The Girl After

Chapter 14

Izumi's arms were coiled protectively around me as we marched through the palace. Gran Gran was with the Fire Lord, and my parents were far from here. My hands were pressed over my ears, but the harsh sound of crashing seeped through. "It'll be okay," Iroh II said as he scurried beside us. I looked down at him from over Izumi's shoulder and met his soft smile, but I didn't smile back.

Izumi set me down once we reached Iroh's bedroom. "Stay here," she instructed. She ran out of the room and shut the door. Immediately, I climbed onto his bed and reached for the dual swords that hung decoratively on the wall.

"Nani, what are you doing?" He asked, watching me carefully. I tugged at the swords until they came free, falling onto my back on the bed. "Leinani!"

I rolled off of the bed onto my feet, the swords awkward in my small hands. "I'm gonna go help," I said with determination. The palace was under attack by a rebel group that called themselves the Order of the Red Lotus. They were new, suddenly appearing like a bunch of weeds. I rushed for the door, but Iroh grabbed me by the back of my shirt.

"No!" He insisted. His small hands clutched tighter as I struggled more. I jerked around, careful not to accidentally cut myself or him.

"Let me go, Iroh!" I grunted. I lifted my leg and forces my foot down onto his. He yelped in pain and lost his grip on me. With that, I left the room and charged down the corridor to the throne room.

I entered the throne room to find a horror show. Gran Gran contorted into impossible positions, blood dripping from the corner of her mouth. Izumi's arms held at her sides by an invisible force. The Fire Lord was unconscious — at least, I hoped he was only unconscious — beside Gran Gran. The soldiers were giving their all.

"L-Let them g-go!" My small voice choked on the words. The man's attention was on me now. His identity was concealed, though his eyes were visible from the other side of the room. He stood at the throne, arms outstretched. Was he doing this to everyone? The man didn't say a word. His left hand shifted in my direction, grey eyes locked on mine.

Suddenly my chest tightened. The swords dropped from my hands and clattered onto the floor. My breaths quickened as a scream bubbled from my throat. I searched the room. I prayed that someone, anyone, would stop him. My eyes locked with Gran Gran's as she pushed herself up, wiping the blood from her mouth with her sleeve. I screamed again as the man's grip tightened.

Gran Gran let out a vicious yell and mimicked the man's movements, arm stretched out at him and constricting him.

Despite this, he didn't lose his grasp on me. I screamed again, finally falling to the floor at the same time as the man, but he fell limp. His body tumbled down, eyes still wide open. His glassy eyes were locked on me, filling me with a fear I had never felt before.

A voice began shouting at me, and the palace began quaking and crumbling.

------------------------

"Leinani! Leinani, wake up!" Bolin's voice freed me from the inescapable dream. He shook me violently by the shoulders. I opened my eyes to find him and Asami standing over me. "Spirits, you're soaking with sweat. You were screaming so loud! We thought... Well, we could only assume the worst."

I couldn't think. My chest was heaving and quaking as I tried to catch my breath.

Seeing my distress, he pulled me closely and hugged me protectively. He stroked my hair, whispering that it was just a dream and that everything was okay.

"You need to eat something," Asami suggested, rubbing her hand in circles on my back. "Pema and I have prepared food for everyone."

I was in no mood to eat. I shook my head and held onto Bolin. Asami frowned, but stood and left. I was shaking. Bolin hugged me tighter and said, "You're safe now, Nani. Everything is okay. It was just a dream."

There was only one problem: it wasn't a dream.

Suddenly, loud booms forced tremors through the island. It wasn't another dream, nor was it wasn't my own shaking. I looked up at Bolin, who shared the same horrified expression. We stand from my bed and bolt out into the courtyard, where we meet Mako, Asami, Dakota; Lin and the airbending children were already outside, aghast.

"We heard explosions," Korra said. "What's going on?"

Lin's eyes were glued to the vibrating city. "Republic City is under attack."

Korra spoke urgently. "We need to get in there!"

"You all go," Dakota said. "I'm staying here." This was answered with protests from Korra and Bolin, but she didn't sway from her decision. "I have to stay here to protect my grandmother and the airbenders. Lin shouldn't have to do it on her own."

It was then that I noticed that an unfamiliar elderly woman was standing in the doorway of the temple. Her hair was tied tightly at the back of her head, and she was dressed in a tradition Earth Kingdom robe that matched her aged green eyes.

Mika.

Despite Gran Gran's stories, as well as those of the elder Team Avatar, I had never met Mika Lee, let alone seen her. Now here she was, only a few feet away.

"Let her stay," I said, catching everyone's attention. "We have to save the city."

Mako nodded in agreement.

"Let's go then," I commanded, breaking into a sprint.