Disclaimer: I do not own the Legend Of Korra

A/N: I just want to thank all of you who have reviewed and baring with me as I keep replacing chapter one I'm so sorry if you keep getting notifications and it's not a new chapter I've just made some spelling and grammar changes and also most importantly I have tweaked Amon's speech in chapter one so be sure to check it out.

Also, I'm switching POV's a little ways down so don't be confused.

Alone.

It's been three days since I ran away.

I've been walking mostly and sleeping high up in the trees, (long since discarded my Fire Ferrets outfit and am just clad in a loose white t-shirt and black ankle length tights) I've refused to call on Naga partly because she will break me and I'll cry about memories of home and mostly that if I do I know someone will follow her and I'm just not ready to be found yet.

I've managed to steal a dark green cloth and I keep it over my head and around my neck concealing my mouth, only my eyes visible.

I am walking down this rocky path not sure where to go or what to do when I spot a piece of paper caught under a rock. I don't even know why I decided to stop and pick it up but I blame it on my boredom.

As I come closer I notice it's a newspaper and on the front page is a picture of me.

The headline reads:

The Avatar Good or Bad for Republic City?

It seems as though our new Avatar is

having a hard time coping with her

new duties seeing as how she's taken

a leave of absence from Tarrlocks

task force and dedicated

most of her time practicing for

the big match against The Wolf

Bats, as such, according to Amon,

she's lost sight of what really

matters in becoming our Avatar by

mastering how to Airbend, her last

and most crucial element. She has

endangered citizens of Republic City.

Last night we got a first-hand experience

of her big competition and in doing

so Amon had snuck right in under

Chief Beifong's nose and declared

how wrong it is for our

world to have benders, and yes

indeed he has destroyed The Southern

Water Tribe. So I shall tell you citizens

of Republic City is it really the best idea

to have an Avatar whose focus has

turned to pro-bending matches instead

of mastering Airbending? Also, keep

in mind that history may have repeated

itself as of last night we have inside information

that our pretty little Avatar has run away.

Anyone who has seen sights of

the Avatar must report back to Chief

Beifong.

Ugh! The nerve they had to print this.

I crumple up the piece of paper throwing it down on the ground and start running; I can't see where I'm running to as my vision becomes blurred by tears threatening to fall. As soon as I stop I realize I've made it to the edge of land. I look out over the vast body of water. All the while wiping away a tear that had gotten out and vowing not to break down and cry.

I will be strong.

Even though I didn't want to be near water, I realize this is the only way to truly put everything behind me and put as much distance between me and Republic city.

So, I dive head first into the water, I refuse to use bending so I'm reduced to swimming at a mundane pace only popping up for air. After a while though I reach for a big slanted rock to sit upon and notice in the far off distance is some greenery. It'll take all day and night to get to but I make up my mind and ease off the rock pushing my arms and legs to swim fast.

I keep my head above water, my vision solely on the part of land where I'll stay.

I will be secluded from anything and everybody.

Which as of right now I didn't mind, it seemed I was unwanted and from this point on I would have to deal with being an outcast.

After the accident happened I didn't know what to think I mean Korra was fucking glowing.

She had created this sphere of water to surround her. I tried calling out to her but it was no use, Bolin and I had moved quickly and made it up on the lift.

As it was lifting us up to the platform that Korra was currently hovering over we were half way when water blasted through the top of the arena coming down only in the middle around Korra, fast and hard, encompassing us like we were fish in a fish tank. The water had knocked us off the platform and I tried grabbing onto Bolin, he never liked water and it didn't help much that he couldn't swim.

I recovered my balance and opened my eyes looking for Bolin underwater, after what seemed like forever I finally found him at the bottom struggling. I swam down and realized his foot had gotten squished on some rubble. I heave and haul the rock as best I can but it's too much and I'm losing air, I look over at Bolin who is trying to pull his foot out.

I catch his eye and I see the fear in them so I push aside the pain in my lungs and try my hardest to push it off, and just before I feel like I'm going to pass out Bolin falls back and smacks his hand on the ground resulting in the rock to fly off of his foot and go a few feet away from us. I look over at him with surprise and excitement only to see that his eyes are closed and he's unresponsive.

I grabbed onto his arm and tug him above water, I gasp air in and out and realize the water was so high that the area I had found to safely ground us on was our cove that we took breaks in and was our locker room overlooking the arena.

It was only a couple minutes ago that Korra was here somewhat sane yelling at Bolin.

What the hell is wrong with her?

I didn't dwell on the thought long for I had to make sure Bolin was ok, so far I didn't see his chest moving.

I quickly make a fist and pound it down on his chest…hard.

Nothing.

So I do it again…and again…and again…

"C'mon Bolin you can't leave me!"

I don't know what to do he's all that I have left I can't lose him.

I hang my head and look at my hands, as a tear falls down on my right palm.

Why isn't this working?

I look out and see the water starting to rise and some spilling into our cove in a matter of minutes this whole thing will be filled and we won't have a way out.

I scrunch my eyes close, and ball my hands into fists.

"Please, wake up!" I shout through gritted teeth.

I take both my fists and use as much force as I can get and I slam them down on his chest.

It's a miracle because he instantaneously opens his eyes and sits up to cough out the water.

"What the… that hurt! I think you broke my ribs!" He says his voice sounding hoarse but manages to still have that hint of humor in it and he rubs his chest.

"I just saved your life!"

"My poor ribs, I'm never gonna-

He didn't get to finish as we were suddenly moved up onto our feet and slammed up against the wall.

"Mako I can't-I can't move!" Terror instantly replacing the humor he just had in his voice, as he sees the water filling up slowly to lap at our ankles.

I try to move my arm, hands, and legs.

Nothing.

We are pinioned to the wall by some unknown force, and I look up at Korra who seems in my opinion to be glowing through her eyes even more.

Those eyes that were so easy to read what emotion she was feeling, were ruined by the encompassing glowing white, and they looked unnerving.

Then in the distance I hear them screaming, those kids that Korra stays with.

"Korra! Korra! Korra!"

She seems to move her head to find the source of the voice and looked to have loosened her stance, so I join in hoping to help bring back the Korra I know.

"KORRA!"

Bolin and Tenzin and Pema join in.

It works because the next thing I see is her falling to the ground and I regain mobility, with the exception of blood running down my nose I look over to Bolin and he starts breathing heavily so I move over to stand by him as he falls to his knees.

After all that Bolin decides a few moments later says he is fine so we go up to our little apartment and rested for the rest of the night and late into the next day.

I'm the first to wake so I get ready and go out to buy something special to eat for Bolin, deciding not to make any contact with Korra.

When she wants to be an adult and talk then she knows where to find me.

After all I'm still holding a grudge for when she walked out on me and yelled at Bolin and by extension – me.

As I'm walking around the different shops I stop midstride when I hear this man call out.

"Read all about it! Avatar good or bad for Republic City?"

I snatch a copy reading it and before I know it I'm on the next ferry out to Air Temple Island.

I hear it soft in the distance but becomes louder as I start to fully awake.

I'm sleeping in a tree in the middle of the forest, its dark out. I turn my head to the side and I can just make out the outline of water that is the beach I swam to and in the other direction is a vast area of the jungle. I hadn't thought to explore this land, because as far as I could see at the top of a tree it just seemed like jungle with no life anywhere and if there was I didn't really want company anyways.

But as I hear the music getting louder I can't help but wonder what's going on.

So, in a split second I release my hair from its ponytail and the two clamps that hold the front strands of my hair, so as to have my hair altogether.

I still have on my water tribe boots, so I discard of them and decide to walk barefoot.

If there are people then I don't want to risk any chance of someone recognizing me.

I jump down from my tree, leaving behind my green cloth, and walk casually to where the music is coming from. As I'm approaching I hide behind a bush and watch as there seems to be a crowd of people just dancing, having a good time not realizing there's going to be another war.

I watch them as they move to the music so effortlessly like how Tensin said for me to move like a leaf in the wind and let the wind guide me to me destination.

I shake my head of those thoughts, and made to stand up and turn my back on these peoples celebration. Just as I take a step forward someone jumps down from the tree branches to land in front of me.

"Hello."

"Hello." I say back uncertainly this was just a kid about seven or eight, and if I knew anything about kids they were loud and I really didn't want to attract attention to us.

I just wanted to leave.

"Who are you? And why aren't you wearing any shoes?"

I look down at my bare feet and wiggle my toes in the ground feeling a bit self-conscious.

"I'm-I'm-

"Shao! There you are what have I told you? Don't ever leave my sight again."

"I know, I'm sorry," Shao hangs his head in shame and walks over to the older boy, about my age, and stands beside him.

"I met someone new though she was just about to tell me her name!"

"Oh and what is your name?"

He looks to me with an unreadable expression and I quickly come up with a fake name.

"I'm Kuniye." I said it before I could even realize that the name I chose meant protection of the country.

"Well Kuniye I'm Ryo and you've already met my little brother Shao."

"Oh Ryo can Kuniye join us can she can she?"

"I don't know, how about we start with where did you come from? I mean this place doesn't have much people here, me and my brother and those people over there-" he gestured behind me but I didn't bother to turn back and look I kept my eyes on him.

"-Are all we have on this island we try to keep to ourselves, and don't want anybody to destroy what we have." His voice took on a darker note, and seemed like he was going to say more but instead he stared into my eyes waiting for me to speak.

"I promise I'm not here to cause trouble it's just I recently lost my family and I've been wandering, I didn't think anybody lived on this island I swear I don't mean to cause trouble."

I threw my hands up in defense to show I really didn't.

"Well, alright then."

"C'mon I'll introduce you to everyone you're going to have so much fun!"

Shao toke my hand and dragged me to the campsite, as Ryo slowly followed behind us.

I was literally introduced to everyone I was so exhausted I was constantly smiling and trying to remember names and it was all so much but eventually the sun was coming up and apparently that meant it was time for bed so, I was showed to a small tent of my own and quickly I fell asleep.

By the time I did wake the sun was just setting and I heard the music again from last night. I quickly put my hair in a braid to one side of my shoulder and went out to join in on the fun.

I was able to learn that these people did this every night they partied till the sun came up and if they weren't too tired they would go out and get food and live a normal day but at night they celebrated.

For what I didn't quite know yet.

I was dancing with Shao for the longest time when I looked over and saw Ryo standing against a tree overlooking the dark forest a hard look on his face and arms crossed in front of his chest.

I said I would be right back and went over to Ryo.

"Hello."

"Hi."

I stood awkwardly in front of him for a minute or two debating what I should say next when he thankfully spoke up.

"What happened? To your family I mean?"

"They died there was an ambush by a bad man, and I wasn't there to help them."

"Was it Amon?"

This really caught me off guard.

"Yah, but how do you know of him? I mean it's just you all seem so cut off from the other side of the world that I-

He laughed.

"Most of us are that is don't know anything else about the outside world, all of us here are non-benders and we chose to be away from any benders, every single one of us has lost someone to a bender and we celebrate like this to be thankful we are alive and that we haven't come across any benders."

As I hear this I start to wish I really hadn't come to see what was causing the music the other night. If it's true that all of these people were harmed by benders then I am definitely someone who should not be here.

"Me and my brother use to live in Republic City and I thought it was a safe place until Amon came along we lost our parents to him two months ago, both were benders."

"I'm so sorry"

"Not your fault, but I'm ashamed of myself for running away, they lost their lives simply because they were good people and wanted to help others so what if they were benders!" he screamed I kind of jumped when he did and he got a sad look on his face all of a sudden then gestured for me to follow him.

We walked a few feet away from the party and into the forest settling down onto a branch on the ground.

"I took my brother and we ran away, if they died because they were benders then I couldn't let that happen to Shao."

He looked down at the ground and I realized.

"Shao is a bender isn't he?"

"Yes, Earthbender."

I think back trying to see any kind of hint that Shao would have been a bender but I don't remember anything, he has brown eyes not green! And before I know what I've said it comes out.

"So, how is he able to keep it in check…I mean when I was his age it was hard enough for me to not bend anything."

It was too late for me to take back my words.

"You're a bender too?"

He looked up at me with such surprise I couldn't believe it.

"Yes, but I don't plan to bend anymore."

"Why not? I would love to bend it's something to be proud of, if I could then maybe I could have saved my parents."

My heart went out to him then while he did have a point, I look past it because I wasn't able to save my parents, spirits I couldn't even save those I love from the destruction I caused.

So instead I stand up and grab his hand and drag him back to the party.

"Let's dance!"

And we did for the rest of the night, not once thinking about the past or the future just about the now.

"She ran away!"

"Shh, Mako keep your voice down, come with me, we will talk outside"

Tenzin and I made our way outside and a few feet away from the house.

"How could you have let her go? Let alone why haven't you sent anybody after her? Or why did you let them print this on paper for all to see?"

"Calm down, and ask me one question at a time." Tenzin said as he crossed his arms over his chest, looking down at the riled up Firebender.

I racked my brain and came out with the most important question.

"What the fuck happened in the arena?"

"Language!" Tenzin scolded.

"Sorry." I said through clenched teeth not the least bit worried about my language in front of an elder when there were more pressing matters to get to.

"Korra as you know, has been having a hard time reaching the Avatar state-

"Which is?"

"When an Avatar can go into the state using it as a defense mechanism, in which the Avatar can freely acquire the knowledge and powers of all previous Avatars. Also, it provides the Avatar with immense power. In Korra's case she was faced with the devastation of her whole tribe being wiped out and much like my father, she went into the Avatar state except for Korra she caused more damage than Aang did. To be able to control the Avatar state one must have great spiritual discipline and concentration, and since Korra lacks both she let her anger take over and caused that great power to do as you saw in the arena."

"So, then how was she able to come out of it then?"

"I don't know, possibly the fact that we were screaming her name and she could have subconsciously picked up on our fear or she may have some control that we or she didn't know."

"Ok, so what happened then after? Where did she go? Why haven't you gone after her?"

"I was busy helping my family and by the time I looked up to see if Korra was alright she was nowhere in sight. I searched for her, I really did, but I haven't seen anything. I want her back just as much as you do, it's dangerous for her to be out there alone, yes she's strong but I'm afraid after what's happened she may not be in the right state and not too keen on using her bending powers."

"So, the article in the paper you…?"

"Regrettably, I did I was in such a fearful state that I had asked a friend to help me by just putting in if anyone had seen Korra to call Chief Beifong but unfortunately they took it upon themselves and spun it for their own enjoyment."

"What about Chief Beifong, are she and her team out looking for Korra?"

"Now that the citizens have found out about the Avatars absence some have taken it as incentive to come out and cause trouble or to follow Amon, they've got their hands tied they said they'd look but they can only do so much."

"Then I'll help, Bolin and I were good at sticking together and moving around and we've got Pabu I'm sure he can help somehow or what about Naga have you-

"Mako, calm down I've tried to send Naga but she hasn't gotten far, she goes and then stops I think she's just as upset that Korra's missing, and I think it'd be best if you and your brother just stay put and wait, I know it's not ideal but realize she's the Avatar she's got more power than anyone else in the world if something extraordinary happens I'll be the first to know from any nation, and she's smart to by now if she doesn't want anybody to find her then no one will."

I let his words sink in and no matter how much I want to fight and disagree with his logic and idea to stay put I don't.

Because deep down I realized it too.

Korra blames herself for this, and since she's stubborn as hell, nothing will change her mind but her.

So, we must wait until she comes to a realization and comes back on her own.

Hopefully it won't take long.

"But if you'd like I can arrange for you and your brother to stay here with me and my family, since your home has been destroyed and is closed off, and when Korra does come back it'd be good for her to have her friends near by."

I nod and thank him for his generosity. I'm surprised he even acknowledged that my home was no longer livable, heck I handn't even fully realized it yet, and to now be aware of it, if Tenzin hadn't offered Bolin and I would have to go back to living on the streets for awhile til I could save up enough money to find a new place.

I turn my back on Tenzin and start walking away but stop as I realize something, I turn my head to the side looking at Tenzin in the corner of my eye.

"Before your kids and the rest of us were screaming her name, what was happening? It felt like I was being held back."

"Avatar Korra, I think, was in her own way subconsciously trying to help us by pushing us out of the way."

"But that's unheard of I've never known or felt anything like it."

"It has been done and only my mother and sister can do so, but seems as though we really are seeing just how powerful young Korra is in her Avatar state."

I nodded my head and started walking again; just as I was making my way to the ferry a slight breeze blew and in it I heard the whispered last words from Tenzin.

"Korra has attained how to Bloodbend"

My eyes widened in shock.

This celebration continued for a week and a half.

I loved it I felt free.

Like a leaf in the wind. Being blown around as I moved to the music.

I felt like a normal teenage girl living out her life, and not worrying about the threat of the world hanging on my shoulders.

Ryo tried a couple of times to talk to me about my bending and what not but I just brushed him off and grabbed him to dance with me.

"I can't believe you all have the energy to do this every day, well night." I spun out of his arms and then back in.

"Yah it can be pretty crazy sometimes and it's easy to get lost in it I mean, to just put all your worries behind you and not think about anything else going on but having fun."

"Yah," I said uneasily the way he was talking was making me a bit uncomfortable.

"But that's the best part ever since I was young I've had to do training and work for other people to please other people, I've never once had time to do something for me, and I like it."

"That may be true but these people all around us-" I bumped into his chest as he stopped dancing to put his arms out gesturing to the crowd. "-they all have something not right with them, I mean don't get me wrong there great people but ever since they lost a family member or friend they just haven't been the same, and doing this celebration every night is their escape from reality, and they've been doing it for so long that there afraid to do anything else or let alone face the real world. That's why they have secluded themselves away like this in a small group. For them, it's to celebrate until they die."

I stepped back from him to see he had a doubtful look on his face as if he was questioning what he had said and I felt uneasy. Why did he have to ruin this I was having such a great time. I turned on my heel to walk away from these people who didn't seem the least bit interested in what Ryo had to say, they kept dancing as if they were in their own world.

He followed me of course and I stopped right at the circles edge looking into the dark forest.

"I'm sorry Kuniye; it just really gets at me you know? These people I understand they are too old and it's too late to save them but you're still young and I'd hate to see you live this life to. I know there's more out there. There is hope I know that the Avatar will save-

"Stop! Just stop it ok!" I turned around to face him and took a few steps toward him.

"Who do you think you are? I mean you've only known me for like a week, and your preaching all this crap on how it's not fun to live a life like this, and how isolated everyone is! Well I don't see lonely people out there, and what about you huh? Your just as old as me and your brother is younger he's got a whole life ahead of him but instead you two are living your life out like this, so I don't see why I can't!"

I crossed my arms over my chest and held my ground he was not going to break me. I loved this lifestyle and didn't plan on leaving it anytime soon.

I was alone before but now I have found people who like me, people who don't know who I really am.

"I am lost."

What the…?

I didn't say anything for fear he might not continue and walk off.

"I and my brother as I've said lost our parents and I took him to run away because our parents' death hurt him the most, he's just a child and I swore to myself I would do whatever it took to get him to smile again. So we couldn't stay in Republic City anymore partly because of what I told you the other day and also because I didn't have any money… where could we stay? So, I took what I could and we made to find a new home somewhere far away from the city and when we stumbled upon this place with these people I was so happy because I finally got to see a smile on my brothers face and then a laugh, and soon he was so happy it was like our parents death hadn't even occurred to him and he was his old self."

He stopped to hang his head and look at the ground. I wanted to say I was sorry for his loss but he continued.

"I soon got sucked into this fantasy too but after a while things just sunk in and I was so mad at myself for letting it happen I mean for spirits sake I almost forgot I had parents that died! So, I had a friend look after my brother as I traveled back to Republic City to catch back up on all that's happened and I was ready to face reality, I even set out to look for a job and a nice place my brother and I could come back to

"But when I told him of my plans he went on a tantrum and refused to leave he had been sucked in, and there was nothing I could do. So, we stayed and now I try to make time to visit and not lose my sanity by going to visit Republic City, I try to talk to my brother about this all being nonsense but it's hard on him, though I think I might be making little progress."

I made a step toward him unsure of what to do so I settled on putting my hand on his shoulder giving it a squeeze.

"That's good then for you two. I understand how hard it is but you'll get past this and I know your brother will realize someday that this isn't life. In life it does have its fun light moments but other times it has darker ones and sometimes they just become unbearable but together you two can move past it, but for me right now it's just too unbearable that I don't see myself making it out in the light. So, please can you understand that? I like this here and I want to stay and have this blissul feeling, always."

He gave me another hard look and pursed his lips and then turned his attention behind him to the crowd of dancing people. I spotted Shao easily and he just looked so innocent and blissful.

They all did.

Like nothing devastating had happened.

"You are blind then. All you see is what you want. You first had plastered on a fake smile and danced and laughed like everyone else. Eventually it came easy and you've perceived it as finally letting your fears and loss been forgotten and think you are happy but it is not real. You and everyone else can't be cowards and run from your problems you have to face them if you don't you only get this hollow feeling and it will show. If you look into these people's eyes you'll see it, that happiness you see is only on the outside but on the inside they are still hurting and hollow they've become too far gone to be saved but you Kuniye, you can be saved but staying like this won't help, little by little your drifting further away."

With that he walks away leaving me alone to my thoughts.

Can he be right?

Could I be lost to?

As I lay down on the floor of my tent I watch as slowly the darkness fades to bring in the light.

It's then that I let my walls fall down and cry myself to sleep.

A/N: So pretty hefty chapter let me know what you think overall I liked this and I've read through it so many times but if there are some errors or wrong wording please let me know! I also, hope I'm somewhat staying in character hopefully!

Oh and also for the names and their meanings, I know the show takes place in a china but only one of the names is Chinese sorry the other two are Japanese and it's just because the meaning fits.

Shao- Chinese name- means (meaning) young

Kuniye- Japanese- means protector of country

Ryo- Japanese- reality