It's like the world has slowed down for her. Everything is in slow motion; Korra's eyes wide, a rippling shot in the air, blood flips into the atmosphere, and a body comes crashing to the ground with a dull thud. It came slowly to her at first, with her mind retarded as well as her body. But it suddenly hit her all at once. There, sprawled into the tiled floor in front of the Sato girl, lies the love of her life. Blood began to spot on Korra's side, spilling slowly onto the cold floor. Just behind stands Tonraq, eyes full of anger and surprise at his own impulses. Asami, on the other hand, stands completely still. She doesn't know what to feel; anger? Anger that Korra's own father just shot her? Surprise? Surprised that she's not dead, rather than Korra? Or compete depression? Gloom from the death right in front of her? It's a whole scramble of feelings that Asami just wants to sit. But her body won't allow her. Why?
Tonraq huffs as the metal he holds drops to the ground and the sound echoes through the room. "T-This wasn't supposed to happen…" He mumbles to himself, visibly shaking. "S-She was supposed to listen to me. T-to…" He couldn't finish. Why does he feel remorse? He didn't feel that way with his own wife, so why his daughter? "KORRA!" Tonraq looks up to see Asami finally register his attack and jumps straight to her. "Korra! Korra, wake up!" Asami pleads to her lover, shaking Korra's unconscious body. Checking the wound, Asami lifts her shirt to see a clean shot through just her side. It was a relief, but still serious. Now her feeling has registered to anger as she wipes the tears from her eyes and shifts her body to the president. "You monster! You would try to kill your own daughter! For power?!" Asami can't hold it in. She just lets it all out in a mess of words. "She was so terrified to face you. She loved you so much, and you betrayed her multiple times! You killed her own mother! What father does that?!" She spits at him, the words fast and forced. Tonraq stays silent, his hair dropping into his face caused from the ruckus that just occurred. He had no words; what could he say? It was for power. He had to in order to achieve greatness. And at what cost? His family was gone; friends left into the afterlife or away from him. What else could he give up for his greed? The serpent of power had his mind, and he had no control. Was there no savior for his soul?
Hiroshi watches the whole scene before him, taking in his daughter's reaction. His brow sweats profusely. That wasn't supposed to happen. Korra was supposed to take down the president. She was supposed to stay sane, but somehow the injection must have triggered a personality reversal in her mind. Now she's dead, and nothing is going to change. "You don't know me. You don't know the sacrifices I've made to achieve my goals." Tonraq says aloud to Asami, catching Hiroshi's attention. Plan B was to get Asami out of here, Korra told him. Asami shakes her head, "Oh, I know exactly what 'sacrifices' you've made. I guess your wife and daughter's lives were the breaking point, huh?" Asami states harshly, her words sifting quickly through the hot air. Suddenly, Tonraq starts to chuckle. "I've had it. I will continue. No one will stop me now." He decided in his short time to embrace his serpent. Embrace the thing that has kept him going for so long. Hiroshi takes the time to make his way to his daughter and softly grab her arm. "Mr. President, I shall take this criminal away-"Hiroshi stops mid-sentence as a gun is pointed right at him. Tonraq looks pale and cynical, grinning widely at his accomplice. "Oh, I don't think so, Sato. I know what you've been planning. You plan to kill me too." The current president breathes a laugh at Hiroshi's reaction of confusion. "Don't think I know what you're up to. I can't let you betray me. So, you see the only solution here…" Tonraq's face turns maniacal, straightening the gun in his palm.
"No!" Asami shoves her father before Tonraq shoots, the bullet mere inches away from the two of them. Angry, the tribal man growls at the young adult. "Why you! Don't stand in my way!" He curses at her, the gun shifting to her.
And before Asami can even do anything, a different bullet spiral's right into the middle of Tonraq's head, and everything is still. The president's eyes are widened with mixed emotion portrayed, and suddenly his body gives and he drops backwards to the ground, his leather chair swinging round and round beside his figure. Papers fly from his desk from his forceful grip on the piece of wood when he falls. Asami looks down to see Korra's red arm shaking and gingerly gripping a pistol in her hand from where she lay. She drops it immediately and her head magnetically drops back to the ground in exhaustion. "Korra!" Asami drops herself to Korra's side, where the blue eyes she loves so much stare right at her with a clear gloss coating them. "I-I'm so sorry, Asami. I didn't know what was happening. I couldn't stop myself. I'm so so sorry." Tears start to slide down Korra's cheeks, and now both girls cry. Asami pulls Korra up to her and hugs her, a hand on the back of her head and another holding her back. "I don't care. I don't care. I love you, so much. I'm so glad you're alive. It's over, Korra. It's over…" They embrace for an eternity. What seems like a century, the war against humanity was finally over. No looking back, just moving forward. (See what I did there? If not, go check out my other stories!) "Let's get you out of here, Korra." Asami stares at Korra, and she gives a slight nod, her eyes sliding shut and everything swirls into black.
"Uh, damn! Stupid bandages. Stupid guns.." A certain blue-eyed girl mumbles to herself as she tries to slip a shirt on, with already three failed attempts. "Ouch! Uh." "Need some help?" Korra smiles to herself from the voice she hears from behind. "Funny how I can get my shirt off just fine, but getting it on is the problem." Korra hears a laugh, until slender arms grab the shirt in her hands from behind. "I guess you'll always have me, right?" The voice of the Sato girl fills Korra's ears and Korra shivers pleasantly. Asami slides to shirt over Korra's head, sliding it down her body and pulling it one last time before turning Korra to her and planting a tender kiss to her lips. "What are you going to say to everyone?" Asami asks when she pulls away, and Korra gives her a shrug. "I'll tell them what they want to hear." Korra admits, her face suddenly contorted. "And you don't want to be president?" Asami asks carefully, and Korra shakes her head in reply, "No. People would get the wrong idea. Iroh and I talked, and I think it should be up to the people. Start campaigns and let humanity decide its guide." The tan girls smiles, and Asami smiles back. "Let's get going, silly."
Everyone cheers when Korra slowly walks to her spot of her broadcast. "Korra!" Suddenly she's attacked by her long-time friend, Bolin. "Bolin! I'm so glad you're okay." Korra smiles wide and hugs him back as he sniffs in her ear. "God Korra I was so scared for you! Don't ever do that again, okay? Thank you so much, though." He pulls away and smiles, his green eyes dancing with joy. "No prob, Bo."
"So, made it back in one piece, huh?" Korra turns her head to Mako, his smile gracious and open. "Guess I did." He pulls her into a tight embrace. "Thank you, for my brother. For everything. I'm in your dept." He says, pulling away. "It's okay. I'm grateful for your help, too." She smiles at him, and he returns with a grin.
Korra makes her way to Iroh, who stands with open arms. They embrace, tears sliding down both of the adults faces. "I missed you so much. I was beginning to think you were dead." Iroh whispers into her ear, his voice shaking from controlling his sobs. "The feelings mutual." Korra grins with tears, "But your dad helped a lot. I'm glad you're back with us." Iroh nods, "Was it hard? To kill him?" He asks as Korra looks away. "A little. But I knew deep down, he wanted to be free. He dug himself a hole he couldn't climb out of." Iroh hugs her again, "I'm proud of you, Avatar."
"Today marks a new age. An age of re-construction, for us and the world. I want you all to know, that I trust you. I trust for you to make the right decisions in your life and to make the best of everything. I trust that one day our country will be free and peaceful again. I trust that in time, we'll learn from our mistakes and move on. I want you to know that we all have that hole we've dug. But you're never alone. Don't dig it deeper, but rather look for help. Don't lose the ones you love, because they'll be the ones to pull you up. I trust you'll heed my message. I trust our humanity, and hope you do too. Now, without any delay, you may start your votes on our new president." Korra walks from the podium, exchanging a glance with Asami, before taking her leave. She doesn't need to be in this place any longer. She wants to be free. And she trusts humanity enough to let her.
And that's a wrap! I hope you all enjoyed this as much as I did writing it. If you have any more comments, please don't hesitate to review! I'm always open for anything you want to speak about. Check out my other stories, and have a wonderful day! :)
-PMI