Forward In Time

Chapter Eighteen

Korra catches Mako in an airbent tornado. She lets him go and he falls, but she catches him with another airbending blast and brings him up in another tornado.

Mako is no longer stiff and slightly panics, “Ah! Hey! Let me go! This is not what we rehearsed! Korra!” Korra laughs and turns to Asami, who also starts to chuckle. 

Oogi soars through the air and does a barrel roll, ‘With the power of airbending, even this beast can float!” Bolin said, then whispers, “Like a feather.” 

Bumi begins to show off some air blasts, “Look what can be done in only a few short weeks of practice!” 

Jinora flies over the crowd on her glider. The whole crowd frightfully gasps, “No no, don't worry folks. She might be young, but she is in full control!” Jinora softly lands on the peak of a tall fountain. The entire crowd begins to cheer.

“Now ladies and gentlemen, we’re not done yet! Visiting us from the past, master airbender at age twelve, the last airbender in his time, the one, the only, Avatar Aang!”

Aang flies over the crowd on his glider, creating a gust of wind as he does. The crowd gasps in amazement as he proceeds to do airbending tricks in the air with his glider. He then lands on the ground and pulls out his marbles to do his favorite trick.

Zuko, who was watching on the airship with Katara and Toph, facepalms. Katara covers her mouth with her hand as she giggles at her boyfriend’s dorkiness.

“He’s doing the dumb marble trick isn’t he.” Toph said, unamused.

Aang put his marbles away as Bolin begins to speak, “Ladies and gentlemen, if you, or anyone you know is an airbender, please, send them our way! Master Tenzin, Avatar Korra and Avatar Aang would love to teach them all they know!”

Korra shrugs and smiles at Tenzin and Aang. The crowd begins to disperse. A young boy, Kai, runs up to the group.

“Hey! Hello. If you're looking for airbenders, you just found one.” Kai proceeds to demonstrate his airbending abilities, “I wanna join you guys.”

The group becomes excited, “Get outta town!” Bolin exclaimed.

“We got our first recruit.” Korra said, then she turned to Kai, “Just to be totally clear, we're going to be heading to Ba Sing Se, then the Northern Air Temple to live as nomads and rebuild the Air Nation. All that sound good to you?”

“Yeah, Ba Sing Se, rebuild the temple, Air Nomad what-do-you-do, I'm in. Let's go right now.” Kai replies.

Bolin jumps in the air, “This is going to be so great! You're going to love it, er... ah... real quick, what's your name?”

“Kai. So when do we hit the road?”

“Hang on a second Kai, where are your parents?” Tenzin asked, “We can't have you come with us without their permission.”

Kai looks down, “My parents are... gone.”

“You're an orphan?” Bolin asked.

“It happened about a year ago. My home town was raided by outlaws, but my parents fought back against them. I was so scared, but they told me not to worry they would protect me, and they did. My parents saved me and the entire village, but they died in the fight. Mum and pap meant everything to me, they were my whole life. Ever since then, I've been on the run. Those same outlaws are still after me.”

“Well, you don't have to be on the run anymore,” Bolin looks at the rest of the group, “right guys? Tell him.”

“I'm so sorry about your parents. I know we could never replace them…” Tenzin puts his hand on Kai's shoulder, “but we are here for you.”