At long last I have returned, and I bring with me the longest chapter I have ever personally written. Before we get started I want to personally thank each, and every one who commented, or reviewed. You are all AWSOME. As always I wish I owned Avatar, but sadly I do not. the only thing that belongs to me are the OC's, and the plot. Now I present to you chapter 12.

Bold letters= Vaatu speaking

Underlined letters= Raava speaking

Either of the above found in parenthesis= (The voice is in someone's head)

12: Point of no Return

"Uh you guys; the weather man said it would be nothing, but sunshine this weekend right?" Kai asked as he was looking out the back window of Asami's satomobile.

"Yeah why" Korra asked in return.

"Well I think the weather man just lost his job." Kai said pointing out the window.

The others looked up to see the once bright blue sky now covered in dark storm clouds.

"We need to hurry Asami" Jinora said from the back seat.

"Don't worry we're almost there Whoa!" Asami exclaimed as she slammed on the brakes, and brought the vehicle to a skidding halt.

Lin had stopped her police cruiser as well. They were about one block away from the hospital, but the road was completely blocked by parked, crashed, and over turned cars. Dozens of civilians were yelling, screaming, and running away from the direction of the hospital.

"What the hell is going on?" Korra asked as she got out.

The others were quick to follow. As the group came to stand by Tenzin, Lin, Opal, and Bolin; they all began to hear noises. They heard roars, shrieks, screeches, and soon enough they caught sight of dozens of dark spirits wreaking havoc. Before Korra could charge in Tenzin held her back.

"Let go of me Tenzin I need to stop them." She said trying to shrug out of the air nomads grip.

"No Korra, you need to get to the hospital. We can handle these spirits for now." Tenzin said with a serious tone of voice.

"He's right kid." Lin said before she could argue further.

"I just called in all available units to help. You need to stop this problem at the source. You go on ahead, and we will catch up when we can."

After a moment Korra nodded in agreement, and turned to Asami. "I need you to get these people out of the crossfire."

"I can do that" Asami said with a nod.

With everyone knowing what to do the earth and air benders entered the chaos, and began to engage the dark spirits. As Korra was turning to go Asami grabbed her wrist stopping her. Korra turned around, and was met with fearful green eyes.

"Please be careful Korra, I can't lose you too." Asami said with a slight tremble in her voice.

Korra quickly pulled her into a brief, but passionate kiss.

"Don't worry Asami you won't." Korra said with her signature cocky smirk. She then turned, and launched herself into the fray.

Korra was able to make her way quickly through the chaos. She used her air bending to maneuver over, or around people, and satomobiles. Whenever a dark spirit would charge at her she would either dodge, or knock it away with a quick blast of fire. Any other day she would take the time to purify them, but right now she had a bigger fish to fry.

After she had forced her way through the melee of dark spirits korra burst through the front doors of the hospital.

"Avatar Korra thank Yue that you're here." A doctor said as he rushed towards her; closely followed by the head nurse.

"Are you two alright? Have the spirits attacked any of the patients, or staff?" Korra asked as she quickly scanned the lobby.

"No so far nobody has been hurt." The doctor said as Korra looked at the people seated around the lobby. They were all scared, but for the most part unharmed.

"So far they've just been raising hell out front. For some reason they haven't even tried to enter the hospital." The nurse said.

"Ok that's good" Korra said with a nod. "The police are already engaging the spirits out there. I want you guys to keep everyone calm, and inside. Have whatever security you guys have in this place at the ready; just in case any spirits try to get in here." Korra ordered as she turned to leave.

"Wait what are you going to do?" the doctor asked.

"I'm going to stop all this at the source." She called back as she sprinted down the corridor.

She quickly made her way up the stairwell to the second floor, and moved swiftly down the hall. As Korra arrived at the door to Mako's room she came to a sudden stop. On the other side of the door one of her greatest nightmares was coming to life. Last time she faced Vaatu he had broken her, unmade her as the Avatar.

Korra frowned at her sudden hesitation. Mako was in there. Right now he needed her help now more than ever. It was her duty as the Avatar to stop Vaatu no matter what.

With her will now unwavering Korra turned the handle, and entered the room.

With a mighty heave and a yell Bolin slammed a large slab of pavement into a group of dark spirits. While several were able to dodge the rest were dissipated in flashes of light by the impact.

When the squads of Lin's metal benders arrived, and joined the fight; the rest of them began fighting their way towards the hospital. While the fighting was furious most of the dark spirits were smaller, less powerful ones. Most of them were barely even human sized, and could be dispatched with enough force.

"You know when you guys told me all those stories about fighting dark spirits; I was kind of expecting more than this." Kai said as they all finally managed to regroup in front of the hospital.

"Well actually these are all pretty small fry compared to the monsters we faced at the North Pole." Bolin said as he caught his breath. "The toughest dark spirit we fought was probably the one from the South Pole. It was this huge gnarly lizard spirit." He added from the front of the group.

"Um by any chance did that spirit have glowing yellow markings on its face?" Kai asked nervously.

"Yeah why" Bolin asked.

Kai just pointed towards the roof of the hospital. Everyone looked up to see the very same spirit they had faced at the South Pole.

"Aw man not fire face again!" Bolin exclaimed as the dark spirit launched itself to the ground. It landed with enough force to shatter the pavement as it came to stand between them, and the hospital.

"Well when you speak of the devil he shall appear." Lin deadpanned as they all took up bending stances.

Dark and quiet; those are the first things that Korra noticed as she entered the room. The window blinds were shut; keeping what little light there was outside from getting in. The only light came from the machines that were monitoring Mako's vitals. The only sound was the steady beeping of the heart rate monitor, and the respirator. There was no indication of the chaos going on just outside.

Korra's senses were on high alert. A pin could have dropped, and she would have heard it. She slowly made her way over to the hospital bed. Korra was ready for anything, and yet nothing happened. Mako was just lying there unmoving. Korra moved to the bedside, and gazed sadly at her best friend.

"Don't worry Mako; I'm going to save you" Korra whispered as her eyes began to glow.

She drew the water from the pitcher on the bedside table, and used it to cover her hands. As the water began to glow she placed her right hand on his chest; just above his scar. Her left hand came to rest on his forehead. The second her energy came into contact with his there was a flash of light.

"Where am I? What's going on?" Korra asked as she looked around.

While she had expected something to happen, this was definitely not it. A moment ago she was in Mako's room at the hospital, now she was in the middle of republic city during a blizzard. Normally popping up in weird places was reserved for trips to the spirit world.

"Korra we need to hurry" Said an ancient yet feminine voice from behind her.

"Raava" Korra asked as she turned around only to find no one there.

"I'm down here."

Korra looked down to find her child self staring up at her. Raava looked just like Korra had the day she was first presented as the Avatar to the White Lotus. Complete with big eyes, three small wolf tails, bare feet, and chubby belly peeking out from under her shirt.

"What happened Raava, where are we?" Korra asked the spirit of light.

"We are in Mako's spirit world, his soul. When we made spiritual contact Vaatu pulled us in here."

"Great, round one of tug-o-war goes to Vaatu." Korra groaned as she looked around them.

It was republic city completely frozen, just as Jinora said. The sky was covered in dark storm clouds. Purple lightning would occasionally arc across the sky, closely followed by a roar of thunder. Powerful winds tore at them as it howled through the empty city. Snow fell heavily around them, and the ground would tremble, and shake.

"A little cold in here for a fire bender isn't it." Korra remarked as the cold viciously bit into her.

"By the look of this place whatever Vaatu is doing, Mako won't be able to take much more. We need to find them quickly." Raava stated.

"This place is huge. How are we supposed to find them in here?" Korra asked.

"Well for starters you could ask for directions."

Both Korra and Raava turned quickly to find a third Korra leaning against a satomobile across the street. This one however had red eyes, and a purple glow.

"Vaatu" Raava hissed trying to sound intimidating, but the chibi child look wasn't exactly helping.

"Hello Raava, don't you just look so adorable." Vaatu said in a smug tone that made Korra want to shove a fireball down his throat.

"And Korra well isn't this embarrassing; showing at the party wearing the same thing as someone else." He said turning his crimson gaze to the Avatar.

"Since you have your own mini me; it's only fair that Mako gets one too." Vaatu suddenly shifted into a child version of Mako roughly ten years old with red eyes, and scarf.

"Although to tell you the truth I think I was pulling your look off a little better. Between you and me you've kind of packed on a few pounds since we last met." Vaatu said with a smug grin.

"Why you son of a" Korra began taking a step forward; only to stop as she felt a tiny hand grip her pant leg.

"Where is Mako?" Raava demanded coldly.

Vaatu grinned wolf-batishly. "Oh don't worry I'll take you to him. Unfortunately though we are only receiving visitors one at a time right now."

Vaatu suddenly appeared next to them, grabbed Korra, and disappearing in a flash of red light; leaving Raava alone in the snow.

Raiko stared out his office window at the gathering storm clouds. It was silent until the door opened, and his secretary walked in.

"I'm sorry to bother you sir, but we have calls flooding in about dark spirits attacking the area around the hospital." She said.

"Republic City General" Raiko asked, not even looking away from the window.

"Yes sir. The metal bender units of the police force have already been called in."

"Thank you for notifying me. Please clear my schedule for the rest of the day."

"Yes sir." The secretary said with a nod, and closed the door.

Raiko turned away from the window, and walked over to his desk. He grabbed the phone, and quickly dialed in a number.

"General Iroh, I need you, and a platoon of your very best to head over to republic city general hospital. There is a very serious threat to the United Republic that must be neutralized as soon as possible."

The moment that Vaatu had made contact Korra was overcome with an extreme sense of vertigo. As soon as he let go she fell to her hands, and knees in the snow.

"Korra" She heard someone say.

Korra looked up, and after a few seconds the world stopped spinning.

"Mako" She said as she finally regained focus.

"Vaatu" Vaatu said as he reappeared near them.

"Yes we all know each other, let's move things along shall we." He said as he came to stand beside Mako.

"Korra are you alright?" Mako asked as he struggled against his chains with a renewed vigor.

"Don't worry Mako I'm fine." Korra said as she stood up, and took in the world around her.

Her attention was quickly drawn to the chains, and statues surrounding them.

"Let him go Vaatu" Korra demanded as she glared into his glowing red eyes.

"Oh believe me girl I am trying, but he is not making it easy." Vaatu said as he began to circle them.

Each time Vaatu passed a statue he plucked at the rusty chains holding Mako. "There is only so much that I can do. The only thing keeping him prisoner now is you, and him."

"What are you talking about? I am here to save him." Korra stated.

"Try, you are here to try to save him. That might be a little easier to do without that chain you have on him." Vaatu retorted.

At Vaatu's words Korra suddenly noticed a slight weight on her hips. She looked down to find thick metal chains wrapped around her waist. She quickly followed them to see the other end wrapped around Mako's chest.

"What the" She said in confusion as she reached for the chain.

"Korra Wait!" Mako tried to warn her, but it came too late as she grabbed the chain.

Every time Vaatu had grabbed a chain a surge of memories, and emotions would crash on Mako like waves on a rock. This time though when Korra grabbed the chain they were both hit with a tsunami of memories, and emotions. The sheer magnitude of it all knocked them both to their knees.

Every memory, moment, and experience they had together from Mako's perspective flashed before their eyes. Together they felt each and every emotion Mako had ever felt for her flow unrelentingly through them. They felt annoyance, awe, worry, envy, joy, anger, and love; so much love. These were but a few of the emotions he felt with her.

The memories came next. There was when they first met, facing Amon together, the spirit festival, when they broke up, every last moment was relived in a span of seconds.

Finally Korra released the chain, and everything stopped. Both Mako and korra were left gasping for air as though they'd been drowning.

"Overwhelming isn't it Korra. You sparked his love for you roughly six years ago, and it's been a raging inferno ever since." Vaatu said as he knelt down beside Korra. "There was once a time when your love for him burned just as brightly. Believe me after being trapped within you for five years I now know you like the back of my hand."

Vaatu stood, and began circling again. "A love that true and powerful was the most meaningful gift you could have given him when you had shared it. Times have changed though. The passion you once had for him has grown cold, and your heart now beats for another. Now his love for you is nothing more than a terrible curse."

"What are you talking about" Korra asked as she shakily stood to her feet.

While Korra had managed to regain her composure; Mako was still on the ground trying desperately to stem the flood of emotions flowing through him.

Vaatu just stared at Korra with a look of disbelief on his face. "Does this ring a bell? I like you, and I think that we are meant for each other. Those are but a few of the words you used to draw him away from Asami."

Vaatu then rounded on her with anger burning in his eyes. "I love you too are the words that made his heart yours."

Vaatu took a step forward as he continued. "And I'll always love you too. Those parting words are what bound him to you more securely than chains."

Korra was left speechless at Vaatu's sudden fury. The way he raged about her words from her, and Mako's intimate moments; it was as if she had somehow wronged him personally.

Vaatu suddenly stopped, and looked away from her. He took a deep calming breath, and turned to face Mako as the detective finally managed to pull himself to his feet.

"The cold hard truth is this Mako. The woman you fell in love with is dead, and gone. All that is left is her." Vaatu said turning to face Korra once again.

While Vaatu and Mako were facing her; Korra caught movement just behind them.

"Don't worry Mako I'm going to get you out of here." Korra said trying to both reassure him, and keep the chaos spirits attention on her.

"Korra" Mako said weakly with a pained expression on his face.

Suddenly a tiny form barreled into Vaatu knocking him to the frozen ground.

"I'm sorry it took me so long to find you. It's not exactly easy to run with such tiny legs. Korra help me quickly." Raava said as she did her best to try to pin Vaatu to the ground.

Korra quickly ran over to the thrashing spirits, and grabbed Vaatu by the collar.

"You are so out of here." Korra said as she held on tight, and focused on her physical body.

Together Korra and Raava began to slowly pull Vaatu outwards toward the physical world. As they did though both Mako, and Vaatu began to scream in utter agony.

"Keep pulling!" Raava cried out, but suddenly a shockwave of crimson energy erupted from Vaatu knocking them both away.

While both were breathing heavily Mako collapsed to his knees. Vaatu only stared at them with pure hatred in his eyes.

"That really hurt." Vaatu growled.

Korra stared at Vaatu in shock. "I don't understand we had you; why didn't it work" She asked.

"It didn't work for several reasons" Vaatu began as he stood up. "First and foremost as long as that chain remains intact no one is going anywhere. Not Mako, not me, and most certainly not you."

"If you are so intent on freeing me then why haven't you broken it yet?" Mako said as he made his way to his feet.

Vaatu glanced back at Mako. "The only ones who can break these chains are you, or the person they bind you too." Vaatu said as he turned back to Korra. "Since he loves you too much to do it himself, it's up to you."

Korra stilled, and slowly turned to look at Mako.

"You still love me?" Korra asked quietly.

Mako took a deep breath. "Yes" he said as amber eyes met ocean blue.

"Wow Korra I knew that you were dense, but I didn't think you were this dense. Did you honestly think his feelings for you would just disappear?" Vaatu said as he glared at Korra.

"When you two parted ways after my defeat, you gave him hope. Hope that maybe one day you could be together again. He has clung to that hope for years. I could stick my hand in a hippo-diles mouth, and still be able to count the number of women he's loved after you on that hand." Korra looked away from Mako as Vaatu spoke.

"What exactly are you saying?" Raava asked as she watched her opposite carefully.

"It's simple really. If you want to free yourselves all you have to do is take that hope away." Vaatu answered with a grin.

Silence followed the dark spirits words. Korra looked from Vaatu, to Raava, to Mako, and back again. Hope was something that the avatar was supposed to inspire, not destroy. The arctic winds howled through the empty city as Korra tried to come to grips with Vaatu's words.

"Korra" Mako said so quietly he was almost drowned out by the thunder.

Korra looked up slowly, and met Mako's somber gaze. "Is there even the slightest possibility of us being together again; of you loving me again?"

Korra held his gaze for only a moment before turning away. Vaatu and Raava watched intently, but silently as Korra tentatively reached out, and grabbed their chain again.

Once more memories and emotions flowed through them. However they were Korra's memories, and emotions. While they were powerful they were not as overwhelming as Mako's had been.

At first the memories and emotions were the same only from her perspective. They felt desire, anger, longing, betrayal, joy, everything. Above all though was love which burned just as brightly as his own. At least at first it did. When the memory of their official break up came to pass the emotions flowing through them began to change. It was subtle at first; in fact most of her feelings remained the same. There was joy, anger, concern, friendship, envy, gratitude, it all remained. The burning desire however slowly faded, and the blazing love that rivaled his own followed suit. Her love for him once an inferno slowly faded to the dull glow of a candle.

Then the memories of their fight against Zaheer, and the red lotus passed before them. Mako felt Korra's courage, trust, fear, pain, doubt, and uncertainty. Those memories and feelings soon gave way to the

In the three years it had taken Korra to recover she had completely cut him out of her life. No matter how he tried, no matter how many letters he sent, she never let him in. Now he knew everything she'd gone through; all the fear, anger, despair, and hope. It was the hope however that truly caught Mako's attention. The moment that Korra had found that hope in her time of need; the small candle flame of love she still felt for him flickered out.

As Korra recovered, and her hope grew a new love flickered to life. As Korra's hope and love grew; Mako witnessed new memories. They were of Asami, of her letters, and phone calls that were Korra's only connection to the outside world as she recovered. When Korra returned to Republic City the love only grew stronger. The final memory Mako witnessed was seen through Korra's eyes. Asami and Korra were standing before the new spirit portal. Their hands were clasped as they stared lovingly into each other's eyes.

That was when Korra's love reached its apex. The love she felt for Asami was now a powerful steady blaze. While it was no raging inferno their love had been; Korra, and Asami's love was powerful, and unwavering. This love wasn't just a memory either. It burns just as brightly now as it did then.

Korra finally released the chain, stopping the memories, and emotions. "I'm sorry Mako" Korra said quietly as tears fell from her eyes, and the chain connecting them turned to dust. Mako only stared at the ground, his eyes hollow, and empty. He now had his answer.

Before Korra could say anything else chuckling filled the cold air. Korra and Raava with tears in her eyes as well turned to look at Vaatu. Like Mako he was on his knees; unlike Mako however he was crying, laughing, and smiling.

"I'm free" he laughed as he clutched his chest. "At last I am your prisoner no longer!" Vaatu yelled to the wind as he leapt to his feet.

"Enjoy it while you can, because it won't last long" Raava said as she charged at Vaatu.

Before the light spirit could barrel into him again Vaatu lowered his arm, and pressed his small hand to her tiny forehead stopping Raava in her tracks. Vaatu slowly looked down at Raava with a wolf-batish grin that sent a chill down her spine.

"You know Korra when you tried to rip me out of here it hurt like hell. Let's see how you like it." Raava's glowing blue eyes widened as Vaatu grabbed her by the shoulders.

"Raava no!" Korra exclaimed, but there was nothing she could do as Vaatu's crimson energy began to tear at their bond.

Both Korra and Raava screamed in absolute agony. It felt as though lightning was ripping its way through every nerve in their bodies. Even though it felt like hours it was only moments before a pulse of blue energy from Raava broke Vaatu's grip, and launched him back into a parked satomobile.

"Raava are we, did he?" Korra began to ask as the pain began to subside.

"No he didn't" Raava said tiredly as she tried to catch her breath.

"But how, that felt even worse than it did the last time." Korra said as she moved to kneel beside Raava.

"That would be because unlike last time your bond didn't give way."

Korra and Raava looked up to see Vaatu pull himself out of the crushed car. The red eyed ten year old Mako stood up, and gave himself a quick brush off.

"I'll admit that backlash hurt, but as you humans like to say 'totally worth it'."

"Why didn't you tear us apart?" Korra asked as Raava glared at her darker half.

Vaatu grinned as he began to circle them, and a still zoned out Mako. "When you merged with your first human Wan all those years ago Raava it was done with only the barest of contact with the power of harmonic convergence. The bond was strong enough to last for 10,000 years, but not strong enough that I couldn't break it at my full power. That was why I was able to separate you two the first time. When you re-merged with Korra you were both completely immersed in the power of harmonic convergence. Now no matter how powerful I become, I can no longer tear you two apart. You are now truly bound together for all eternity."

Korra frowned at Vaatu's explanation. "I don't understand why we weren't able to separate you, and Mako?" she asked.

Vaatu came to a stop next to the fire bender. "Since we were not merged with the power of harmonic convergence it will take time for him and I to come into perfect alignment, and fully merge as you have. However thanks to both you and Ms Sato we were exposed to enough spirit energy to make our bond just as permanent as yours."

Horror spread over Korra's face as Vaatu's words sunk in.

"Just like you and Raava; Mako and I are now one in the same." Vaatu declared with a wicked smile.

"No, no, no, no, no, no!" Korra exclaimed as she looked from the spirit of darkness and chaos to her best friend kneeling brokenly beside him.

"We will stop you Vaatu" Raava declared as she stood up, and pointed a tiny finger at him.

Vaatu just smirked. "Not this time Raava. Now since your work is done here I believe it is time for you two to leave."

Before Korra or Raava could protest there was a flash of red light, and then darkness.

Korra suddenly awoke to an arc of crimson energy knocking her hard into the wall of Mako's hospital room. Upon impact she slowly sank to the floor, and just stared at the still unconscious Mako. The way he just laid there as the steady beeping of the heart monitor filled the air just seemed to mock her. She pulled her knees to her chest, wrapped her arms around her legs, and began to cry. The words 'I failed' flowed through her mind over, and over again. "I can't save him' she thought to herself as sobs began to rack her body.

("I am so sorry Korra.")

Korra looked up, and glanced around the room only to realize Raava's voice was in her head.

"What do I do now Raava?" Korra asked mournfully.

("We tried Korra, we truly did. Now the only thing left for us to do is fulfill our duty to the worlds.")

"I can't Raava" Korra choked out. "I promised Bolin I would save him. Mako is my friend; I just can't do it."

Raava was silent for several moments. ("Do you believe that Mako wants to kill thousands of innocent people?")

Korra froze at Raava's question "No" she answered.

("Do you believe he wants to plunge the world into 10,000 years of darkness?")

"No" Korra answered again.

("If we do not stop Vaatu then death and destruction is what he will cause. We may not be able to save his life, but we can release him from his fate.")

Korra took a deep breath to stop herself from crying, but the tears still fell. "What do I do?" She asked again.

("We will purify Vaatu just as you did before.")

"What will happen to Mako?" Korra asked as she looked over to the fire bender.

("Vaatu has merged with his soul. Purifying Vaatu will claim Mako's soul as well, and without his soul his body will die soon after. The only comfort I can offer is that it will be quick, and painless.")

Taking one final calming breath Korra stood up. With tears still falling she slowly came to stand at Mako's bedside once more. She sadly gazed down at her best friend.

"I am so sorry Mako" She whispered.

Korra then closed her eyes, and focused on her spiritual energy. Her entire body began to glow with a white light, and Raava's blue markings began to glow on her torso. She then opened her eyes now glowing blue as well.

With tears running down her cheeks she hesitantly placed her right hand on his chest, and her left on his forehead. Several seconds later Mako's body began to glow red, and orange once more. Unlike the last time however lines of purple energy were spread throughout his entire body like cracks in glass.

"Spirits forgive me" Korra said; her voice sounding like a perfect mixture of Raava's and her own.

At her words white energy began to slowly spread over Mako's body from the points of contact.

"Mom hey mom where is everyone." Ikki asked quickly.

"Yeah Jinora and Kai have gone AWOL. If they don't turn up soon I'll have to court marshal them." Meelo declared as he crossed his arms authoritatively. Most of the authority was lost however as his ring tailed flying lemur landed on his head.

"I don't know Ikki, and no court marshalling your sister Meelo." Pema said as she turned to her two middle children. "I've been trying to reach your father all day, but so far nothing."

"Do you think it has something to do with Mako, I hope he's okay." Ikki said with equal parts speed, and worry.

"I don't know honey." Pema answered again as she looked to the darkening sky, and held little Rohan more securely. "Something doesn't feel right."

"Alright then we have two AWOL soldiers, and an MIA daddy. This calls for a search, and rescue mission!" Meelo declared loudly as he launched himself into the sky.

As he began heading towards republic city Ikki took off after him.

"Be careful you guys!" Pema called after them.

"Please let them be alright." She whispered with worry in her voice, and concern in her grey eyes.

Hollow, that is the only word that can describe the pain Mako felt in his chest. The ground shook violently, and purple lightning arced across the sky. The arctic blizzard raged around him yet he felt nothing. The street lights had gone out, and the city was plunged into darkness. The only light came from flashes of lightning. As Mako stared at blankly at the ground he knelt on, he heard the sound of footsteps in the snow.

"I loved her. Despite everything I always loved her." Mako said as the footsteps came to a stop in front of him.

When the dark spirit remained silent he continued. "For four years I've gone over it in my head again, and again. Everything I did wrong, what I should have done better, every mistake I made. I would have given my life for her. All this time I had hoped that deep down she still loved me too."

"There were many mistakes made, but not all of them were yours."

Mako looked up to see Vaatu clutching his chest, and gazing down at him with a somber expression. "When I was trapped within her I was able to read her memories and emotions as I have yours. There was a time that she truly loved you, and would have died for you too."

Vaatu closed his crimson eyes, and shook his head. "That time has come, and gone. The woman you loved is gone, and all that remains is the Avatar who's self appointed duty is to put you down, and re-imprison me."

Mako's amber eyes narrowed. "Korra might not love me, but she would never give up on me like that."

Suddenly Vaatu's appearance changed. While his general form was still that of his ten year old self; his entire body turned black. He now looked like a silhouette with glowing red eyes. As Mako stared at Vaatu's new form, a chill that had nothing to do with the surrounding snow storm bit into him. With a gasp he looked down to see his own body glowing red, and orange.

"What is going on?" Mako asked as his body became colder, and the feeling of emptiness in his chest grew. It felt as though his heart had been ripped out, and he was now freezing to death.

"What's going on is exactly what I said would happen." Vaatu began as he stared curiously at his outstretched hand. The tips of his fingers were beginning to glow white, and it was slowly spreading up his arm.

"Avatar Korra the person you trusted most has given up on you. She is purifying me, and since we are bound together you shall die as well."

"No" Mako said as he watched in horror as his own hands began to glow white.

Wherever the light spread he lost all feeling; like he was slowly going numb.

"Raava knows that purifying me will kill you. Korra knows it will kill you. You have been forsaken Mako. Just as I said you would be."

"No, no, no, no!" Mako exclaimed as he tried to stand only to collapse back to the ground.

Looking down at his now numb lower body he could see light spreading from his feet up his legs. He could no longer even feel the bite of the rusty chains still connecting him to the remaining statues. When Korra had appeared she had replaced her own statue.

"You know I actually thought it would take a little longer for her to get around to killing you." Vaatu commented with a chuckle as he watched the light consume him.

"Can't you do something?" Mako asked desperately.

Vaatu just shook his head, and spoke solemnly. "I have done all I can Mako. Your life, our fate is in your hands now. It always has been. The time has come for you to decide whether or not you live, or die."

Mako could feel death approaching. Vaatu's words, the wind, the thunder; it was all becoming muffled, and silent. His whole body was numb now, and his vision was going dark. All he could feel was emptiness, fear, and despair.

As oblivion drew near Mako's entire life flashed before his eyes once again. Everything he'd gone through, everything he'd faced. Every last moment good, or bad that made up his entire life. What really stood out were all the times he'd stared death in the eye, and walked away.

There was when Amon nearly took away his bending, standing against Unavaatu, and his horde of dark spirits, facing off against Min Hua in a duel to the death in that cavern. Finally came destroying Kuvira's colossus.

'Is this really how I am going to die?' Mako wondered to himself. Condemned by a world he'd given everything for. Forsaken by the people he trusted most. Executed by the woman he loved for atrocities he hasn't even committed.

"No" Mako said.

That one word drew Vaatu's attention. By now his entire body was covered in light except for his crimson eyes. The spirit watched closely as Mako was completely consumed in Raava's light. Suddenly through the wind, and thunder a single word echoed throughout Mako's soul.

"NO!"

In that moment a crimson shock wave erupted from Mako. A lifetime of anger, fury, and resentment broke free, and filled the void in his heart. The bright light that had consumed them both was violently forced back by Mako's own red energy.

Sight, sound, and feeling returned as Mako stood to his feet. His eyes were blazing orange with rage no longer suppressed. His body now glowed with a crimson energy that was slowly growing darker by the moment.

Vaatu was once more covered in his own dark energy, and his crimson eyes now glowed with a renewed power as he began circling Mako one final time.

Crimson eyes locked with blazing orange as Vaatu spoke.

"Are you bound to a world that has turned its back on you?"

"No." Mako answered as thunder boomed.

"Are you Raiko's puppet?"

"No."

At Mako's answer a massive bolt of purple lightning struck Raiko's statue completely destroying both it, and the chain connecting it to Mako.

"Are you Lin Beifong's meaningless pawn?"

"No."

The lightning destroyed her chain, and statue, freeing another of Mako's limbs.

"Are you Asami Sato's fool?"

"No."

The heiress's statue exploded in a flash of purple light.

"Are you Bolin's downfall?"

"No!" Mako yelled as Bolin's statue, and chain were destroyed. A moment of sorrow flashed through him, but it was quickly devoured by his rage.

Only one statue and chain remained. The statue of himself was now ragged, chipped, cracked, and worn down.

"Are you Mako, detective of Republic city?" Vaatu asked.

Rather than a bolt of lightning from above Mako lashed out with a massive blast of fire that completely obliterated both chain and statue completely.

"No." Mako growled as the arctic wind blew the smoke away.

Vaatu came to a stop in front of the now free fire bender. "When we began I asked you two questions. I ask them again now. Who and what are you?"

The ground stopped shaking, the wind died down, and the thunder ceased to roar. All was silent seemingly waiting for his answer.

Mako closed his eyes, and stopped glowing. He took a deep breath, and released it slowly as a breath of fire.

"I am Mako" He said as he opened his now glowing crimson eyes. "And we are the Dark Avatar."

If there were ever a chapter to comment, or review on this would be it. Your thoughts, and opinions are something I both learn from, and enjoy. I've been putting a lot of effort to build this story up to this point, and I'm planning to let all Hell break loose next chapter so stay tuned. The Title, and inspiration for this chapter comes from the song (Point of no return) by Starset. it's a good song, and I recommend giving it a list. if you thinks it matches the chapter let me know. Untill next time.