Here we go, the penultimate chapter of Book 1. This one was a lot of fun to write and I really hope you guys enjoy it. The final chapter will be out soon!
Chapter 11: Skeletons in the Closet
The sun was beaming down on City Hall. Several Equalist airships flew overhead. Hiroshi Sato was addressing a crowd of people gathered there.
"It is a glorious day my Equalist brothers and sisters." He began. "Amon has torn down the tyrannical bending government! He has declared bending illegal! And he has the Avatar on the run."
Hiroshi gestured at all the city's landmarks. The arena was like an Equalist temple. All over the city, Equalist banners and posters adorned every prominent structure. But the worst part was what they did to Aang's memorial statue. He held a staff, which now bore Equalist flags and his face was covered by a giant mask. The very same mask that Amon used.
Hiroshi continued. "Our great leader has a vision for the future. One day soon, bending will no longer exist and we will live in a world where everyone is finally equal! The United Forces are on their way right now to try and stop that dream. But we will prevail!"
The crowd began cheering wildly. At the back of the crowd, three chi-blockers nodded to each other and left the square. They entered a park where a large rock was sitting on the ground.
The one female member of the group used earthbending to move it out of the way. Beneath the rock was a shaft leading to the underground tunnels. All three jumped inside and removed their masks, revealing the faces of Korra, Ichigo and Mako.
"Can you believe Hiroshi? 'The Avatar's on the run'. I'm not running from anyone." Korra grumbled in frustration. "Let's get back up there and knock some heads. They'll never know what hit 'em."
"Relax." Ichigo told her. "Normally I'd be inclined to go with you but we have to wait until reinforcements arrive."
Mako nodded. "Yeah. General Iroh's coming with an entire fleet of battleships. Soon, it'll be Amon who's running."
"I hate this being-patient stuff." Korra muttered.
"So do I." Ichigo agreed. "But just sit tight until they come. Then we can cut loose."
The three of them strode into a large underground square. Bolin and Asami were sitting and they approached them now.
"You two were gone awhile." Asami said as she glared at Mako.
"We were doing reconnaissance," Mako said defensively. "And Ichigo was there too."
"Whatever."
On Ichigo and Korra's first day in Republic City, they had met a strange hobo in the park who lived in a bush. That same hobo now clapped them on the shoulders.
"Welcome back! Hope you worked up an appetite because dinner is served!"
In a rusty old pot, the hobo stirred a disgusting looking stew and spooned it into several bowls.
"Thanks so much for letting us hide out with you the past few days." Korra said.
"Honoured to oblige," he replied. "My associates and I heartily oppose Amon's so-called Equalist policies. We got benders and non-benders living together down here. But do you see us fighting? No, sirree. We've figured out to harmoniously coexist." He said while hugging himself.
All around them were makeshift tents and homes where people lived. Bolin noted all of this.
"You are a wise and noble hobo." He declared. Bolin ate a spoonful of the soup. "Mm! This is the best-tasting street gruel I've ever had, seriously."
The hobo grinned. "I culled it from the finest dumpsters the city has to offer."
After hearing that, Asami choked and spit out the food. She put the bowl down behind her for Pabu to eat.
That night, all five teenagers lay on the floor with ripped up blankets and bundled up shirts as pillows. But Ichigo couldn't have been happier. Sure the conditions were awful and the food was literally crap, but Ichigo felt content. Why? Because here he was, sleeping on the same floor with four close friends. He couldn't ask for any more than that.
Korra sat up against Naga, still awake. She heard footsteps and Mako came to sit beside her.
"Can't sleep either?" He asked.
"No. I have this awful pit in my stomach."
"Me too."
Korra stared at her boots. "It's so crazy. A few months ago I was in the South Pole practicing for my Firebending test. Then I found Ichigo and met you guys. And now I'm in the middle of an all-out war."
"I know. We didn't even know each other back then. But now, I can't imagine what my life would be like without you in it." He smiled. "You're the most loyal, brave and selfless person I've ever known."
Korra was touched. "I think you're pretty incredible too, but you already knew that."
They looked at each other for perhaps a second too long. Then Korra turned away.
"I should probably try to get some sleep."
Mako nodded. "Me too. Good night."
"Good night." He walked away and Korra used Naga as her pillow.
Ichigo was also awake, staring up through a slit in the roof at the distant stars. Asami was lying beside him and noticed his eyes open.
"Hey, you awake, Ichigo?"
He started with surprise. "Yeah. What's wrong? Can't sleep?"
She nodded. "I'm being plagued by nightmares."
His forehead creased with concern. "What are they about?"
Asami sighed. "They're about my father. I don't know if I'll be able to face him again. I fear that he still has plans for me."
Ichigo took her hand. "Hey, none of us will let anything happen to you. I won't let anything happen to you. But when you confront your father, and you will, remember this: Children are meant to leave their parents. They are meant to go out and live their own lives. Your father may try to sway you to his side. But I believe that everyone should have a chance to decide their own fate. Our parents do not define our lives. Our lives are defined by us and our decisions. A good friend of mine once said that I was about to die, so why don't I try and live just a little bit longer. I think what she meant by that was that our lives are short. So we should make the most of them. Defeat your father and live your life as you see fit."
Asami looked into Ichigo's eyes and suddenly hugged him. He blushed furiously but didn't pull away. She smiled.
"Thank you, Ichigo. You really helped me by saying that."
He patted her back awkwardly. "Uh, yeah, no problem."
She let him go and the two of them sat up, leaning against a wall, looking at each other.
Asami stared seriously at him. "Korra was right, you do care. You care more about others than anyone I've ever met." She blushed. "And I like you for that."
Ichigo attempted to look nonchalant but inside he was touched, maybe more so than he let on. He struggled to find a suitable reply. "Well, I uh- I think you're pretty awesome too, Prissy. Sure you're annoying and uptight but that's- that's okay."
He noticed she was glaring at him. He looked away sheepishly, back to his usual scowling self. "I screwed that up, didn't I?"
She chuckled. "Yep."
He put his hands behind his head and yawned. "I'm pretty tired, so…"
Asami rolled her eyes. "If you wanted to get rid of me, you could have just said so."
Ichigo looked uncomprehendingly at her. "When did I say that?"
This time she laughed. "All right, I'll leave. Good night, Ichigo."
"G'night, Prissy."
Amon stood with three chi-blockers at his back. He had presently made Air Temple Island his place of residence. Now the Lieutenant dragged a cuffed and blindfolded task force member and threw him at Amon's feet.
They removed the blindfold and Amon strode towards him.
"You will now be cleansed of your impurity." He took his bending then nodded to his Lieutenant. "Next."
There was a seemingly endless line of benders stretching out across the entire island. Amon smiled within his mask. Several hours later, it was the dead of night. Chi-blockers on their night watch paced back and forth at their posts; on the lookout for any kind of disturbance.
Beneath the Temple there was a small underground space where the Equalists kept their most important prisoners. People like the Council Members, Chief Saikhan and others were all kept here in confinement. They were given food and water and were made to sit out their days here until either they conformed to Amon's new world order, or rotted till their eventual deaths.
Amon himself strolled down the steps to this area beneath the Temple. Having moved out of the underground tunnels across the city, the Equalists had brought the jail cells and cages that they had used to house prisoners with them and placed them here. Amon walked past several cages containing prominent benders, paying them no heed as he made his way to the end of the room.
There, in a cage all by itself, sat his favourite prisoner: Lin Beifong. Amon, with his arms clasped behind his back, approached the cage and glowered down at Lin. For her part, her returning smouldering glare would've scared most men into letting her go entirely. Amon simply smiled behind his mask and then sat down on a bench that had been laid out in front of her cage.
"Chief Beifong," he said.
"What the hell do you want?" She said with venom. "You've already taken my bending. You have no leverage over me."
"I don't want to take anything from you. I want to talk."
"Talk? What on earth could we talk about?"
"The Equalists. My plan for equality is reaching its apex. Soon, the entire population of Republic City shall be equal. Once that is achieved, the world will follow."
"You spouting your nonsense won't make your plan succeed. The Avatar is still out there. And she will stop you."
Amon chuckled. "We shall see." He got to his feet. "I'll be back tomorrow."
Lin scowled.
It was a hazy morning when Team Avatar moved discreetly out of the tunnel and into the outside world. Mako looked out and beckoned them forward.
"The coast is clear."
The five of them ran up a staircase and onto a small landing jutting out across the water. Bolin held a telescope and looked out over the sea. But the mist was too thick to see anything.
"Once the United Forces arrive, we need to be ready to help in any way we can." Korra said.
Ichigo pointed. "They're here."
Bolin focused the telescope and saw the lead ship snaking its way through the mist. Soon enough, the whole fleet came into view.
General Iroh narrowed his golden eyes as he glimpsed the city. "Hmm. Amon had to have known we were coming. So why aren't we meeting any resistance?"
What he said was correct; there was not an Equalist in sight. Korra looked around. "Wait a second. Where are the Equalist airships?"
Mako grabbed the telescope from his brother and looked at the shoreline.
"I don't see any mecha-tanks either."
Ichigo's forehead creased in thought. The ships came closer. Suddenly he sensed something.
"Look out!"
An explosion from underwater blasted beside a ship. More of them appeared around the boats.
"There are mines underwater!" Ichigo yelled. Korra dove into the sea and began swimming frantically to help the ships. Iroh realized the same thing. He grabbed a microphone.
"Water and earthbenders, detonate those mines!"
A strange whirring noise was in the air.
Iroh ran out onto the deck to see what it was. He gasped. Mako gripped the telescope.
"What now?" All of a sudden, around twenty or so flying objects shot through the air, powered by propellers.
Ichigo cursed. "Bi-planes."
Bolin's jaw hit the floor. "Where does Hiroshi find the time to keep inventing new evil machines?"
The planes flew towards the ships and began dropping bombs on them. Ichigo saw Korra heading straight into the danger zone. Before the others could stop him, he teleported into the air, catching onto a plane and went along for the ride. Slowly, he crawled his way towards the cockpit. The noise was deafening and the pilot had no idea he was there.
Ichigo was now on the wing directly above the cockpit. He reached down and yanked the pilot out of his seat, flinging him into the ocean. Then he dropped down into the seat and grabbed the controls, veering the plane towards the battle.
Several planes fired torpedoes that decimated the ship's hulls. Iroh and the other firebenders kept shooting from cannons and managed to take down a few planes but they would soon be overrun.
The fleet was now a flaming mess, with many ships in the process of sinking. Korra reached the carnage. She rose up from the sea on a massive cyclone of water. The planes focused their attacks on her and she was soon sent back into the waves.
Iroh dashed up to the crow's nest on his ship, and began blasting planes out of the air. Three veered off to face him and he took down two. The third shot a torpedo straight at his face.
Iroh leapt off the crow's nest just in time but was caught in the explosion and sent flying into the water. Korra saw this and grabbed him, bringing him to the surface.
"It's all right. I've got you." She said.
He coughed out some water. "Avatar Korra? You saved my life. Thank you."
She smiled and began to swim them back to shore. Hiroshi Sato was flying one of the planes and he glimpsed the two benders attempting to escape. He sneered and fired a missile.
Korra didn't see it coming but Mako did.
"Korra, get out of the way!" He dove in and grabbed Korra and Iroh, helping them to shore. But he still wouldn't be in time. Suddenly, out of nowhere, Ichigo teleported himself off his plane and in front of his friends. Then the missile struck.
Ichigo screamed in agony as he felt his skin peeling away from his bones due to the heat. He saw his life passing before his eyes, his entire life. He saw his mother as she was eaten by the Hollow. He saw Rukia as she plunged her sword into him. He witnessed all of his battles up till now. Then he saw his friends.
Rukia. Inoue. Ishida. Chad. Tatsuki. Yuzu. Karin. Dad. Renji. Kenpachi. Yachiru. Byakuya. Ikkaku. Toshiro. Rangiku-san. Ukitake-san. Urahara-san. Yoruichi-san. Nel. Tenzin. Lin. Jinora. Pema. Ikki. Meelo. Mako. Bolin. Asami. And Korra.
He smiled. Goodbye, my friends. Ichigo's eyes closed.
"ICHIGO!" Korra screamed his name. Mako and Bolin yelled too. Asami stood on the shore in shock, her mouth open in a silent scream. Korra's cry echoed through the minds of Tenzin, his family and Lin. Even Ichigo's old friends heard it.
Korra charged out into the water again but Mako pulled her back.
"Korra, he's gone!"
"NO! HE'S ALIVE!" She shrieked. "LET ME GO! I HAVE TO SAVE HIM!"
Mako forced her to look at him. Tears ran down both of their faces.
"Ichigo sacrificed himself for us. Just like he said he would. But he wouldn't want us to be like this. Did you see his face? He was smiling, Korra. He chose his own fate."
Mako held her body against his, allowing her to cry over his shoulder. He knew not to say things like 'It'll be okay'. Words like those were always empty. Mako knew loss. But he never would have known that how much Ichigo's death would shake him.
Bolin and Asami wept on their knees. Iroh, who hadn't even known the man, was misty-eyed as well. He knew a hero when he saw one. And Kurosaki Ichigo was a hero.
He was gone. Ichigo was gone. He would never return. Korra stared off into space while Iroh and the others discussed things that she didn't care about. All Korra could think of was Ichigo.
She felt like a piece of her heart had been ripped out. Until now, Korra had never truly understood just how much Ichigo meant to her. He was her splint, her backbone. And she loved him like a brother.
He had always been there for her. Whether it be for protection, comfort or laughs, Ichigo was never absent from her. Korra knew that he was gone but she couldn't believe it. She kept expecting him to turn up out of nowhere, smirking at her while bickering with Mako.
She would hug him then punch his annoying face. Then she'd probably hug him again. Korra would yell and rant at him while he listened passively as she blew off steam. Then he'd curl up the left side of his mouth in that infuriating manner and make fun of her. Then she'd hug him again.
Iroh's voice pulled her out of her misery. "I was prepared to deal with Sato's mecha-tanks, but not these new high-speed aircraft." Korra looked around and remembered that after the battle they had returned to the underground tunnels. That whole trip had been a blur.
Mako nodded. "I know. Whenever we think we have an advantage, Amon outsmarts us."
"No matter what our plan is, he always has a better one." Bolin added.
Iroh pursed his lips. "Amon is winning so far. But-"
"Will you all just shut up!?" Korra yelled.
They looked at her, startled. Asami was sitting slightly away from the group, her makeup ruined from tears. Mako took Korra's hand. "Korra we all- we all miss him. But there's nothing we can do about it and I don't believe Ichigo would want us moping around and feeling sorry for ourselves because of him."
Korra pulled her hand away and slapped him. "Don't you understand?! Ichigo is gone! He died so that we could live. And all you can think about is the mission?!"
She collapsed into tears and put her head in her hands. "I'm so useless. If I had been more attentive- I, I could have- and he wouldn't…"
Iroh looked at her sympathetically. "Your friend was a hero. There's no doubt about that."
Mako put his hands on Korra's cheeks and turned her head gently to look at him.
"Vengeance." He said.
She looked in confusion. "Vengeance?"
Mako nodded. "Yeah. Vengeance for Ichigo. We can honour his sacrifice by destroying Amon. You hear me? We can avenge Ichigo. But you have to stay focused. Okay?"
Slowly, Korra came out of herself and agreed. "All right. I'll do it."
Iroh smiled. "That's good to hear, Avatar Korra. As I was saying, Amon has the lead right now. But we're not out of the fight yet."
In an attempt to lighten the mood, Bolin grinned. "I like this man's confidence! So how are we not out of the fight?"
Iroh rose from where he had been sitting. "A second wave of reinforcements is on the way. I need to warn them. Do you still have a way to get a message out?"
Korra nodded. "I know just the man for the job."
In a few moments, the hobo who took them in had wired up an old machine used for sending telegraphs and radio messages.
"And who is the recipient of this top-secret message?" He asked.
"Commander Bumi, second division of the United Forces." Iroh replied.
The hobo nodded and cracked his knuckles.
"Tenzin's brother?" Korra asked.
"Yes. A bit of a wild man, but the bravest commander you'll ever meet."
"I'm ready, sir." The hobo said.
Iroh turned to him. "Fleet ambushed and destroyed by Equalist aircraft. Retreat to Red Sand Island until my signal. Do not approach city until you receive the all-clear."
The message was sent. Iroh laid out a map of Republic City on a table. "Now comes the hard part. We need to ground those aircraft. Otherwise, Bumi's fleet will never be able to take the city."
Mako studied the map and pointed to the north. "They flew in from this direction. The airfield must be somewhere over this mountain range."
"Everyone get ready." Iroh said. "We leave at dawn."
Asami narrowed her eyes through her tears. "It's time to take down my father."
The five of them walked together, throughout the halls.
Korra stopped. "Wait." They turned to look at her. "I'm sorry but I'm not going with you tomorrow."
"Why not?" Bolin asked.
"I'm sick and tired of hiding from Amon. It's time I face him and I need to avenge Ichigo."
"That's not a good plan." Iroh said. "We need to stick together."
"No! I have to do this!"
"Korra, this is not a mission you should be handling alone." Iroh tried again.
"She won't be." Mako said firmly. "I'm going with her. I want to avenge Ichigo too."
"You don't have to do that, Mako," Korra said. "Ichigo died to save me. And it's my job as the Avatar to end this by myself."
"That's not true, Korra. He died to save all of us. He said he'd protect us at any cost. I have to do this too. Let me come with you. We'll do this together."
Asami looked sadly at the ground. She thought of Ichigo and it was in that moment that she let Mako go.
Iroh considered this. "Hmm. My grandfather, Zuko would respect the Avatar's instinct. So will I."
Asami walked alone in the underground tunnels. Everyone else was sleeping. She couldn't sleep. It was cold. She wrapped her arms around herself and shuddered. The campsite was a fair ways away now and she sat down, huddled against the wall.
"Oh, God," she said aloud. "I… I don't know what to do. Ichigo… Ichigo… How? I don't-" Asami took a deep breath and let herself cry. "There was a time when I would've gone to Mako in a time like this. He would've held me and comforted me. He- No. I'm done with him. I thought that maybe I could have a future without him. But that future is gone now. And my father… my father will- I'll have to face him. Alone."
The words of Ichigo echoed in her mind. "Your father may try to sway you to his side. But I believe that everyone should have a chance to decide their own fate. Our parents do not define our lives. Our lives are defined by us and our decisions. Defeat your father and live your life as you see fit."
"He's right," she said. "He's always right. Thank you, Ichigo. Thank you for everything." She sniffled loudly and steeled her face. "I promise I'll make you proud. I'll defeat my father and live my life as I see fit."
Asami struggled to her feet. She headed back to the campsite and collapsed into her sleeping area. Ichigo's face engrained in her mind, she went to sleep. It was not a peaceful sleep, but one, in her opinion, that empowered her to continue on the next day and not let Ichigo's sacrifice be in vain.
Lin looked up from her spot on the floor of the cage to see Amon's face once again seated beside her place of confinement.
"You actually came back," she said dryly. "What do you want this time?"
"To bring you news," he replied.
"News of what? Of your impending defeat?"
"Wrong. Of my impending victory."
Lin scoffed. "Korra will stop you."
"The Avatar is a non-issue. All it would take to defeat her is to take away her bending. A simple task. No, the real threat to my plan was Kurosaki Ichigo."
Lin raised an eyebrow. "Why him? He's no bender."
"He is far more powerful than you give him credit for."
"Hah! Well, if he is, then you've got too powerhouses to deal with and you'll easily be defeated."
"Wrong again. As of today, Kurosaki Ichigo is also a non-issue."
"Why? Or is this more of your depraved lunacy?"
"Kurosaki Ichigo is dead."
Lin's eyes widened with shock. "No. You're lying."
Amon chuckled "Why would I lie? I have nothing to gain by telling you this." He leaned forward. "You see? All the pieces are falling into place. And there is nothing you can do to stop it."
Lin yelled and slammed her fist against the cage walls. "You monster! When I get out of here, I'm going to rip you to shreds!"
Amon laughed and got up to leave. Lin jerked forward and spat on his boots. He kicked the cage in retaliation, sending her reeling back. She winced, the blood inside her veins seemed to be in pain.
"Learn your place, bending filth."
The sun rose on a beautiful morning. But Team Avatar's thoughts were not on the weather. Mako and Korra were dressed in chi-blocker uniforms so they'd blend in.
Bolin strode up to his brother and they hugged.
"Love you, little bro." Mako said.
"Love you back, big bro." Bolin answered.
Bolin went to Korra next. "Korra, Amon is a nasty dude. Be careful and get him one from me, for Ichigo."
They hugged. "I will. Good luck." Korra replied. "If you're going into the mountains, you should take Naga." Bolin nodded and Korra squeezed her pet. "Take good care of Bolin for me." Naga growled softly and licked Bolin from head to toe.
Mako walked sadly to Asami. "Asami. I'm sorry things got so messed up between us. But whatever happens today, I want you to know how much I care for you."
Asami nodded. "I care about you too." She said emptily. She kissed him awkwardly on the cheek for the final time. Korra put her hand on Mako's shoulder and they turned away from their friends.
With that, Team Avatar headed off in different directions. The hobo had gathered the rest of the villagers behind him in a group and now them farewell.
"Good fortune and success to you, valiant heroes!"
Korra and Mako waded out into the ocean and Korra made a bubble of air around them as they headed to Air Temple Island. They reached the shore and pulled on stolen chi-blocker masks. Together they crept up the mountainside until they reached the Temple. An airship was hovering overhead. They glimpsed Amon boarding it.
"There's Amon." Korra said.
"We need to get into the Temple. Then when he returns…" Mako started.
"We ambush him." Korra finished.
The path to the Temple seemed to be empty so they took it. Besides, there was no one around anyway.
"What are you two doing here?"
They flipped around at the new voice and saw the Lieutenant. He didn't recognize them because of their chi-blocker disguises.
Mako searched for an excuse. "Uh, we were just transferred."
"Well, you're getting transferred again. Amon wants extra security at the arena today."
"The arena? For what?" Mako asked.
"The rally." The Lieutenant replied. "You should have been briefed about this."
Korra bowed. "We'll be there, sir."
"Be sure you are." He walked away.
Korra nudged Mako. "I know another way in."
She led him to a wall were there was a tiny wooden door just big enough to squeeze through. "Ichigo and I would go through this door before-before…" She faltered.
Mako nodded, understanding. "Let's keep moving." Right now she needed something to focus on other than Ichigo, Mako reasoned.
They went into the Temple and Korra pointed to a ladder.
"Let's hide in the attic."
The two of them climbed up said ladder. Mako was first. He looked around the room and started.
"Uh, we're not alone up here."
Korra looked as well. On the far side of the room there was a barred cage. In that cage sat a dejected looking Councilman Tarrlok.
"Tarrlok?" They pulled off their masks so he could see their faces.
"I don't suppose you're here to rescue me?" He asked dryly.
"We had no idea you were here. Are there any other prisoners on the Island?" Korra enquired.
Tarrlok shook his head. "No. I'm the only one. At least as far as I know."
"And what makes you so special?" Korra said scornfully.
He glared fiercely at them. "I'm Amon's brother."
Korra and Mako gasped in shock. Tarrlok nodded. "Amon is from the Northern Water Tribe. He's a waterbender and a bloodbender like me."
"Did you know this all along?" Mako asked.
"No. Not until after he captured me."
"How did your brother end up becoming Amon?" Korra posed her next question.
"It all began with my father, Yakone. With the help of his former gang, he escaped prison and underwent surgery to change his appearance. He assumed a new identity and settled down in the Northern Water Tribe."
Tarrlok's eyes took on a fond look. "That's where he met my mother- a warm, caring woman. Before long, they started a family together. Amon was the firstborn, under the name Noatak. I was born three years later."
Tarrlok smiled wistfully as he remembered his childhood. "Noatak was a good-natured kid. He was always looking out for me. Those were the good years, before my brother and I discovered we were waterbenders."
Tarrlok's voice took on a dark tone. "At first we were excited about our new abilities, but our training brought out a different side to our father."
In his mind's eye, Tarrlok remembered the day when he first dropped some water he had been bending.
"Tarrlok!" His father yelled. "You'd better shape up or you'll be out here in the cold all night until you get it right."
"I'm trying, but-" Tarrlok tried but his father interrupted him.
"Try harder! Your brother was never this sloppy."
Tarrlok began to cry. Noatak instantly defended him.
"Dad, he'll get it. He just needs time."
"Don't talk back to me, son, ever!"
Tarrlok continued. "Even back then, my brother wanted everyone to be treated fairly and equally. When I was seven, my father took me and Noatak on a hunting trip, far away from our home. He told us his true identity was Yakone: Republic City's most notorious crime boss and that he was once a bloodbender of rare skill."
"What's bloodbending?" Child Tarrlok asked.
"The most powerful and feared form of bending in the world. It was declared illegal, thanks to that coward Katara. Our family has the strongest line of bloodbenders in history. You boys have this power inside of you. And I will teach you to master it."
"What happened to your bending, Dad?" Noatak asked.
"The Avatar stole it from me. That's why I brought you out here, to learn your destiny. You two will become bloodbenders of the highest order. When the time is right, you will claim Republic City and you will destroy the Avatar! You must avenge me. That is your purpose in life."
"The good days were behind us." Tarrlok said. "Every full moon, our father took us on another supposed hunting trip, where he secretly trained us in bloodbending. We kept the truth from our mother."
Yakone nodded to Noatak and he stood up. There was a furry bull-like creature out several meters away from him. Noatak took hold of it with bloodbending and it cried out in pain.
"Stop, you're hurting it." Tarrlok cried.
"Toughen up, Tarrlok." Yakone replied sharply. "You'll need a thicker skin for this."
Noatak let the animal go and it ran off. Yakone put his hand on his eldest's shoulder.
"Very good, son. Very good."
"A few years later, my father taught us to bloodbend anytime without the need of the full moon. We practiced constantly and I hated every minute of it."
Yakone gestured to his younger son. Tarrlok steeled himself and rose to his feet. There was a small snowy plain in front of him. Several wolves were walking around, looking for food.
The wolves began growling and barking fiercely as Tarrlok came into view. He stretched out his arms and the wolves stopped. He moved them from side to side and they whimpered with pain. Tarrlok let them go and they scampered away.
"I had no stomach for manipulating helpless animals. My brother however, seemed to revel in his newfound power."
Noatak went to stand beside his brother. He took a deep breath and the wolves stopped moving. Noatak hadn't even lifted his arms.
"He was a prodigy, mastering my father's physic bloodbending technique by the time he was 14."
Noatak concentrated and the wolves rose into the air. He held them there for a few seconds and Yakone smiled. Noatak lowered them and forced them to bow in front of him.
"That's the way it's done." Yakone said to Tarrlok. "That's what you need to strive for."
Tarrlok looked down then glanced at his brother.
"Even though Noatak was my father's favourite, it wasn't any easier for him. He carried the burden of all Yakone's expectations and demands. Something changed in Noatak over the years. The loving brother I once knew became cold and detached. Our father pushed us to extremes and one day, he made us bloodbend each other."
"Noatak, go." Yakone ordered.
Noatak inhaled and Tarrlok screamed as he was forced to his knees, his own limbs disobeying his will. Yakone smiled. "Excellent. Tarrlok, your turn."
Tarrlok panted for breath as his brother released him. The little boy shook his head.
"No. I won't do it."
"Bloodbend your brother, Tarrlok." Yakone nearly yelled.
"That felt awful. I don't want to do that to anyone. I never want to bloodbend again."
Yakone's eyes flared with rage. "You're a disgrace. A weakling! I'll teach you a lesson you insubordinate little-" He cried out in sudden pain.
Noatak stood protectively in front of his little brother. "Stay away from him."
"How dare you bloodbend me?"
Noatak scoffed. "What are you gonna do about it? You're the weak one."
Yakone grunted as he fell to his knees. Noatak wasn't finished. "You always say bloodbending is the most powerful thing in the world, but it isn't. The Avatar is. He took your bending away. What could be more powerful than that?"
Yakone glowered at his son. "I made you what you are. You belong to me! You're mine!"
"We're your sons, not your tools of revenge." Noatak turned to Tarrlok. "Let's go. We can run away from him forever."
"Run away? But what about Mom? We can't just leave her." Tarrlok insisted.
Noatak glared at him. "He was right about you. You are a weakling."
With that, Noatak flung Yakone into a snowdrift and ran off.
"Noatak!" Tarrlok yelled after him. "Don't leave, please! Noatak!"
But he paid him no heed.
"My father and I searched for days. But we never found a sign of Noatak. We thought he perished in a storm. My mother was never the same after the loss of my brother. My father stopped training me. With Noatak gone, his hopes for revenge withered, and he passed away a few years later."
Korra looked at Tarrlok's broken form with an emotion she'd never felt for him before: pity. "That's one the saddest stories I've ever heard."
Tarrlok looked her in the eyes. "Avatar Korra, I am truly sorry for all that I did to you. I thought I was better than my father, but his ghost still shaped me. I became a soldier of revenge, just like he wanted me to be. And so did my brother. The revolution may be built on a lie, but I think Amon truly believes bending is the source of all evil in the world."
"How did you figure out Amon was your brother?" Mako asked.
"When he took my bending, the sensation was somehow familiar. I later recognized it as my brother's bloodbending grip."
"So he somehow uses bloodbending to take people's bending?" Korra reasoned.
"I don't know how he does it." Tarrlok agreed. "But then again, I have never encountered a bender as strong as Noatak."
"How in the world do we beat him?" Korra asked in despair.
"We can't." Mako replied. "Any attack we throw at him he'll redirect with his mind. That's how he's been able to challenge any bender."
Korra began pacing the floor. "There goes our ambush. If we stay here, we're toast. But there's another way to beat him."
"How?" Mako asked curiously.
"This whole time, Amon has been one step ahead of us. But finally we have the advantage- we know the truth about him. If we expose him as a bender in front of all his supporters…"
Mako started to get the gist of it. "At the rally…"
"We could take away Amon's true power!"
"And undermine this whole revolution!" Mako finished.
Korra looked honestly at Tarrlok. "Thank you for your help."
He nodded in return. Mako turned away but Korra stopped him. "We can't just leave him here."
Tarrlok put his hand on one of the bars and shook his head. "Go. Amon can't know anyone spoke with me. Defeat him. Put an end to this sad story."
Korra and Mako nodded then went back down the ladder, to execute their plan.
Amon sat on his usual bench across from Lin on the floor. It was the day of the rally. While his subordinates were getting everything ready, Amon had returned to the Island to speak with Lin one more time. They stared at each other in silence; as if playing a game to see who would crack and talk first. Amon lost.
"You're probably wondering why I keep coming to see you," he said.
"Honestly, I don't give a damn why you come," Lin replied. "What, are you bored? Are you lonely? Do you need a friend, monster?"
Amon sighed and lowered his head from her gaze slightly. "Perhaps it is a mix of all those things. I do not have many people to talk to."
"Aww, is Amon showing some weakness? Some frailty?" Lin said loudly as she rattled the cage.
Amon looked at her. "Not weakness." He paused. "I had a brother once. A family."
"Oh, and I suppose you killed them too?"
"No. I left them. Because I saw what was wrong with the world. They were too weak to see it as well. I left to create a world of equality. Where no one would ever live in fear of another's bending. It would be a perfect world."
"So, you see yourself as the hero, then?" Lin said with disdain. "The Spirits chosen retribution on the sins of the benders?"
"You mock me." Amon said. "I am not a hero. I am the solution. When I left my family, I came to Republic City. I went to the underground and became a fighter. I quickly gained fame and respect and also a following. As the following grew, I began to spread my ideas to them. It turns out I was not the only one who harboured anti-bending resentment. But I was the only one with the power and the will to do something about it. And thus, the Equalists were born."
"Why are you telling me this?" Lin asked.
"Because I want to offer my hand to you. Join me. I am making this world a better place for all people. I am sure you would be interested in that prospect."
Lin chuckled and then began to laugh. "Do you actually think that I would sully my hands by joining them with the likes of you? You're insane and you need to be stopped. Republic City has seen your like before. In fact, you remind me of one of them. You remind me of Yakone, not because of your ideals but because of your insatiable lust for power and your lack of morality or empathy for those you hurt. You're a monster, just like he was."
"How dare you compare me to him?!" Amon leapt to his feet in rage and gripped Lin through bloodbending, slamming her against the far wall of the cage. "I am nothing like him. He was weak. I will destroy the Avatar and all who oppose me. The next time I see you, I will break you slowly until all that is left is a pool of blood for the dogs to lap from."
Amon flung her against the wall one more time, making sure to smack her head against it. She fell to the floor unconscious. He stalked away from the cage, seething with unbridled anger.
She got under my skin. I won't allow that to happen again. Come to me, Avatar Korra. Come to me.
And yeah that's the end of the chapter. Like I said this was a lot of fun to write and I hope you enjoyed it. Tell me your thoughts on it. Chapter 12 will be out probably in the next couple of days or so. Thanks as always for reading and I'll see you guys next time!:)
