A/N: And the Dynamic Duo is back again! BG-13 and I have come up with this new story that will be Korrasami and a very dark turn on the events of Hunchback of Notre Dame. Please R&R! Tell us what you think!
Senna cradled her bump as she ran, desperately trying to get away from the ostrich-horse behind her. For months the woman had happily waited until her stomach actually started showing, her bump a constant reminder of the love between her husband and her. But not all was what she had expected when she married Tonraq. The young woman hadn't known how perverted and sadistic his brother was, a cruel lesson she had learned.
Shortly after they eloped, the Southern Tribe woman and her new husband moved to the city, away from the Chief and the growing unrest in the surrounding villages. She had been so happy for the following months. But then Unalaq made an unexpected appearance and after a heated argument had imprisoned his brother before his young wife was able to tell him she was expecting.
Taking advantage of his brother's absence, Unalaq acted on his lust for the younger woman. Senna fought, tooth and nail, trying to escape but no matter how much she struggled and after a few hits she was forced to remain still as he ravished her, being everything but gentle. When the deed was done, he left a roll of Yuans, thanking her for her service and performance, a sick and twisted smirk on his face.
Now just months after he had gone to see her, looking for a second opportunity to explore her flesh he found her with child. The Chief of the Water Tribes immediately thought about his night with the young woman, and his heart yet again took a darker turn. No one would know about his affair. His image depended on it.
Sensing his intentions, the soon to be mother had escaped and sought sanctuary at the only place that hadn't been touched by the sadistic man. For years he had slowly been 'cleansing' the world of Benders, a race he blamed for the bloodshed of worlds. Airbenders, being spiritual beings and lacking numbers, he had left them alone and although they were not allowed to practice their Bending, offered refuge to those in need.
"Sanctuary! Please give me sanctuary!" the soon to be mother cried as she beat her hands on the wooden doors, begging the Spirits for mercy as the ostrich-horse came to a stop.
She tried to run again but Unalaq cut her off, pulling a knife as he did. The young woman wrapped an arm around her torso, pleading, begging, imploring him, but that didn't discourage his advance. His virtue and reputation had to remain intact. That child would not be born. So with no hesitation he plunged the knife into her torso, earning a cry of pain from her. He watched as she slumped to the floor before leaving her just as the door to the temple opened.
Tenzin's eyes widened in horror as he watched the pregnant woman bleed before he lifted her up in his arms and brought her inside. The Airbending master had been at his dying father's side until he'd heard the pounding on the door. He knew times were hard, Tonraq having arrived just hours before his wife, though in much better condition.
"Get Kya!" the Airbender instructed an acolyte as he held the young woman's hand.
"My baby! I can't feel my baby!" Senna sobbed, trying to ignore the pain.
"Senna?" a familiar voice called before going to her side, taking over for Tenzin. "What happened?"
"The baby, please, the baby."
"You're going to be okay," her husband soothed. "I'm right here. Where is Kya?"
"I'm right here," the Waterbender answered, kneeling down to check the wound, a watery and glowing hand rubbing against the bump. "The baby is in distress, I have to get them out."
"She's bleeding," Tonraq answered. "You need to heal her-"
"If I don't get the baby out, you're going to lose them both." The man's eyes widened and she shook her head sadly. "I'm sorry."
"Take them out!"
"No, I can't." He stopped trying to push back the tears. "I can't lose you."
"It's our baby," Senna answered. "Please. I want to hold them."
With a reluctant nod Kya began to perform a c-section that she knew would kill the mother, but there was no time. The knife had punctured the placenta, there was no going back. Senna screamed as her midsection was torn, feeling herself slip away but wanting to hang on enough for her to see her child.
Soon a wail broke through the air and the Waterbender smiled as she wrapped the child in a cloth, not missing the cut on their jaw. However, knowing time was running out for the mother, she handed her the wailing child, feeling a squeeze on her shoulder, sharing a smile with her younger brother.
"It's a girl," Tonraq noted quietly, watching as his wife looked over the newborn. "Name your child."
"Korra," his wife whispered, pressing a gentle kiss on her daughter's forehead before looking up at her husband. "She's our child, Tonraq. She's ours." He let out a choked sob in response, reluctantly taking the fussing infant into his arms as Senna leaned into his shoulder, hand caressing the baby's cheek. "She's so beautiful...I...love..."
Her hand slumped and Kya quickly took the child as Tonraq turned to his wife, asking her, begging her to open her eyes to no avail. He cradled the woman's body in his arms, his sobs echoing throughout the temple. The Water Tribe woman and Airbender watched quietly, the older of the two trying to heal the cut on the infant's jaw just as their older brother walked in. He met their gazes and shook his head sadly, earning a choked sob from the pair. Their father had passed.
But that night the infant just born minutes earlier had lost more than anyone. A mother and a father. Because even as Tonraq held his wife's lifeless body, his mind had already began planning on how he'd make his brother pay.
Yasuko cringed as she felt Unalaq's fingers caress her side. The sweat from both their bodies was still clinging to her skin. His breath brushed by her ear and she held back a whimper just as a light knock came from the door. The Waterbender let out an irritated sigh before getting up and pulling his pants on, opening the door.
"I thought I told you not to interrupt me."
"We have information on your brother's location, sir," the Captain of the guard replied. not even reacting to the activity they had knowingly interrupted. "You told me that would be the only reason to interrupt you."
The Chief rubbed his chin thoughtfully before nodding, asking his Captain to wait as he finished dressing. He promised the naked woman in the bed that he wouldn't take long, and told her to keep warm for him. Yasuko barely managed not empty her stomach at the comment.
As soon as the man left she stood, putting her robe on, trying to keep her hands from shaking as she did. She couldn't believe this had happened to her. Just a few hours ago she was happy, enjoying the day with her husband and daughter. The eight year old had sat on the table, watching as her father tinkered with Spirits knew what. She had just finished making sandwiches and placing them on the table when the guards barged in.
For years the industrialist's wife had been helping smuggle Benders out of the city or helping them reach sanctuary. The war against Benders was brutal and despite being a Nonbender herself, she did not approve of mass genocide. However, when Unalaq's men invaded her home she realized she had been discovered and begged for mercy for her child and husband.
The Chief had agreed but this had come with a terrible price. So now, finding herself alone, the echo of her rapist and his grunts fresh in her mind she decided there would be no living after this. She stumbled to the bathroom, her whole body trembling as she went through the different prescriptions, trying to find what she was looking for.
She heard a whimper and jumped, finally noticing her child curled in the corner, hands pressed against her ears, eyes screwed shut. Yasuko knelt down on the floor, reaching out to wipe away the child's tears. Asami opened her eyes, immediately flinging herself into her mother, arms wrapping around her neck.
"Mom, I'm scared," the eight year old whimpered.
"I know," her mother answered, hugging her tightly. "But it's all going to be over soon."
"Where's Daddy? What does that man want?"
"Listen to me, Asami. I-I'm going to leave for some time."
The child whimpered, shaking her head and Yasuko barely managed to keep the tears at bay. But the sin that had been stamped on her... A holy whore, Unalaq had called her. She couldn't live with it. Even now the fresh tattoo burned into her pale flesh, it was just too much pain.
"I can't live like this," she continued caressing her daughter's cheek. "One day you'll understand and I hope you can forgive me." She managed a smile, kissing her daughter's forehead. She was being a coward, she knew that. "But before I go I wish that you will have the courage I never had and always be kind to those who need it, my dear Asami. Always."
"I don't understand."
A soft smile. "You don't have to today. Now I want you to close your eyes and whatever you do...don't look."
With those final words Yasuko sat the girl back on the floor, even when Asami tried to cling to her, and headed back to the bedroom and emptied out the bottle of pills, swallowing them whole and using the glass of water next to her. It was enough to kill her three times over and death came quickly.
When Unalaq returned just minutes after and he found her lifeless body, he growled in annoyance before spotting the eight year old sitting on the bathroom floor. He grinned to himself, grabbing her and leading her out of the room, asking his Captain to look after her for the time being.
Perhaps one day she'd be of use to him.
Tonraq's POV
I watched as Korra tracked down the man I had let loose in the forest for today's exercise. I had to admit she was fast and talented, able to track down anyone in the matter of minutes. Not to mention this was her favorite routine.
After her birth and my wife's death I had decided to leave the city with her, not exactly sure what the future had in store for us. Senna had been buried as if she were still pregnant and only a handful of people knew the child had been born. I didn't know it then but having Unalaq think the baby had died would give me an upper hand when the time came for me to return and repay him for all he'd done to me and my wife.
My brother and I had never seen eye to eye. I was the oldest, my father's favorite, and true heir to the Tribes. However, upon the arrival of a hunting expedition he claimed our father had left him in charge. I didn't believe him and tried to fight for what was rightfully mine but he had already brainwashed the council into appointing him Chief so I left my home and never turned back.
I arrived to the South Pole a couple of weeks after he stole the throne and fell in love with the woman of my dreams. Senna. Spirits, she was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. Her blue eyes shined in a way I had never seen and I had completely fallen in love with her smile. We were soon married and moved to Republic City, trying to have a family of our own. But our happiness didn't last.
Unalaq found me once again, claiming he wanted to fix our relationship but his glances towards my wife let me know what he really wanted. I had nearly ripped his head off then and there but of course that was what he'd wanted. He threw me in prison and soon after strengthened his anti-Bending revolution. He claimed that the Spirits had reached out to him and asked him to eradicate all Benders but I knew better. Unalaq was everything but a holy man. He was even lying to the people, claiming he himself was a Nonbender.
Soon after my imprisonment my wife told me about how he'd taken advantage of her and revealed herself to be pregnant. I was in a blind rage and I said things to her I didn't mean. The night I apologized for my actions was the last I spent with her and it still haunted me to this very day.
I took a deep breath, readying myself with my bow as the man came into view followed by the girl. Within the blink of an eye I released the arrow aimed at her heart but before it could hit she caught it, snapping it in half. She was everything I expected after years of training. Not long after she reached her prey, grabbing him by the neck and tossing him at my feet.
I crossed my arms over my chest in response. Just a few days ago she had gotten a letter from Unalaq accepting her as his personal Captain. Without knowing who she was it was the perfect opportunity to put my plan in motion.
"What is your mission?" I asked.
Korra's normally blue eyes tinged red and she held a hand out, palm up and open. The man suddenly seized, grasping at his chest, almost clawing at it as if to get rid of the invisible grip. The brunette slowly closed her fist, and blood oozed out of the man's mouth before he collapsed to the ground, eyes already beginning to glaze. Korra stared blankly at the corpse she had Bloodbended.
"Kill Unalaq. No matter the cost."
