{"Echo" Noun: a sound or series of sounds caused by the reflection of sound waves from a surface back to the listener.}
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(Post Book Two)
Prologue: Screams
It all happened too fast.
So fast that, in the dead of night when the phantoms dance around his room, Mako thinks he may not remember so much of that actual moment, but more so of the echos in-between Korra's screams, and the shadows of her skull cracking against the pavement.
Either way, he should have stopped it.
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He thought the Earth Kingdom was a safe place; naive to the particular corrupt (secret) society that still lingered after generations.
But the world was changing, and with it, the people. He guesses no matter where they go, that people and Spirits will always be at odds; two weeks mingling with one another is going to take a lot getting used to after 10,000 years in separate realms.
Mako hears talk on the streets, snickers of if the Avatar isn't the bridge anymore, what is the point of having her? To, a freaking bird-spirit-thing- flew in my house last night, and nearly broke everything in it! This never would have happened with Avatar Aang!
Mako gave himself credit for his self- restraint as he went past them, for it took everything inside him not to burnt those disrespectful eyes and smug smiles right off their faces. Mako had, however, given them the coldest look he could create, while bubbling their tea to volcano- explosion level, and smiled at their shocked yelps; Ta, and La, now there's evil tea Spirits!
Of course, if there is anything that he's learned recently, it's that there are two sides to everything, and they are not always so black and white.
The Water Tribes ( mainly the Southern) worshiped Korra for ending the war between the North and South, and with the New Age that she created, many people loved her even more.
That is, needles to say, other people, felt very differently about this whole 'New Age' and would take every opportunity to let the Avatar know it.
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So he really shouldn't have been surprised when the attack happened. But when it did, he was too weak and outnumbered to do anything to help her.
He would relive this moment for the rest of his life.
He can't remember how many of them there were, but he knows they all come out of nowhere- underneath the ground- and where fast. In hindsight, he finds himself stupid- really stupid- to have been alone with her in a city where threats to her were being quite clear. (And why had they been alone together anyway? He finds it crazy that, up until that day, for the two weeks prior that they've been broken up, that he couldn't muster up the courage to be in the same room as her, much less say her name. He really doesn't remember what painful trick of the Spirits led them to be both alone together in the abandoned alleys of Ba Sing Sa, when the smell of her alone was nearly enough to make him wrap her in his arms and kiss her, beg her for him back, beg for forgiveness.)
But that doesn't matter now.
She'll never be able to hear his voice again.
He was stupid, so, so stupid.
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He goes down before he even knows what hit him.
His spine meets the wall, the wind rushing out of him, leaving him no breath to scream her name in warning.
He tries to move, but his limbs are bound to the wall by rock- hand cuffs, his vision is still a bit hazy.
Four- no six- no ten- earthbenders crack the ground all around her, boulders flying that she just narrowly dodges.
Use your earthbending! he tries to yell, but his mouth is think with dust, and he gets a whip to the stomach when a pathetic amount of flame leaves his lips in an attempt at defense.
"Mako!"
He can only watch helpless, afraid, eight years old again, as Korra ascends in the air, dodging their attacks. Flames flying out of her hands, but not strong enough to break their perfectly sculpted barrier walls that fling up not a moment too late. And-where they even made of earth? It was like no earth he had ever seen, not even from Beifong; the color like a white cream, with speaks of black, creating an outside coating that looked impenetrable.
"Your time is up, Avatar!" The one who had whipped him, snarled, "You think you've saved our world, but you only sentenced it to more destruction! You were never The Bridge, little girl! Only a pathetic excuse for an Avatar who couldn't even keep peace between her own people! You coming to the Earth Kingdom will only make your reincarnation easier to find!" He yells. A boulder strikes Korra in the stomach, and she screams.
Mako snarls.
Hot acid burns inside him. He sees red.
Korra groans, slowly getting up, her world swaying. Korra's confidence is weakening now, he can see. She flinches under the words that she believes is true. But she takes an earthbending stance, ready to go on the defensive, but not before looking back at him with flickering eyes.
"Korra!," He rasps, "Are you okay? Get me down! Use your bending to free me, so I can help! Please!" he begs. Why was she doing this alone? Who was she trying to prove?
She gives him a pained look-quickly punches her hand out, crumpling a boulder into smithereens with her hand- before replying, her voice strained, "I'm sorry, Mako, but no. You've already done so much for me, more than I can ever repay. I've already put you and everyone else in harm's way, I'm not letting anyone else get hurt because of me. It's time I fight my own battles."
"And you don't think facing Vattuu and saving the world from internal darkness was good enough?!" he exclaims, eyes desperate, "Korra, please, this is crazy! Get me down- Korra!"
He would never forget the horrible laughter that came from the man, how sharp the pointed rock was that nearly missed piercing her heart, or how loud her skull echoed as it hit the pavement.
Her cry was sharp and bitter as blood;then silent, and all that was left were his grunts against his binds and him screaming her name.
He still remembers to this day, weeks later as he lays by her bed, her eyes still closed, her world still silent in her comatose state, how red her blood was, how it was everywhere.
He recalls, somehow, his own fire possessing him from within, the dragon clawing itself to the surface. His flames ripping from his mouth, his hands, his feet, nearly making his skin bleed with the heat of it. He remembers how all those men looked as they fell, there bodies all burnt, never moving again. He remembers how his little brother had to nearly knock him out, drag him away kicking and screaming as the doctors took her away to the hospital.
But what he does forget, is when it became her job to protect him, and not the other way around.
He guesses his love went in one ear, and out the other.
Now all he has left are his empty promises.
"Please, wake up, Korra...Please..."
Hey, guys, sorry that this was so depressing- wait, who am I kidding? I always write angty, depressing stuff!
Anyway, this story is going to be very action-y, and lots of stuff is going to happen to a lot of the main characters as they wait for Korra to wake up- *gasps* if she ever wakes up! jk, she will- but not without some difficulties.
Yeah, lots of little plots are gonna happen, and when Korra does wake up...what's gonna happen for Makorra...? :0
Thanks again, and please review! :)