Just Like the Good Old Days

Hey, I'm back. And I don't own Legend of Korra. Oh, PS, I wrote a spin-off/one-shot based on one of Noatak's 'dreams' about Korra. Check it out.

Painful Memories

Noatak's POV:

When Tarrlok and I went out to join everyone for breakfast, we saw that someone important was missing.

"Where's Korra?" I asked.

"Korra had an early morning training session at the arena." Tenzin answered.

"Why didn't she wake us up?"

"She said that she didn't want you two to have to suffer the 'evil that is the morning', as she called it, but she wants you two to hurry over there when you can."

Tenzin hardly had the chance to finish his sentence before Tarrlok and I were out the door and heading straight for the water. We arrived there in no time, and managed to come in just as an older man was leaving.

"Hey, guys!" Tarrlok called to them. I could sense there was something off in the atmosphere.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"Turns out, we need thirty-thousand yuans in order to play in the tournament." Korra answered.

"What? Why?"

"It's for the Championship pot. And if we don't get the money, we don't get to play."

"That's hardly fair."

"So, anyway," Mako interrupted us, "how are we gonna come up with the money?"

"Oh, oh, I got it!" Bolin said with enthusiasm. "I've been training Pabu to do circus tricks. Now people would pay good money to see that!" As he spoke he held up an actual fire-ferret that I assumed is a pet of theirs.

"Come on, Bolin, we need serious ideas."

"I was serious." Bolin muttered as he got a downcast look on his face. Mako could've tried being a bit nicer to his brother when he rejected his idea. Of course, I probably shouldn't throw stones as I took away my own brother's Bending in another life, but still.

"Don't worry, I'll figure something out, I always do."

Korra had to go back and do some Airbending training; she had been improving a great deal since she joined the Fire-ferrets. Tarrlok decided to go off and look around the city, of course he already knew his way around, but we couldn't exactly explain that to Korra.

Tarrlok's POV:

I wanted to do a little reminiscing so I took a stroll around downtown Republic City. Everything was exactly the way it was before; it was so weird being a stranger to a place that I had known for so long. I was shaken from my thoughts when I saw Bolin and his pet fire-ferret, Pabu, sitting beneath the statue of Fire Lord Zuko. Bolin was having Pabu do tricks, just as he suggested earlier. I approached in curiosity.

"He, Bolin, how's business treating you?"

"Oh, hey, Tarro. Not good, maybe Mako was right, maybe my idea was stupid."

"Don't say that, you shouldn't put yourself down just because your brother acts like he knows best."

Just then, a fancy satomobile pulled up, the man inside rolled down the window.

"Hey, Bolin, is that you?"

"Oh, hey there, Shady Shin." Bolin replied nervously.

Shady Shin got out of his satomobile and approached us.

"Heard you're a big time Pro-Bending player now. Not bad."

"Uh, thanks."

"So listen," Shady Shin whispered to Bolin, but he was loud enough that I could still hear what was being said, "I got an offer for you." He then noticed me. "Maybe your friend would be interested too." He continued to address both of us. "Lightning-Bolt Zolt is looking to hire some extra muscle."

"Uh, I don't know, Shin." Bolin replied. "Mako told me to stay away from the Triple Threats."

Triple Threats? This guy was offering me and Bolin the chance to work for the Triple Threats? No. No way. It would go against any remaining sense of moral decency I had left in my body.

"Pfft, your brother ain't the boss of you. It's just a little security work, nothing crooked."

How stupid did this guy think we were? Of course, Bolin caved when Shin tossed a wad of yuans into his donations cup.

"You game?"

"Uh, Bolin," I spoke up, "I really don't think this is a good idea."

"You're more than welcome too, kid." Shin said to me as he shoved another wad of yuans into my hand. I knew that Bolin was going to go along with this for the sake of the Championship.

"Fine, I'll come, but it's only to help out my friend here." I gestured to Bolin who looked happy that I considered us to be friends. I had to admit, Bolin was a pretty fun guy so, yeah, I guess we're friends.

I felt very uncomfortable in the hideout for this band of crooks, something just didn't feel right. I had a foreboding sense that something bad was going to happen. And of course it did. The last thing I remember seeing as Bolin and I were being taken away by the team of Equalist chi-blockers, was Korra and Noatak and Mako attempting to stop them.

Noatak's POV:

I had been having this weird feeling all day, like there was something that I had forgotten. It just wouldn't stop nagging at me. My theory was proven correct when Mako showed up asking about his brother, then it dawned on me that Tarrlok hadn't come back yet and he should've returned hours ago.

"Come to think of it, we haven't seen Tarro in a while." Korra said.

"We need to find them." I pointed out. "I have this really bad feeling that something's happened to them."

"We can take Naga."

"Who's Naga?" Mako asked.

"A friend of ours, and a great tracker."

We made our way along the street on Naga, I sat behind Korra and Mako sat behind me. I was keeping my eyes wide open for any sign of Tarrlok and Bolin but I still heard their small exchange.

"You friend is a…polar-bear-dog. Somehow that makes perfect sense."

"I'll take that as a compliment, city-boy."

Soon we arrived at the statue of Fire Lord Zuko.

"Well, this is Bolin's usual hang-out." Mako stated as we all dismounted. He made his way over to where a group of street-urchins were goofing around. "Any of you guys seen my brother around here lately?"

"Perhaps." One of the kids said. "My memory's a little…foggy. Maybe you can help 'clear it up'."

"You're good, Skoochy. A real pro." Mako said sarcastically as he handed the boy a yuan.

"Yeah, I've seen him."

"When?"

"About noon."

"What was he doing?"

"He was performing some kind of monkey-rat circus when some Water Tribe boy showed up. They seemed to know each other; I think the guy's name was Tarro. And then…"

Mako handed the boy another yuan.

"And then what?" I asked rather impatiently. "Why did they leave?"

"Shady Shin showed up and flashed some serious cash. Bo and the other guy took off with him in his hot rod. The Triple Threats, the Red Monsoons, the Agni Kais, all the triads are muscling up for something real big. Now that's all you're getting outta me!" With that, Skoochy took off with the other kids.

I felt as if the world had stopped moving. Surely Tarrlok wouldn't be so stupid as to get involved in a turf war? And then it hit me what day it was. It was the day before the Revelation, and I had given the order to capture the Triple Threat Triad. And now Tarrlok and Bolin were about to be taken away by…well…by me, or at least the other me. We didn't waste a moment and got right back on Naga. Suddenly, Naga started to charge at something and I held onto Korra's waist to keep from flying off; when we finally stopped, I noticed that it was that fire-ferret that belonged to Mako and Bolin.

"It's Pabu!" Mako declared.

"No, Naga." Korra said. "Pabu's a friend, not a snack."

The little creature scurried over and settled itself on Mako's shoulders.

"We gotta hurry."

Eventually we arrived at the Triple Threat headquarters. While Korra and Mako tried to stealthily creep up to the door, I knew it would be a waste of time and charged up and slammed the door down and made my way towards the back, ignoring their astonished looks. I felt panic rush through me when I heard the sound of an engine roaring, and I ran as fast as I could. I saw Tarrlok and Bolin inside the truck, they looked absolutely terrified. The chi-blockers dropped those canisters that create a smoke-screen, and I couldn't see anything. Korra called for Naga, and soon we were in pursuit. Of course I knew that all efforts to stop them would be futile, but that didn't stop me from trying to fight when the chi-blockers tripped up Naga and the three of us had to fight. I still remembered everything I had learned about chi-blocking and was able to skillfully dodge any and all attacks. We were eventually overpowered, but luckily Naga charged up and scared off the remaining chi-blockers.

"I can't Bend. I can't Bend!" Korra shouted as she desperately tried to Firebend.

"Calm down, it'll wear off." Mako reassured her. "Those guys were chi blockers. They're Amon's henchmen."

I cringed at the word 'henchmen', it made me think I sounded like a villain in a children's story.

"Amon?" Korra inquired.

"Don't you remember, Korra?" I asked. "He's the leader of the Equalists; we saw one of his protestors when we first showed up in Republic City." Then an idea struck me, a way to show them where Tarrlok and Bolin had been taken without making it seem too obvious.

"What do they want with the Triple Threats?"

"Whatever it is, it can't be good." Mako replied. "I can't believe Bolin got himself into this mess!"

"Don't act like you're the only one who's upset by this." I told him. "My brother got taken too, and I am not going to let those guys get away with this." I was finally seeing things through the eyes of the people I had attacked in that other life; the idea that Tarrlok would get hurt, again, and have his Bending taken away by me, again, made me very angry and scared. "Clearly we have no idea where they went, but I think I know how we can find out."

We headed for the park and sat down near to where that protestor would be the next day.

"So, you think this protestor will know where Bolin and Tarro are?" Mako asked me.

"It's the only lead we have." I replied.

"So, why is Bolin running around with the Triple Threat Triad, anyway?" Korra inquired.

"Well, we…we used to do some work for them back in the day…" Mako answered a little nervously.

"What? Are you some kind of criminal?"

"No! You don't know what you're talking about. I just ran numbers for them and stuff. We were orphans out on the street; I did what I had to do to survive and protect my little brother."

"I'm sorry. It must have been really hard. Can I ask what happened to your parents?"

"They were mugged, by a Firebender. He cut them down right in front of me. I was eight."

So, that was his story? Ironic, really, isn't it? He actually lost his parents to a Firebender, but he doesn't feel upset by the fact that he himself is one; and yet I was the one who lied about my past and had developed a desire to eliminate Bending altogether. Korra soon slipped off into sleep and I put my arm around her; she was just as worried as I was about Tarrlok, I knew the two of them were very close and she hated the thought that he was in danger. Eventually, I found myself drifting off to sleep. We were awoken by the sound of that very annoying protestor making his declarations about equality, well…screaming them into a megaphone, anyway. I gently shook Korra awake, Mako woke up on his own, and I pointed in the direction of the protestor.

"That would be the guy we're looking for." I stated.

When we approached, the protestor was less than pleased to see us.

"You cannot silence me, Avatar!"

Korra responded by swatting the megaphone out of his hand.

"Shut your yapper and listen up." She said irately. "Some friends of mine got kidnapped by some chi blockers. Where'd they take them?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Oh, I think you do."

Korra Earthbended the platform that the protestor had been standing on up, causing him to fall off and a bunch of pamphlets to go flying. I knew exactly what those were and snatched a few.

"'Witness the Revelation tonight, nine o' clock.'" Mako read from one of the pamphlets. "What's this 'Revelation'?"

"Nothing that concerns the likes of you three!" The protestor responded.

"You better believe it concerns us, spill it." Korra demanded as she grabbed the man by the front of his shirt.

"No one knows what the Revelation is! And I have no idea what happened to your friends. But if they're Benders, then my bet is they're getting what's coming to them."

I couldn't believe that I had had followers who were so obnoxious; okay, maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration as there is always an exception, but still.

"Where's it happening?" Mako asked.

Unfortunately, we didn't get our answer as a police officer showed up and we had to bail out. We eventually came to Republic City station; I had to find a way to get Korra and Mako to go to the rally without being too obvious that I knew where it was.

"Why didn't the Equalists put a location on these?" Korra asked.

"Probably because they didn't want just anybody waltzing into their big 'Revelation', whatever that is." Mako answered. "I bet the information is hidden on here somehow."

"Hey, guys." I said. "I think I've got it." I held up one of the pamphlets that had the dot on it that showed where the location was, and put it up next to the map of Republic City that we were standing next to.

"That must be where it is! Noak, you're a genius!" Korra exclaimed as she hugged me and I felt myself puff up with pride a little.

"I try."

I was not going to let anything happen to Tarrlok, as soon as I got him out of danger I was going to hug him, and then I was going to start yelling at him for doing something so stupid in the first place. Of course I knew that my other self would never 'hurt' him, he would still take away his Bending and I don't think Tarrlok would be happy about having to go through that a second time, to say the least of the explaining I would have to do if I needed to use my Bloodbending to restore his Bending.

Tarrlok's POV:

I was terrified, almost as terrified as I had been the last time Noatak had been about to take my Bending away. Bolin looked so scared I thought he would wet himself, and that is not a pleasant thought. I resisted the sudden urge to laugh as Amon, or rather the other Noatak, told his phony story to everyone while Bolin and I were being held off-stage with the members of the Triple Threat Triad. When we were led onto the stage, I felt the glares of all those Non-Benders boring into me with indescribable hatred. I guess I did sorta deserve it; after all I did in that other life. But I learned my lesson! I thought the point of all this was that we were being shown mercy for our mistakes. When Amon, or Noatak, saw me I sensed that he recognized me at least a little, I simply glared at him in response in an attempt to say "You big jerk, let me out of here! You're no better than Yakone!" with my eyes. But, he just proceeded with his little 'show', and I realized that he was taking the Bending of every person on that stage except for me. When he finally got to Bolin, the poor kid tried to point out that it was a misunderstanding. I rolled my eyes and shook my head, there's no way he could talk himself out of that situation, we were so done for. At least, that's what I thought, until a miracle in the form of a cloud of steam filled the room. I jumped when I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"You okay, bro?"

"Yes! Thank you! You're the best big brother ever!" I completely forgot in that moment that he was the big brother that had been about to take my Bending away, again. We hurried out of there as fast as we could. We ran into a little trouble when we met up with the other two boys, as the four of us were attacked by that Lieutenant guy who electrocuted the ladder we were on. Luckily, rescue came in the form of Korra, and we managed to get out relatively unscathed. When we made our way back to Air Temple Island, after dropping Mako and Bolin off at the Pro-Bending arena, I noticed that Korra was pretty freaked out. Oh, right, that's because she was terrified by Amon's (Noatak's) ability to take away people's Bending. I was shaken from my observations when Noatak suddenly grabbed the front of my shirt.

"Are you insane? What were you thinking going off with the Triple Threats like that? And then you went and got captured! Do you know how worried we were?"

I responded by giving him a look that said "Are you fricking serious? Do you not remember who it was who had just tried to take my Bending?"

"I only went because I wanted to make sure that our friend Bolin wouldn't get hurt. I tried to talk him out of it, but he kinda stopped listening when that Shady Shin guy tossed him some yuans. Oh, I got paid too, here's your share." I handed him the money I had gotten from Shady Shin, and he looked at me confused. "What, he may have been a crook but his yuans are still good."

Noatak's expression was unreadable, I loved confusing him like that, it was so funny. Anyway, back to Korra. She really did look freaked out; when Noatak realized that as well, he put a hand on her shoulder to reassure her. The boat finally pulled up to the island, now to explain to Tenzin where we had been all last night and the day before.

Hey, everyone. Thanks for your patience with me. I think I'm going to reconsider having any Makorra at all in the story, as I have yet to see how I can work it into the plot. My idea was to have Mako have a crush on Korra, and she kinda likes him but only because she isn't sure how Noatak/Noak feels about her. Anyway, drop me a review, tell me what you think, and the next one is a personal favorite of mine. Catch ya later.