Alright, I'll admit I've been slacking on the final chapter of the exciting saga all of you have been reading. I've become distracted by Young Justice. It's awesome, and you all should watch it (unless you already do). Anyways, here is the final chapter to "Revenge of the Full Moon".
"Korra, we're here." She felt the slight nudge on her shoulder and looked to see Katara smiling at her. Korra rubbed her eyes, stretched and let out a large yawn. She doesn't even remember boarding the ship. She was passed out, and downright exhausted, and she had nearly slept the entire boat ride. She desperately needed sleep after the vacation she had.
Tahno had been standing by the exit, waiting for the ramp to fall down, so he could return back to his life in Republic City. Korra walked over to him and asked, "Are you going to be okay?"
"I'll have to be, there's nothing else I can do," he sighed.
"You're still always welcome on the island. Just know that."
"Thanks for being a friend Uh-vatar." Tahno winked at her playfully.
"You know I still haven't gotten used to that name, but I guess I have no choice if you'll be hanging around."
"I'll be sure to use it more often then. And I'll try not to stand in what's his face's way."
"What do you mean?" Korra bobbed her head slightly.
"I know you like him, and I know he doesn't like me, because he thinks I like you."
"Woah woah, slow down there fella, there were a lot of likes and I think I lost track of who likes who." Korra and Tahno laughed.
"The firebender has a thing for you."
"You think?"
"Oh, I don't think…I know. Trust me; I have a knack of knowing these things. You'll get him, don't worry."
Korra blushed slightly. The ramp was let down, and they walked off the boat, followed by Naga. Korra felt relieved to be back in Republic City. She had become so interconnected with the environment of the hustling bustling city. Korra had become urbanized.
Korra felt at home: the scent of the city, though not as cleansing was still comforting, the sounds of the satomobiles whizzing and honking their ways through the narrow streets, it was familiar.
Another boat ride was in order to head back to Air Temple Island. Katara, Korra and Naga stepped on board, but Tahno hadn't set foot on the ship. "What's the matter Tahno?" Korra asked; "Aren't you coming with us?"
"Not today Korra, I'm going to head back to my home in the city, have some time to myself. Don't worry though, I'll be around. Later Uh-vatar," Tahno answered.
"See you around Pretty Boy!" Korra waved goodbye to him.
"Please tell me you don't have feelings for this boy Korra…" Katara grumbled.
"Oh no Katara, he's not my type, too sassy for a guy if you ask me."
"Okay good, you can do much better."
"I'm glad you think so."
The two laughed and watched the skyline span under the daylight sun. After being away for a few days the vastness of Republic City amazed her in the same way that it had when she had first arrived to train with Tenzin. She couldn't have imagined how happy her life would become since that very day.
The boat docked at the island where it seemed as though a large crowd was waving enthusiastically. It was merely the Tenzin family and Korra's friends. Korra and Katara couldn't be any happier to see them.
They walked off the boat and Katara walked over to her son to give him a warming motherly hug. "I'm so glad to see you back safe mother," Tenzin said. Katara then proceeded to hug Pema, and her three grand-children, despite Meelo being quite resistant to her contact.
Korra walked over to Tenzin and gave him an embracing hug. "Korra, I hope you had an interesting trip," he said to her.
"I have a lot to tell you, and you'll be so proud of me, but I have to do a few things before nightfall," Korra said quickly. She hugged Pema, and patted each airbender child on the head. Korra then walked over to her friends.
Bolin was grinning goofily with a Pabu scarf wrapped around his neck. Once Naga had stepped off the boat, Pabu scurried to his mammalian friend.
Bolin lunged at Korra embracing her tightly. "It's so good to have you back Korra!" Bolin cheered.
Asami reached in for a hug next, warmly smiling at her, "The Island just didn't feel right without you."
Mako didn't make eye contact with the Avatar. He just looked mopey, and stared at the ground while kicking dirt.
"It's so good to see you guys!" Korra cheered, "Even you Mako" she continued in a mocking.
Mako scoffed and muttered under his breath, "Where's Tahno?"
"He went back to his place in the city," Korra answered.
"Okay…"
Bolin and Asami looked back and forth between the two noticing the tension between the two. Bolin whispered to Asami, "What's with them?"
"I'm not really sure, but I'll talk to him about it. He's been on edge lately," Asami whispered back.
There were a few moments of awkward silence. Korra rocked back and forth on her heels, whistling, only adding to the awkwardness. The she finally said something, "So…I'm going to go back to Katara. She has to teach me something…I'll catch you guys later I guess."
Korra slowly scooted away towards Katara, who had still been chatting with Pema and Tenzin. In her peripherals, she saw Bolin and Asami happily yakking away, while Mako looked mildly upset and moody, like his usual brooding self. Korra pouted her lips slightly and her eyes sank in disappointment.
Korra tapped Katara's shoulder. She turned around and nodded to Korra, "I guess it's time then," Katara said calmly.
"I'm ready," Korra said confidently.
"What's going on?" Tenzin asked concerned.
"I'm going to teach Korra bloodbending," Katara stated.
"Mother…are you sure? It's dangerous and…"
Katara interrupted, "I know it's dangerous Tenzin, but when you hear what happened to us at the North Pole, you'll understand that she needs to know this. Let's go Korra."
Katara began to walk towards the dock, and Korra obediently followed. Katara stood facing the city, becoming lost in deep thought for a few moments. Korra placed a reassuring hand on Katara's shoulder and then said softly, "If you have any concerns or doubts, it's okay; I don't have to learn bloodbending."
"No Korra. You need to learn this, in case of extreme circumstances; you never know when you might need it." Katara replied while taking a deep breath.
"Don't I need the full moon?"
"The full moon does leave us at our strongest, but it's not the only time we can bloodbend. The limiting power of the presence of the full moon is simply an illusion. If we lead ourselves to believe that we are only capable of this ability when the moon is full, then we are blocking ourselves from our full potential. It is simply…an illusion. You are one of the most skilled waterbenders I've seen, and I'm sure that you can do it without a full moon, even on a first try. You just need to see through the illusion that we have set up as a waterbending culture; that we only need the full moon to bloodbend. We just need the moon."
Katara and Korra took deep breaths and then Katara began to show Korra the ways to control another being. It was difficult to learn since there was no living being to practice on, but Korra was grasping the concept.
For hours, Korra concentrated her energy imagining as if she were bloodbending an actual living being. Katara sat in the shade of a large tree with arched braches covered with green leaves blowing in the wind. She carefully watched her pupil, still nervous as the potential dangers that this technique could create. It was imperative that Korra knew this to protect herself.
Katara through her experiences in the war and afterwards, she knew that there are people in the world who were completely unafraid to unleash all their power and strength to harm the innocent and get what they want. The world had changed drastically from her younger years, but Katara knew that danger always existed in the world. Danger and chaos evolved with the times, becoming more threatening and increasingly difficult to deal with.
The sun set behind the Republic City skyline, illuminating the sky with orange and pink, gradually darkening with the approach of a clear night sky. Korra stopped her forms, took a deep breath and looked up at the moon. The fullness began to dissipate, but Korra's heart warmed as she smiled up at the celestial body, and the moon was smiling right back at her.
"Would you like to practice on something living?" Katara asked sternly.
Korra shot back in shock at Katara's request. "W-what? You want me to use this on someone?" Korra stuttered.
"To make sure you can do it. The moon is near full so your strength is increased." Katara glanced over at a white meadow vole that was scurrying towards a berry on the ground. Katara had picked the berry off the ground and placed it in her palm.
"Master Katara that doesn't feel right…I don't want to hurt it."
"You won't, you just need to concentrate and be gentle. Pick up the meadow vole and place it in my palm."
Korra, still in awe of Katara's demand, she breathed deeply. Slowly she raised her hands, letting her wrists be loose and fluid. She heard a squeak and stopped. "Keep going Korra, it's okay," Katara assured.
Slowly a tear rolled down Korra's cheeks, and she tried to gently lift the small rodent into Katara's palm. More squeaks, but these weren't painful, more like squeaks of shock. The meadow vole gently ascended off the ground, and Korra was holding her breath.
"Breathe Korra," Katara commanded.
Korra exhaled, and the small white furry animal floated gently into Katara's palm. It didn't look injured; however it was trembling in shock. Katara gently pet the small meadow vole as it spotted the berry in Katara's palm happily. "I knew you could do it. Without the full moon too, you should be proud," Katara said reassuringly.
Korra wiped the tear that had rolled down her cheek, "I was so scared that I'd hurt it."
"As long as you have control, there is nothing to fear. Just know that this is only to be used in emergencies. Don't make me regret teaching you this."
"I won't Katara. I promise." Korra reached in to give Katara a hug. Korra gently pushed the meadow vole from Katara's hand onto her own, and brushed its back with her fingertips, "I hope I didn't hurt you my little friend. You were very helpful." Then she let the meadow vole scurry onto the ground. With many squeaks, the white rodent looked up at Korra, squeaked a couple more times, and then scurried into the bushes. Korra surprisingly felt at ease.
The two walked back into the Air Temple where they had dinner with everyone on the island. It was nice to be in good company. There was delicious food, loud conversation, and plenty of laughter. After everyone had finished eating, all had left except for Korra, Katara and Tenzin who sat at the table. "So what exactly happened at the North Pole Korra?" Tenzin asked sternly.
Korra took a deep breath and slowly began to explain every piece and important detail of the story. It had happened a few days ago, but Korra remembered it as if it had just happened a couple of moments ago. Tenzin listened with much attention as Korra's story was filled with details and dialogue and even action sounds for when she described her fight with Zheng-Fu.
It was an elaborate story, and Korra could tell from Tenzin's look that he was proud of her. "I told you that the spiritual side would come eventually; it just took time," he said while placing a hand on her shoulder.
She smiled at him and hugged both Tenzin and Katara. She left the room and headed to the far side of the island, where she sat on the edge of a cliff. The moon reflected brightly in the bay, and the lights from the buildings of Republic City glimmered.
She sat in silence appreciating all around her. Snap. Korra turned quickly when she heard a twig snap behind her. There she saw Mako standing with his hands in his pockets. "What do you want?" she asked sharply turning back towards the water.
"We need to talk," he said firmly.
"About what? Your attitude?"
"Sort of…I haven't been completely honest with you lately."
"Oh and you just figured that out now?"
"Very funny Korra; but things have still been confusing for me, and I've been blaming my confusion on you."
"Oh gee how kind of you Mako. Everything is my fault isn't it?"
"In a way yes…but."
Korra scoffed, "Thanks a lot Mako. And here I thought we were friends. Why have you been so rude to me? I come home and hoping to see all my friends happy and smiling for me to be home. I hoped that all my friends had missed me, including you Mako. But the way you looked at me…or should I say didn't look at me when I got back, made me think that you didn't miss me at all."
"It's not that Korra."
"Then what is it Mako?" Korra shouted
"I…"
"That's what I thought Mako. You can't just be honest with me? Well listen to this and you can say whatever you want to say, but first you're going to listen. When I was at the North Pole, nothing happened between me and Tahno. He told me he had feelings for me, but I rejected him…because of you Mako." Korra's eyes filled with tears, and then began to pour down her cheeks and she continued ranting. "I had to fight a spirit that who almost killed me…I almost DIED. My insides were twisted in ways that were unnatural and torturous. I experienced bloodbending first hand, and, and it was frightening; to know that I couldn't do anything to protect myself. I felt like a failure, like I know I am. But as I approached death, I couldn't help but think…think of you and what my future holds for me. I did something unthinkable, something that I didn't know was even possible, and I beat a spirit." Korra tried to laugh, but the tears choked her voice. "I met spirits, and now, and now I learned the same technique that almost killed me. I come home hoping to see you so you can do that thing you do so well; when you comfort me when I need you. But you just gave me the cold shoulder Mako. I care about you so much, and you can't even see how much I try to impress. I know you have Asami, but I can't help but harbor these feelings for you. It's not even worth it now, because I know I'm stronger than that." She wiped the tears from her face, hugged her knees tightly, and placed her chin on her knees.
"Korra…I don't know what to say."
"Then leave me alone."
Mako looked at her helplessly. He was speechless and she just confessed everything in front of him. He couldn't think of a single world to say. He stood up and stared at her for a couple of beats. "Stand up." He ordered. Mako's voice was stern and made Korra felt uneasy. She was used to his voice being calm and somewhat comforting.
Korra slightly turned her head and answered disdainfully, "Why should I?"
"Do it."
"Fine." Korra stood up, placed her hands on her hips and retorted, "What now?"
"I want you…to bloodbend…me."
"You're crazy."
"Korra…do it. I will never understand the pain you went through. Show me what you want through."
"Mako that is extremely ridiculous, why would you want me to do that to you?"
"Just do it! Then I'll leave you alone, just this one thing, please." He pleaded.
Korra looked deeply into his amber eyes, and his stare filled her heart with warmth. She took a deep breath, raised her arms, and despite that she didn't want to do it, she complied with Mako's bizarre request.
Mako grunted, and slowly took one step closer to Korra, then another until they were face to face. He cupped her chin and brought her lips up to his. He kissed her passionately and Korra's eyes shot open in shock, but she fell into his warm embrace.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, and his wrapped tightly around her small waist. They held each other tightly, until Korra released her grip. She was blushing brightly, and so was he. They smiled at one another, and then Korra giggled. "You know Mako…I only made you take one step forward. The rest was all you," she stated flirtatiously.
"I know," he replied grinning.
"You're an idiot."
"I knew that already."
I couldn't help myself. I need the silly Makorra fluff at the end to satisfy my shipping self. I hope you enjoyed the story and I will definitely write more stories as the show progresses and all that. Review and tell me what you thought of the story! And if you have any ideas I would be more than happy to listen to your ideas. - Fire Bender