar.
"Ma’am, I need you to come with me."
"W-what? But he only asked me to drop off the kids—he didn’t say anything about coming inside!"
"And now I need to know what else he told you. Just cooperate, and you’ll be released as soon as possible."
"…Fine! But I’m not under arrest, right?"
"Not unless you refuse to cooperate."
"Alright, where do I leave these two?"
After leaving the children in the station’s infirmary, Korra was taken to an interrogation room where sunlight streamed through a small window, making the space feel oddly claustrophobic. After ten minutes, discomfort set in. She fidgeted with her fingers, bit her nails, and glanced nervously around, or—
The door opened, revealing the officer alongside Chief Beifong. Lin marched to the other side of the table, looking as grumpy as the last time they’d met.
"So, you’re the one who met the vigilante last night!"
"Well, not exactly. He just asked me to bring the kids here!"
"And why would you do that? You know his reputation, don’t you?"
"Yes, but I don’t think he’s as bad as they say!"
"Are you telling me he just made this request, and you agreed willingly?"
Korra glanced between the chief and the officer, who hadn’t spoken yet. She hadn’t thought of a good enough excuse to stay above suspicion—she hadn’t even considered she’d face an interrogation. But an idea struck her.
"Actually, he paid me! The money’s with my belongings you confiscated."
Korra hoped this excuse was convincing enough to get her released.
"Where were you when the vigilante found you?"
"…In the slums district!"
"Hm, is that so?"
"Y-yes!"
Lin seemed suspicious as she studied Korra. She couldn’t shake the feeling she’d seen her somewhere before.
"And what were you doing there?"
"I live in that area. Sometimes I look for work there too."
Lin recalled the day she saw Korra looking at the posters outside the station. People from the slums rarely came near the precinct unless they had a complaint, but Korra hadn’t entered.
"What’s your address?"
"I don’t want to answer that."
"I’m not asking, kid!"
"Y-you said I wasn’t under arrest."
Mako: "We just need your address in case we need more information!"
"…I don’t have an address."
Lin was starting to piece things together, but if she wanted definitive answers, she’d need to play it slow. Perhaps Korra’s timid personality could be leveraged here.
"What did the vigilante say to you?"
"He just told me to deliver the kids to the authorities! Then he gave me money and disappeared among the buildings."
"Have you ever interacted with him before this?"
"…No!"
"What were you doing before you met him, and what time was it?"
"It was around one in the morning. I was looking for work somewhere."
Mako: "What kind of place offers jobs at that hour?"
"Dishwashing, hauling goods… and other things."
Lin’s expression softened slightly, grasping the implications of Korra’s statement. But she couldn’t waver now—this girl was their only lead on the vigilante after years of investigation.
"What’s your name, kid?"
"I… I’d rather not say!"
"Alright, Detective, arrest her!"
Mako: "Yes, Chief!"
"W-what?! Why?"
Lin: "I don’t like lies, kid!"
"B-but, I, uh—"
Lin: "Kid, you’re clearly hiding something about the vigilante. If I have to keep you here until I find out what it is, I will. We’ve got all the time in the world and comfortable beds downstairs!"
Detective Mako was already preparing the handcuffs, but Korra didn’t want to spend the day in jail—not after everything that happened the previous night, and especially not when she’d arranged to meet the vigilante that evening.
"It’s Korra! My name is Korra!"
Lin raised a hand, signaling Mako to stop. The detective stepped back with a neutral expression and returned to his position. Lin looked thoughtful as she rose from her chair and walked to the door.
"Mako, keep an eye on her until I return. She doesn’t leave this room without my authorization!"
"Yes, Chief!"
Lin left the room as Mako looked at Korra’s hunched form. She averted her gaze to her hands, clearly uncomfortable with his presence.
"So… you hungry?"
Korra glanced at him warily. Mako was young, athletic, and handsome, but she’d never had time to think about boys. Still, he seemed friendly.
"Won’t you get in trouble for leaving me alone?"
"It’ll be quick, as long as you don’t try to run."
"Not like that’s even possible."
"Then I’ll be right back. Stay put."
As Lin headed to her office, an unexpected sight greeted her at the station’s reception. The entire Beifong family was there: Suyin, the matriarch; Baatar Sr., the father; Baatar Jr., the eldest son; Wei and Wing, the twins; Opal, the youngest; and Kuvira, the adopted daughter. They were bombarding the receptionist with questions, all talking at once, overwhelming him.
Lin: "Suyin?! What are you doing here?"
Suyin: "Lin, thank the spirits, someone competent!"
Lin: "What’s going on?"
Suyin: "My son, Huan. I heard over the radio that you found him! Where is he?"
Lin was confused—she hadn’t been informed that her nephew was missing, nor did she even know how many children her sister had. She glanced at the receptionist, who beckoned her closer and whispered: Infirmary, Ward 2B. Get these lunatics away from me!
Lin: "Alright, follow me."
The family followed eagerly as one of the twins stuck out his tongue at the receptionist. They reached the second floor, Ward B, where they found Huan Beifong lying in a bed, clutching a piece of cloth. The moment his family saw him, they rushed forward in a collective hug.
Huan: "Mom, I’m fine!"
Suyin: "Thank the spirits, I thought I’d lost you!"
Lin: "You weren’t here when I arrived this morning, kid."
Huan: "That’s because the Masked Vigilante brought me here a few hours ago!"
Opal: "The Masked Vigilante, the terrorist?!"
Huan: "HE’S NOT A TERRORIST!!"
The family stepped back as Suyin still held her son close. Huan wasn’t one for hugs, but his mother clung to him so desperately that he didn’t mind.
Baatar Sr.: "Calm down, son. Can you tell us what happened?"
Suyin: "Especially who this vigilante is. Did you see his face?"
Huan: "…No!"
Lin: "He’s lying!"
Huan froze as Lin stared him down. Given the radio reports he’d heard over the past two years, it was clear the police’s issues with the vigilante were almost personal. It wasn’t uncommon for sensationalist radio stations to spin narratives about Republic City’s vigilante.
Some called him a serial killer, others a sadistic spirit who tortured people for fun. But no one called him a hero, a fact that infuriated Huan.
Lin: "If you know what he looks like, give me a detailed description!"
Huan: "You’re crazy if you think I’ll do that!"
Lin: "He’s a wanted criminal, kid. Hiding information about him is a crime!"
Huan: "It’s not my problem if you’re not competent enough to gather your own intel. You’re getting nothing from me!"
Baatar Jr.: "ENOUGH!!"
The family and the chief turned to Baatar, startled by his stern expression.
Baatar Jr.: "My brother just went through a near-death experience, and you’re acting like it’s no big deal?! What’s wrong with you? He has the right to remain silent, Chief, no matter what you think!"
Lin: "Fine, but know that a lot of people will get hurt because you chose to stay quiet, kid!"
Lin stormed out as the family watched, irritated, especially Suyin.
Wei: "Ugh, who’s that old hag?"
Suyin: "That’s your aunt, Lin Beifong!"
Wing: "Seriously? She’s so different from you."
Suyin: "We just have some past issues. You don’t need to worry about it!"
Baatar Sr.: "By the way, Huan, I haven’t asked—what’s that cloth in your hand?"
Huan: "Oh? This? It’s the vigilante’s mask. He forgot to take it back during the fight."
Wei: "There was a fight? Against who?"
Huan: "I don’t know who they were. They took me to a weird place, stripped my clothes, and put me inside the belly of a bronze statue I’d never seen before. Then they started speaking in a strange language. Soon after, the Masked Vigilante showed up and killed them all!"
Opal: "And then he brought you here?"
Huan: "Yeah! He covered me with a red cloak and carried me to the second floor. After that, a nurse found me!"
Wing: "I still don’t get the part where he gives you the mask."
Huan sighed wearily, holding the mask and looking at his reflection in its green lenses—lenses as green as his savior’s eyes. His cheeks flushed red as he sighed, dazed.
Baatar Jr.: "Can I see that mask?"
Huan handed it to Baatar, who ran his fingers over the lenses, felt the fabric’s texture, and turned it inside out, looking slightly disappointed.
Baatar Jr.: "The fabric’s high quality, but it offers almost no protection."
Kuvira: "Maybe he just doesn’t need extra protection? After all, he hasn’t been caught by the police yet, and every gang in the city holds a grudge against him. Yet he’s still alive."
Baatar Sr.: "That makes sense, but if the rest of his suit is like this, one slip-up could get him caught."
Huan: "You know, now that I think about it, how did you all get here so fast? It’s at least three days by airship."
Baatar Sr.: "We came by plane!"
Wei: "Several planes, actually."
Kuvira: "We’ll stay here a few days until the Zaofu airship picks us up, then head home."
Lin returned to the interrogation room with a rolled-up sheet of paper in hand. She found Korra timidly nibbling on a piece of bread, an empty coffee cup on the table. Lin glanced at Mako, who merely shrugged with a smile.
"Detective, leave the room!"
Mako: "Yes, Chief!"
The detective left after giving Korra a playful wink. The Avatar smiled shyly, her cheeks blushing pink. When the door closed, Lin unrolled the paper on the table, revealing a photo of Korra at seventeen years old.
"I didn’t expect to find you here, Avatar!"
"…"
"I must say, you’re not what I expected."
"If I got a yuan every time I heard that… I’d have one yuan!"
"You vanished from the South Pole two years ago without a trace. Why did you come to Republic City?"
"…"
"Answer my questions!"
"I’m not oblig—"
Lin gritted her teeth and slammed her palm on the table, the noise making Korra shrink and look down. She didn’t need to hear this again today. But this wasn’t the reaction Lin expected. She’d thought the Avatar was just acting to blend in, but all she saw was a frightened young woman.
"Korra, I’m not trying to accuse you of anything or hurt you. But I need you to tell me the truth."
"Haven’t you humiliated me enough by making me admit I’m homeless?"
Lin took a deep breath and pinched the bridge of her nose. The bad-cop approach had ruined any chance of getting truly useful information.
"The issue here, Korra, is why you’re homeless."
"That’s none of your business. You don’t ask other beggars why they live on the streets!"
"The others are different!"
"Why? I live in the same place they do and eat the same things they do! What does being the Avatar have to do with it?"
"Korra, you have a family in the South Pole and the White Lotus protecting you. Why give that up?"
"Now you’re trying to be nice to me?! Where’s that grumpy old witch gone?"
The door opened again, and this time Mako entered with a tall man in Air Nomad robes.
Lin: "Mako!"
Mako: "Sorry, Chief, but he insisted on coming in!"
Lin: "I thought I told you to wait outside when I called you on the radio!"
Tenzin: "You know I can’t do that, Lin! If Korra has committed any infractions, I’ll take responsibility for any complaints or financial damages caused!"
With a frustrated sigh, Lin relented and decided to release Korra sooner than she’d have liked. After this interaction, she genuinely wanted to know if something had happened to make the girl so withdrawn, or if this was simply her personality.
Lin: "Fine, take her!"
Tenzin: "Let’s go, Korra!"
Korra stood without a word and followed the irritated man with her head bowed. As they left the police station and walked toward the flying bison, Tenzin found it odd that Korra hadn’t spoken.
"Are you mad at me?"
"Mad?! I can’t believe you did something so reckless. Running away from the South Pole?! Disappearing for two years?! Getting involved with a masked terrorist?! You’re as irresponsible as the last time I saw you! Do you know what a man like that could do to you? Do you know the danger those kids were in?! When will you learn to…"
When they reached the bison, Tenzin turned to Korra and couldn’t believe what he saw. She was on the verge of tears, clutching her arm as her eyes trembled, fighting not to cry. The airbending master barely recognized the woman before him. He reached out to wipe a stubborn tear that had fallen, but she took a small step back.
Tenzin: "Korra… let’s go home."
Korra: "And then what? More lectures?!"
Tenzin: "No, we’ll just get you a place to sleep and clean clothes, I promise."
Still avoiding Tenzin’s gaze, Korra climbed onto the bison’s saddle and curled up in a corner, making it clear she didn’t want to talk. When they arrived at the island, they were greeted by Tenzin’s children: Jinora, the eldest at 12; Ikki, the middle child at 9; and Meelo, the youngest at 7. When the three saw Korra, they ran to her, shouting her name.
She welcomed them with open arms as Meelo climbed onto her shoulders, Jinora hugged her waist, and Ikki clung to her leg. Tenzin watched the interaction with contentment, glad to see a smile on Korra’s face.
Jinora: "It’s so good to see you again!"
Ikki: "Where have you been all this time? We missed you!"
Meelo: "You stink! Finally, someone who gets me!"
Korra laughed at Meelo’s comment, lifting him into her arms before setting him down and ruffling Jinora and Ikki’s hair.
"It’s good to see you all too. Sorry for disappearing for so long."
Tenzin: "Don’t worry about that now. Jinora, take Korra to the women’s dormitory! I’ll ask Pema to prepare some clothes for her."
Korra: "Can I see Rohan? He must be almost two now, right?"
Tenzin: "At dinner. Now go!"
Jinora took Korra’s hand and led her away from the family, pointing out every spot on the island along the way. They reached the bathhouse, which had hot springs and showers.
"How does the water stay warm?"
"There’s a magma channel running beneath the island, stretching for kilometers to a dormant volcano on another island north of Republic City."
"You seem to know a lot about this place."
Jinora: "I know everything about this place. Now, how about you toss those dirty clothes in the basket and take a bath? I’ll be back with clean ones."
Korra: "Alright."
Jinora: "By the way, can I take care of your hair?"
Korra: "My hair?"
Jinora: "Yeah, it looks pretty dirty. Can I?"
Jinora made a pleading puppy face, her eyes sparkling with a pout. Korra couldn’t resist for a second.
Korra: "Sure, Jinora, you can!"
As Jinora left happily, Korra removed her trusty coat, revealing arms with a few scars, then her shirt. Despite living on the streets, she still had a strong, toned body. She took off her pants and underwear, the latter dirtier than she’d like to admit.
She tossed the clothes into a basket and stepped into the hot spring, the warm water soothing her skin. The relief was immediate, and she submerged herself, feeling her body’s tension melt away. Shortly after, Jinora returned with Air Acolyte robes, hygiene products, and a comb. She sat by the pool’s edge and asked permission to tend to Korra’s hair.
Korra nodded, letting Jinora loosen her hair with her fingers and straighten it. Jinora combed slowly, catching a knot. Korra flinched, expecting a harsh tug, but Jinora gently worked from a different angle until the hair was fully untangled.
"How long has it been since you combed your hair?"
"I don’t remember!"
"You should take better care of yourself. Boys won’t notice you if you don’t look nice!"
"Hm…"
"Now for the finishing touches!"
Jinora used herbal shampoos to wash Korra’s hair. The two lost track of time—Jinora could play with Korra’s hair for hours, and Korra savored the affection on her scalp, the last person to care for her like this being her mother years ago. They only left the bath when Ikki called them for lunch.
Ikki: "You look beautiful in those clothes, Korra!"
Korra: "Thanks, Ikki…"
Jinora: "She’s right, they really suit your skin, and your eyes are gorgeous too!"
Korra: "S-stop it…"
Korra covered her face with her hands as the girls noticed her ears turning pink. They exchanged mischievous grins, realizing they’d found a weak spot and silently agreeing to exploit it later.
At the dining room, Pema emerged from the kitchen and enveloped Korra in a hug. Korra melted, returning the embrace with a smile as Pema stroked her hair.
Pema: "It’s so good to see you. Do you know how worried I was?"
Korra: "Sorry, I didn’t mean to cause trouble for you all!"
Tenzin: "We’ll talk about that later. Sit and eat as much as you want, Korra."
Korra: "Thank you."
The family stole occasional glances as Korra ate timidly with her chopsticks. None of them recalled her being so shy, fueling Tenzin’s curiosity further.
Pema: "So, Korra, where have you been the last two years?"
Korra: "Here in Republic City!"
Ikki:开始了"Seriously? Why didn’t you visit?"
Korra: "…I just didn’t have time."
Meelo: "Were you doing Avatar stuff?"
Tenzin: "Let’s save the conversation for another day. Korra must be tired. Jinora, when we finish lunch, can you take her to her room? I’ll talk to her later."
Jinora: "Yes, Dad."
The rest of the meal was pleasant, especially for the kids, who chatted freely with Korra. When they finished, Jinora led Korra to her room in the dormitory—a simple space with a bed, a window, a desk, a lamp, and a wardrobe.
"How long are you staying?"
"I don’t know. Depending on what happens, I might head back to the city today."
"I hope everything’s okay. You just got here."
Korra nodded and entered the room as Jinora went to fetch Tenzin. She sat on the soft bed, feeling a long-forgotten comfort. Her body no longer smelled, her hair was combed, and she’d finally eaten a proper meal. Lying back, she stared at the ceiling, wondering what would happen next. She feared Tenzin might call her parents to retrieve her—or worse, the White Lotus. The mere thought of returning to that icy compound sent shivers down her spine.
As the bed’s softness lulled her, her eyelids grew heavy, and darkness overtook her without notice. When Tenzin arrived, he found her asleep. The Air Nomad rubbed his temple, covered her with a blanket, and quietly left, closing the door. Back in the living room, he found Pema listening to the radio while tending to Rohan.
"You’re back quick. She didn’t want to talk?"
"She’s asleep. She must’ve been exhausted even before arriving."
"What do you think happened?"
"At this point, anything could’ve happened. I just hope she didn’t go too far to survive on the streets."
"You think—… Spirits."
"Let’s wait until tomorrow to ask. Her parents will arrive in three days, bringing Kya. She’ll assess if something’s wrong with Korra."
Attention, this is Republic News with the hottest stories of the day. For your late-afternoon entertainment, we have breaking news: The Avatar is among us!
"What?!"
We’ve just learned that the Avatar has been in Republic City for the past two years, folks, sneaking through alleys and hiding in plain sight.
"How did they find out?"
"I don’t know. This shouldn’t have leaked."
The Masked Vigilante, my audience!
Tenzin and Pema exchanged confused glances.
That’s right, the Avatar has been posing as a vigilante to punish criminals and fight the forces of evil. The latest citizen saved by him claims he’s the Avatar.
A mature voice came through the broadcast.
“I don’t know who he is, but I’m certain I saw him bend earth, then bloodbend someone else, and after that, he used lightning bending. I know the Avatar’s identity should be public, but he’s among us, acting as a vigilante and saving people at night.”
That was the anonymous interviewee, folks. Organized crime in this city now knows what it’s up against. A warning to all the crooks—
Tenzin switched off the radio, tired of the nonsense, and sighed in frustration as Pema rocked Rohan.
"Foolish man, spreading this without even verifying it!"
"He said the vigilante bent blood and earth. What does that mean?"
"It means the man was hallucinating, plain and simple! It’s impossible for an earthbender to bloodbend—it doesn’t even make sense."
"What are you going to do?"
"I’ll meet with the council to discuss this. Don’t wait for me for dinner, and don’t wake Korra. She doesn’t need to deal with this now."
Tenzin headed to the city, ready to address the uproar. Meanwhile, Korra slept peacefully as the afternoon faded and the sky darkened. She would’ve kept sleeping if a tap on her open window hadn’t woken her. Groggy, she sat up and looked outside, where the vigilante’s goggle lenses glinted in the moonlight.
"Hi, how did you find me here?"
"By chance. I stopped by the station at dawn to drop off someone else I found and saw you."
"You got to the station before me and watched me?"
"I needed to make sure you’d be okay."
"Oh, thanks."
"By the way, you look good in Air Acolyte robes."
Korra’s cheeks flushed as the man tilted his head slightly. From this brief exchange, he could tell she wasn’t used to compliments.
"So, I came because I promised to tell you what happened after we split up."
"Oh, right, I forgot about that. Go ahead!"
The vigilante sat cross-legged on the ground outside her window as Korra leaned her elbows on the sill.
As Korra headed back to the stairs, the vigilante snapped the other cultist’s neck and moved toward the doors. He passed through an area with hundreds of empty cells lined up side by side. Two were open, likely one for the children and another for someone else.
Following the torchlight, he reached an area filled with glowing blue crystals. The torches ended, and the crystals became the new light source. He continued, noticing fresh drag marks on the ground.
Two minutes later, he found a chamber with at least 20 cultists, all in black robes. Eighteen knelt before a bronze statue of an almost indescribable creature—a massive form sprouting black tentacles, oozing mouths, and short, twisted goat-like legs. The statue stood at the edge of a stone ravine, below which a chasm stretched to a pool of magma.
"Shub-Niggurath!!"
"Shub-what?"
"Shub-Niggurath is a cosmic entity representing fertility and prosperity. Also known as ‘The Black Goat of the Woods with a Thousand Young’ or ‘The Lady of the Forest.’ Some offer sacrifices to her for strong, healthy children or wealth. Anyway…"
The vigilante watched as a naked young man, about 19, was thrown into a hatch that seemed to be the statue’s belly. The terrified youth peered through a slit, consumed by primal fear of such a horrific death.
Some cultists prepared flames, making him realize he was about to be cooked alive. He pounded on the hatch and screamed, tears streaming down his face as he braced for the heat—but it never came. He heard sounds of fighting and snapping outside.
Peering through the slit, he saw the Masked Vigilante land a punch to a cultist’s forehead. The hooded man collapsed and didn’t move.
As the vigilante recounted the story to Korra, the perspective shifts to the other person involved—Huan Beifong, now in a five-star hotel room with his family gathered around, listening intently.
Wing: "You’re saying he killed a guy with ONE punch?!"
Kuvira: "And they stripped you naked?!"
Opal: "Makes sense. He’s not even wearing his eyebrow piercing!"
Huan: "Yeah, they took my clothes and painted a weird symbol on my stomach. As for killing the guy with one punch? All I can say is he was strong—really strong. Anyway…"
When the cultist hit the ground, a firebender shot a blast at the vigilante, who raised a stone wall behind himself, twisted the arm of another cultist attempting to stab him, and forced him to stab his own eye. He split the wall in two and kicked it toward the firebender. The strike was so fast the man couldn’t dodge and fell into the magma below.
Five cultists watching the fight fled for the exit as the vigilante kneed another opponent in the stomach, leaving him gasping on the ground. A second firebender launched a fireball at his back, but the vigilante spun, neutralizing it with a roundhouse kick.
The vigilante’s foot caught fire, but he used the flames to deliver an axe kick to the previous cultist’s neck. The firebender launched three more blasts, which were blocked by another wall. Growing furious, he unleashed a full-force attack. A massive fire blast filled nearly the entire cavern, shattering the wall piece by piece and incinerating the surrounding cultists to their bones.
However, the attack’s side effects emerged when the cultist stopped. The cavern began to tremble and heat up, making it harder to breathe. The statue also grew scorching hot, nearly causing Huan to faint.
The rock platform beneath the statue started to give way, leaving Huan desperate as it sank slowly, the stones cracking. The cultist saw an opportunity and fled, but the vigilante raced to the statue. It was too late—a rock fell from the ceiling, breaking the ground and sending the statue plummeting into the abyss.
Huan screamed as he fell, until the vigilante bent a rock pillar from one wall to another beneath the statue. As the metal collided, it lodged against a wall. Huan, unaware of what was happening outside, saw the hatch open, revealing the vigilante. He extended his hand to Huan, who was paralyzed with fear.
"Take my hand!"
But Huan seemed not to hear, now terrified of the vigilante himself, as if he were one of the cultists trying to reclaim him.
"Please, I need you to take my hand."
"…"
Huan stared with wide eyes, tears streaming down his face. The vigilante resorted to desperate measures. He removed his mask, revealing his face to Huan, who showed a flicker of recognition.
"I’m not going to hurt you, got it?"
The pillar shifted slightly, rocking the statue and making Huan shrink back. But the vigilante kept his gaze steady, never losing sight of his goal.
"Please, I just want to save you, to get you back home. Take my hand!"
Huan slowly moved toward the vigilante. The statue lurched again, beginning to fall into the abyss. Their eyes widened as they plummeted. Huan closed his eyes as a final tear rolled down his cheek, but for a moment, he felt something grip his arm like iron.
When he opened his eyes, the statue was sinking into the magma. The vigilante held Huan’s torso tightly with one arm while clutching a rock on the wall with the other. They hung by the vigilante’s fingers above a pool of magma, prompting Huan to cling to his shoulders, refusing to let go.
With only two legs and one arm, the vigilante climbed the wall back to the fight area. When they reached safety, Huan was still in shock. At some point, he’d grabbed the mask and clutched it tightly. He looked up and met the vigilante’s gaze.
"Are you okay?"
"I-I thought I was g-gonna die!"
"I wasn’t going to let that happen! Now let’s find something for you to wear and get you out of here!"
Huan nodded as the vigilante was about to set him down, but the young man gripped his arm. The vigilante took a deep breath and carried Huan to the site of the last fight, where the cultists’ bodies still lay.
Huan watched curiously as the vigilante stripped a cultist’s robes and covered him with them. He noticed one corpse with its mouth sewn shut and turned away to avoid vomiting.
"Don’t even ask about that. The less you know, the better!"
Huan didn’t question it as he was lifted again and carried to the surface. As they climbed the stairs, Huan noticed how large and rigid the man’s muscles were.
Kuvira: "Wait, what?"
Huan: "NOTHING!! FORGET THAT PART!!"
Suyin: "Okay, now go on!"
Huan: "Anyway, after that, he carried me to the station’s infirmary and left me on a random stretcher on the second floor. I don’t know how he did it since I fell asleep halfway and only woke up just before you arrived."
Suyin: "Can you draw this vigilante’s face? You got a good look at him, right?"
Huan: "Yeah, but… I don’t know if he’d want that."
Baatar Sr.: "Huan, none of us will force you, but we at least want to know who saved our son from such a horrific death!"
Wei: "We promise not to tell anyone his identity, right, bro?"
Wing: "Twin’s honor."
Opal: "Is that a good idea? This vigilante seems like someone who’s been fighting these crazy cultists for a while. Wouldn’t it be risky to get close to him?"
Suyin: "As long as it stays between us, it’ll be fine. So, Huan?"
Huan: "I don’t know…"
Baatar Sr.: "Son, don’t let us return to Zaofu owing a debt, please!"
Kuvira: "We won’t tell anyone, Huan! Right, Junior?"
Baatar Jr.: "Yeah, we wouldn’t do that!"
Huan took a deep breath, feeling he’d regret it but unable to deny his family.
Huan: "Alright, but this stays between us!"
The family agreed. Huan grabbed a sheet of paper and began skillfully sketching every detail of his hero’s face. Meanwhile, at the Air Temple Island, Korra finished hearing the story, looking both awed and terrified that there was more than one creature like that octopus-headed monster.
"What’ll you do if this Huan guy reveals your face?"
"I don’t know. He’s not obligated to keep my identity secret. I guess I can only hope for his good side."
"But why did these cultists target someone from Zaofu?"
"I’m still investigating, but these people do all sorts of insane things for some goal. Maybe the entity demanded someone like him, or at least with his traits, or it could just be another meaningless ritual by a bunch of fanatics. At this point, anything’s possible. Anyway, I kept my promise. I’ve gotta go!"
"Already?! Will you come back?"
"Maybe not. Why?"
"Because… I might not stay here long."
"Why not?"
"By now, Tenzin’s probably called my parents in the South Pole. If they come, they’ll drag me back there!"
"Korra, you’re the Avatar. There’s no such thing as ‘dragging you’!"
"It’s not that simple. I can’t even airbend!"
"So what? You’re an incredible fighter and survived on the streets for a long time. You don’t need them to live. If you don’t want to put up with them, find another path. That’s what I did when I was younger!"
"…Will I see you again?"
The vigilante paused thoughtfully, then turned his back to Korra and crouched near the ground. A red light flashed in front of him. Moments later, he turned back, holding a rose carved from black stone, and offered it to her. Korra accepted it shyly, her cheeks flushing.
"Every Saturday at nine, I’ll be watching the ferry from Air Temple Island to the city. If you want to talk, put the rose in your hair and go somewhere isolated. I’ll find you there. I won’t wait a minute longer, got it?"
"Yes… thank you."
"Remember, Avatar, you forge your own path… and thanks, too!"
"For what?"
"For helping me with those people. It was good to have someone backing me up after working alone for so long. See you!"
The vigilante slipped into the trees as the green glow of his lenses faded into the darkness. Korra placed the rose on her nightstand and lay back, her heart racing as she grappled with receiving a gift from a boy. She covered herself, giggling like a fool, and drifted off.
Meanwhile, Tenzin was still debating Republic City’s events with the other council members.
Earth Councilor Yao Bô, an elderly, bald man with a pointed beard and elegant Earth Kingdom attire, read the previous night’s report to the council.
Yao: "According to Detective Mako’s report, the Masked Vigilante was responsible for the police reaching the slum house used as a base for child trafficking!"
Tenzin: "We’re not certain the vigilante caused that explosion!"
Tarrlok: "Some locals reported seeing a disguised figure on nearby rooftops, just watching the chaos. You don’t expect us to believe he was merely a spectator, do you?"
Tenzin: "No, but if the report is accurate, it confirms he’s manipulating the police to go where he wants!"
Tarrlok: "And what’s wrong with that?"
The council turned to Tarrlok, equally puzzled by his statement.
Yao: "Explain yourself, Tarrlok!"
Tarrlok: "Thanks to that commotion, we recovered over half the missing children! We’re working to reunite them with their families as we speak."
Tenzin: "That’s not how things are resolved, Tarrlok. We must rely on the judicial system to handle these matters."
Tarrlok: "The judicial system is overwhelmed, Tenzin. What’s wrong with someone speeding things up?"
Tenzin: "If he keeps this up, he’ll inspire others to do the same—people thirsty for justice but lacking the power to enforce it. When the situation becomes unsustainable, the police will have to act, plunging the city into chaos!"
Tarrlok: "The city’s been in chaos for a long time, Tenzin, long before the Masked Vigilante appeared! Thanks to his actions, crime rates have dropped over forty percent, police seizures have nearly tripled, and terrorist attacks have decreased—attacks the police have made no progress in solving. He’s making a difference! And if the rumor that he’s the Avatar is true, we have assurance there won’t be violence from the public—at least not from his admirers."
Tenzin: "That’s nonsense. He’s not the Avatar!"
Tarrlok: "How do you know? …Do you know where the Avatar is?"
The council eyed Tenzin curiously. He sighed, frustrated, not wanting to reveal Korra so soon—at least not before understanding what happened to her.
Tarrlok: "If you have nothing to say, I vote the council publicly support the vigilante as the new Avatar! Who’s with—"
Tenzin: "Have you lost your mind? He’s a terrorist!"
Tarrlok: "He’s a symbol! As terrifying as those behind the terrorist attacks and as impactful as Amon, the Equalists’ leader. That’s what Republic City needs, Tenzin—a strong symbol that makes a difference! We’ll credit him with the children’s rescue and publicly declare our support, sending a message through the new Avatar and showing we align with public opinion about him, unlike the media’s portrayal!"
Tenzin: "He’s not the Avatar!"
Tarrlok: "Then where is he, Tenzin? You’re the last Avatar’s son and one of the few airbenders. Shouldn’t you be training him?"
Tenzin: "Don’t bring my father into this!!"
"Enough!!"
A woman slammed her hand on the table, ending the argument. She was an older, heavyset woman in red Fire Nation robes—Feng Li, one of Republic City’s councilors.
Feng: "What’s wrong with you two? You’re bickering like children!"
Tenzin: "My apologies, Feng."
Tarrlok: "I’m sorry, but I still believe my course of action is best!"
Tenzin: "Your course of action is based on a false radio report, Tarrlok!"
Feng: "It may be, Tenzin, but I have no objections to it!"
Tenzin: "What? You too?!"
Feng: "So far, we’ve had no reason to doubt the Masked Vigilante is the Avatar. If it’s true and he’s fighting organized crime alone, it won’t be long before the public takes the radio report seriously. They’ll start pressuring us for action. If we don’t show support for the Avatar soon, we’ll lose all influence in the city. Unless you have something important to declare, we’d better start this vote!"
Tarrlok: "Alright, who votes to declare support for the Avatar, whether he’s real or not?"
Tenzin: "Wait! Forgive me, Korra! The Avatar is with my family at Air Temple Island!"
The councilors stared at Tenzin in shock, including Tarrlok.
For the first time, the Water Tribe councilor spoke. Like the others, he was an elderly man—bald, dressed in formal Northern Water Tribe attire, and wearing a betrothal necklace. His name was Fenrir Wen.
Fenrir: "Tenzin, how long have you had him?"
Tenzin: "I’ve had her since this morning. Her name is Korra, and I wanted her to rest from her journey before dealing with politics and all this mess."
Fenrir: "In that case, we must present her to the public before they turn their eyes to the vigilante!"
Tenzin: "She’s not ready for that yet!"
Fenrir: "It’ll just be a radio announcement, maybe a welcome party. We can decide our next steps from there! Who agrees?"
The council members raised their hands, along with Tarrlok. After much hesitation, Tenzin raised his as well.
Fenrir: "Very well. I’d like the welcome party to be held at the Southern Water Tribe Museum, as a symbolic gesture. Can I entrust this task to you, Tarrlok?"
Tarrlok: "Count on me. I’ll handle everything. Just give me time to prepare the museum and ensure no incidents occur. I must guarantee the safety of all guests."
Feng: "Then I declare this meeting adjourned!"
Tenzin left the meeting with a bitter taste in his mouth. Even knowing the vigilante wasn’t the best option, he also knew he was established enough to keep the public in check and strike fear into criminals. On the other hand, the damage a figure like him could cause once the truth came out would be irreversible. He couldn’t take that risk.
The next day, Korra was still lying in bed, gazing at the black rose in her hand. It was intricately detailed and sturdy. Her heart raced whenever she thought of how kind the vigilante was in offering his support and how sincere he was in thanking her for her help. She’d only worked with him once, but she knew she wanted to be like him. He was strong, kind, intelligent, imposing, and seemed fearless. Her face warmed as she slipped under the blanket, her ears turning pink.
Meanwhile, at the hotel, the Beifong family examined the vigilante’s portrait. He was a young man with black hair, pale skin, and green eyes. Despite his intimidating moniker, his face exuded a serenity worthy of a monk—something he’d conveyed to Huan while carrying him (so much so that Huan slept through most of the journey).
Kuvira: "He’s a bit different from what I expected."
Huan: "Different how?"
Kuvira: "I guess I expected someone older, or at least more intimidating!"
Opal: "I don’t want to judge, but I agree with Kuvira. I kinda want to pinch his cheeks!"
The family laughed as Huan turned red with anger.
Huan: "Is that why you asked for the drawing?"
Suyin took the portrait from Huan and studied it closely with her husband. The vigilante didn’t seem older than twenty—Baatar Jr. was clearly older than him.
Suyin: "You said he fought all those cultists and came out without a scratch?"
Huan: "Yeah, from what I saw, he was unharmed when he saved me."
Wing: "Think he’s good at metalbending?"
Kuvira: "I highly doubt it. He would’ve bent the statue closer before it fell!"
Suyin: "That means he might not know metalbending! I have an idea for how we can repay him!"
The family instantly caught on to the smiling matriarch’s plan. Now they just needed to find the vigilante—a challenge, given Republic City’s size and how common his appearance was. Their return home might have to be delayed a few days.
After breakfast, Korra, still in her Air Nomad clothes, sat near an airbending training device—a stone circle with upright platforms attached to a metal rod anchored in the ground. Inside, Jinora danced among the wildly spinning panels, moving like a leaf without her clothes even grazing them. When Jinora stepped out, Korra clapped enthusiastically, prompting Jinora to play along and bow with an arm extended.
"Thank you, thank you very much! More performances next week!"
Korra laughed as Jinora approached and noticed her wiping a tear.
"Wanna try?"
"What, airbending?"
"Of course! Or do you already know how?"
"I haven’t learned yet."
"Perfect, let’s go!"
Jinora grabbed Korra’s hand and pulled her to the device, then sent a gust of air to spin the panels again.
"The trick is to move like a leaf. Don’t fight the wind—let it carry you!"
"Okay, don’t fight… Got it!"
Korra stepped into the device and tried to mimic Jinora’s movements. For about ten seconds, she succeeded, surprising Jinora. But surprise turned to concern when Korra misstepped, and a panel knocked her into another, then another, and another. The final one hit her back, throwing her out to land face-first at Jinora’s feet.
"Korra?"
Korra curled up, leaving Jinora confused. A flashback flooded Korra’s mind.
The Avatar, thirteen years old, stood in a training field within the White Lotus compound’s walls. A blizzard raged as the night was held at bay by a few torches. She wore light pants and a tank top, a trickle of blood running from her lip, a bruise forming near her eye. She faced a waterbender who looked about sixty, her gaze stern.
"Your form isn’t good enough! Relax your wrists and bend them at the same speed as the water!"
Korra launched a water blast at the older woman, who deflected it with a simple motion and countered with a water whip that turned to ice, striking Korra’s stomach. With an irritated expression, the elderly woman began whipping Korra back and forth as the exhausted girl struggled to stand.
"Ugh, didn’t you understand anything I told you? Failing to dodge a blow like that is shameful! How do you expect to become the Avatar when you’re so pathetic?"
"Korra, are you okay?"
"S-sorry, i-it won’t happen again, I promise!"
Korra looked up, startled, realizing where she was. She was still breathing heavily as Jinora touched her shoulder.
"Korra, it’s okay. I’m not mad at you!"
"R-really?"
"Of course! Why would I be mad? Accidents happen!"
Jinora wiped a trickle of blood from a small cut on Korra’s forehead.
"Let’s stop for now. I’ll make some tea. Why don’t you wait over there?"
Jinora pointed to a bench under a tree. Korra nodded sadly and walked with her head down to the bench. Jinora ran inside, wondering why Korra had been so terrified—she seemed on the verge of a breakdown if the airbender hadn’t intervened.
As Korra covered her face with her hands, she heard a male voice calling her from a distance. Looking up, she saw Detective Mako waving. She stood as he approached with a smile.
"Hi, it’s Mako, right?"
"Pleasure to see you again, Korra."
"So… what brings you to Air Temple Island?"
"I just thought I’d return this!"
Mako pulled a necklace with a blue stone from his pocket—the same one she’d almost traded for skewers days ago. Korra was shocked she hadn’t noticed her most precious possession was missing.
"You forgot to take it back when you were searched. Here’s your money too!"
"Thank you. I don’t know what I’d do without this. Master Katara wouldn’t be happy!"
"I also wanted to ask if you remembered anything about the vigilante. Any info helps."
Korra recalled the previous night’s visit but couldn’t reveal it.
"Sorry, I’ve already told you everything I know!"
"That’s a shame. Now that it’s out he’s the Avatar, the police are hunting for him like crazy."
"Wait, what?"
"You didn’t hear the radio news? An anonymous person said they saw him bend earth, lightning, and blood. Considering that last part, he’s clearly different from past Avatars!"
"…Wow, thanks for telling me, and for my stuff too."
"No problem. If you remember anything, you can call my private number. I promise to keep the investigation secret until we find something, and you won’t be involved."
Korra nodded as Mako left, descending the stairs. Along with the money and necklace was a card with his number.
"Who was that handsome guy?"
Korra jumped as Jinora appeared, holding a tray with steaming cups and a teapot.
"How long have you been there?"
"I got here just after your boyfriend showed up!"
"He’s not my boyfriend!!"
Ikki: "Tell me another!"
The two looked at a tree as Ikki dropped from a branch, landing on an air ball and circling them.
Ikki: "I bet he’s into you!"
"He’s not into me! We met yesterday and have only seen each other twice!"
Jinora: "I don’t know… Why would he come here if he wasn’t interested? Doesn’t add up, right?"
"He just came to return my stuff!"
Ikki: "Perfect excuse to see you!"
Korra’s face was now fully pink. She tried to grab Ikki, but the girl was too fast.
Ikki: "Imagine it—the city commoner and the Southern Water Tribe princess! I can already feel the romance in the air!"
Jinora: "Imagine how cute their kids would be! You should start wearing makeup. I bet he’d love it!"
Korra’s face turned an even deeper pink, and she ran inside, trying to ignore the sisters’ teasing. They just kept laughing as they poured their tea.