Chapter 12:
After two more days the group was finally ready to head back to Republic City. Senna and Tonraq had stopped by Katara's to say their goodbyes. It had been a few months since they had seen Korra. They were surprised at how much their daughter had grown into such a mature woman and avatar. She now understood her duties as the avatar, thanks to her experiences in the city. It was difficult to watch her leave again. Tonraq had his arms around Korra, kissing her forehead as she burrowed her head in her father's chest. Senna, who was watching and waiting for her hug, had begun to tear up. After a final goodbye to her mother and Katara, Korra looked ahead of her to see everyone getting themselves situated on the bison. Bolin met her eyes and waved her over, as he climbed in the saddle. She turned back to Katara, Tonraq, and Senna giving them a smile. Then Korra made her way to the bison where Bolin and Mako were helping her up into the saddle.
Everyone was packed up on the sky bison. Some air acolytes accompanied Lin, Pema, and the children on one bison; while Tenzin, Korra, Mako, and Bolin were on the other with healers.
"Yip Yip". And they were off into the air, headed back to Republic City.
General Iroh had the city running again almost as good as new. In the days he had been running it, he managed to gather all of the United Forces along with a few other government groups. He had them all working like clockwork to see that the damages to the city had been repaired. Air Temple Island was still being worked on.
Tenzin steered Oogi in to the front of town hall. Iroh, who had been expecting them after receiving a message a few days prior that they were returning, was waiting outside the building. He stood in full general attire with his hands folded in front of him. As the bison touched down, thumping their tails Tenzin whisked himself off of Oogi bending the air around him. After briefly talking to Iroh it was decided that the family would be safe on Air Temple Island while the repairs were still being made. Tenzin along with Lin and the three teenagers were going to stay behind with Iroh. It had been about ten days and it needed to be decided as to what would happen to Amon and his conspirators.
The prison cells were heavily guarded, especially those of Amon, Hiroshi, and Asami. Korra, who had been posted at Mako's side the entire trip, had now left his side eager to find out if her theory about Amon was in fact correct. Tenzin warned her to calm down; the man was still pretty dangerous. A series of locks paved the way to the cells. General Iroh fiddled with some keys, opening each of the them.
Iroh jiggled a key into the last lock then rotated a metal bar which revealed Amon. He was sitting in a corner with his hands cuffed behind him. Korra moved in closer to the cell grabbing onto the steel cell bars. Her eyes caught sight of him. He was disheveled. He was beaten. He was broken. He was no longer the powerful mastermind they all knew as Amon. Korra was caught off guard by his appearance. She cleared he throat before saying his name in a very stern voice. He stood up and walked in the direction of her voice. As he stepped closer the light passed over his face. It was missing his signature mask. Startled by a large striking red scar across his face Korra along with everyone else in the room aside from Iroh, took in a small gasp.
" So I'm assuming this is where you ask me to divulge my life story and my motives" he said rather sarcastically. " Well let me save you a few breaths. As I already explained my parents were taken from me by firebenders who burned me as I tried to stop them. My mother had always told me that benders thought of themselves as superior. But it wasn't until that very moment when I experienced it for myself, that I completely understood. After that I spent my days perfecting the art of chi blocking-"
" You're mother taught you to chi block. Ty Lee", Korra asked in a low voice.
" Yes, a great Kyoshi Warrior my mother was. But it wasn't until I was in my late twenties that I had learned about chakras. By blocking certain chakras I found I could paralyze someone of their bending for quite a bit longer. By the time I was thirty, word was getting out about my abilities. I found myself soon surrounded by many people who shared my views of benders. That is when the equalists had started, and I had begun to teach my followers the art of chi blocking. Then rumors spread that I could permanently rid people of their bending."
Korra kept a straight face throughout his anecdote focusing on each and every word. She was however, quite unprepared for the statements that followed.
"In fact, I distinctly remember a young firebender, no more than nine coming to me. He asked if I could take away his bending for good after seeing firsthand the damage it could do to those he loved. I hadn't perfected the technique yet so I sent him away. And who knew he'd be helping the avatar imprison me all these years later".
Everyone's gaze shifted from Amon to Mako. The young man hung his head low. He had long forgotten about it, or tried to forget. The memory came back clearly however when Amon had him captured in a cell during the fight. Seeing Amon so close allowed him a good look at his eyes. He would never forget those eyes. The eyes of the man who at one point he wanted to take away his bending. The eyes of the man before him.
"Bro", Bolin said questioningly while putting a hand to Mako's shoulder. He had never mentioned this to his younger brother. Korra's eyes shifted between Mako and Amon before finally locking in on the man behind bars.
Amon interrupted before Mako or anyone else could get in another word. "And to think ten years later I finally could take away bending permanently" he said with a sly grin, followed by a long winded laugh.
"I think that is enough for the time being", Tenzin said motioning to Iroh that they would be leaving.
" You can continue tomorrow, when he regains some sanity", General Iroh said closing and locking the cell.
Back at Air Temple Island, Tenzin, Lin,Korra, and Iroh were discussing what should be done with Amon. they still had to talk to Hiroshi and Asami as well and decide on their punishments. It was getting late though. Korra excused herself from the conversation and decided to turn in for the night. She was on her way to the dormitories when she saw Mako. He was heading in the opposite direction. She walked over to him, eager to find out about what Amon had been referring to earlier.
"Hey Mako".
"Oh hey Korra", he said softly.
"Everything alright". Both Mako and Korra knew where the conversation was headed and decided it was useless to beat around it. " Wanna talk about it" she asked stepping in closer to him.
There was a bit of a pause before he looked up to her and answered. " I used to think that if my bending was gone things would be better and I could never hurt anyone like those firebenders did to my parents. So I heard about this guy who could take away bending and decided to see him". He looked down at the ground. " He turned me away, saying he couldn't do it for good. But I saw firsthand what he was able to do to people. Chi Block them and paralyze them. And I remember the look he got in his eyes when he did it. It all had me scared for the longest. I had nightmares for years, that he'd come after me, take my bending, and I wouldn't be able to protect Bolin. I never told anyone because it was one of those things I just always regretted."
Sensing that the conversation was making Mako uneasy Korra interrupted him. She thrust her arms around his waist, clasping her hands together behind him. Looking up into his eyes she pictured all the pain and fear he must've experienced growing up. "Amon is done for, he'll never be able to hurt anyone ever again. And you and Bolin are always gonna be there for each other and I'm here for you too."
Mako could feel just how sincere Korra's words were, and it made him feel a bit better. Korra stepped back out of the hug to see him give her a quick smile. " Try and get some sleep tonight okay, we'll talk in the morning", she said giving him a quick kiss on the cheek. He nodded in agreement then let his hand slip away from hers and walked away.
So I got the idea for the Mako Amon thing from a fanfic I read and was trying to work it in here. I wish I remembered who wrote it so I could mention them. Its not my favorite chapter but it's ok. Review it and comment. Hoping to bust out another chapter soon.