Okay, I just have to post this on here, because it's incredible. Fan-art inspired originally by "The Cave", but it first perfectly with the beginning of my story as well! By an incredible deviant artists Moni158 (the same artist who did the cover picture for this story), the link for it is here post/31644263812/fanart-from-the-amorra-fic-called-the .

image/31644263812

Anyway, happy Easter to all of you! Hope your days are all blessed by Jesus : )

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Korra spun around, her heart in her throat. Amon emerged from the shadows, his golden eyes gleaming from the slits of his mask with a cold, cruel glow.

"Korra, get behind me!" Mako cried, pushing her back and leaping to shield her, fists raised.

The dark figure only laughed. He raised a hand, and before Mako could release a barrage of firebending, he cried out in pain, dropping to his knees. His back arched in unnatural flexibility, the veins in his neck protruding as he yelled with agony.

"Amon, stop!" Korra cried, sprinting forward. But Amon raised his other fist, and her insides turned to ice. Korra staggered to a stop, held by an invisible grip, rigid as a statue. Her heart pounded with fear.

"Korra," Mako gasped. "He's—a bloodbender!"

Amon chuckled, lowering his hands to his sides. Mako and Korra remained frozen. "Your little friend seems highly observant, Avatar."

"Don't do this," she begged, struggling in the viselike grip. "Please!"

"Why should I not? This is the perfect opportunity to rid Republic City of its two greatest nuisances: the Avatar and her little playmate. When I take your bending, the war will be over. My revolution will have no boundaries."

"You—" Korra gasped, still fighting it. She watched Amon's fingers curl at his side, and her lungs screamed in pain as the muscles in her chest tightened, the blood flow constricting. She choked out the next words, "You don't want to do this."

"And why don't I?"

"There's—someone else, an enemy…" Korra was thrust out on a limb now, but she was flailing for any excuse to stall time, to give Tenzin and the others an opening to come to their rescue. She plunged ahead, trusting her gut. "A greater enemy than either of us have ever faced."

"And who might this be?"

"A girl," Korra rasped, remembering her dream. "A girl with violet eyes. She's coming—from the Northern Water Tribe. I saw her, in her village, in a vision."

Amon's golden eyes flickered behind the mask. When he spoke, his voice had changed. It was no longer mocking, humoring. It carried the slight edge of uneasiness. "What is her name?"

Korra clenched her eyes shut, gritting her teeth against the pain. "Sakura."

Amon dropped her with a jerk. Mako gasped, curling onto his side, sucking in air with ragged desperation. Korra staggered back, trembling, and looked up. Amon's eyes were wider than she'd ever seen them before.

"That's… not possible." His voice was just a whisper. There was no longer any hint of menace in it. His eyes snapped back up to hers. "You're sure of this?" he demanded.

Korra swallowed. "It was just a vision," she backtracked.

"But you saw her. You saw her and you heard her name. You're sure it was Sakura?"

Korra nodded. Then, without warning, Amon crossed the room in three quick strides and grabbed her chin in his hand. Korra gasped and tried to pull away, but found she could not.

"Let her go," Mako rasped from the floor, but Amon's renewed bloodbending grip kept him down.

"Tonight," Amon whispered, his breath cool over her face. "Midnight. Avatar Aang's Memorial Island. We will discuss this." His grip tightened on her jaw, his face moving inches from hers. "Come alone. Clear?"

Korra glared at him. The fingers tightened, bruising. "Am I clear?"

"Transparent," she growled.

His narrowed eyes held hers a moment longer. Then, without another word, he let her go, melting into the shadows. Korra stood there, heart hammering in her ribs, and heard Mako gasp as he struggled back to his feet.

"Don't just stand there," he rasped, stumbling forward. "We've got to go after him!"

Korra followed him halfheartedly into the darkness, knowing there was no way they'd find Amon again if he didn't want to be found. Her chin still tingled from where he'd touched her.

Mako stormed into the darkness, blasting fireballs in frustration. "I can't find him!"

"He's gone." Korra put a hand on his shoulder. "It's all right, Mako. At least we've still got our bending."

"Korra, you are not going to Memorial Island tonight." Mako's voice was a fervent hiss. "It's too dangerous. He'll just ambush you again."

"Mako, he knows something about my vision. What other choice to I have?"

"The choice to keep your bending!" He exploded. "And your life!"

"Korra?" Bolin's voice echoed from down the stairs. His concerned face popped out of the darkness. "Mako? Were you guys talking to someone?"

"Yeah," Mako growled. "Amon was here. Waiting for us."

"Amon?" Bolin's face paled. "You mean… heeeeeere? In the locker room?"

"Yep." Korra rubbed the back of her neck where her muscles had pinched together in the bloodbending attack. "Ouch."

"Did he attack you guys? Are you hurt? Did he take your bending? Where did he go? What did he want? Oh, gosh, we've got to tell Tenzin—"

"Slow down, Bo," Korra interrupted, unable to hold in a tense laugh. "We're fine. But yes, we've got to tell Tenzin. Where is he?"

Bolin's frightened face melted into a blissful expression. "Oh, he's up with Butaka, talking with the most byoooooootiful girl I've ever seen. Daa-aang, she's good lookin'. She's got these pretty violet eyes and these big ol' red lips, and… what?"

He stopped at the look on Korra's face. She didn't know she was falling backwards until Mako caught her under the arms, stopping her fall. She felt like all the blood had drained from her body.

"Whoa, easy there." Bolin reached forward, taking her hand and helping her back up.

"Korra, was that the girl from your vision?" Mako demanded, holding her steady.

Korra couldn't speak. Couldn't breathe. No. It couldn't be happening. The monsters from her nightmare flashed before her eyes, the cold, dead hands reaching for her throat, clammy fingers reaching to strangle her…

"Korra?" Mako's arms tightened around her.

"I…" Her voice was ragged. "I don't know."

"Well…" Bolin looked thoroughly spooked. "Let's go up and find Tenzin. Sakura's up there with Butaka and the rest. He'll… know what to do."

Korra stumbled up the stairs behind Bolin, Mako's arm tight around her waist. Her knees kept buckling. She didn't know why. She'd never heard of this girl before. It was just a dream. Nothing that should send such paralyzing fear into her gut like that.

They reached the top of the stairs and turned down the hallway towards the lobby. Korra saw three men standing there. The announcer for the pro-bending matches, Butaka—the team coordinator—and Tenzin. Her eyes landed on the fourth member of the group—and all her breath left her in a rush. The young woman looked to be in her twenties. Her dark hair hung in waves down her back, falling in perfect curls around her face like Asami's did. Her skin was pale, creamy, a smooth flawless kind of beauty. She was tall, taller than Korra, and had trim athletic curves that bespoke strength and speed. She turned as they approached, and Korra's blood froze in her veins. That smile. Those white teeth. Those blood red lips, the pale violet eyes.

"Ah, look who's come to join us." Butaka stepped aside, making room for them in the circle. He waved an arm. "Come, come. Meet the kind benefactor whose generous donations have made the rebuilding of the pro-bending arena possible."

Tenzin turned, dipping his head to the three of them as they approached. "Korra, Mako, this is Miss Natsuki. She's agreed to help sponsor the reconstruction of the arena."

The girl turned, her smile widening when she laid eyes on Korra. Korra felt her whole body stiffen.

"Ah, you must be the famous Avatar. I'm so pleased to finally meet you. Call me Sakura."

She extended a hand. Korra stared at it for a moment. She had no choice but to take it. Sakura's hand was cold. Ice cold.

"I hear you're from the Southern Water Tribe? I'm from the North. A pleasure to meet another waterbender down in these parts. I haven't gotten much except earth and fire. No offense, Bo."

She grinned at Bolin, easily using his given nickname. Bolin swallowed twice and beamed at her, looking like a sappy love-struck puppy. Sakura's slid her eyes over to Mako.

"Ah, so here's the second handsome Fire Ferret brother?" She stretched out a hand, and Korra felt Mako stiffen beside her as she slid her fingers down his wrist to take his hand. He didn't return the handshake, just kept his arm stiff. Sakura's eyes flickered slightly, some of the warmth going out of her plastered smile. She took her hand away.

"So, shall we get down to business yet?" Butaka tapped his foot. "I haven't got all day."

"Yeah," Korra said, tearing her eyes away from the smooth-faced girl. "We'll take any opening that's not in the morning."

"Well, you're in luck. I've got three. Two afternoons, one evening."

"Evening," Mako declared. Korra nodded.

"All right, that's settled then. You'll be here by seven thirty sharp or those doors get closed and someone else fills your slot. Got it?"

"Got it," Korra replied.

Sakura smiled. "I'll be watching your progress with interest, Korra. I hope we meet again soon."

Normally Korra didn't like it when people used her title. She preferred they used her name. But there was something in the way this girl said it that made her hair stand on end. It was like she'd defiled it, somehow. Used it. Nausea curled in her stomach, but she couldn't explain why. What was this? Who was this woman?

"Korra." Tenzin's voice carried a hint of concern. "Are you all right?"

She opened her mouth to answer, but before she could, Mako spoke for her. "Of course she's not all right. We were just attacked, downstairs. By Amon."

A collective gasp went around the circle. The high-voiced announcer stepped forward, his eyebrows shot high up on his forehead. "Amon? Leader of the Equalists? Here, in my stadium?"

"Amon?" Sakura's voice peaked with interest. "That anti-bending revolutionist?"

"Where is he?" Tenzin demanded. He reached forward, gripping Korra's arm. "Did he hurt you?"

"No," Korra whispered. "We're okay. Tenzin, I…" She stopped, her eyes flicking toward Sakura. She swallowed hard. "I'm meeting him, tonight at Memorial Island."

"What?" Tenzin's voice was hoarse. "Korra, are you thinking clearly? Do you remember what happened last time?"

"I told her she shouldn't go," Mako added. "It's stupid. He'll only ambush her again."

Tenzin took her shoulders, looking her in the eyes. "Korra, you didn't agree to this, did you?"

Korra set her jaw, meeting his gaze. "I did."

"Korra," Bolin moaned. "No offense, but you're an idiot."

"Why?" Tenzin demanded. "What is the reason for this meeting? Why could you not have one of us go with you?"

"He said it had to be me. Alone. And…" Korra bit her lip, again glancing at Sakura. The girl's violet eyes were shrewd, calculating. Korra swallowed hard. "I can't tell you."

Mako released an exasperated sigh, dropping his chin to his chest. "You're going off to meet a man who most certainly wants you dead, alone, in the middle of Republic City bay, without any backup. And you won't even tell us a reason?"

Korra shut her eyes. She knew what they were thinking. This was crazy. Even she admitted it was crazy. She didn't know what Amon had planned for her on the island. He might take her bending, once and for all. He might ambush her again, with his Equalists. For all she knew, he might kill her. Something within her recoiled at that thought. He wouldn't. She didn't know why, but she knew, deep down, that he wasn't capable of that kind of betrayal. If there was any shell of the man she knew left, the man that was Noatak, deep within him… he would never do such a thing.

"Korra," Tenzin whispered, taking her chin in his large palm. The action was far gentler than Amon's. He tilted her head up, forcing her to look into his worried blue eyes. "Is there any way we can change your mind about this?"

Korra looked back into his gaze, wishing she could console him somehow. "No," she whispered.

Tenzin sighed. Straightening, he let her go. His face was pained, but set. "She has made her decision," he declared. "I will not stop her."

"What?" Butaka bellowed, crossing his arms over his chest. "That's one of my best players, Mister. She brings in the yuans like nobody's business! I'm not about to let her go waltzing off to her death."

"If the Avatar's made up her mind, she's made up her mind." Sakura's smooth voice set Korra's teeth on edge. She turned to see the girl approaching Butaka, her jaw set in a grim line. There was a strange glint in her eye. "Do you want to face the wrath of her bending? Be my guest. Try to stop her. I'd like to watch this."

Butaka hesitated. He glared at his young benefactor, but didn't make another sound. Sakura smiled, soft and sweet.

"When are you meeting him?" Bolin asked, his voice timid.

Korra took a deep breath. "Midnight."

Bolin rolled his eyes. "What is it with you guys and midnight?"

Tenzin ran a hand over his smooth head. "All right, then. It's settled. Korra, I want you to come back to Air Temple Island with me. It may be too late for this, but I want to teach you some techniques to block a chi attack, should it come to it."

Korra nodded. Bolin tried to give her a weak smile. "Cool. You're going to learn how to block getting your chi blocked. If you come back, teach me some anti-blocking blocker moves!"

Korra gave him a hug. "When I come back, Bolin," she corrected. "I will."