So, this "chapter" is very short, but, you know, the next one is better... Um... Just stick with it... please... It'll get better, I promise! :)
I do not own Legend of Korra (though I desperately wish I did... How cool would that be?)
After riding the creature for nearly twenty minutes, Mako signalled for Korra to stop her, and she did so immediately, pulling up on the reins abruptly. Naga skidded to a stop before a dark, mysterious building, the walls crumbling in places and the windows broken and covered haphazardly with boards. Empty, deserted Satomobiles rested in front of the building, their windows smashed. Korra turned around to face Mako, pushing his hand off of her waist — he had been holding on with one on the saddle and one around her — , her face housing a bit of skepticism.
"Is this the place?" she questioned quietly, sliding off her animal guide. When Mako nodded solemnly once more, she sighed, shrugging her shoulders. "It seems so... abandoned. I guess that's exactly what we were looking for, though, huh? We should go in. We'll have to be quiet and keep very low-key. We don't want to run into those chi-blockers again. Come on." With a finger pressed momentarily to her lips, Korra began sneaking around the side of the abandoned arena, creeping along the wall with Mako close behind.
Within a few minutes, they came across a window whose boards had been removed, the wood now strewn across the ground below, and, nodding for her friend to follow, Korra climbed through into the dark room, forcing her vision to adjust quickly. The room was nearly bare, save for a pile of ashes in the corner and what remained of what could have been a tea set. On the far wall stood an empty door frame, the hinges rusted, a dim yellow glow pulsing from somewhere down the hall. Pointing it out, Korra turned to Mako, instructing him where she intended on going. He nodded swiftly, following less than a foot behind her as she stepped silently through the doorway, pressing her body against the wall.
Her breathing steady, Korra moved as slowly as she possibly could until she found the source of the light. She cautiously stuck her head around the corner of the curved opening, her shoulders slumping in defeat as her mind registered what she was seeing. Within the confines of the domed walls was a large, open space with countless lanterns strung up around the edges. A crowd of at least fifty Equalists formed a circle around the center of the room, shouts and grunts audible from the hidden area. Each Equalist was equipped with their long, chain-like weapons, and nearly half donned the machines that would send volts of electricity through the target's body when attached. Then there was the worst part of all: Amon stood atop a high platform along the left wall, hands clasped behind him as his masked face monitored whatever was occurring below.
Korra pulled away, back against the wall, and, as she closed her eyes, she rested her head on the hard surface, sighing in what could have been interpreted as defeat. Naturally, this Avatar would never accept defeat, not in a million years, and, within a few seconds, her eyes were open once more, her typical fierce determination returning as she met Mako's gaze.
"There's too many, Korra," the firebender whispered, his voice nearly silent. "We can't face them. We couldn't even face two of them. It'd be suicide." He had seen what the room held, and he was giving up, recognizing the unfavorable odds. Korra wouldn't have it. She shook her head roughly, narrowing her eyes.
"Not with that attitude," she responded, hands on her hips once more. "We just have to be cunning and quick-thinking. Shouldn't be a problem for you, Mr. Improv." She referenced one of the many names the referee in the bending matches bestowed upon him, drawing a smile on his lips as he shook his head.
"You are crazy," he replied, raising his eyebrows, "but I trust you. I just hope you have a plan." She grinned, nodding after a moment of thought.
"Of course I do; I'm the Avatar," she whispered back, winking in his general direction as she whipped her head around to peer once more into the enormous room. She quickly analyzed the situation as best she could, and, after taking a deep breath, she grasped Mako's hand, shot him a look that obviously said either "Good luck" or "Just go with it" or maybe both. Either way, his head drooped as he realized she didn't actually have a plan — she had never really intended to conceive one, either. With only a moment's hesitation, Korra lurched forward, dragging the firebender behind her, and shot into the room, standing in plain sight. Mako's eyes were wide as the Avatar inhaled as deeply as she could, filling her lungs with air. He immediately regretted making his decision even before her lips opened.
"Hey!" her voice rang out throughout the room, echoing off the curving walls, silencing everything and everyone. "What do you think you're doing, Amon?" The masked man chuckled, his body not moving an inch but his voice loud and clear. The tension in the room was tangible, but still no one moved an inch.
Then all eyes turned to the benders in the doorway.