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Korra's POV

General Iroh had told me he was going to go to the Boiling Rock and I had told him I was coming with him. I could see he was puzzled. Why would I go back? Simple: I wanted to save anyone there, if there was anyone at all. The idea had dawned on me after I was rescued a few months ago that there was a possibility Amon would shut down the prison immediately after I escaped. But then again, I was sure he knew that Iroh wouldn't come right away because he had other…issues in the other nations to deal with first.

I was on the deck looking out to the ocean when a familiar Firebender appeared next to me. Both he and Howl had insisted on coming. I told the sentry he would have to stay behind to keep up appearances but he had seemed more at ease when my ex-teammate volunteered to come with. I took a deep breath before turning to face him.

"What is it, Mako?" I asked. He had been acting like my shadow this whole trip. At first I thought it was a sweet gesture but now I was just annoyed.

He sighed heavily. "Why are you doing this to yourself?" he asked quietly. "Why do you want to come back?"

I studied him for a moment before answering. "Remember what you used to tell Bolin and I before a match?" I asked. He didn't answer, waiting for me to continue. "You used to say that no matter what happened we were still a team, win or lose. They were my team. There were innocent people in there whose only crime was being able to Bend. I made a promise to Aiden that when I got out I'd come back."

"Korra," the Firebender began gently. "It's been months since you escaped. The possibility of-"

"There is still a possibility, even if it's a slight one," I answered. I needed some sort of hope to cling to. They had to be alive...they had to be. "I won't leave them. Not like I did Bolin," I added, lowering my gaze.

Mako flinched at that before giving me a nod.

"We're here," General Iroh announced as we docked the ship.

I felt my heart speed up at this. It had been so long…almost as if it were a dream. But the scars, burns and welts on my body testified that it was all too real, that the torture had happened, that the prison was real.

We got on one of the gondolas after making sure they were safe. I was the first one to hop off, the steam from the boiling water covering my view. While on the gondola I had refused to look down. I already knew what was down there, I didn't need a reminder.

Mako was by my side instantly as we all stepped out of the fog. I felt my heart stop and my blood run cold. In the patio and courtyard there were hundreds of bodies piled against one another, slaughtered. There were organs scattered everywhere, body parts, fingers, toes, heads. The walls and floor were stained with blood, like they'd been bathed in it. It wasn't until then that I was able to breathe only to take in the foul stench, a stench I knew well.

Death.

I could hear my heartbeat in my ears as I curled my hands into tight fists. I stepped forward, feeling my body shake. I was too late. Too late. Flies swarmed around the bodies. Maggots had made nests in the decomposing corpses. The sight made me sick. It took all my strength and will not to crumble to the red stained floor and sob. I was already soiled with the blood of others, and now I was responsible for these unnecessary deaths as well.

I closed my eyes tightly, trying to control the overwhelming emotions. But the anger, the pain, the regret and sorrow all hit me full force. I felt my body tremble and then the ground beneath me as well. A unfamiliar power crept over me, a power I had known before…maybe a life time ago.

When I opened my eyes I saw nothing but light. Pure, blinding white light.

Mako's POV

The ground was shaking. General Iroh, the fleet and I were having a hard time standing as the earth beneath us began to shake. Suddenly a wave of air knocked us back and I sat up to see Korra being elevated from the ground, her blue eyes replaced with pure white. The Avatar State.

I tried standing but another wave of air knocked me back down. The trembling increased and the waves crashed against the shore. My eyes widened, she was shaking the entire island! Soon a loud explosion was heard and I could see the red lava emerging from the boiling water.

"We need to get out of here!" the General yelled over the wind.

"I'm not leaving Korra," I answered.

Iroh shook his head, asking his fleet to ready themselves. My eyes widened at this. What where they doing? Out of the nowhere, the General and his men began to send attacks at Korra. My ex teammate placed her arms in front of her, trying to protect herself.

I clenched my jaw and ran over to them, intending to stop them. I didn't get very far. He ordered two of his men to hold me down as he continued his assault.

"You're going to kill her!" I yelled.

"She's going to kill us first!" he shot back. "If you have any ideas, please feel free to share them!"

I looked over at look at her. The shaking increased with every blow that hit her. I could already see the bruises and scratches on her tanned skin and I knew it was just a matter of time before she snapped.

"Let me talk to her," I said.

"Are you crazy?" the General asked sharply. "She'll kill you!"

"No, she won't," I countered. "It's worth a shot. If I can calm her down, we can get out of here."

He looked me over, as if wondering whether I had lost my mind or if there was a chance I could get through to her. After a moment he sighed and hesitantly nodded. I made a move toward the girl but he grabbed my arm.

"If she makes the slightest move to attack you," he began. "I'm hitting her with all I've got."

"That won't be necessary," I said as I walked over to her.

I placed my arms in front of my face, trying to block the air that hit me at full force. I could see Korra's floating body, her expression unlike that I had ever seen. I'd known that coming here had been a bad idea. She hadn't been ready to see what that monster had done, what he could have done to her.

"Korra!" I cried when I was close enough. "It's me, Mako! You need to calm down, the island is unstable!"

I saw her brow furrow as if trying to recognize my voice. Her jaw clenched shortly after and the shaking increased slightly. I grunted as I tried to keep my balance, I wouldn't let them kill her.

"Please," I begged. "I know you're hurt but this isn't the way to go about this. Let me help you, Korra."

I saw a flicker of something on her face and slowly she began to descend. Once her feet touched the ground I slowly made my way toward her, wrapping my arms around her frame, soothingly rubbing her back.

"Everything is going to be okay," I soothed. "I'm right here. Please calm down."

Slowly the shaking stopped and I pulled away, watching her face. The white faded from her eyes and she slumped in my arms. I let out a grunt as I shifted her so that I was carrying her bridal style.

"What happened?" Korra muttered, her eyes drooping.

"Shh," I said. "Everything is alright. You're okay now."

"I went into the Avatar State, didn't I?" she asked.

I sighed. She wasn't going to drop this. I opened my mouth but the General cut me off.

"We have to go," he said. "The island is still unstable."

I gave him a sharp nod and made my way after them into the gondolas. Soon enough we were on the other side and just as I boarded the ship another loud explosion was heard and I turned to see the volcano erupt. Quickly the Waterbenders from the ship used all their strength to get us away.

I made my way inside the ship, yelling for a healer to follow me. One finally did but as soon as I put Korra on the bed she refused any kind of help. She even kicked me out though she was visibly limping, a large gash on her leg from either a burn or a rock.

She shut the door on me with a loud clang. I banged against the metal door, letting out a frustrated grunt. These past few months, Korra had been slowly recovering and now this has sent her downhill again. And I didn't know if she would recover.