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LEIs POV

Ever since the mention of Bolin and Bumi's idea, they have been working hard for us to give the people a performance they would remember. Unfortunately, I was dragged into doing the performance with them. Mako said it wouldn't be that bad and assured me that it would be it would be over before we knew it, although I knew he didn't want to do it either. At our next stop, Bolin had gathered people from the earth kingdom village to witness the performance. Tenzin was standing on the steps, with his back against the crowd. I was standing right next to Mako in the middle of the crowd, waiting for our cue. Everyone else were standing right next to the foot of the bridge to the airship.

"Come one! Come all! And witness the amazing airbenders! An airbending show that will leave you breathless, WITH WIND," Bolin shouted, as the crowd approached us. He had a funny accent and was wearing the most ridiculous fake mustache, but it's Bolin, at this point, I'm not surprised anymore. "First up! The tattooed master himself, you know him as the son of Avatar Aang, he shaves every single strand of hair on his head every single day, it's the one, the only, TENZIN!!"

Tenzin turned around, with his cloak off, leaving him shirtless in front of the crowd. He jumped from the steps and created a circle of air that allowed him to travel in between, as he circled the crowd, who was giving them awe and loud cheers. Mako lead me to another position in the crowd where we are supposed to come out, and waited for Bolin to cue us.

Bolin closely approached the crowd as he said, "Now, ladies and gentlemen, please be quiet. We have serious news, we've heard that two firebending convicts have been spotted near here. I don't wanna panic anyone but do you see one firebender with a red scarf and one with dual broadswords??"

Everyone turned to us, Mako and I wanted to get out of this really bad without embarrassing ourselves but if it's a show they want, then I'll give them a show. Suddenly, a man shouted, "I see them, they're right there,"

Mako and I made our way to the front of the crowd, as they gasped. I rolled my eyes and started walking ahead. I said without any emotion, "We are the escaped convicts, and you will all breath our fire,"

Suddenly, I sent a medium-sized fire comet into the sky above me, while Mako fire punched it, making it explode in the sky. Bolin started, "Oh no! who will help us?"

"I will! With my airbending skills," Korra said strongly, as she created an air tornado right for Mako and I. I sighed in frustration as I saw it coming my way. Suddenly, Mako and I were lifted above the ground, spinning in the air, which was not part of our plan at all.

"Hey! This is not what we rehearsed!" Mako shouted angrily, as we kept spinning. I saw Korra and Asami laughing. I groaned in frustration and shouted, "When I get down from here, Korra, you'll know what's coming!"

"With the power of airbending, even this beast can float!" Bolin announced, as Oogie flew a few turns in the sky. Korra put Mako and I down, and I approached her and gave her a small smakc on the arm. Bumi came out and started airbending, sending small gusts of air from his palms, "Look what can be done in only a few short weeks of practice,"

Suddenly, Jinora came flying from the sky on her glider and landed on the top of the fountain, earning a few cheers from the crowd, "Don't worry, folks, she may be young but she is in full control,"

"Ladies and gentlemen, if you or anyone you know is an airbender, please send them our way. Master Tenzin and Avatar Korra would love to teach them all they know," Bolin announced, as performance came to an end. The crowd started walking away from the airship, and a little boy was running up to us.

"Hey, if you're looking for airbenders, well, you just found one," the little boy said, as he sent a few gust of airs to his side then stood straight once more, "I wanna join you guys,"

"Get out of town!" Bolin exclaimed the metaphor.

"We got our first recruit," Korra said happily, Tenzin looked relieved.

"Just to be totally clear, we're gonna be heading to Ba Sing Se then to the Northern Air temple to live as nomads and rebuild the air nation, all that sound good to you?" Korra explained and asked the boy.

"Yeah, Ba Sing Se, rebuild Air Temple, Air Nomad whatever you do, I'm in! but can we have to leave like right now," the little boy said quickly, I raised my eyebrow in suspision to this kid.

"So Great! You're gonna love it, uh, real quick what's your name?" Bolin asked, as he croutched down to the boy's height.

"Kai. So, when do we hit the road?" Kai asked.

"Hang on a second, Kai. Where are your parents? We can't have you with us without their permission," Tenzin said, I noticed his smile faded.

"My parents are.....gone," Kai said softly, my heart broke into a million pieces for the boy.

"You're an orphan?" Bolin asked softly, knowing he knew where this kid came from, because him and Mako went through the same thing. I was lucky enough to be born in the palace, but living without even having a single conversation with my parents still break my heart to this day.

"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 told me that they would protect me and they did. My parents saved me and the entire village, but they died in the fight. My mom and papa meant everything to me, they were my whole life. Ever since then, I've been on my own and on the run. Those same outlaws are still after me," Kai explained, leaving Bolin to shed a tear.

"Well, you don't have to run anymore," Bolin ensured Kai, "Right guys? Tell him,"

I approached Kai, and kneeled so I was the same height as him, "We're your new family, Kai. You don't have to be alone anymore," I said softly and he smiled at me.

"I'm sorry about your parents, Kai. I know we could never replace them, but we're here for you," Tenzin said, as he placed his hand on Kai's shoulder, from behind me.

"With us, you'll be safe. Come on," Korra said, as she walked up the bridge into the airship. I stood up and wrapped my arm around Kai's shoulder leading him inside. Mako was walking behind me and shut the door.

"Guys, I think we got trouble," Mako said, I turned around and approached him to see a few people on motorbikes stopping in front of the airship through the window of the door.

"Release the boy, or we'll take him by force," one man said. Suddenly, four other men came up to the man's side and earth bended boulders, getting ready to strike our doors at any moment.

"The outlaws! They're after me!" Kai said shakily, as he came up to my side and hugged my waist, "We have to get out of here,"

"We're not running from anyone," Korra said sternly, as she looked at me. I spoke up, "We are certainly not leaving here until I give these outlaws a piece of my mind,"

I opened the front door of the airship opening, with Korra and I standing side by side together. Korra spoke up, "If you want Kai, you'll have to go through us,"

"And I assure you it won't be that easy," I smirked, as I took the first shot, sending a large lighting blast in front of them to distract them. The four men suddenly threw the boulders right at us, so Korra jumped from where she stood and used her foot to earth bend the boulders into dust. I ran down the stairs as Korra sent the men off their feet with her airbending. Some of them stood up again, I took the ones on the left while Korra dealt with the ones on the right. I was fighting two people on my side. I sent blazing arcs at my opponent with two swift kicks, knocking them back. I looked at Korra who just finished knocking back the leader of the gang.

"Your days of harassing this innocent boy are over. You outlaws are going to prison," Korra announced, as we both approach the leader while we he was down on the ground.

"Outlaws? Innocent boy? I'm the sheriff and these are my deputies, this kid is a thief. What he told you was a lie. We've been chasing him for months," the man said, I glanced at Korra who had the same expression as I did. We turned around and looked at our group behind us.

"Where's Kai?" Korra asked pointedly.

"Right here," Mako said, holding Kai on one hand and Kai's bag on the other, "Caught him trying to slip away,"

"I was going to the bathroom," Kai said quickly, I raised my eyebrow at this kid.

"With your sack of gold?" Mako questioned, as he threw the bag in front of the sheriff, with a few pieces of gold falling on the ground.

"I told you! I found it on the road!" Kai fought back, clearly lying.

"Enough with the lies, kid. I want the truth," Mako said sternly, I crossed my arms at Kai.

"Truth is, he's the outlaw and he spent his entire life as an orphan until he got adopted by a little nice family about six months ago. And how did he repay them? Taking their entire life savings. We've been after him ever since,"

"The person who stole that gold was the old me, but when I got airbending, I changed. I don't know how to explain it, but I feel like airbending chose me for a reason, it's like I'm a new person, I'm sorry! Please! You have to listen to me," Kai said softly, as he started being dragged by the officers. Somehow, a part of me believed what he was saying, even though I knew that what I was about to do was gonna make me probably regret this later on.

"Wait," I said loudly, the officers stopped. I turned to them, crossing my arms, "Where exactly are you taking him? Back to orphanage?"

"No, he's headed to jail," the sheriff replied, I sighed and put my arms down.

"Well, then I'm afraid I can't let you take him," I said, everyone's eyes on me.

Do you really want a new member of an air nation to be a liar and a thief?" Tenzin questioned.

"He just needs some guidance, Tenzin. And who better to give it to him than us?" Korra said, supporting my decision.

"I'm sorry but this kid gave me and my officers a lot of trouble, so we're taking him straight to jail where he belongs," the sheriff said sternly.

"Well, we're taking him anyway, so give him to us," I said sternly, eyeing the sheriff.

"Why exactly should we take orders from you? You aren't the Avatar, you're just a passenger on that airship," the sheriff questioned, I felt my anger rise. Korra was about to speak up, but I held my hand in front of her, stopping her from saying another word.

"I got this, Korra," I said, Korra stepped back and joined the rest of the group behind me.

"Do you not know who I am?" I asked the sheriff and his officers, who exchanged glances with each other, "I am Lei, fire nation princess, and granddaughter of Azula. You will give me that boy or I will take him by force. You already know what I'm capable of,"

The sheriff exchanged worried glances with his officers, he bowed in front of me and said shakily, "Terribly sorry, your highness. You may have the boy,"

I smiled in victory, as they released Kai, who came up to me and hugged me tightly so I hugged him back, "Thank you," he said.

"Don't make me regret this, kid," I said warningly, he smiled up at me.

"Welcome to the family, bro!" Bolin said happily, as he hugged Kai and I.

We headed up to the airship, Mako waited at the bottom making sure everyone got on first. Kai and I were the last to come up, Kai was walking behind me. I turned around to see him being stopped by Mako, I raised my eyebrow in curiosity. I was in a safe distance to hear what Mako was saying.

"Listen, kid. I just want you to know that I'm gonna be watching you. I know exactly what you're all about because I've been there before, you don't have me fooled," I heard Mako say.

"Woah, hey lighten up. I'm turning over a new leaf, making a change. Don't you worry about me," Kai said defensively, as he continued walking up the ramp.

I looked at Mako and smiled at him as he walked up to me on the ramp, he asked, "What?"

"Just give the kid a chance, would you?" I said, trying to convince him, as we boarded the airship. He rolled his eyes.

"You may not see it, but I know he's planning something behind our backs," Mako said, I rolled my eyes.

"Come on, we should get settled down before heading to Ba Sing Se," I said, as we made our way inside the dormitory floor.

(A/N: lol Mako and Lei as parents 🤭)

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AUTHORs POV

Somewhere, in a dungeon near the Fire Nation, surrounded by grounds of ash and molten lava, stood Lord Zuko looking down at the dungeon that was meant to keep a very strong waterbender, who was part of four member group. Three of them had already escaped, Lord Zuko grew worrisome with every passing moment.

"They came out of nowhere, I'm so sorry, Lord Zuko," a white Lotus officer said, as he bowed to Zuko.

"How could you let this happen?" Lord Zuko said, anger and worry evident in his voice.

"They caught us by surprise, and Zaheer is an airbender now," the white lotus officer said,  Zuko widened his eyes and turned to the officer.

"No, this can't be. Do you have any idea the power that these criminals possess? Individally, they can take down any bender, put them all together and they can take down the entire world," Lord Zuko explained, "And now you're telling me that their leader is an airbender?"

"We can track them," the white lotus officer said.

"We don't need to track them, I know exactly where they're going next," Lord Zuko said, as he started walking to the exit of the dungeon.

"Notify the new chief of the Northern water tribe that an attack on their prison is imminent. Also, send word to Beifong in Republic City. The Avatar must be protected," Lord Zuko continued, as he mounted his dragon. He grew even more worried, knowing Lei was with the Avatar. He needed to send word to her as well.

"Where are you going?" the white lotus officer asked, Lord Zuko's dragon started flying above the air.

"To stop them,"

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AUTHORs NOTE:
This chapter was edited but nothing from the storyline has been changed.

PUBLISHED: September 28, 2019