Chapter 1
Mako hadn't wanted to go to the Northern Water Tribe. True, he'd never been there before, but he was absolutely positive that he didn't want to go. For one, it was cold. Mako hated cold. Well, hate was a strong word. He disliked cold. He didn't want to be in the cold constantly. Also, his experience in the Southern Water tribe hadn't exactly been pleasant. Inadvertently helping start a war wasn't exactly a good experience. But the real reason that he hadn't exactly been exited about going was the rulers. Oh, the rulers. Desna and Eska, twins and the current co-chiefs of the Northern Water Tribe, and, in Mako's opinion, complete sociopaths. Sure, they had helped him and his friends fight Vaatu at the Harmonic Convergence, but it had been the end of the world. Anyone in their right minds would have helped them, but Desna and Eska had actually taken some convincing. Also, the fact that Eska had briefly dated his brother Bolin didn't help. That relationship had been... unhealthy, to say the least. If it had been up to Mako, he wouldn't be here. His already-present scowl only deepened as he thought back upon how he had been dragged into this.
"Mako, buddy, come on! It'll only be for a few weeks!" "Only a few weeks?" Mako intoned sarcastically towards the annoying- but all too familiar- visitor to his apartment. "Yeah! And it's basically a free vacation! We get top-class lodging, free food, a full tour- you name it!" Mako sighed. "Yeah, yeah, I get it Wu. Your new job as a... diplomatic whatever gets you the round trip everywhere. But I have something of an unpleasant history with the..." "Pleeeeeeaaaaassssseeeeee, Mako?" Wu said, his voice reaching a lower tone "It'll be just like old times." Mako raised his eyebrows. "Like when we went to a restaurant and you got kidnapped while trying to go to the bathroom?" Wu instantly perked up, "Yeah! Exactly like that!" he said, apparently oblivious to the negative connotations of the statement. "See! You gotta come! Besides, who else is gonna protect me?" "Why do you even need a bodyguard for this trip anyway?" Mako asked incredulously. "Well, the white lotus told me I should take a bodyguard on my diplomatic missions because there are some of Kuvira's old followers who might just want to kill me because I opposed her." He said matter-of-factually, apparently not bothered by the implication that he could be in danger. "And besides, everyone knows that diplomats need bodyguards!" Mako sighed. "I don't know, Wu" he said apologetically. "I have work to..." "Oh! I took care of that! Chief Beifong already agreed to give you vacation days!"
Mako's eyes went wide.
He took a deep breath.
The scream of "YOU DID WHAT?" could be heard down the road for miles.
…
"He said that he had already approved it with you..." "You couldn't possibly have believed him, Lin! I mean, Chief!" Lin sighed. "Kid, you can call me Lin. I already told you that." Mako sat back in his chair. "You didn't seriously believe him, did you, Chief?" No, I didn't." "Then why'd you agree to it? He's not royalty anymore!" Lin looked Mako straight in his eyes. "Kid, I hate to tell you this, but you need it." Mako sat back, shocked. "I need it? How could I possibly need that? Have you met the chiefs of the North?" "Calm down, kid" Lin said. "You need a break. From here, I mean." she gestured around the police station. "What! A break from here? I love it here, Lin! This is like a second home to me!" "Exactly. And that's the problem." seeing Mako's inquisitive look, Lin continued. "Ever since the attack on Republic City, even before your arm healed, you've been spending more and more time here. You never get out, you spend your days looking through case files, and you hardly hang out with your friends anymore. You could use a change of scenery." Mako grumbled. "Seriously? What am I going to do in the Northern Water Tribe? Sure, Wu's a friend and all, but you know him... and the rulers..." he grimaced at the thought of having to spend any more time with Desna or Eska. "Explore the city" Lin offered. "Make new friends. Maybe you'll even meet a girl." Mako rolled his eyes. "There you go again. Why are you so interested in getting me a new girlfriend? After my last two I think should probably just sit the dating game out a while." "And how long is a while?" Lin probed. "Listen kid, you've gotta decide if this is the life you really want. Take it from someone who's been there. Now go enjoy yourself." Lin turned around and walked out of the room, leaving Mako to ponder his fate.
….
As Mako departed the airship taking him and Wu to the Northern Water Tribe, he pondered what Lin could have meant. His thoughts were cut short when Wu grabbed him by the arm and pulled him over to a rather impressive ice sculpture. "Mako! Look at this! There was never anything like this in the Earth Kingdom!" "Oof! It's, uh, impressive, Wu." Mako stated, still thinking of other things. "But now, let's get the best part out of the way! We're going to the palace to meet the royals!"
Mako went rigid from the thought.
...
Hi. Wanted to write this story because I don't think Mako gets enough appreciation. There's just so much that can be explored with his character, and I'm going to try to do it. Just the first chapter of a multi-chapter story. Constructive criticism appreciated.