Forward In Time

Chapter Eighteen

“We'll keep you safe, come on.” Korra said.

Bolin wraps his arm around Kai's shoulder, “When you board this airship, you're going to leave your old life behind and start a new path. That's big brother advice. Just think of me as your big brother.” Kai smiles at Bolin.

After everyone boards the airship, Mako stops and walks away from the group. He stares out a window and sees a group of motorcyclists in official-looking uniforms pulling to a stop outside their airship.

“Guys! I think we got trouble.” He says.

The whole group turns around, the lead motorcyclist gets off his motorcycle and takes his helmet off. He walks up to the airship and takes his glasses off.

“Release the boy, or we'll take him by force.” The sheriff clenches his fist as his deputies each earthbend a rock from the ground and get into a fighting stance.

“The outlaws! They're here... Uh, let's get out of here.” Kai grabs on to Korra's arm.

Korra looks down at Kai, “We are not running away from anyone.”

The airship door opens to reveal Korra standing at the top, “If you want Kai, you'll have to go through me!”

The deputies launch their rocks at Korra, who jumps out of the airship's door and destroys the rocks with airbending, before rolling on the ground and airbending at the deputies, knocking them all over. The sheriff soon gets back up and earthbends at Korra, who dodges the attack and knocks down the sheriff with her own earthbending move.

“Your days of harassing an innocent boy is over. You outlaws are going to prison.” Korra said.

“Outlaws? Innocent boy? I'm a sheriff,” He looks at his badge before looking up, “and these are my deputies, and this kid is a thief.” Korra widens her eyes in surprise, “Whatever he told you was a lie, we've been chasing him for months.”

“Where's Kai?” Korra turns around, failing to see Kai or Mako among the group. 

Then she sees Mako walking toward her, holding Kai with one hand and a sack with the other.

“Right here, I found him slipping away.” Mako says.

“I was just going to the bathroom.” Kai said.

“With your stash of gold?” Mako throws the sack toward the sheriff. When it hits the ground, jewelry and gold spill out.

“I told you, I found this on the road.” 

“Enough with the lies kid. I want the truth.”

“The truth is, he's the outlaw.” The sheriff said, “He spent an entire life in an orphanage, got adopted by a real nice family six months ago, and how did he repay them? By taking their entire life savings. We've been after him ever since.”

“Is that true?” Korra asked Kai.

“The person who stole that stuff was the old me.” Kai replied, “Once I got airbending, I changed. I don't know how to explain it, but I feel like airbending chose me for a reason, like I'm a new person. I'm sorry! Please, you have to listen to me.”

The sheriff and his deputies start to take him away, along with the sack of gold, “Are... are you taking him back to the orphanage?” Bolin asked.

“No, he's headed to jail.” The sheriff replied.

Aang quickly stepped forward, “Wait! You've got the family's life savings, let us take Kai.”

“Dad, do you really want our first member of the Air Nation to be a liar and a thief?” Tenzin asked.

“He just needs some guidance, Tenzin.” Aang replied, “Zuko was worse than Kai when we met.”

“Thanks Aang.” Zuko said sarcastically.

“Who better to give him guidance than us?”

“I agree with Aang.” Korra said, “He’s just lost.”

“Do you want this boy or not?” The sheriff asked.

Aang looks back at Tenzin, who nods at him, before looking back at the sheriff, “Yes, you can release the boy into our custody.”

The sheriff's deputies let go of Kai's hands. He smiles and runs to hug Aang, “Thank you!”

Aang hugs him back, “You’re welcome. Just stay out of trouble from now on, I don’t want to have to keep defending you.”

“You got it Mr. Avatar sir!” Kai replied with a small hint of sarcasm.

Aang could hear the hint of sarcasm, his best friend is Sokka the meat and sarcasm guy so of course he would. 

Aang nodded with a smile and said, “Just Aang is fine.” He knew this kid would probably be trouble, but he sort of reminded the young Avatar of when he was that age.

Bolin and Jinora approach him; she smiles toward him and Bolin hugs Aang and Kai, “Welcome to the family, little bro.” Bolin said.

Jinora hugs Bolin, Korra, and Kai. Bumi goes and hugs Tenzin, much to his annoyance. 

The sheriff and his deputies drive away from the scene. As the group goes back onto the airship, Mako stops Kai, turns his head around to better look at his face, and bends down.

“I just want you to know that I'm going to be watching you, kid. I know exactly what you're all about, 'cause I've been there. You don't have me fooled.” He says.

Mako stands up and moves back from Kai, who in turn backs away from Mako, “Woah! Hey, lighten up.” Kai puts his hands in his pockets, “I'm turning over a new leaf, making a change.” He starts walking into the airship, “Don't you worry about me.”

“Hi, I'm Jinora.” Jinora greets with a blush while Tenzin passes her by to enter the airship, “If you need any help with airbending, I could show you what I know.”

Aang stops at the top of the airship to watch the exchange.

“Thanks, that's real nice of you.” Kai replies as he smiles at Jinora.

Aang smirks lightly as he enters the airship while Tenzin says, “Jinora, we're leaving now.” Jinora walks into the airship and smiles at Kai.
-----

At Ming Hua's prison, an elderly Zuko stands on the higher tier of the prison with a White Lotus sentry.

“They came out of nowhere.” The sentry said. He bows his head down, “I'm so sorry, Lord Zuko.”

“How could you let this happen?” Zuko asked

“They caught us by surprise, and Zaheer is an airbender now.”

Zuko is alarmed by the revelation, “No! This can't be.” He looks at the White Lotus sentry, “Do you have any idea the power these criminals possess? Individually, they can take down any bender.” He looks down in fear, “Put them all together, they could take down the entire world. And now you're telling me that their leader is an airbender?”

“We can track them.”

“We don't need to track them, I know exactly where they're going.” He and the White Lotus sentry walk out of the prison, “Notify the new chiefs of the Northern Water Tribe that an attack on their prison is imminent, and send word to Lin Beifong in Republic City. The Avatar must be protected. Both of them.”

Zuko's dragon lowers its neck and Zuko gets on it.

“Where are you going?” The sentry asked.

Zuko mounts Druk, “To stop them.”

Druk roars and flies off into the distance.