This fic is also on my tumblr blog where my username is Kuno-chan and my blog name is Dragoness Ramblings.

Disclaimer: Legend of Korra belongs to Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko

Korra: Waiting for the Burnout

The days after the attack blurred together.

The only good thing that came out of the entire debacle was that Nima was not, in fact, dead. However, that was about the extent of it. According to Kai and Jinora, she'd been hiding out in a lesser known room in one of the towers when they found her. Though relieved she was physically okay, Korra still felt the need to see the girl before she could mentally move on to her next problem. Due to Korra's own lack of foresight, Nima had witnessed the deaths of some eighty four people at the temple, including that of her caretaker, Nah Ja.

The three of them took lodging at Zaofu for a couple days just to rest up before they finally flew home. The day after the attack, Korra had every intention to fly out to Zaofu just to see if she could catch Kai and Jinora as well as get some extra information from Su, but apparently that wasn't going to happen on the President's watch.

Walking up the flight of stairs to President Dao's office, Korra was in no mood to deal with the woman. She did not want to hear "I told you so" from her and quite frankly this was not the time. For someone who was supposedly a wise world leader, she had no sense of priority.

When she entered the room Korra exchanged few greetings with the woman.

"President Dao," she closed the door behind her. "You said you wanted to see me."

The woman looked up, blue eyes meeting Korra's own. There was no sense of welcome or even usual politeness and Korra had to resist the incredible urge to sigh. This was going to give her a headache wasn't it?

"I assumed you might want to discuss the events that occurred at the Southern Air Temple," she said, putting her files into her desk. "Seeing as I had foretold something of such a nature."

"Actually, I don't want to discuss it," said Korra shortly. "I want to go out and get some information before I discuss it with anybody of official status. We need information. Not wasted time."

Dao's lip curled back.

"This is a matter of national security, Avatar. We need to secure Republic-"

"I don't work for you," interrupted Korra. "Republic City concerns me, but it's not my only concern. I have a madman with an army sitting out there somewhere in the world who just ordered the attack on a defenseless temple. Almost one hundred people are reported dead. I'm going to say it again and make it clear: I don't have time to waste talking to you. I need to be out there."

"Avatar Korra," Dao stood up and came around her desk. "These "wastes of time" are important. I told you something like this would happen, but would the almighty Avatar listen? No, of course not because you know all. If you had just gone on the offensive against Lord Hanyo-"

"And then what?" snapped Korra. "If I were to wage a full-scale assault against Hanyo on your orders then I'd be attacking him as your unofficial representative and then he'd really have a reason to attack Republic City. He hardly had a reason to attack the temple! Imagine what would have happened if the Avatar and the President of the United Republic of Nations handed him a reason on a silver platter. He has an army. It'd be Kuvira all over again!"

"You could have used the Avatar State to annihilate his army!"

"The Avatar State is not a toy," said Korra, frowning. "And if you hadn't noticed I did end up using the Avatar State against him. The only reason why I even used it was because I had to. I tried to negotiate with him, but apparently he thought it'd be better for him if he just took me hostage. So, yes, that time I did use the Avatar State. Why do you think he left the state of Chong-Yen so quickly? Why do you think he attacked the temple in the first place? I may not have launched a full-scale assault on him, but confronting him was enough to make him, once again in case you didn't hear, attack a temple full of defenseless people. Let me remind you that those people at the temple had no chance."

"Avatar Korra," sighed Dao, rubbing the bridge of her nose. "The temple, while a tragedy, is the least of our concerns right now-"

"It's our biggest concern right now-"

"Avatar Korra, you don't understand!"

"No, you don't understand!"

Korra's voice boomed and she stepped forward. She'd had enough. Though scaring the President wasn't in Korra's intentions she also didn't regret it. There were enough problems in the world without adding the President trying to pull the Avatar on a string for her own whims. Obviously, Dao was just trying to do her job, but she also had a one-track mind and didn't realize that the United Republic of Nations was not the center of the entire world. Hanyo was still out there conquering states. If she didn't get that then that was her problem.

"I don't have time for this and you're not getting that. Me here talking to you about things that don't matter at this moment helps nobody! Worse is that you seem to have no sympathy for the people who just lost their lives and the families of those people. We're not protecting places, Dao, we're protecting people. If you can't get that then maybe the public should have voted your opponent in. At least she might have been able to see what's really important," Korra turned to walk back towards the door. "Then again, I always did feel like there was something fishy about how that election came out."

Only looking at the woman long enough to see the apparent scowl on her face, Korra left the room. Though relieved to finally get away, she was also fuming a little. How could Dao not see that people's lives had been lost? Those who had lost their loved ones destroyed? While she understood looking at the bigger picture, in her years, she'd learned that there would be no bigger picture if not for certain details. People made places and not the other way around.

Rubbing a temple with her fingers, she left the building and was ready to take off to deal with her next problem when someone honked the horn rather loudly. On instinct, she turned and sighed appreciatively at who it was driving up next to her.

Mako got out of the car and walked around to her.

"Hey, sweetie," Korra smiled tiredly. "I thought you were supposed to be at the station?"

"I was," he said, kissing her on the forehead in greeting. "But I remembered you had a meeting with your favorite person and all-"

She almost groaned on cue.

"-I figured I'd come down just to see how you were doing."

"I'm fine. It's everyone else I'm worried about," she said, sighing restlessly. "I mean, Nima's okay apparently, but I still wanted to go to Zaofu and check her out. Though it looks like I'm going to have to wait until they get back. Then, Miss Priority Check back in her office thinks I'm her henchman or something. Not to mention all the grieving families I haven't even been able to see yet. People have been bombarding me with questions non-stop about the attack like I was there and all I want to do is get some information. The radio stations around the city might have picked up bits and pieces from that area. If I can possibly pick up the right pieces then I might be able to see where exactly Hanyo's heading now and even confirm that it was his doing, but it takes time to get to all these places. Nobody knows anything and I'd be able to answer everyone's questions if they'd give me a chance to investigate!"

She leaned her behind up against the car and rubbed her forehead much like she'd seen Tenzin do so often. Mako leaned up next to her.

"Tell me about it," he said. "The station's been getting calls non-stop and the Chief's got everybody on notice, but we're just trying to do the same thing. Everybody's so worried that Hanyo's going to come attack Republic City. The worst part is that we can't really make any promises except assure everyone who calls that the police have the city's safety as their top priority as always."

"Yeah, the President's worried about that too," she said, frowning. "I'll admit she has a point, but how can I protect anyone if nobody lets me go long enough to do the job? She has to understand that if she wants Republic City safe then she needs to stay out of my way unless talking with me is absolutely necessary."

"Sweetheart?"

"...yes?"

"You and I both know you also just don't like her either."

Korra grumbled.

"Do you?"

"Not particularly, but neither do most people it seems," he pushed himself flat onto his feet. "But anyway. Here, eat lunch with me real quick before we have to go back on crisis duty."

"I can't," she said, doing the same thing. "I really need to get back to it. The longer I stand around the longer nothing gets done."

"And the longer you wait to eat the less you'll be able to concentrate," said Mako, frowning worriedly. "Korra, I know you want to jump into action, but... I hate to say it. There's nothing any of us can do immediately. You only ate a meat bun before you left the house this morning. That was what? Five hours ago and you've been going non-stop since? You need your strength. Here, I grabbed some noodles from that water tribe joint on the way here. Just eat up for like ten minutes so you don't burn out."

Thinking about it for a second, Korra relented. The last thing she needed today was to burn out and then be useless when everyone needed her.

"You're right," she said, finally opening the car door. "I just need a quick recharge."

"Exactly," said Mako, going around to the driver's side and climbing in. "I'll drive you to where you need to go next too before I head back."

"Thanks. I just didn't want to drag Naga all over the city. Who knows how long I'll be at it?" she asked, pulling out a warm container and chopsticks from a bag. "Did you get a chance to talk to Nuka's waterbending master?"

He pulled out his own bowl.

"Yeah, he said he needs to work more on his breathing techniques. He says Nuka's good, but too eager to get to things. We'll need to help him work on that sometime. What about Tikaani? I'm not sure if we should bother Jinora about taking her on with everything that's happened."

"I'll have to talk to her," said Korra, slurping her noddles. "I'm not sure either, but it all depends. We may just have to wait on that. If not, we'll have to work something else out."

"Preferably with someone who's big on restraint. She gets a bit... much with her firebending. And that's coming from me."

"Oh, I know. Spirits bless her, I love her, but she's something else with that fire kick I showed her."

"We really need to talk to our kids. Tikaani's going to kill her brother, I swear," said Mako briskly, putting down his bowl and pulling out a notebook from his pocket to scribble it down on his to-do list.

Korra looked over at him, cracking a much needed amused smile. He glanced up, doing a double-take and scowled a little.

"Don't look at me like that! I happen to care about the mortality of our children!"

Her smile split into a small grin.

"I do too, sweetie, but you worry about everything entirely too much."

-:-:-:-

A couple days past and Korra had some ups and downs with her Republic City bound investigation. On one hand, the radio stations would contact the police if there was any bit of information about Hanyo's forces. The second day after the attack, Daw had flown in, tired and carrying a worn and torn group of people on his bison. She was overjoyed that he was alive and could have crushed him in a hug when she got to him. Though tired and having clearly been weeping, Daw was eager to tell what he knew. According to him, an airship had shown up the morning of the attack out of the blue. When it landed, nobody was hardly given a chance to process what was going on when a man – the way Daw described him she knew it had to be Hanyo – seemed to order the soldiers to attack with a simple wave of his hand. After that, it was nothing but chaos. Daw himself had loaded up a bison with as many people as it could carry and flew away from the scene, bringing the people to safety. Korra's heart sank deep when Daw started to break at that point in the story.

"I s-should have stayed," he choked on his tears to Korra, who pulled him into another crushing hug. "I-I had students there! Children! B-but everyone was running to the bison and I thought they'd all be right behind us!"

No matter how much Korra tried to assure him he did the right thing, Daw could only lament on the people he had to leave behind. What was he supposed to do? Stay and fight a whole army by himself? Airbender though he was, it was obvious that the scene had erupted into mayhem. Retreat was the only option and she tried to make him understand that he'd saved lives too just by steering that bison to safety.

The more his story stirred in her head though the more things came together. It at least explained why so many people had died and not just flown off on bison: they'd been left behind. From what she was gathering, the bison had been scared off by the soldiers. Her suspicions were confirmed as the days trickled on and small groups of bison without riders kept flying in to Air Temple Island. Korra thought about Daw and all these things as she rode on the ferry to the island that day.

"Mommy? What's wrong?"

She felt her hand being tugged and looked down, her son's amber eyes on her as Tikaani looked over the side of the boat to watch the island come closer into view. He reminded her of herself. Not just in the way he, admittedly, looked exactly like her, but in the way he stared at her with a sense of wanting nothing more than to help make whatever it was that was wrong better.

"I'm okay, sweetie," she said, smiling. "Mommy's just thinking about something."

"Is it about those people everyone keeps talking about?" he asked. "The ones that got hurt?"

Letting out a breath, Korra brushed back her son's hair to tuck it behind his ear.

"Yes," she said, smiling sadly now. "I'm thinking about those people that got hurt."

He frowned at her, clearly worried. Sighing, Korra squeezed his hand in hers.

"It's alright. Mommy's got it, okay?"

Hesitantly, he nodded at her and went back to looking over the side of the boat with his sister.

When they got to the island, Korra and her children walked along, taking in scenery as they found their way to Kai and Jinora's living spaces. While her children obviously knew no different, Korra felt a little strange being on the island. It wasn't even that the place felt unfamiliar as it felt like maybe she shouldn't be there. All those acolytes had died more or less because of something she had done and here she was strolling along the grounds that they once called home. Perhaps it was a bit overly sensitive of her, but she couldn't help it. With time, she hoped, some of this feeling would go away.

In the distance, Jinora was unmistakable with her brown hair so long now. Even from behind you could always tell it was her. Kai, his messy hair now split in the front to show off his tattoos nowadays, stood next to her as they watched Nima playing in the courtyard. Korra smiled when they waved. Finally, she could have some much needed time with them and put herself at least a little at ease.

"...She looks... fine?" Korra looked at Kai and Jinora questionably as they watched their children play together from the walkway.

"I know," sighed Jinora, her eyes following Nima as she put her hands into her sleeves. "We shouldn't be this worried seeing at how she seems to be doing, but..."

Kai pursed his lips.

"The way she's acting just kind of makes you."

Korra watched as well, knowing exactly what they were talking about. She couldn't help but feel uneasy at the way Nima ran around, her green eyes alight and her brown hair bouncing around her shoulders just the same way as it had before. It made you a little anxious wondering what was going on inside her head... if something might be ready break and you just didn't know it.

"What did the doctors say?" asked Korra. "Did they say this was normal?"

"Yes and no," replied Kai, his head going side to side for a moment.

Jinora looked at Korra and spoke quietly.

"She started "being fine" the day after we found her. Acted like nothing happened. The doctors say that this is just how she's dealing with it."

"By... not dealing with it?"

"I know, it's strange. She wasn't that far away from Nah Ja's body, but here she is acting like nothing even happened. They say it's doubtful she's actually forgotten it as it is she's pushed into the far corners of her mind."

Kai put his arm around Jinora when she bit her lip.

"We don't think it's exactly healthy either," he said, frowning. "But the doctors also insist that if we try to make her deal with it then it could just add to the trauma."

Korra nodded, understanding completely.

"And this is how she's coping," said Korra.

Jinora closed her eyes and nodded.

"I don't know what to do. I feel like we should do something, but there's nothing to do if she won't talk about it. It's like... do we just let her go on like this or do we try to get her deal with it? The options aren't pretty. She's so young..." said Jinora, looking back at Nima playing with Tikaani and Nuka. "I don't want to make it worse by having her talk about it."

They were all quiet for a moment, taking in just how sunny and bright the day was despite all that was going on.

Korra broke the silence.

"And you shouldn't make her," she said, speaking carefully.

Kai and Jinora looked at her.

"You don't think so, huh?" asked Kai.

"It'd be different if she were fifteen, even ten years older, but... she's four. I remember when I finally faced Zaheer about what happened to me. It took Kuvira harvesting spirit vines and Jinora being kidnapped to make me finally face it and I was twenty-one years old. She's pushing the memories away for a reason."

"She's not ready," said Jinora, her voice soft.

Korra swallowed and nodded.

"And she might not be for a very long time."

Kai sighed.

"We were lucky to even find her alive in all of that. We just want her to be okay... I feel like she's not going to be one hundred percent okay no matter what we choose," he said, looking down a little. "I've... I've never felt fear like that. Never like that. In my heart, I kept telling myself that she was okay. That she was fine and waiting for us, but in my head... seeing all those people and as we kept passing them... we were losing our minds, but I was also losing hope fast..."

"I..." began Jinora, her voice cracking a little. "There weren't many children there and all the ones we did see among... among everyone... were older, but I don't think I've ever felt so sick. Not just physically... everything. Every way. And with our baby in the front of my mind I... I don't know, Korra. It's a parent's worst nightmare, but that's such an understatement. I can't even begin to tell you."

"I'm so sorry that you all had to go through that," said Korra, her chest tightening and her eyes stinging a little. "I'm just so sorry. You two, Nima... all those people... none of you would have had to experience this if it weren't for me. Hanyo did this to get at me for something I did. I'm so, so sorry."

Kai and Jinora now looked at her, Jinora's eyebrows knitted together in worry and Kai frowning.

"This isn't your fault, Korra," said Kai.

Jinora took Korra by the hand and squeezed it tight.

"Kai's right. It didn't matter what you did or didn't do. I'm fairly certain Hanyo would have done something like this eventually the way he was going. Don't do this to yourself."

"I'm trying," said Korra. "But, spirits, I can't help it."

"Believe us," said Kai, "We get it. I don't think either of us can let go of the fact that we were the ones who left Nima at the temple in the first place."

"To take care of a problem in another town," said Korra, looking between the two. "A town that was nearby and you left her in the care of someone you trusted. There was no way you could have known. You know that."

"We do," said Jinora, slowly. "But I guess it's going to take a while for that to sink in... though we're definitely trying to let it. Especially for Nima's sake... Korra, you didn't know the attack was going to happen either. Avatar or not, you're not a fortuneteller or a mind reader."

Jinora and Korra's eyes met. They stared at each other for a moment before Korra finally sighed.

"And I should let that sink too, shouldn't I? For the world," said Korra, looking at them with a small appreciative smile.

The couple smiled back, nodding sagely and turned back to watch the children.

Korra squeezed Jinora's hand then let go.

"Well," began Korra. "Maybe... we have to look at the bright side then...? At least she is coping with it. She could not be coping at all and having a complete breakdown, but she's not. She's here safe and sound with you two and playing like a normal four year old."

Kai nodded and he looked at Jinora who smiled at him.

"And for that we're grateful," she said, motioning for Korra to sit down with them on some nearby chairs. "Perhaps we should just move forward with that. Ah, by the way, now that we're talking about the kids... did you still want me to take on Tikaani?"

"Oh, thanks for remembering that. Yeah, actually. It'd be really helpful if it's not too much right now. Aside from being your student, you know Mako and I sometimes get taken away from the kids... especially at times like this."

"We understand," said Jinora. "Us too at times. We hate it, but it's nice when you feel like there's someone you trust who's there for them as well. We're just lucky to live in such a close-knit community."

"Exactly... I'd really appreciate it, Jinora."

"I'd be happy to. You know I love that little girl. Tikaani's always seemed adaptable too. A bit... eccentric as well when she fights I notice. I think the Ba Gua style will be good for her. Besides, you know Nima gets so excited when she comes over. I think it'll be good for her to have that big sister figure around much more often."

Korra nodded.

"Good for both of them. Nuka loves his probending so that generally keeps him happy when things get busy and Bolin doesn't mind taking him down to the arena. I want my daughter to have something that makes her happy too."

Jinora smiled.

"Then we're set," she said, moving towards the chairs. "As for Nima, from now on we should just concentrate on making sure she's happy if not busy. Of course were going to always be monitoring her, but if she's not showing any troubling signs then it's honestly just more productive."

"Mommy? Daddy?" called Nima, pulling Tikaani along by the arm. "Kaani's going to play airball with me and Nuka's going to come watch!"

"Okay, sweetie. Just be careful," called Kai as the three of them waved a little and the kids ran off. He sat down next to Jinora, folding his arms over his chest tiredly. "I agree. We shouldn't make her feel like she's doing something wrong. Monitoring her is the only thing we really can do I suppose. It's no use exhausting ourselves otherwise."

Korra started to sit down herself.

"Spirits, tell me about it. I think we're all a little exhausted at this poi-"

She suddenly stopped when her hand clamped down on the back of the chair, eyes wide and frozen mid-seat as something clicked in her brain. Pushing herself back onto her feet she shook her head at her own folly.

Jinora, apparently thinking the same thing, was already out of her chair.

"What? What's wrong?" asked Kai, unfolding his arms.

Korra walked right behind Jinora.

"Airball doesn't work with firebenders."

A second later, she heard him swear and follow after her.

-:-:-:-

Hanyo of the Hou-ting Dynasty was a remarkably unremarkable man.

It had to be a stereotype that monsters needed to be intimidating to be monsters because Korra had simply found that wasn't so. He wasn't like Amon who definitely struck fear into your heart or even like Unalaq or Zaheer who just had something about them that made them stand out a little bit. If you didn't know Hanyo was a relative of the late Earth Queen then you might not spare him another glance.

It almost infuriated her in all honesty.

Over the course of the following weeks, she had tracked him down to a fine place in the Earth State of Gongyo and, for once, Korra had taken President Dao's advice. She induced the Avatar State to capture him knowing he'd armed his somewhat obvious hiding place nicely. When all was said and done and she had him in her custody, his army scattered. In years past, Korra had relied on the Avatar State's power alone, but she'd come to learn that just witnessing it's power was enough to make most people think twice. Hearing about it apparently was enough to make other warlords and leaders calm down for the time being. It was nice to know that she hardly had to use it these days. Rather, reminding troublemakers that she had it did wonders.

She'd made it clear that she was already angry and any further trouble was only going to make it worse. Knowing the game already, Korra knew they probably weren't going to risk being attacked by the Avatar in a fully-induced Avatar State rage.

Yet, here was Hanyo.

Having been dragged down from his self-placed pedestal and still here he sat at the defense table, sitting as if someone were just fixing him a cup of tea. She'd seen him brought in and made note of his dull green eyes and his common dark hair. He reminded her of the Earth Queen the way you knew he thought too highly of himself. By the way he carried himself you were supposed to be honored in his presence and it made Korra want to throw up.

This criminal was not given a private trial. He didn't deserve a private trial nor did he want one. It was as if he wanted everyone to see him for the sake of seeing him, never mind that he was being tried for mass murder and crimes against humanity among other things. She had to grudgingly admit that his top officers were elusive; none of his top officials had been captured, but the fact that they'd gone into hiding was telling when here was their leader in custody and on trial.

Next to her, Mako sat and next to them were Kai and Jinora. They'd been asked to have Nima possibly testify and, of course, they'd refused. While they wanted to help, there was no way that they were going to put their four year old daughter in front of a crowd of people to relive the killing of eighty four people. Thankfully, however, Daw was willing to testify and several other people who had survived the attack. None of them had been left behind like Nima had, but it was enough for the judge and, quite frankly, the evidence was surmounting anyway.

That being said, Hanyo did not deny he ordered the attack. He didn't say anything, but he also hadn't bothered to defend himself. Not that it would have helped. By now, everybody knew who's hand was responsible for what was being called the Slaughter at the Southern Air Temple.

On Korra's left, Asami sat and beside her Ginger was tightly squeezing Asami's hand, her eyes over bright. When Asami and Ginger walked in hand in hand, Korra was only further saddened to learn that Ginger apparently had a relative who'd been out there.

"Kiki was her first cousin," Asami explained quietly as Ginger went in to sit down. "They grew up in the Southern Water Tribe together before Kiki went off to become an Air Acolyte. They were still sending letters to each other when..."

Korra bit the inside of her cheek. Kiki's face came to mind and now she realized why it had seemed so familiar to her when they'd first met. She remembered her. The cheerful one who always seemed to keep up with Varrick's movers and now she knew why.

"I knew Kiki... Please tell her I'm sorry, Asami... I still can't believe all this is all happening," said Korra.

"Neither can I," said Asami, frowning sadly. "But I will. She's been crying for days and I just feel so helpless. I can't make the pain stop and she says it's enough that I'm just there, but..."

"You just want to do more..."

Korra looked away a little, wanting to cry at this point.

Asami looked at her.

"But we have him," said Asami gently and looked Korra straight in the eye. She put her hand on Korra's shoulder. "We have him. That's what matters and you got him. Don't forget that, Korra. He did this and you got him. Now, he has to pay the consequences for what he did."

Korra smiled gratefully. It was becoming a conscious thing that she was doing now, reminding herself that she didn't kill those people. The world needed it's Avatar, but actively trying not to blame yourself was a fight because her actions had been an indirect cause of what had happened. Indirect and unintentional, but a cause nonetheless.

Here they sat now, at the end of Hanyo's trial and all she wanted to see was that casual pleasant expression on his face wiped away. It was hard to feel like justice was served when the person being prosecuted almost seemed to enjoy what was going on. Then again, Korra's main concern was his inability to cause any more tragedies. Not his feelings. Though it was certainly hard to keep that in mind as she watched acolyte after acolyte take the stand to testify, recalling and reliving the attack. It was especially hard to remember that when a few of them couldn't keep the tears out of their eyes or strain out of their voice.

Ready to announce the verdict, the judges looked over the crowd. These judges came from all corners of the globe, each dressed in the colors of their representative nations. Hanyo was being judged by no less than the entire world. The head judge in the middle, a serious looking middle-aged man dressed in shades of violet, stood up and the room quieted so that you could hear a pin drop.

He cleared his throat.

"In the face of indisputable evidence gathered and overwhelming testimony heard here today, there is little that has to be said. This panel gathered from all nations of the world have come to a decision and it is unanimous. We, the judges, find Hanyo of the Hou-Ting dynasty guilty of all charges. Due to the nature of his crimes, the punishment is death."

The crowd whispered amongst itself, hushed tones flying about how there could be no other verdict or just punishment.

Part of Korra didn't want him to be executed. She may have been the Avatar, but it wasn't really her style nor did she think the Air Nation would condone it. She would have rather him spent life in prison, but she understood why this was a better decision. As long as he was alive he'd still garner support and his supporters could still rally behind him. Even attempt to break him out of prison eventually. This trial was in place to stop Hanyo once and for all. If they couldn't do that then this was all pointless.

Still, Korra watched as he was taken away. He didn't speak to her once. He didn't even look at her, but she could still see that pleasant smile and spirits knew she really wanted to go over there and slap him across the face before he left the room.

"I'm not really into execution sentences at all," she told Asami as they got up. "But this is for the best."

"I agree," said Asami, turning to her and Mako. "Though I don't want to think about it to be honest."

"Neither do I, but after everything he's had it coming. How else did he think this was going to end?" sniffed Ginger, wiping her own tears with her free hand. She turned to Mako and Korra. "Will the police be escorting him?"

Mako nodded.

"We're going to escort him part of the way before we hand him off to federal forces. They're going to take him the rest of the way to make sure he gets there. We're expecting some kind of rescue en route so it's just to be safe."

"That's good," said Ginger. "It'd be a nightmare if he were to escape."

"Agreed," said Korra, nodding. "One nightmare just finished. The last thing we need is another."

-:-:-:-

Looking wide-eyed, Korra's mouth fell open.

"How did that happen, Mako?" Korra stared at her husband."I thought the federal forces were supposed to ensure he wouldn't escape! They drove him away in an armored car!"

Mako rubbed the bridge of his nose, growling at the situation himself.

"They didn't break him out en route! Apparently, somebody was already waiting at the execution site. It was all set up by the time they got there."

"And nobody knew the wiser? Nobody had planned for this?"

"This was obviously a preemptive countermeasure. All the pawns were planted before any of this even happened."

Korra swore the air up and down. She couldn't believe that there were people still willing to hide him! Still willing to follow him and still willing to help him escape! Though unfair in the moment, she was starting to really hate the Monarchists right about now.

"I know," said Mako, getting back on the phone with the station. "I said the same thing."

Whew, so that's a lot going on in this chapter! But it is the last part of the prologue so I had quite a bit of ground to cover.

So, my little surprise I put in there. I'm sure some of you are going "Asami and Ginger?" I know, I know. Me too in all honestly. Originally, when this story started out, Asami was supposed to not be with anybody and just have adopted a son, but I was going back on Book 2 a little bit and one of the characters I felt had so much potential that we never got to explore was Ginger. I always felt like she was portrayed in this light where she was shallow or even snobby, but really... we know Bolin meant no harm, but if a guy I worked with (acting or not) was being like that I wouldn't be super thrilled with him either. I always felt like she just took her job seriously and Bolin was the one kind of crossing a line until we got to the Ginger's last scene in Book 2. The more I thought about her, the more I mentally explored things together until I landed on Ginsami (is what I'm calling it). The way their both in very public and professional lines of work and the red lips and the good looks. I don't know... a crack ship was just born and I had no way of stopping it? So, Ginger made her way into Asami's love life as I explored their story more and I have this whole background for them, but I won't be revealing it until later in the story so :3

Here you also physically met Nima for the first time as well as Nuka. Bopal's family unfortunately didn't make it into this chapter all that much because of length crunches, but they'll be around.

Now, if you want any visuals for my future verse and this story then head on over to my tumblr (my user is kuno-chan) and check out my art tag!

I really appreciate all the feedback chapter one got. Every word means a lot to me because, as I've said before, next generation stories are hard to promote due to them being OC's. That being said, as always you guys know I love it when you leave those reviews and I just can't express how much I appreciate them. They tell me that I should keep writing and they do keep me writing.

Thank you for reading! Tune in for next chapter!