Legend of Korra

Aftermath

Authors Note

This fanfiction takes place immediately after the defeat of Zaheer and the Red Lotus. This story came by a whim and because, well, GODDAMIT AFTER WATCHING THAT FINALE WOULDNT YOU NEED SOME CLOSURE TOO?! I MEAN ITS NOT LIKE MY FEELS ARE OF ANY IMPORTANCE IN THE MATTER!*ahem* (regains composure.) This is the fanfiction that was inspired by the intensely thrilling, brilliantly superb Book 3 finale of The Legend of Korra.

**I GOTA-93 claim no rights to Avatar: The Last Airbender, or The Legend of Korra or any other related franchise thereof. **

"Shes alive!" Bolin shouted.

"But barely..." Mako whispered, almost afraid that if his words would be enough to send her teetering over the edge.

"Korra...say something! Please! Korra!" Tonraq pleaded.

Korra's eyes slowly fluttered open and shut, the light from the sun boring into her blue irises.

"Da...Da..." Korra moaned softly.

"Its okay sweetheart, we got you. No one else is going to hurt you." Tonraq whispered, failing to choke back the tears streaming down his face. "I'm never going to let you go. No one else is going to hurt my little girl."

"I got all of the poison out of her system, but the damage has still been done. She needs to get to a healer NOW." Suyin said.

"What are we supposed to do with this guy?" Kai asked, nodding his head over to where Zaheer was being held captive.

Zaheer shot daggers at the boy for reminding them that he was still trapped in a tomb of rock.

"Suyin, the soldiers and I will handle him. By the way, what happened to the others?" Lin asked.

"Lets just say Ghazan went out in a blaze of glory..." Bolin joked.

"And Ming-Hua met a very...shocking end..." Mako said.

Bolin snickered at his brother's humor. "I was trying to be serious as possible, but I didnt know any other way to put it." Mako sighed.

"We should get back on the airships and the bison. We have plenty of cleaning up to do." Suyin suggested.

Tonraq slowly rose, gently cradling the fragile avatar in his arms. Memories of their times together flooded into his mind, making tears spring anew in his eyes.

"Daddy! I don't wanna train today! I wanna play!" Korra pleaded

"Korra, your mother and I have told you many times that your training is important. You want to be a big and strong avatar, don't you?" Tonraq said.

"Can I train some other day? We were going to go see the polar bear-puppies!"

"Some other time, Korra."

Korra's mouth formed a deep frown and paced outside to where her targets for target practice were and started shooting ice darts at them.

'I wish that I could have let you play all those times you wanted to. I wish I...I wish we..."

"Look Daddy! I caught a big one!" Korra cheered as she held up a large fish more than half her size, and still flailing wildly.

"Hold on to it tight, Korra; You don't want it to slip away!" Tonraq warned, chuckling at how silly she looked clutching the massive fish.

"I got it! Its not going anywhere except-" Korra was cut off by the fish suddenly slapping its fins in her face, causing her to drop it back into the water.

"DADDY! It got away!" Korra shouted, stomping her feet.

"Hahahaha! I told you to hold on to it! Fish are tricky like that!" Tonraq said.

Korra stuck her lips out and crossed her arms in a pout. "I don't wanna fish anymore!"

"Oh Korra, there are plenty of fish left! And you know what? There is always one bigger than the one you had." Tonraq reassured.

"Really?!" Korra asked excitedly.

"you bet'cha." Tonraq replied.

"Well what are we waiting for?! Lets fish some more!" Korra declared plopping down next to her father again.

And as Tonraq promised, they did catch another fish; much bigger than the one before. By that time, Korra was exhausted. Tonraq smiled and hoisted the child onto his back.

"Im tired Daddy...can we go home now?" Korra moaned tiredly.

"Yes sweetheart. We're done for the day." Tonraq answered softly.

' Back then...back then Korra, you weren't the world's savior, the last hope for mankind, you weren't even the avatar back then. Back then, you were just our little girl...Our Korra.' Tonraq thought. 'Can we go back to those days? Those happy, simple days?'

Mako, Bolin and Asami walked together quietly, neither of them wanting to say a word.

Mako looked at Korra, not believing that the same plucky, confident girl he had known for so long was now reduced to nothing but a fragile, raggedy doll.

'How did we let this happen? How did this all get out of hand? That...that monster Zaheer...He'd better pray that he doesnt get left alone with me, because if he does, I swear I'll...I'll...!' Mako thought, clenching his fists and trying his hardest to contain his rage. Bolin saw this, and put his hand on Mako's shoulder. "Its ok, bro. She'll be okay. We just gotta believe in her."

Mako took a swift breath through his nostrils trying to calm down. He looked over to Asami, who gave him a reassuring smile.

"I hope...with all of my heart... that you're right. If not, I dont think that I could ever forgive myself." Mako said.

"I know someone else I wouldnt forgive..." Asami said, looking towards Zaheer, who was being moved by Suyin and Lin.

When everyone finally reached the airships and bison, Tonraq and Korra, Mako, Bolin, Asami, Suyin and Lin piled into the airships while the airbenders went on the bison heading back to Republic city. During the whole trip, Tonraq did not leave Korra's side on a small cot on the floor. A few hours passed and Mako grew quite restless.

"If you pace anymore, you're gonna wear a hole in the floor bro..." Bolin warned.

"Bolin, not now." Mako snapped.

"Im just saying..." Bolin offered.

"JUST STOP, OKAY?! NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR YOUR JOKES! KORRA IS DYING IN THE NEXT ROOM AND HER WOULD-BE MURDERER IS ON THE SAME SHIP AS US! IM GONNA WEAR ON MORE THAN THE FLOOR!" Mako yelled.

"Dude chill out. We are all upset right now. You just need to stay calm..."

"STAY CALM?! OH I'LL BE CALM. ILL BE CALM AS SOON AS I BURN THAT MONSTER ALIVE FOR WHAT HE DID TO KORRA!" As soon as those words left his mouth, Mako made his way to the door to fulfill his promise.

"MAKO! GET BACK HERE! DONT DO IT!" Bolin called after him, grabbing him from behind. "I'LL KILL HIM! I SWEAR ON MY LIFE I'LL KILL HIM!" Mako roared.

"MAKO! THAT REVENGE IS NOT YOURS TO TAKE! WHAT WOULD KORRA THINK?!"

"WHAT WOULD KORRA THINK!? SHE WOULD WANT ME TO KICK HIS ASS!"

Bolin had had enough. He spun Mako around and landed a heavy hook to his brother's jaw, sending Mako to the ground with a thud. Mako couldnt remember the last time his brother had punched him. But he did remember that when he did, it hurt. A lot.

"Bolin..." Mako muttered when he finally regained his breath.

"Stop acting like this is only affecting you, mako! Literally everyone on this ship is broken up about this! What makes you think that you're special or exclusive in the way that you feel about her?! Bolin shouted.

"Bolin, she...when we were getting ready to save the airbenders, Korra...she was afraid. More afraid than I've ever seen her. But she ran into that battle head on...she put her very life, the lives of all the future and past avatars on the line so that the airbenders could survive. She...she was tortured, Bolin! But she still found strength to fight Zaheer..." mako's eyes sent streams of tears down his face. "I just cant... I just cant stand to look at her...someone so strong...someone who carries the whole world and its troubles on her shoulders without complaint...the one that I love...brought down and reduced to...nothing." Mako whispered.

Bolin sat down next to his brother and wrapped his arms around his shoulders.

"We all love her, Mako. More than you think..." Bolin said looking away. "we need to be strong too. We need to be strong for her. She carries the world on her shoulders, now its our turn to carry her on ours. Because she needs us now, more than ever. Every single one of us." Bolin assured.

Mako hid his face in his knees, finally letting his tears flow freely.

"Its gonna be okay, bro. Its gonna be okay..." Bolin soothed, feeling tears in his eyes welling up as well. He glanced the dirty window of the airship, making out the outline of Republic City in the dense morning fog.

Sorry if this chapter seemed a little watered down; however, I promise that the next few chapters will have a bit more sustenance. Stay tuned!

~GOTA-93