.
.
.
.
"Jinora! Jinora, where are you?" Pema called out for her eldest daughter, caring a handful of flowers to decorate the interior of her and Tenzin's bedroom. The flowers she already had had died out and was replacing them with the more beautiful ones in bloom. She called out to her daughter once more but stopped when she saw the three teenagers approaching from a distance. Both Bolin and Asami looked down in devastation while Mako carried the young airbender in his arms.
Upon seeing the sleeping body of her daughter, Pema felt her heart tore into two. The flowers in her hands dropping at the sight.
Before long, Mako gently laid the unconscious Jinora on her bed, with her parents beside him and the others. Tenzin has kept his calm for long enough. He angrily took the boy from the shoulder and violently slammed him into the wall, grabbing the collar of his shirt. His face red with anger.
"How could you let this happen?!"
"Tenzin, I'm sorry I-" Mako didn't get to finish his reply for Tenzin slammed him against the wall once more to silence him.
"How is it possible you lost my daughter in the spirit world?! Tell me!"
"Tenzin, you're hurting him!" Pema managed to calm her husband long enough for her to drag him away from Mako. The firebender chocked while clenching his throat. The nomadic airbender nearly suffocated him. He got down on his knees, but not out of depravation of oxygen, but because he still felt personally responsible.
"Tenzin, Jinora led us into the spirit world." Asami explained, "She said we could find out where Korra is."
"Enough!" Tenzin cried out in furry, frightening the heiress. "I don't want to hear another word about this!"
"But she's alive!"
The room fell into silence when the words left her mouth. After everything that has happened, the last thing Tenzin wanted was false hope.
"We saw her. She's okay."
"It's true!" Bolin said, "And she has a plan to stop Unalaq."
"How did you get into the spirit world?" Tenzin asked, not even turning to look at them, "It's not possible."
"Jinora said it was because we were touched by the Glory of the Spirit. I'm still not entirely sure, but I guess it was when we needed to find her that we did."
Tenzin didn't know how to respond to this. He had been trying to find Korra all this time and yet these three managed to find her so easily? How was this fair? He wanted his daughter back now, and he didn't find her. Or…maybe that was the point. Maybe, it wasn't his timing that mattered.
"What did she say?" he asked, stroking Jinora's hair as she slept.
"She said to meet her at the south pole." Mako said, finally gaining the courage to speak.
Pema and Tenzin kneeled beside their daughter. She wasn't dead, but she most certainly would be if they didn't get her spirit back to her body. But, thankfully, there was finally a bright side.
Korra was alive. She had entered the spirit world. She had returned. Now, it was Tenzin's time to fully trust his eldest daughter. He had been trying to choose for her this whole time, now he needed to completely trust her. The lives of the city and Jinora depended on it.
"Then…that's where we are going."
(~)
Korra stood at the edge of the forest, over a cliffside, overlooking the ocean. It was so vast and endless, not a sight of land anywhere. She hadn't completely thought this through. She already knew what she had to do, the question now was…how was she going to get to the south? Even if they did manage to build a raft, there was no telling how many days it would take to get to there. There was really no way of her to know which direction to take.
The three dragon birds landed on her shoulder, with Twilight on her wrist. "Anything?" she asked. The purple dragon bird only shook her head.
"No. There's not a single sign of land within a hundred miles of here."
"Tonraq said this island isn't found on any map. Why is that?"
"Because it's not an actual island." a voice form behind said, causing Korra to turn around. It was Zaheer.
"What do you mean?" she asked. "If it's not an island then what is it?" Zaheer remained silent as he took Korra by the shoulder and, to her shock, began pushing her over the edge of the cliff. "Wait, what are you doing?" she asked, trying her best to fight back, but Zaheer proved to be far stronger as he continued shoving her further to the cliff. "This isn't funny, what are you-AH!"
The Avatar fell from the cliff and splashed into the waters bellow. Thankfully, the cliff wasn't entirely that high, so her fall was really a safe one. Still, it didn't help that she was forcibly tossed off the side of the cliff for no good reason. Korra surfaced, spitting the water out of her mouth, disgusted by the salty taste.
"What was that for?!" she shouted back at Zaheer, who only saluted.
"Answering your question."
"How is tossing me off a cliff answering my…" she stopped on her tracks once she noticed something very strange. She felt the waters moving gently around her, but her body was making no effort in swimming in any direction. She floated in one spot, yet she noticed the tiniest of detail around the stoned edges of the island that it was…moving.
Not at a fast pass, but very slowly, almost as slow as a turtle. Korra studied her surroundings closely. She knew she wasn't moving, but the island was. It was then she realized this could be what Zaheer was trying to tell her.
Taking in a deep breath, Korra dove down into the waters, swimming deeper downwards around the stone structure that was bellow the island. But, the deeper she dove, she was startled to see that the stone didn't look much like a stone at all. Her hands touched the surface. It didn't even feel like rock at all, it felt like…skin.
The young woman backed away in terror upon seeing that very skin she was touching started to move and open up revealing to be a giant eye, gazing directly at her. Her first reaction was to swim away from the large creature, only to see what appeared to be a large stone rising up bellow her feet. The waters hit against her body with brute force as she was being risen up to the surface.
Once above, Korra coughed once more, kneeling down and feeling the sensation of skin, scaly skin, underneath her hands. She gasped and looked up, suddenly feeling incredibly small.
Looking straight at her was the face of a creature she never thought she would ever see. The face was as large as a mountain, his face appeared as if it had been carved by the finest of bronze. Two tusks rose from his bottom lip, and whiskers grew from the side of his nose. His gaze was dead set on the young Avatar, who's blue eyes shimmered with wonder upon the sight of him.
"A Lion Turtle." she said, nearly breathless. Lion Turtles were known as the most ancient of spiritual creatures, legendary for their great wisdom. In fact, they were the real reason why humans had bending to begin with. Suddenly, everything about the island made perfect sense. She thought they were extinct. Clearly, she was wrong.
Korra placed her hands together and bowed in respect at the creature. "Why do you bow before me?" he asked, speaking in a large powerful voice. His question too her by surprise.
"I…I thought I was supposed to." Korra replied, already feeling incredibly stupid for saying such a naive thing.
"I am not the one who you must bow before. For I am merely the messenger."
"So, everything about the island, Zaheer, P'Li, my dad, my grandfather, it was all you?"
"No. It was not me who opened their eyes. I merely housed them in a place where they could find true peace. The same way I housed you, young Avatar. Now, the time has come for you to face your destiny."
"Will I be able to defeat Unalaq? And if I can, can I do it without killing him? Or, is it already too late?" she asked. Korra felt the larger than life creature had kindly placed the tip of his gigantic claw under her chin, gently lifting her up to look at her directly.
"The Truth can weather all lies and illusions and save those who are lost. The True Love can heal the poison of hatred and encourage those who feel harmed. Since the beginning, darkness has thrived to kill all, but always surrenders to the purifying Light."
She didn't know how, or when it began, but tears began to roll down Korra's eyes. Only, they weren't tears of sadness, but tears of peace and joy. Her heart felt more full now than it ever had. The young Avatar stood still was the Lion Turtle placed two of the tips of his claws onto Korra. Once on her mind and one over her heart. The Lion Turtle knew her heart had been opened once more. Her heart was willing. Her heart…was ready.
Upon his touch, Korra felt a warm sensation coursing through her. Her mind felt like she could see an endless sky, and her heart felt like it had been swept away by the warmth of the ocean. She didn't know why she had been given this, but she openly accepted it. Once the Lion Turtle removed his claw, Korra felt like a huge load had overwhelmed her. Her body felt a bit heavy. She kneeled down, but not to bow but rather because she had felt so overwhelmed she could barely stand.
Korra finally managed to stand up, only to see her father, Zaheer and P'Li stood just above the Lion Turtle's head. All three smiled proudly at the girl, who wiped away her tears while smiling. Tonraq lowered down the side of the creature and embraced his one and only daughter, tears of joy running down his eyes.
"The time has come, little princess." said the Lion Turtle, speaking in the warmest voice Korra could imagine. "Rise and go forward." said the Lion Turtle, "For you have been made…anew."
The four friends held hands as they stood upon the Lion Turtle's paw, before completely submerging them all into the water. The creature dove deeper and deeper into the waters, until the island itself became submerged as well.
Korra felt the waters carrying her off like the Lion Turtle was still there. Before long, she could see the shimmering rays of the sun through the crystal clear waters and swam up to the surface. She leaped, tossing her short hair back, inhaling oxygen before allowing her body to gently float on the surface of the sea. She looked at her surroundings, and was amazed to realize her location…
She was floating in Yue Bay, before the statue of her late grandfather and past life. She couldn't believe it. She was home. She was actually home.
Looking around, she saw Tonraq, Zaheer and P'Li emerge from the waters beside her and the dragon birds hovered above their heads.
"That…was…intense…" said Rainbow Dash as the four humans climbed up onto the shore of Aang Memorial Island.
"Everything I learned about the Lion Turtles was true." she said, "They speak with a wisdom no human could ever fully posses."
"Their purpose isn't to make us masters of everything." said Tonraq, "It's to teach us what we need to learn." he extended his hand and helped his daughter stand up before taking in the sight before him. "So…this is Republic City, isn't it?"
"Yep. This is where I grew up. Well, no use beating around the bush. I think it's time you met the people who raised me."
(~)
"Okay, we don't have much time to loose!" Varrick said as he began frantically running around the Air Temple. After receiving a call from Asami, and having been told about the situation, Varrick jumped at the chance to help. The rich man owned an assortment of yachts and ships, even a few battle ships, and he happily allowed Asami to use them. For the right reasons this time. Of course, he didn't want to stop there. The situation was much dire than he had feared and wanted to help in the best way he can. He came in with the largest bag he could get, filled with an assortment of weapons he had stored in secret.
"Okay, I already packed the essentials!" he said as he opened the bag, tossing out various items as he listed them. Each one, Asami, Bolin and Mako caught in their hands. All of which shared the same skeptic looks.
"We gotta be ready for anything, I brought the guns, the weapons the knives! And how about this picture, I don't know, I think I'm making a weird face in it." Varrick arched an eyebrow as he looked at an old photo of him and Zhu Li. Him being his happy-go-lucky self while pointing enthusiastically at Zhu Li, who just stood there like the emotionless blob that she was.
"Is all this really necessary?" Bolin asked while dangling the gun in his hands, not wanting to touch such a violent weapon. And praying it wasn't loaded.
"Of course it is! Unalaq's planning on freeing the lord of darkness for crying out loud!"
"Why did you invite him again?" Mako asked Asami.
"He has a battle ship we can use."
"I get that, but where did he get all these weapons from?"
"Like I said, I have a dark past." said Varrick, "I try not to think about it since I believe in "Moving Forward!", but I kept these babies in case I could use them for good. And today is that day!"
Inside the room were also Tenzin, Pema, Ikki and Meelo, both of which hid behind their parents. This fellow really frightened them. But, he did have what they needed to get the job done.
"Where did Korra said we'd meet her?" Pema asked the three teens.
"At Katara's healing hut." Mako replied.
"Oh, how has it come to this?!" Pema exclaimed in despair, "First my oldest daughter disappears off the face of the earth, and now my other little girl is trapped in the spirits world, my brother and sister-in-laws are stuck fighting a civil war, and now I have a craze lunatic in my house?! No offense."
"None taken!" Varrick replied while examining a few of his weapons. Pema face palmed herself, groaning in annoyance. "Don't worry, miss Pema. We'll have both of your daughters back before you know it. Oh, hey Korra. So I was thinking is we…"
The rich man along with everybody else quickly turned their heads to the door, where they saw none other than…
"Korra!" Ikki and Meelo ran up to hug their sister, tears of joy streaming down their eyes. "I missed you so much!" Ikki said, hugging Korra tighter.
"I missed you too."
"Where have you been?" Meelo asked.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you. Let's just say, all the stories dad used to tell us when were were little…they all fall in comparison to what I've seen."
"I love your hair!" Ikki said, stroking her sister's new silvery short locks with her fingers.
"It's soooo you!" Meelo said, trying to sound like a teenage girl, which only made Korra giggle and wrap her arms around her little brother, kissing him on the cheek, much to his disgust.
"Korra!" the girl laughed when the rest of the dragon birds, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy all flew up to her, and were also reunited with the rest of their companions. Twilight, Sunset and Rainbow, flew all around in happiness to be with their friends again.
Next, Pema came rushing over, teary eyed, and wrapped her arms around her eldest daughter. "Korra! My baby! I was so worried!"
"I'm sorry for scarring you."
"All that matters is that you're here." she said, crying tears of joy as she held Korra's face in her hands and kissed her forehead. "I love you, sweetheart."
"I love you too, mom."
Finally, it was Tenzin's turn. Words couldn't even begin to describe the joy he felt right now. Korra was alive and well. She was here, before him. He didn't say a word, he just held her close and cried on her shoulder.
"I'm so sorry." he said in between sobs. "I'm sorry about everything."
"It's okay." Korra said, her face resting on his chest and he held her tighter.
"No, it's not. I never should have tried to hold you down. I thought I was protecting you, but really I was just too afraid of loosing you. I let that fear guide me for so many years, even now. I know I can't keep you with me forever, but I hope you can still forgive me."
Korra looked up at her father and wiped away his tears. "I already have. I love you, daddy."
"I love you too." Tenzin kissed his daughter's forehead, happy as could be to have his little girl back. Only, she wasn't so little anymore.
"Oh, there's someone I want you to meet." Korra slightly moved to the side and extended her hand towards the entrance of the door. Nearly everybody in the room, aside from Mako, Bolin and Asami, were surprised to see a strong looking water tribe man standing before them. But, what really caught Tenzin's eye was the pendant around Tonraq's neck, which was strikingly similar to Korra, aside from the heart shape.
"Dad, mom, kids, I'd like you to meet Tonraq…my birth father."
As if discovering his second to oldest daughter being able to enter the spirit world wasn't shocking enough, now he hears of yet another long lost family member from Korra's bloodline?
Tonraq bowed his head in respects to the air nomad. "It's an honor to meet you, Master Tenzin. Korra has told me so much about you. I know this may come as a shock to you, but I promise I'm not like my brother. I wouldn't dream of taking Korra away from you. I can see just how well you have raised her. She's grown into a wonderful young woman because of you. You truly are a wonderful father."
"I…Unalaq said you were dead." Tenzin finally said, still shocked to see the supposed dead father in his living room.
"Unalaq thought so too. It's kind of a along story."
"I met him on the island I was washed up on." Korra said, "That's where I met Zaheer and P'Li too."
The couple stood at the entrance, both looking at everyone with curious and somewhat uncertain expressions. It had been so long since they had seen civilization, longer than Tonraq actually, so being in a civilian home was indeed new for them. P'Li kindly waved to Korra's family until Ikki spoke up.
"You're pretty!" she said kindly, "I like your long braid, and that eye tattoo is really cool!"
"Are you a combustion bender?" Meelo asked with interest.
"Well, yes, but I'm pretty rusty." the combustion woman said while fiddling with her braid shyly.
"Cool! My great-uncle Sokka once fought a combustion bender!"
"Uh, I hate to interrupt this reunion," Varrick said, raising his hand, "But, I thought you said we were going to meet you at the south pole."
"Guess the Lion Turtle had other plans."
"Lion Turtle?!" Tenzin, his family and the three teens exclaimed in shock at Korra's mention of the mythical creature.
"Yeah, turns out the island was on a giant Lion Turtle. Wait, why is Varrick here?"
"He's lending us his battle ship." Asami said, "If we're going to face your crazy uncle we're gonna need some fire power."
"Why didn't you just ask Raiko for help?" she asked, "If he knew just how dire the situation is, he'd-"
"Yeah, about that…" Asami bit her bottom lip while blushing in embarrassment, "Because of my…recent crimes, chances are he won't trust me if I asked him for a battle ship."
"Also, he'd think we were nuts if we told him that the end of the world was in just a few days." Bolin mentioned. "But, now that you're here, maybe he'll believe you."
"Yeah right! After the way I blew up in his face last time?" the Avatar felt her adopted father's hand on her shoulder.
"Korra, we have no other choice."
The young woman bit her bottom lip, thinking. It didn't take long for her to make up her mind.
(~)
Back in the Southern Water Tribe, a group of Rebels stood on a nearby mountain, overlooking the capital city. Kya and Bumi had waited a long time for Korra's help to arrive, but it never did. They wondered why, but most importantly, they both prayed that their niece was alright.
"Should we wait another day?" Bumi asked his sister, "Korra still might come with reinforcements."
Kya sighed sadly, "We can't wait any longer." She silently apologized to Korra, but something needed to be done. And fast. She turned to face the rest of the rebels, and spoke to them in a strong and confident voice.
"It's time to take back what is ours! It's time to take back our city!"
The rebels cheered for him in agreement. Now was the time to fight Unalaq's forces and regain their homeland. The Rebels all bended sheets of ice on which they slide down the mountain. A Northern Water Tribe soldier in a nearby watchtower noticed them and rang the warning bell. Before long, the Northern reinforcements mobilized and prepared to fight the rebels.
(~)
Raiko was nearly done sorting out his paperwork when the doors of his office suddenly bursted open. Korra walked into the room, surpassing Raiko, not only because of her surpass entrance, but also for her new silvery bob haircut and green clothing.
"Korra, what is the meaning of this?" he asked, standing up from his chair.
"President Raiko, I know I've asked for your help before but-."
"Where have you been all this time?" Raiko asked, interrupting the rest of her speech. "Your father has had half of my police force looking for you, and now you just burst into my office looking like you just went through some jungle safari?"
"I'm sorry for bursting in like this but things have changed. Unalaq doesn't just want to take over the south anymore. He wants to destroy the whole world!"
"What are you talking about?"
"He's trying to release a powerful dark spirit during Harmonic Convergence, which is only a few days away. If he succeeds the world as we know it is over!"
"Wait, hold on. Back up a minute." Raiko rose his hands on and rubbed his temples, trying to process everything the Avatar had just told him. "How do you know all of this?"
"After I disappeared I was washed up on an island and-"
"On an island?"
"Yes! Only, it wasn't an island, it was a Lion Turtle and it was inhabited by spirits and I met my father and-"
"Tenzin was there?" Raiko asked skeptically, already doubting the truth behind these words.
"No, my other father. My birth father, anyway, I found out about Raava and Vaatu, the spirits who fight for light and dark respectively and-"
Once again, Raiko interrupted, "Korra, you're delirious. You've obviously been through something drastic and now you're seeing things."
"What? No! That's not it at all!"
"She's telling the truth." Tonraq said as he walked into the room and stood beside his daughter.
"Who are you?" Raiko asked, surprised to see yet another person burst into his office.
"My name is Tonraq. I'm Korra's father."
"What?!"
"I told you I wasn't lying!" Korra stated firmly, "Please Raiko, the fate of the world is at stake. I know you wanted a diplomatic solution, but that's not even an option anymore! Please, we desperately need your help."
Raiko was silent for a moment, turning his head to the side, thinking on what to do. After some thought, the president finally gave his reply. "I'm sorry Korra, but my answer is still no."
Korra's eyes widened in hour upon his reply. How can this man be so closed minded of all times? This was the man who babysat his nephews and he was saying no again? This was about saving the entire world, and countless of innocent lives, not just an attempt at ending a civil war. It wasn't even about the war anymore.
"There are lives on the line!" Korra exclaimed in anger, her fists clenching, "And my sister is one of them!"
"Sir, you have to reconsider!" Tonraq begged. Once again, the door opened, only this time it was forced open when Asami, Mako and Bolin all fell into the room, one on top of the other.
"What are you guys doing?" Korra asked.
"Eavesdropping." Bolin replied.
Raiko only ignored them and focused his attention back on Korra. "I'm aware that lives are on the line. And that's precisely why my troops are staying here. If the world is going to be thrown into chaos like you claim, I need to protect my citizens. I'm sorry."
"Can't you at least have several of your troops to help?" Korra insisted, "It doesn't have to be an entire fleet, but something! Come on, I changed your nephew's dippers for crying out loud!"
"Young lady, I appreciate everything you have done for this city thus far and I'm not telling you to back down, but my decision is final."
Korra was so close to punching the wall right now until Mako placed his hand on her shoulder. "Korra, we still have Varrick's ship. It may not be the fleet we're looking for but it's the next best thing."
Korra took in a deep breath before speaking again to the president. "Okay. Fine…next time you need a babysitter don't come crying to me!" the Avatar shouted in anger before storming out of the office with the others close behind.
"You seriously elected that guy?" Tonraq said to Bolin.
"It was either him or that guy with the toupee."
"It's going to be alright." said Korra, briefly stopping, "We have a battle ship, we have weapons, we got our team, we know what we're up against. We can do this, we just have to move fast and, most importantly, have faith. It's all we have now."
Bolin tapped the tips of his fingers together, "Sooooooo, does this mean what I think it means?" he said with a beaming smile, which only made Korra roll her eyes and giggle.
"Yes, Bolin. It most certainly does."
"Alright! Team Avatar is back in business!"
(~)
"They're falling back!" Bumi shouted right before low howl was heard. He, Kya and the rebels fought long and hard, but they managed to overpower the Northern soldiers. However, the rebels were not the victors just yet. Before their very eyes, dark spirits perched on the walls of buildings all around the city, with Desna and Eska standing on a roof, overlooking the mayhem. They turned around to see Unalaq riding a large dark spirit. The man looked like he owned the place. Kya and Bumi sneered as the chief approached, walking casually and calmly off of the spirit and was now standing face to face with the two eldest children of Avatar Aang.
The showdown was just beginning.
(~)
"I can't believe you're leaving again." Pema said sadly as the group prepared to leave in Varrick's ship. The woman held her eldest daughter in her arms a tad longer, a part of her wishing she could stay like this forever.
"I'm sorry, mom." Korra rested her head on her mother's shoulder, "But I have to. Not just to save the tribe and uncle Bumi and aunt Kya, but also to save Jinora."
"I know. Just…just promise me you won't run off again."
Korra smiled as she looked directly into her mother's eyes. "I promise." her mother kissed her cheek before turning to her husband.
"Be careful, sweetie."
"I promise, we'll bring Jinora back."
"Make sure you're all brought back." she said. Her husband nodded in reply.
"Aren't you forgetting somebody?" a voice spoke, surprising everyone. A woman in a long trench coat approached the group, carrying a long satchel over her shoulder, and holding onto the strap with her left hand. Korra smiled upon seeing the woman.
"Aunt Lin!" the Avatar ran up and hugged the woman, who returned the embrace without hesitation. There was no hiding her affection towards the young Avatar.
"It's great to see you again, kid."
"How did you know I was here?"
"I got a call from your father. Thanks a lot for making my job a lot harder." she said sarcastically while placing a hand on her hip.
"Sorry about that. It's not like I planned to be gone for so long."
"Well, you're here now, that's what matters."
"Lin, what are you doing here?" Tenzin asked in surprise.
"You didn't think I was going to let you have all the fun, now did you?"
"But-but-you can't-"
"Let her go with you, Tenzin." Pema said, shocking him even more. His own wife was asking to him allow his childhood friend/ex-girlfriend to join them on their quest?
"Pema, I don't-"
"You're going to need all the help you can get if you're going to bring our daughter back, got it?"
"Got it."
"Good."
Lin smiled in triumph, "You know, you've got a real backbone, Pema."
"I learn from the best." the air acolyte smiled as she and the chief fist pumped in victory, much to Tenzin's dismay.
"Why are all the woman in my life so stubborn?" he muttered to himself.
"Let's go, people!" Varrick called out, "We've got a world to save!"
With a heavy heart, Korra bid farewell to her mother and two younger siblings, with the promise that they would all return home safe and sound. Naga ran up the catwalk and onto the ship. There was no way she would miss this adventure. Pabu rode on her back, equally anticipating the adventure that awaited them.
Zaheer, P'Li and Tonraq joined them as well. Even after having explained everything to Tenzin about who the married couple was and what connections they had with Korra's past, the air nomad still allowed them to come along. If they had wanted Korra dead they would have done so by now. Besides, he could tell from their eyes that they were indeed honest to good people, despite their sinful past.
This was the first time Lin would meet the three strangers. She arched an eyebrow at them once on board the ship. "Who are you people?"
"Hello, I'm Tonraq. You must be CHief Beifong. Korra's has told us a lot about you." he extended his hand to the skeptical woman, "Oh, and I'm also her father. Her biological one, I mean."
"And you guys?" she asked, not shaking the man's man at all.
"I'm Zaheer, and this is my wife P'Li."
"We're the ones who tried to kill Korra when she was a baby." P'Li confessed with blushing sheets of embarrassment, "But, don't worry, we've been out of that game for a long time."
Lin only blinked before replying, "Well, not even the top ten strangest thing I've seen."
That was technically true. In the past six months she had her niece become the Avatar, seen her hair turn silver, seen bloodbenders take away bending, and recently about Asami's one eighty turn from good to bad in the hands of a poison apple.
At this point, nothing would phase her as much.
(~)
The ship traveled long into the night with no intention on stopping. They couldn't afford to stop. Not now.
Korra stood on a balcony of the ship, overlooking the vast ocean. Her short silvery hair dancing with the soft ocean breeze. The temperature was getting colder and colder as they ventured further south, but as always, the cold temperature did not phase her one bit. If anything, it brought her comfort. She heard footsteps approaching and turned her head to see Mako.
"It's okay." he said, "We're going to stop Unalaq and save your sister."
"I just hope my aunt and uncle are alright." she felt his hand on her shoulder and she instinctively weeped on his chest, placing her hands over his heart. "I'm so sorry."
"For what?"
"For not trusting you. I should have known you wouldn't betray me like that."
"It's okay, we both said some things we regret." Tears began to fall form Korra's eyes as she ended the embrace, not barring to look him in the eyes. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, it's just…I'm just remembering the first day we met. We've been through so much together in so little time and, I've seen you change so much. You're not that same broody firebender I met that night in the pro-bending arena." her words were enough to make Mako blush, "What I'm trying to say is that…I'm glad I met you."
The firebender caressed her cheek and she gazed into his loving eyes. "Me too. I never realized how lost I was until you came along. I'd rather die tomorrow, than live a hundred years without knowing you."
If I never knew you
If I never felt this love
I would have no inkling of
How precious life can be
If I never held you
I would never have a clue
How at last I'd find in you
The missing part of me
In this world so full of fear
Full of rage and lies
I can see the truth so clear
In your eyes
So dry your eyes
And I'm so grateful to you
I'd lived my whole life through
Lost forever
If I never knew you
As their foreheads touched, Korra gently caressed Mako's cheek as he traced his fingers across her hair. Mako may say he ha changed because of her, but in reality, she changed because of him too. He showed he true loyalty and sacrifice and even to think things through instead of acting on impulse. There wasn't a moment on the island where the image of his face, the sound of his voice or even the moments they shared didn't cross her mind. He was her dearest friend, and she loved everything about him. From his good qualities to his flaws. She saw beyond his mistakes, she saw a good heart and a hero underneath it all. He reminded her to see the good in others and not always the worst, and her kindness inspired him to do the same. To have devotion and to think of others beside yourself.
Korra: I thought our love would be so beautiful
Somehow we make the whole world bright
I never knew that fear and hate could be so strong
All they'd leave us were these whispers in the night
Yet still my heart is saying
We were right
Oh, if I never knew you
Mako: There's no moment I regret
Korra: If I never knew this love
Mako: Since the moment that we met
Korra: I would have no inkling of
How precious life can be…
Mako: If our time has gone too fast
I've lived at last…
Their lips met once more as the moon shined brightly above their heads, showing it with its heavenly light. Once the kiss ended, Korra placed her hand over his head as he kissed her forehead.
"I love you." she said.
"I love you too. Forever."
Korra's eyes widened when he said that. Did he really say forever? He did. And she felt the same way.
Mako: And I'm so grateful to you
I'd have lived my whole life through
Empty as the sky
Korra: Never knowing why
Together: Lost forever
If I never knew…
You...
As the ship sailed away into the night, the two held one another in their embrace, thanking the One Above for having allowed them to cross paths, meet and find love.
Mako finally realized his mother's tales were not all just stories anymore. Now, he truly, wholeheartedly, believed
(~)
Kya bended water at the dark spirit perched on a wall of a building. The creature jumped off to avoid the attack and slammed on the ground, knocking off a rebel with its tail before charging at Kya again, where she retaliated with a water blast, dissipating it. She turned, only to be knocked back with a water stream. A rebel assisted with a stream, but got knocked back.
Bumi came charging in after the assailants, who were Desna and Eska, and pulled something from his back. It appeared to be some form of flat boomerang, the edges sharp like that of a blade, and hurled it towards the twins. The boomerang flung directly at Eska's hand, just as she was rising it upwards to bend water. The impact made her loose balance and fall to the ground, tripping over snow and loosing control of her water whip, which then in turn hit her brother. THe boomerang came flying back right into Bumi's hand.
"Ha! Thank you, Uncle Sokka!" he said before kissing the family heirloom and went over to help his sister back up. But the twins got up once more and continued attacking the siblings. They quickly retreated behind a pillar for cover. Another one of the rebels was behind them, also hiding.
"Bumi, get the men and fall back!" Kya ordered him.
"What about you?" her brother asked, only to shield himself from another attack before noticing Unalaq walking with attacking soldiers and a dark spirit.
"I'm going to end this, right now."
"I'm not leaving you to fight that maniac alone!"
"Bumi, I gave you an order!"
"You're not the boss of me!" Bumi exclaimed like the stubborn brother that he was, right before another attack made the three of them dodge another attack and turned to the rebel, "You, get the men out of here and we'll fend this guy off!"
"Bumi, no!"
"Kya, there is nothing you can say or do that's going to make me leave, so deal with it!"
"So, that's where Korra got it from!" Kya sighed in exasperation, "Fine. Go!" she said to the rebel before stepping out from their hiding place and bended an ice wall, separating the twins. Desna dodged before bending out an ice shield, only for Kya to destroy it. Bumi came running across the alley and attacked the solders with his uncle's boomerang, which knocked the soldiers down one by one by hitting against their heads.
"Hello, Kya and Bumi." a voice not to far away called out. "Looking for me?"
Kya's eyes narrowed in anger at the sight of the deceiving uncle and bended a massive stream at him, who only stopped it with an ice shield, barely breaking a sweat. In the mist, Unalaq attacked the two with a massive ice block, throwing them some distance back. A figured towered over them, revealing herself to be Yuki.
"Avatar Aang would be so proud to see his son and daughter defending his wife's homeland." she said in a taunting tone, "Sadly, your efforts will be in vain."
Yuki clenched her fists and stomped onto the ground, causing it to shake and break apart, creating an earth prison for the two of them, and causing Bumi to drop the boomerang. The two struggled to break free, but the stone was just too strong for them to even wiggle a finger. Yuki was, no doubt, a very talented earthbender.
Unalaq approached the two, his eyes narrowing in annoyance at their naivety. "Did you really think you're measly little rebellion could defeat me?"
"You won't get away with this!" Kya exclaimed in anger, "You're not the tire chief!"
"I am. And you will bow to me."
"In your dreams, pal!" Bumi cried out, practically spitting in his face, but Unalaq remained calm and composed as always.
"Not that you've been defeated….your niece is next."
(~)
One more chapter left, and the epilogue. Until then, God bless, *kiss kiss*