"Good evening my fellow citizens. As you know, these past five months have been hard. But I want you to remember one thing: that your president stands by you always. But not just your president. You see, I have a daughter. She has been through some very tough moments in her life. But I still care for her. And she cares for you. You might know her as Korra. Otherwise known as the tyrant. Yes, my daughter was indeed against me. But today, my fellow people, today there was a miracle. My daughter has finally seen the error in her ways, and has begged for my forgiveness. So I gave her a chance. Now, I am ready to give all of you a chance, just like Korra. Follow me and my rules, and you shall be forgiven. Today marks the day of change, my people! As Korra leads you to defeat the rebels, follow her example! Do what you know-"
Mako immediately shuts the TV off there. He's gone over that broadcasted messaged over and over for the past month now. Somehow his mind thinks he'll find a lie; that Korra really didn't join the government and try to kill them. But the evidence proves otherwise; just last week they had a battle against Korra and her battalion of government forces. Suddenly Iroh's voice fills his head. "While I was in prison, I overheard Mr. Sato talk about a serum. A serum that was capable of wiping someone's mind clean, and giving someone the ability to create a new one of their own. A new mind with a new personality and new ways of thinking. Granted the memories don't change, but changing the way they think can change the way they respond to those memories. I- I think they did this to Korra." Mako shakes his head. He doesn't want it to be true; no one does for that matter. "How many times are you going to play that message?" He smiles as a familiar voice calls from behind him, and he turns to meet his brother's fresh green eyes. He gives a minute to drink him in: His face was still thin enough to visibly see his jaw, and his skin was still pale, but he acted just like the old Bolin. "As many times as it takes." He finally answers, and Bolin laughs. Mako smiles as he does. It's been a while since he's seen his own brother laugh. The last time was when we came to him, half way to becoming the undead, and said that Korra had a present for him in her desk drawer when they were escaping. Turns out the present was an antidote she had stolen from her father for the longest time. When Mako went around the medical division, others said she'd been trying to replicate it for months before, but with no success. The orange-eyed boy wanted to just roll up in a ball. Korra had risked developing a replication for an antidote to save his brother.
Now, things are completely different after that. Korra, with suspicion from Iroh, is now being controlled by the government; her personality was now smug whenever they saw her, and when they were finally able to see her up close, Asami almost cried. Her arms were covered in bruises. She had scars everywhere, especially right across her nose. You could tell she had been tortured for sure before they injected her with the serum, and Mako shutters. They probably make her think she was tortured by them before she got to her father. And now she's after Asami, everywhere they go, every mission they have. Whenever Asami is there, Korra instantly finds her. No, Mako can't let that happen. Asami was a vital member of their organization. Ever since Bolin was in the hospital, Asami took over being the commander of the Engineering level, and was doing a tremendous job. Iroh had taken over the Assault level when he managed to escape with them. His mind traced suddenly to Asami again. How was she doing? Last time he checked, she didn't even want to talk about her.
"What are we going to do about Korra?" Bolin asks as he makes his way over to a nearby chair, shattering Mako's thoughts. Honestly, Mako doesn't have an answer. He's been asking himself that question every day now. "Well, we've already tried to capture her, and that didn't turn out so well." Both the brothers laugh together at the memory of Mako's stitched lip and Iroh's broken arm. "Do you really think she's after Asami?" The green-eyed brother asks, and Mako looks away with a hand on his chin. "Our last mission just proved that theory. When I tried to stop her, she ran right past me while shoving me into the wall and headed straight for Asami." Mako scowls as he remembers Asami's face when Mako shoots Korra in the leg to stop her from running. What else could he do? Korra was literally ready to grab Asami right then and there. "Why do you think she is?" Bolin rubs his arm uncomfortably at the question. Mako shrugs, "I have no idea. I think it's Sato's doing. He probably wants Asami back. Maybe they think they can get Asami to join them and that'll make their cause stronger. I mean, the president's daughter and the most gifted engineer's daughter? I think I'd even join the government after that." Silence engulfs them as both brothers lose themselves in thought. Suddenly Mako's door opens and a man with red appears. "Mako; Bolin. I need to guys to come check this out." The duo both raise brows, "What's wrong, Iroh?" Bolin asks, and the former prisoner shakes his head. "It seems Korra's going after another group of citizens." Mako scowls again, "So? She does that all the time now." "No," Iroh shakes his head at Mako, "That's the thing. She's alone."
The ground underneath Asami's feet is completely loose; her feet are practically sinking into the gravel. Her steps are short and slow, lacking the umph they used to have. This city used to be great; Republic City, where industries everywhere would compete to be the best and where people would scatter the streets every day. Even her father's own factory lay to waste here. "Where'd you say she was again?" She finally asks after a minute of silence. "She should be somewhere over here." Iroh states next to her with his gun to his shoulder. "Keep an eye out. I don't want her taking yo-" As if on cue, a figure jumps from behind the corner of a building they were by and springs to Iroh, swinging a fist right at him. But Iroh moves fast; he grips its wrist and twists it behind them, grabbing their form. "Korra! Stop this!" He exclaims, revealing the identity of the attacking figure. Korra laughs. Asami decides the new Korra laughs too much. "Ohh, I'm so scared of Mr. Prisoner. How long were you in that prison again? I've lost count." She states sarcastically, and Iroh holds back a growl. Ever since Korra was taken, her new personality always would hit on home. "Korra, I know you're deep down in there. And I want you to stop this!" Korra bursts into laughter again, a smirk plastered on her face. "The 'old' Korra! Get real, Iroh. She's long gone, and a good thing too. Now, let go of me before you regret it." As if she were a completely different person, Korra switches from a full blown smirk to a complete dark expression. Iroh, startled by the drastic change, doesn't let go, to which Korra flips out of his grip, striking the heel of her hand under his chin hard. He gasps and stumbles back. Her azure eyes sparkle with victory, and suddenly then meet Asami's.
It's like the world had stopped for a whole year. Those deep blue eyes that Asami has only seen a few times after her rescue; but these eyes were different. They were hurt, broken, and calling for help. After five long months, this is not what Asami wanted to be welcomed with. "Asami! Run!" Iroh calls and grabs Korra from the back, slipping his arms under her to lock them. Korra growls, flipping his body over her and causing him to thud on the ground with a thump. "Stop!" Asami finally cried aloud. She's had it with people defending her. She's had it with running. Korra looks at her with intensity, as Iroh does the same but with pained eyes. "A-Asami, don't." Asami shakes her head, "I'm tired of people getting hurt because of me." Her emerald eyes clash with azure. "If I go with you, will you stop hurting people? Will you stop hurting the people you used to love?" Now she's holding back tears as they threaten to spill her shining eyes. Korra stares with a pause, before she smiles a devilish smile. "That's a good girl. Sure, whatever." She lifts her foot that holds the former prisoner down, and Iroh coughs. "Asami, no! Don't go with her! You saw what they've done to her. They'll do it to you too!" Iroh exclaims to her, but Asami shakes her head. "Iroh, I've given this game up. I don't want to fight anymore. I'm done." She clenches her fists and looks to Korra, who now stands with folded arms. "Loved the speech. Let's go, princess." The green-eyed girl's heart tightens at what her former love states. Why does everything have to be so hard for her? Why can't things just go back to the way they were before? Why can't she get back the girl she loves? "This way." Asami steps in front of Korra who gestures the path they should take, while both girls ignore Iroh's protests. Asami resists the urge to burst into tears at the frustration that fills her body. Why can't she survive?
Oh my goodness! I'm so sorry about this late chapter! Started school and lack of motivation has threatened to prolong my writing. I guess I'll just have to wait until weekends. So this chapter was a total time skip, but it gets better. Why do you think Korra is after Asami? Do you think Mako's suspicion about that is true? And yay for Bolin! No way was I going to kill him off! And this new Korra man. Who knows? Anyway, review! That'd be great. Let me know about how you feel. Read on!
-PMI
(Silver, you are the best! I love you! ^.^ Seriously, you are the only one that review. -.- But that's okay! I'm glad you're letting me know what you think. Keep it up!)
Thanks for the other reviews! You guys are great! :)