Ch. Summary:


Epilogue: Korra and Mako reconnect with a ghost from their past

Notes:

This was inspired mostly by my thoughts of what if the red lotus was more far-reaching, and had more influence? If so Korra would probably not be able to let her guard down anywhere, not knowing who could be a member of the organization after her life.

Epilogue

She was frozen still, her heart pounding blood through her body like water flowing through a broken dam.

The night air was cold and her wet clothes were heavy like lead.

She wiped her wet bangs out of her face, desperately trying to see clearly through the dark and rain. There was a full moon that night; an eclipse, that was blocked by heavy clouds that seemed not to move.

She thought briefly of firebending her own light but dismissed that thought entirely – it was way too big of a risk.

Mako stood by her side like a sentinel; still and focused, radiating tense energy. As per usual he had a cool head during crisis but she knew him too well to be fooled into thinking he was calm.

If anything he was as just as agitated as she was, and she was infinitely grateful for his composure... she felt fear and nausea swelling inside her reaching dangerous heights, and his demeanor was helping keep her anchored.

"Who are you?" she yelled over the sounds of rain hitting pavement. "We don't know why you're keeping us here. You need to let us go before anything you regret happens."

The hooded man turned slightly to face her, or at least her direction, and laughed.

"Anything I regret?"

Mako shot her a look, a keep-your-mouth-shut-for-both-our-sakes look, and she knew it was in her best interest to stay quiet and unnoticed but she felt ready to explode.

If it turned into a fight it turned into a fight – the energy swirling inside her was making her sick.

"I mean that -"

Mako abruptly grabbed her hand and squeezed. He whispered something to her she couldn't hear over the rain but she knew full well was a warning.

"Silent now? Well I'll let you know why I've brought you all here and see if you can't save me some precious time."

The small crowd around Korra and Mako surged with murmurs of anticipation and fear. That did bring Korra back down a bit – she was so worked up she'd almost forgotten anyone else was there.

And truthfully it didn't matter, because as far as the situation was concerned it really was only her and the hooded man standing far up the hill.

Everyone else was a bystander, and she'd seen firsthand what happened to bystanders who ventured too close to her.

"You see, me and my associates are looking for someone who we believe is here now, among you. Well, I shouldn't say we believe. We know full well due to our sources the avatar is here, somewhere in this crowd."

Korra's heart plummeted to her stomach and she gripped Mako's hand firmly for balance.

She knew that voice, she knew who he was, and she had the feeling if he got a good look at her face he would recognize her, no matter how much she may have changed her appearance.

"What are you talking about? The avatar is a Water Tribe girl. We're all Earth Kingdom citizens!" A frightened voice called out from the crowd.

"Living in the Earth Kingdom means nothing. We know she relocated to Ba Sing Se three years ago, and we know she has ties to a family living in the apartment block we pulled you from. And we know how to make her reveal herself."

The sound of rain and frightened murmurs in the crowd blended into ambient noise in Korra's ears.

She felt like she was hovering somewhere distant away from her body, and the sensation of Mako's hand around hers was all but unnoticeable.

Three years wasted...

The hooded man raised his arms to silence the crowd, then gestured to someone behind him who was concealed in the darkness.

There was the unmistakable sound of a car door opening, and the nervous tension in the crowd rose to a fever pitch.

"Don't be alarmed; I'm not going to do anything to harm any of you. And I'm going to take this opportunity now to say this : if the avatar steps forward now we can stop all of this. I promise not to harm the avatar, only take her into custody. I won't make this offer again."

Korra's head was spinning.

Should I turn myself in? He said he wasn't going to harm anyone so he must have some kind of leverage.

She couldn't imagine what it could be – she knew for a fact her parents were safe in the south pole, and

she knew that her extended family in Zaofu were safe as she'd spoken to Suyin and Tenzin personally only hours ago.

Mako's family was visiting Bolin in the North Pole for his movie premiere so they were definitely out of harm's way unless her captor had the means to travel from Ba Sing Se to the North Pole in record breaking time.

She was pulled back to reality by Mako, who leaned down discreetly enough to speak quietly to her.

"He must be planning to use a hostage to bait you. Do nothing, Korra. You have to keep your cool here, alright?"

She nodded, keeping her face downcast in case the hooded man caught a glimpse of her (it was unlikely in the darkness but it was better not to take chances).

"Nothing? Alright, I gave you the chance. Bring the girl."

Korra could hear fumbling, and then the sounds of feet hitting the pavement, presumably someone stepping out of the open car.

The footsteps came closer and Korra could see the silhouette of a man stepping towards them, carrying what was clearly an unconscious body.

"Keep your cool. Your cover can't be blown here."

The man who approached them stopped a few feet in front of the crowd and let the body hit the ground with a hard, wet thud that made Korra sick to her stomach.

Who was it?

She was racking her mind but no possibilities came up.

After the incident three years ago she became very sure to keep tabs on her loved ones and everyone in her mind was coming up safe.

Maybe it was a bluff.

"As I stated before when you were brought here and removed your blindfolds, you are to remain quiet. If you scream for attention you'll be ended, and swiftly. Keep silent and you're safe."

As sudden as anything, the car headlights were turned on and it was blinding.

The crowd gasped and recoiled, covering their eyes in distress.

Mako recovered the fastest, and Korra heard him exclaim loudly in anger and surprise; his hand firmly gripping hers.

"Korra!"

Squinting through the rain with her eyes still adjusting to the bright headlights glaring in her face, Korra focused on the body on the wet ground, which was beginning to stir and groan in pain.

She could tell it was a woman, but she couldn't see well enough to decipher who it was...long hair, pale skin -

Her stomach flipped hideously in her stomach as realization dawned on Korra like a monstrous wave.

There was a ghost laying in front of her – someone who by no rights should even be alive but Korra could see now clear as day.

The years had changed her, surely, but Korra could never forget a face she thought about almost every waking moment of her life for the past three years.

She carried the guilt of what happened with her for so long she'd recognize this particular ghost no matter what.

She didn't know how it was possible but Asami Sato was laying on the ground only feet away from her...alive, not dead.

In the span of seconds Asami had gone from a painful memory of Korra's past and her own foolish mistake to a living, breathing woman she could see with her own eyes.

The rush of emotions was indescribable – there was of course the happiness and disbelief that Asami was alive and within reach – but also the very sharp boiling rage of seeing her condition.

Metal bands were clamped firmly around her wrists, ankles and mouth, and she was clearly in pain.

In pain, but alive.

Asami's eyes fluttered and narrowed, adjusting to the high beams and scanning the crowd for faces...and once her eyes locked with Korra's the expression that came over her face was enough to make Korra cry.

Asami yelled something which was muffled by the rain and the metal band around her mouth as tears ran down her face almost instantly.

With a sudden deft movement, the hooded man metalbent the bands, causing Asami to be lifted up in the air, dripping rainwater and mud.

"Step forward now avatar, or else we'll kill your friend here in front of you!"

He removed the band from her mouth to her throat hard enough to make Asami's face contort in pain and shock.

Korra panicked, looking to Mako with her vision blurred by tears.

She saw from his face he was just as panicked as she was, and that was all the push she needed.

In that moment there was nothing left to do and he knew it too.

Korra metalbent the bands away from Asami and cushioned her fall with a blast of air and Mako yelled for the crowd to run.

The air blew the hoods off of the two men flanking Asami, and she saw he earlier suspicion was true.

Korra didn't recognize the man who had pulled Asami out of the car, but she recognized the man who tried to choke Asami as if she'd seen him only yesterday despite the fact that it had been almost three years.

It was none other than Aiwei, looking severely angry and disgruntled.

He caught her gaze as soon as his hood flew off and at once his look of anger turned into what Korra could only describe as glee.

"She's there! Ignore the rest and grab her!"

The crowd ran screaming as the second hooded man shot two blasts of fire at Korra, who dodged it easily, never taking her eyes off Asami.

She was choking and sputtering as she shakily got on her feet.

Before Korra got the chance to yell to Mako he was already on the move, rushing towards the hooded firebender sending volley after volley after of fire.

"Asami get down! Stay low!"

Aiwei's partner was good but he was no match for Mako – within seconds he easily drove him back towards the car. It was foolish but for a moment Korra thought it would all work out – it was two on two and so far she and Mako weren't doing poorly at all.

Korra made to rush for Asami and was stopped by Aiwei attempting to hurl one of the metal bands over her wrists.

She dodged and slipped in the mud but managed to keep her footing.

She lunged at Aiwei, readying a blast of fire.

She had something three years in the making to gift him.