Secret Santa gift for hmweasley!!! When I looked at your wishlist, I was dying to write some Gaang friendship- plus I love making headcanons about the time that passed between ATLA and LoK. So here it is- a fun little piece about the Gaang and the origins of pro-bending. I hope you like it! Have the happiest of holidays, whichever one(s) you celebrate! <3
…And the Winners Are…
Summary: Post-ATLA, the Gaang plays the first game of Pro-bending.
“You know what?” Aang turned to Katara, who was massaging his shoulders in the shade on the warm, sunny beach of Ember Island. “I’m really glad you put a mandatory vacation on the ‘Fire Lord & Avatar’s Era of World Peace To-Do List,’ ” he said cheerfully.
“It was Sokka’s idea,” Katara smirked. “And I have to admit, it was a good one.”
“Hey!” Sokka, who had been occupied with sunbathing, bolted into an upright position. “Are you trying to imply that not ALL of my ideas are good ones?”
“Something like that,” Katara teased. Behind her brother she noticed an elaborate structure growing out of the golden sand. “Wow, Toph’s sandbending has gotten really impressive,” she remarked.
“I’m not Toph- I’m… TOPH-ZILLA! MWAH-HAH-HA-HA!!!” They heard the earthbender shout, as she demolished her work gleefully.
“Toph!” Katara gasped in horror. “It was beautiful! Why did you destroy it?”
“Boredom, I guess,” Toph said as she plopped down on the sand.
“You couldn’t think of something more con-structive to do?” Katara chided.
“Sheesh, even when we’re on vacation you don’t want to have any fun,” Toph retorted playfully. “Look, I like destroying things, okay? I like feeling powerful. And since there aren’t any armies of firebenders to take out lately, there hasn’t been much opportunity for me to let out my aggression.”
“You could go back to Earth Rumble!” Sokka suggested enthusiastically. “I’d love to come watch you take back the title!”
“Nah, it was getting old when I left. I guess I got sick of whupping everyone’s butts all the time.” After a short pause, Toph grinned. “Hey… would you guys fight with me? I mean, we’re some of the best benders in the world.”
“Already did that,” Aang hurried to say. “And I won,” he muttered under his breath.
“Come on, Twinkle Toes- you know that didn’t count! You broke the rules!”
“Sorry, I’m out.”
“Katara?”
“Remember when we fought and everything got all muddy and gross? Let’s not do that again, shall we? I think we fight enough as it is.”
“Zuko? Come on, I still owe you for burning my feet when you joined the team!”
Zuko heaved a sigh. “I mean, I would, but… you’re the most powerful earthbender in the world. I’d be a goner. You could shift the earth right under my feet.”
“I’ll only use projectiles, I promise! That makes it fair, right?” Toph pleaded.
“Not if they’re coming from behind me!” Zuko objected. “If this is going to be fair in any way, I need a teammate.”
“I volunteer!” Sokka said eagerly.
“No offense, Sokka, but this is going to be a benders-only match. You can ref, though!” Toph offered.
“Oh, alright,” Sokka consented dejectedly.
“And Twinkle-toes can’t be your teammate, Zuko. Having the Avatar on your team would clearly be an unfair advantage, even against me.”
“What if I only bend air?” Aang proposed.
“No; too many tricks. You only beat me that time because I couldn’t see you.”
“I could play on Toph’s team,” Katara offered. “That would even it out. But we should make sure no one would get seriously injured…”
“No way!” Aang interjected. “I mean, I agree with the injuries thing, but you took down Azula. If she couldn’t beat you, there’s no way Zuko and I can take you and Toph!”
“I’ll only use the water in my pouch,” Katara compromised. “And I won’t freeze it or anything like that. Besides, you took down the Fire Lord-”
“Hang on,” Sokka interrupted. “I have a better idea. Let’s get Toph to build a ring out in the ocean a ways. That way, everyone will be in a level, confined space. To win, it’ll be like the Earth Rumble- you just have to knock opponents out of the ring. Since they’re falling in the water, injuries should be minimal. We’ll play at a shallow enough depth that if Toph falls in, she’ll be able to feel the sand below her and bend a new island for herself. Katara, being in the ocean would obviously give you an unfair advantage, so we’ll stick to your idea and you’ll only be able to bend water from your pouch. But give Aang your spare pouch, because he’ll need a water supply, too. We’ll give Toph and Aang pre-set amounts of earth to use. Since Zuko has a technically unlimited fire resource, we’ll make a rule that says he can’t stream fire- each blast has to be less than a second in duration. And Aang, no airbending. We’ll put Aang on one side, and he can bend all the other elements. The rest of you will stay on the other side, each bending your own element. No direct contact. Toph, in the interest of fairness, you can only send projectile Earth at Aang from your own side. Everyone happy?”
“I still don’t see why I have to fight all three of them…” Aang grumbled.
“Come on, it’s water-earth-fire on water-earth-fire. It’s the fairest way.”
They were lined up, ready to go. Sokka stood on a raised island looking over the middle line of the arena Toph had erected in the ocean off the beach.
“Okay, we’re doing this in three timed rounds,” Sokka reminded them. “If you guys knock Aang off, you win the round. If he knocks one of you off, he’ll win the round, but play will continue. Best two of three will win- unless, in any round, Aang knocks all three of you off before time’s up. Then it’s a TKO.
“Start round one on my signal- three! Two! …One and a half!”
“Get to it, Sokka!” Katara shouted.
“One! Go!”
Sokka didn’t think he would ever see a bending battle more intense and fast-paced than that of Aang and the Fire Lord, but he was proven wrong very quickly. Barrages of water, earth, and fire flew both ways in the ring.
“Katara!” Zuko called. “You hit right, I’ll hit left- go!”
The simultaneous blasts of fire and water forced Aang to jump backward- right into the water.
“Round one goes to Team Ordinary People!” Sokka declared. “That’s one for Team Ordinary People, zero for Team Avatar!”
Aang clambered out of the water and back onto the ring to reposition himself.
“Round two in three- two- one- go!”
Aang lasted much longer in the second round, and nearly knocked Zuko and Katara into the water, if not for a well-timed hit from Toph that sent him straight off the edge.
“That’s two for Team Ordinary People, zilch for Team Avatar! Aang has to pull off a triple knockout in the last round to win!”
Aang grinned to himself. With nothing to lose, he had one more risky strategy to try. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply. They may have said I can’t airbend, he thought to himself. But no one told me I couldn’t move like an airbender!
“Round three in three- two-one- go!”
This time, Zuko, Katara, and Toph went immediately on the offensive- but Aang deftly maneuvered around their blows, striking none of his own. Within a minute, Katara was out of water and Toph was out of earth.
Aang seized his moment. With a well-executed water whip followed by a flying rock, he battered Zuko to the edge. A final blast of fire sent Zuko reeling back off the edge of the ring. Katara and Toph did their best to dodge Aang’s attacks, but their attempts were incomparable to his master airbending maneuvers. Finally, all three of his opponents had succumbed to the water below them.
“I don’t believe it! In a last-round comeback, victory goes to Team Avatar with a one-on-three knockout!”
Aang crossed the ring to help Katara and Toph back up. “Good game, you guys. We should play again sometime.”
“And I know just what we’ll call it!” Sokka shouted from atop his perch. “Pro-bending!”
“Wow, Mr. Creativity’s wave of inspiration strikes again,” Toph remarked sarcastically.
The ecstatic crowds of Republic City lined up at the doors of the new, glittering arena long before the opening ceremony. The city was abuzz with talk of a new fighting sport, in which benders of different types could compete in teams. It promised excitement, as well as a chance for the cultures of the different nations to come together in a way like never before.
At long last, the doors opened and the crowds were seated in the massive stands. “Oohs” and “aahs” resounded as spectators marveled at the detailed, high glass ceiling and bright stadium lights.
Avatar Aang himself stood in the middle of the ring, and addressed the eager crowd. “Beloved citizens of the United Republic, I welcome you to the first Pro-bending Night in Republic City!”
Cheers erupted from the stands.
“My friends and I invented the sport after the Hundred-Year War ended. Although the game has undergone some modifications since its inception, its official opening as an organized sport will commemorate the very first pro-bending match. Presiding as head referee, Councilman Sokka himself, who is responsible for formulating many of the game’s regulations himself!”
Sokka, dressed in a black-and-white uniform and equipped with a golden whistle, took his place at the referee deck while the crowd cheered.
“And now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for, the introduction of the teams from the first match! I give you first, the visitors, the Omashu Badger-Moles!”
Three players dressed in green entered the ring. A segment in the crowd of visitors from the Earth Kingdom rose to their feet, singing their national anthem loudly.
When the noise had subsided, Aang continued. “And here’s your home team- the very first pro-bending team, made up of the best benders in the world. Your leaders, the founders of the United Republic, and my friends- let’s hear it for the Republic City Sky Bison!”
Zuko, Toph, and Katara entered the ring to rapturous applause.
“Our hope,” Aang concluded, “is that pro-bending will unite the people of the United Republic, and of the world, in the enjoyment of a sport that is truly like none other. Let pro-bending be a symbol of the peace ushered in after the Hundred-Year War. And let the match begin!”
Digging through my fics folder and found my collection of book 1 Makorra one-shots!! So if you ever wanted to... you know... re-live the happy fluffy days that were Makorra in book 1... here you go. I think these are approxmiately 95% canon- I use dialogue directly but expand upon characters' thoughts.
From “A Leaf on the Wind”
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The room was dark, but the light of the glorious, fully-illuminated arena shone across the bay. It was late, but Korra was too elated to sleep. She stood at the window of her room in the Air Temple, leaning forward and propping herself against the sill with her arms. She hadn’t merely seen Pro-Bending matches; she was now a player. It was beyond her wildest dreams. And for the first time, she had friends who were her own age. Well, at least, she hoped. She knew she’d get along with Bolin perfectly, but she wasn’t sure about Mako. She wanted them to be friends, and he seemed friendly enough after their victory that night, but was she just a pai-sho piece to him? A stratagem? A way for him to get what he wanted- victory in the tournament? What if, after the tournament, he couldn’t care less about her? She tried to convince herself that she didn’t care what he thought of her, but she did. She wanted him to accept her. But to what extent? A semi-formal acquaintance, close friend, or… something more? An image of the fantasy entered her mind, and she immediately pushed it out. But it came back and persisted, and she was forced to entertain the thought. And as she gazed at the arena, where she knew he lived, from her window, she couldn’t help but smile.
From “A Voice in the Night”
He could still see the signature determination in her eyes as she led the task force alongside Tarrlok, but somehow, the photograph just didn’t quite do her justice. His eyes darted roamed down to the caption. Avatar Korra fearlessly leads Councilman Tarrlok’s task force after a successful Equalist roundup. He looked back at the picture. Something about the whole scenario really bothered him, and he couldn’t quite figure out what.
“No Korra for practice again?” Bolin asked, obviously disappointed.
Mako re-read the final sentence of the article he held in his hands. With the task force scheduled to convene each day and to be on call 24/7, the whole city is waiting with bated breath to see if they can bring the brewing social turmoil to a halt or if they will merely fan the flames. “Doesn’t look like it,” Mako responded irritably. Maybe that’s why he was so ticked off- Korra had already missed several practices and had not indicated to him when she might return.
His train of thought took off. She’s almost less-committed than Hasook… but she is the Avatar, her case is different, we’re lucky she’s part of the team at all… I just wish she’d be here, or at least come tell me when and why… wait… He suddenly realized the cause of half of his inner frustration. No, I can’t possibly… miss her, can I? He thought of Asami and was a bit unsettled. Well, of course I can, she’s a friend… But he never missed Asami. We haven’t been together very long, of course I don’t miss her… but then again, I haven’t known Korra very long, either… And lately, when he’d been with Asami, he’d have fleeting visions cross his mind of Korra on his arm or sitting across the restaurant table from him instead. The first had been at the gala, when he was introducing Asami and Korra to each other. For a second, he had flip-flopped them in his mind. And it had been happening more and more often since. He couldn’t explain it, but he felt a strange attachment to Korra…He didn’t like not knowing where she was or what she was doing…
He looked back at the newspaper photo once more. That was the other piece of the puzzle. “Fearlessly,” the caption said. Korra was fearless; he knew that. But was he?
Suddenly, it was clear.
He was afraid for her.
But why?
He wasn’t sure. But he’d have plenty of time to think it over as he blankly stared at the newspaper. It wasn’t like he and Bolin were going to get much practicing done.
From “The Spirit of Competition”
The bay was beautiful by night- light from the city and stars sparkled in the water and illuminated the vast architecture surrounding it. But although Korra was staring intently at the scene, she was far too preoccupied to take it in.
She had breathed a little easier for the first few seconds after the match, while their narrow victory was still settling in. But one look at Mako had sent her back over the edge. She was trying to breathe in the cool, crisp night air as deeply and calmly as she could, but it wasn’t helping her resolve her inner turmoil. She was as enraptured with him and irritated with him as ever. As Ikki had so keenly pointed out to her the other day, he “drove her crazy” in both senses of the phrase.
She had half made up her mind to let the irritation win over- after all, she couldn’t have him, anyway, and even if she did have to see him every so often in order to maintain her relationship with Bolin, she wouldn’t have to go to any effort to be nice to him or even talk to him. It made more sense on all accounts to give him up, move on, and put him entirely out of her mind.
But she couldn’t. No matter how hard she tried, she wouldn’t be able to stop noticing his tall, statuesque build and sculpted-to-perfection muscles during practice. Or his warm amber eyes and handsome, determined brow. Or his rare, genuine smile that sometimes broke through his typical serious demeanor like a ray of sunlight bursting through a cover of clouds… Noticing, admiring…
She wished they hadn’t fought before the match… she had thrown in a low blow or two, it was true, but he started it. And he was the guilty hypocrite, not she. Not to mention outright liar.
Her inner anguish tormented her. Stay? Go? Continue? Quit? Give up? Keep hope? She didn’t know what to do, and on top of everything else, she realized how much her progress toward unlocking her airbending and spirituality would be hindered by her lack of ability to find inner peace… she wished she could lock herself away from the whole world forever, never speak to anyone again… life for the Avatar was just plain too complicated for social interaction and entanglements…
Much to her immense dismay, she suddenly heard footsteps approaching from the arena. She hoped and prayed it was just a ref or arena official, coming to let her know what the results of the last match were so she could go back to the Air Temple and hide in her room under the pretense of going to bed… but as they drew nearer, she scowled. She knew whose tread it was. She didn’t want to speak to anyone, not even Bolin… but least of all… him. She didn’t turn around or make any sign of acknowledgement of his presence and began to mentally and emotionally prepare herself for another fight.
“We need to talk.” He said sternly. Of course. She should have known he would come looking for a fight, as well as someone on which to shove the blame for the closeness of their quarterfinal match. She rolled her eyes as he continued. “Look, sometimes you can be so infuriating. But I-”
“Save your breath,” she interjected coldly. “You’ve already made it clear how you feel about me.”
“No… I haven’t.” His tone changed. It was softening, warming. “What I’m trying to say is…” He appeared to be struggling to find the proper words; apparently it wasn’t a prepared speech, after all. “As much as you drive me crazy…” He sighed. “I also think… you’re pretty amazing.”
Her world was flipped upside down. She was sure she hadn’t heard right. She couldn’t have. She double-checked, finally turning around to look him in the eye. She had to be sure. “So… you do like me?”
“Yes!” He said eagerly. But then he sighed again and broke his eye contact with her, looking down and to the side. “But I like Asami too. I don’t know, things are complicated. I’m…”
She couldn’t take it anymore. This might be the closest she ever got- her one chance. She wasn’t the type who was going to try to talk it out with him and help him reach a rational, well-thought-out conclusion. But she was the type who was willing to go to drastic measures- and take a huge risk- on the chance that just maybe… this was her fate-given and fate-deciding moment, do or die, now or never… She suddenly remembered all the stories Katara had told her about Aang, who had a tendency to jump the gun when it came to their relationship, but… it worked for him… maybe it would work for another Avatar…
Here goes… she thought. I guess there’s a first time for everyone… oh please, I hope I don’t screw this up… With determined swiftness, she closed the gap between them in a heartbeat, shutting her eyes as she got closer…
“… feeling really confused, and I-!!!” His first reaction was complete shock, and he stiffened up. Oh no… Korra thought immediately. I’ve ruined it… But suddenly, she felt him relax, and she was no longer just springing a surprise liplock on him… he was passionately kissing her. She felt the blood rushing to her face, she felt like her heart was on fire, and she felt like time no longer existed.
Finally, she gently broke away, immediately looking down but then cautiously looking up to meet his eyes… and then she saw what lie beyond his shoulder. And as her stomach turned, her immediate thought was Oh, no, no, no… What have I done?!? For there stood a shellshocked Bolin, holding a large bouquet of beautiful pink flowers, looking as if, in his aura of complete innocence, the scandal of the scene had burst the bubble of his hopes and dreams. For a horribly tense and dead silent few seconds, no one moved or made a sound. Then, finally, Bolin cracked. As he broke down in sobs, he ran back into the arena and tossed the flowers aside onto the pavement.
“Bolin!” Mako shouted. “This isn’t what you think!” But it was too late. “Great,” he said turning to Korra and re-adopting the scowling face he always gave her when she had done something to irritate him. “Look what you did!”
What I did?!?!? “You’re blaming me?!?!?”
“You kissed me!”
“You kissed me back!”
“Argh!!!” In a fury of frustration and with nothing further to say to her, Mako left and chased after Bolin. Once again, she was alone in the moonlight bay. Once again, her emotions were running every which way.
“Well-played, Korra.” She chided herself. “Well-played.”
She had no idea what her next encounter with either brother would bring. But of one thing she was certain: her longing for a simple social life was not to be satisfied any time soon.
I. At the very least, he had been spared solitude. But there was only so much he and Bolin had to talk about in the tiny prison cell, and so he was still left with ample time to attend his personal thoughts.
As a matter of fact, he was re-working his more or less detailed visions of what the rest of his life would look like. Until a few weeks ago, his future seemed relatively straightforward. Once he had become the best up-and-coming bender in the arena, with a stable living situation, he started banking on a career in pro-bending. He’d rise through the ranks, captain the Fire Ferrets for a good ten seasons at least, earn enough money to move out of the arena attic and set himself up in a luxurious flat, enjoy the rich-and-famous lifestyle he’d surely earned; maybe pick up a girl, retire young, and start a family. But that was all before Korra. Somehow, he couldn’t help but link the falling apart of his grand schemes with her arrival in the city.
Seeing as how the “War for Equality” was shaking more and more foundations, and no one was sure of how it would all settle out, he knew he had to be flexible. He couldn’t help making plans; it was just part of him. He couldn’t have denied that he was glad to be provided with the time in which to think, because there were many options and scenarios to consider.
One, this war fizzles out or settles down, Asami and I go on steady, pro-bending starts up next season. Everything goes back to normal.
Two, the war doesn’t settle down, or the Equalists win. He wasn’t sure what would happen in that case, and he didn’t really want to start hazarding guesses, so he moved on.
Three, I decide… I don’t really want to be a pro-bender anymore. Indeed, it was becoming increasingly clear to him that maybe he didn’t like his original plan all that much anyway. Sure, it was stable, but it was also… boring. Especially if Korra left the team- her life as the Avatar was so unpredictable, who knew if she’d stay on for future seasons of pro-bending? Suppose her duties and responsibilities of the Avatar dominated her time? And then what? A horrible thought struck him, that of Korra completing her airbending training, having no further reason to stay in Republic City, and leaving for home. Just like that. They might stay in touch, but… Surely she’d return to the city? But what if that wasn’t for years? He envisioned seeing her again for the first time in what seemed an age, though only a few years… and he was longing to run to her and embrace her, except for the fact that she was on the arm of a tall, strong waterbender, and a small child in a blue coat was holding her hand, toddling alongside her… No, he thought. She would never just leave and get married and have a family; that’s just not her thing, she’s not the type… plus, she’s the Avatar… He scowled as he realized the invalidity of his argument against the possible future, seeing as how the past two Avatars had successful marriages and family lives alongside their fulfillment of the Avatar’s role…
He wondered where Korra was at the moment. She’d promised to try to use her leverage to get them out, but her efforts were apparently either to no avail or taking longer to bear fruit than she had anticipated. He reminisced their last glance at each other as he was being taken away with Bolin and Asami; their last few minutes together before the fiasco, shared in the backseat of the Satomobile… He kept glancing at the prison door, hoping that at any minute, it would be thrown open triumphantly by none other than Korra, beaming with pride at her political success…
That, more than anything, was what he really wanted. To see Korra. And he realized that it had been that way for quite some time. Anything he was doing, anywhere he was going- he was constantly anticipating getting to spend time with Korra…
His thoughts were finally interrupted as the prison door opened, and for a second, he thought his wish had been granted- but the only people he could see in the doorway were Asami and Lin Beifong. He barely got out “Asami!” before she had thrown her arms around his neck and planted a longing kiss on his lips. He heard Bolin scuffling in the background, blubbering something about “privacy…” Apparently, he’d been caught off-guard. For the sake of his brother, Mako attempted to strike up conversation. “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine! It’s so good to see you!” Asami seemed quite bubbly for having spent the night in prison.
Lin interjected hastily. “Hate to break up your lovers’ reunion, but Korra’s in trouble. Amon captured her.”
At first, Mako didn’t think he’d heard right. As the statement sank in, his arms fell from Asami’s sides and she seemed to fade away. Just a few seconds ago he’d been dampened at the thought of not seeing Korra for a few years… it hadn’t occurred to him as a possibility that it might be never… And if she was really being kept by Amon- what would happen to her?
“No… no, she can’t be gone…”
The only way to maintain his sanity was to search for her, and never stop until he had found her.
The rest of his plans for his life didn’t matter anymore.
He was consumed with one purpose, and with one name.
Korra.
Without her, his future was a dark and empty void.
II. The search party was mounted on the sky bison’s back as it flew through the chilly night air, looking down on the empty city streets, scanning desperately for any sign of Tarlokk or Korra. But being knocked out by Tarlokk’s bloodbending attack had stolen so much of their time… precious time… “It’s not too late, it can’t be too late…” Mako was silently telling himself. He could tell the others were growing weary of searching- especially Asami and Bolin; and he wondered how much Tenzin and Lin felt merely bound to duty. At any rate, they’d been at it all day; he knew the others would have to stop soon to sleep for whatever part of the night still remained. But he wouldn’t. He still had the strength to fight off hundreds of Equalists if he had to, if that’s what it was going to take to get her back…
He was going to find her. He had to find her. He was nearly sick worrying about her; but he was also feeling incredible weights of regret, which he knew he would have to live with until she was back, until he had spoken to her, held her… He regretted deeply all the moments he simply hadn’t taken in enough, moments that flashed through his mind repeatedly as he tried to retrospectively savor them… Pro-bending with her (why on earth had he been such a jerk when he first met her?); being at the gala in her honor (why couldn’t he have let Asami go for just one drink, or one dance?); sneaking in to Amon’s Revelation rally (she wanted to put her arm through his; why hadn’t he held it close, pulling her nearer to him?); riding through Republic City with her as they searched for Bolin, then falling asleep on each other’s shoulders as they leaned back against…(he heard a crying howl echo through the city)…Naga.
“That sounds like Naga!” His could feel his heart beating faster, his hopes suddenly rejuvenated. If they could find Naga, they might be able to track Korra… Tenzin steered the bison towards the sound of the howl. Everyone was looking, but he was the first to spot the polar-bear dog, making its way through an empty alley. “Down there!” Tenzin lowered the sky bison toward the ground, and as they neared Naga, Mako could see someone on her back, lying limply in the saddle… and then both his confidence and his fear multiplied exponentially. It was Korra, but he couldn’t tell if she was alive or not… she wasn’t moving… The bison landed. He could see, even from a distance, numerous large and deep cuts all over her body. No… please… just move a little, just look at me so I know you’re alright… And as if she could hear his thoughts, Korra gave a weak groan as she looked up at them, dazed. He heaved a sigh of relief as Tenzin and Lin dismounted and immediately approached her. Mako, Asami, and Bolin dismounted, but stayed a bit further back. Mako was bursting to run to her, to take care of her himself, to be alone with her… but Asami was right there next to him, and with her (and the others) around, he wasn’t sure what to do.
He could see Korra, barely conscious, barely able to use her forearms to prop herself up just enough to look at Lin and Tenzin, and completely unable to answer any of their questions at the moment, which they were inconsiderately pressing on her- Tenzin had barely gotten out “Korra! Thank goodness you’re alright!” before he launched into “What happened?” Lin was opening her mouth, questions of her own about to cut off more questions from Tenzin. He couldn’t take it. He didn’t care that Asami or anyone else was there. He decidedly went forward towards the polar-bear dog.
“Where’s Tarlokk? How did you get away?” Lin was asking. Mako, even though he didn’t mean to do it so harshly, somewhat angrily shoved her out of the way.
“Give her some space!” He commanded. Lin backed away, silenced and shocked. He approached Korra quietly.
Korra was in and out of consciousness. She knew Tenzin and Lin were there, asking her questions, but she had no idea what they were saying. She was exhausted, freezing, and in excruciating pain. She could feel herself going out again, she lost the little strength she still had in her arms, she was sinking back down into the saddle, but it felt like she was falling down a bottomless pit… And then, suddenly, her fall stopped and she felt two strong, warm arms underneath her limp, frigid body. They lifted her up off Naga’s saddle, and they pulled her in to the haven of safety that was in Mako’s arms and against his chest. Am I dreaming? Because she knew that if she wasn’t, if Mako really was holding her that tightly and that close to him, then all her suffering over the last day might just be worth it…
She felt him turn and carry her down the alley, back towards the sky bison on which they had all arrived. Everyone else was behind them now, still standing around Naga in a sort of shocked silence (no one noticed Asami’s crushed expression, like a harsh reality was finally sinking in). It was just the two of them, and when they were out of earshot of the others, Mako spoke to her in a soft voice. She had never heard him speak like that before, not even to Asami. “Are you alright?” He said. She could hear his deep concern prominently in his voice. He…really cares about me?
“I’m fine,” she lied, but she felt no guilt in doing so, because she knew that she would be. “I’m glad you’re here.” And that was beyond true. She closed her eyes and leaned her head into his shoulder. He looked at her tenderly and smiled.
When he reached the bison, she felt him lay her down gently in the giant saddle. She opened her eyes just a bit to look at him. His hand came towards her face, gently brushing her disarrayed hair out of her eyes. She longed to stay awake, but couldn’t any longer. She closed her eyes, and she felt his fingers gently stroking her cheek, near a cut from one of Tarlokk’s ice shards. As she fell asleep she heard him saying in that same, soft voice, “You’re safe now.”
From “Turning the Tides”
I. Dawn finally broke. He’d lived through some tough nights before, on the streets with Bolin. But this one had been the worst of his life.
Everything seemed serene in the gentle morning light, but it still hadn’t sunk in that everything was really going to be alright. They’d brought her back to the Air Temple and cleaned her up as best they could without the help of healers (Tenzin thought it best to release the news of Korra’s return in a more official fashion), but she still looked pretty bad. The events of the last twenty four hours kept flashing through his head, like a choppy film stuck on repeat.
In a dark prison cell…
“Korra’s in trouble…”
“No… no, she can’t be gone…”
She was gone.
Long, fortified tunnels…
Flames of anger igniting from his clenched fist-“Avatar Korra- where is she?!?!?”
They’d been tricked…
Bloodbending… knocked out, waking up…
Nightfall… so much lost time…
The streets of Republic City… intense fear, then intense relief…
“I was so worried. Are you alright?”
“I’m fine… I’m glad you’re here.”
“…You’re safe now…”
Neither fine nor safe… back to the Air Temple…
“Take her to the empty suite in the East wing.”
Nearly frozen to death, dehydrated and famished,
High fever, numerous bruises and cuts…
“I’m no healer, but I’ve been a makeshift medic plenty of times, my line of work…
I’ll have to wash these out and stitch them up. Can you heat some water?”
Yes, he could heat the water… he could heat the whole ocean if it was necessary…
Herbs from the medicinal gardens, bandages, needle and thread, change of clothes…
“Someone should stay with her through the night, just in case…”
“I will.”
“You should get some sleep.”
“I can’t.”
Just the two of them… silent except for her labored breathing…
A glimpse of the blue in her eyes…
“I’m cold.”
“Shhh, it will be ok. I’ll get you another blanket.”
“Thank you… Mako?”
“Yes?”
“…Can you take my hair out?”
“Of course.”
Letting the rich, dark-brown silk cascade out of its ponytails… running his fingers through it, speaking softly to her to lull her back to sleep…
And there she was, lying faced toward him, as he intently sat at her bedside while she still slept. He reached out to feel her hand… it was still cold, but it was definitely improved. It no longer felt icy; just a bit chilled. He slid all his fingers around hers and squeezed her hand gently, channeling the softest heat he could manage through his skin, onto hers. He was still concerned, and not just for the moment. He was concerned about the coming days- in fact, he was concerned about her entire future as the Avatar. She’d always given him the impression of strength and independence… seeing her beaten and weak was such a shock. He didn’t know why, but it was truly hitting him for the first time: she was the Avatar. It seemed strange that the determining factor in the fate of the world could be so… human. She needed him in that moment; that much he knew. And for whatever lied ahead, he knew deep down that she’d need him even more. If anyone knew what it felt like to have far more responsibility on one’s shoulders than one should at one’s age, it was he. And he silently promised himself- and her- that he would be with her, no matter what came. She would never again face anything alone.
II. They had lost.
The city had fallen. And now, as Korra watched, its last beacon of light and hope was falling with the setting sun. The airbenders had fled, and their home was being desecrated. Once a lush oasis of serenity and shelter, in an instant it became the headquarters of darkness and destruction. As she stood in the main sewer line of the city’s mainland, looking out on the island, a tiny part of her was itching to jump in the ocean and go right back- she felt as though she had nothing to lose; she had already failed the city… She, the Avatar, had let it fall, and now she was running into hiding, leaving countless other benders to suffer the worst possible fate under the cruel, communist rule of Amon… How could she let this happen and do nothing? The frustration and anguish built within her, a raging, stormy sea…
But the strong, warm hand she suddenly felt on her shoulder calmed the waters within her. Korra took a deep breath. Despite the events of the day, the ocean and sunset at which she gazed were peaceful and beautiful. Master Katara would tell her not to lose hope, for in such times, hope was all they had, and they must never relinquish it, even to their dying breath…
“Korra.” He spoke gently, but with determination. In that moment, she was glad more than ever to have him at her side. If one person in the whole city knew anything about keeping hope in the darkest of times, it was Mako. If one person could somehow give her the inner strength to get through the next few days, it was him. When she could not lead, he would be the one to lead her… “We should get moving.” He wrapped his arm around her as they turned into the tunnel behind them.
Together they walked into the inestimable darkness.
From “Skeletons in the Closet”
So far, nothing had gone according to plan. But a new plan was in place. It was their one chance. One chance to keep a city- a nation, a society- alive to fight another day.
But it wouldn’t be enough. She knew it wouldn’t be enough. They would merely be taking out a single limb of a much larger, menacing monster. If they were going to bring it down, they would have to strike at the heart, and they would have to do it soon. Time was running out. She couldn’t shake the intense fear that was causing her heart to feel like it was thumping in her stomach…
“Can’t sleep either?”
“No… I have this awful pit in my stomach.”
“Me ,too.”
“It’s so crazy. A few months ago I was in the South Pole, practicing for my firebending test… and now I’m in the middle of an all-out war.”
She stopped in her tracks as the others walked forward. She had to do it. It was her job, her duty.
“Wait.” They all turned around to face her. “I’m not going with you tomorrow.”
“What?”
“Why not?”
“I’m going to face Amon. It’s time to end this thing- on my terms.”
The young general looked gravely concerned. “Korra, this isn’t something you should be handling alone…”
“I know. And now, I can’t imagine my life without you in it. You’re the most loyal, brave, and selfless person I’ve ever known…”
“She won’t be.” The tall firebender walked toward her, determination set in his face, warmth in his amber eyes. “I’m going with you.”
They looked into each other’s eyes for the longest time, yet not long enough…
“Yes, I do.” He had promised himself (and her, even though she didn’t know it) that she would never face anything alone. And he was going to keep that promise.
They were going together, to face whatever lie before them.
Permanent injury. Loss of bending. Death. It was all in the open field of possibilities.
But they’d be together in those decisive moments, the moments that might change their lives forever. And that was all that mattered.
“I should probably get some sleep…”
“Me, too… goodnight…”
“…Goodnight.”
From “Endgame”
I. She was hiding, but she was sure her heart, pounding louder than the ensemble of drums used in various Water Tribe ceremonies, would give her away. She sat as still as possible, hardly daring to breathe.
Creak. Creeeak. Creeeeeeak.
He was coming closer. Her fate drew nearer with every step, every second.
Creeeeeaaaakkkk.
He stopped for a moment. She could see his feet from her hiding place. As she held her hot breath, cold sweat dripped down her forehead, and chills ran down her spine. Tenzin had tried to help her focus on conquering her fear of Amon… but now being tested, it was clear their efforts had been in vain. Her stomach was in knots. She had felt better having Mako by her side throughout her final, daring attempt to save the city, but now, she could not see him… Although he was in the room, she couldn’t look into his eyes for strength and comfort…
Creeeeak, creeeak, creak… He moved on.
She let out a silent sigh of relief. He hadn’t found them. He would leave, then they would have another chance… Or should they use their chance to escape and regroup with the others instead? She would have to talk to Mako, they would decide together what to do…
In an instant, she realized they wouldn’t have to decide. They wouldn’t get the chance. Fate had decided for them. She was pulled sharply out from under the table by an invisible force. “Auuurgh!!!” She screamed in pain and horror as her muscles and veins involuntarily contracted and contorted; it was bad enough when Tarrlok did it, but somehow, Amon’s was far worse… He was raising her into the air; the pain was torturous… She was gasping in pain and terror, more frightened than ever… His words from their first meeting echoed in her head: “Our showdown…inevitable…it would be the simplest thing for me to take away your bending right now…your untimely demise…I have a plan. And I'm saving you for last… you'll get your duel, and I will destroy you…”
From the back of the room, flashes and flares of heat erupted. There was sudden movement behind Amon as Mako revealed himself and sent blasts of fire in Amon’s direction. He alternated furious expulsion of flames from each fist, not fear, but anger and determination set in his face. “Let… her… go!” But then he, too, crumpled; he groaned in pain as control of his body was seized by Amon and he was lifted into the air across from Korra. In one swift motion Amon slammed them both onto the ground; Korra was bent into a kneeling position and Mako was pressed to the ground on his side, facing her- Amon, the master of psychological destruction as much as physical, was going to force him to watch… They all knew what was coming; it was only a matter of seconds. “Our showdown…inevitable…it would be the simplest thing for me to take away your bending right now…your untimely demise…I have a plan. And I'm saving you for last… you'll get your duel, and I will destroy you…”Amon approached Korra from behind, using a pressure point at the back of her neck to force her head back…
This time it was real. He’d faked her out once and told her the time was yet to come. Now, it had. She wanted to run, she wanted to move in any capacity, but his bloodbending held her still… All she could do was beg. It was what he wanted, to reduce the Avatar, the ultimate bender, to complete subordination… “No…” she cried, desperately.
Mako was struggling against the bloodbending bind, but was making no progress. He didn’t want to watch, but in a way, he felt like it was all he could do for Korra… He wanted her to know that he was keeping his promise. He was fighting with her, he wanted to be right next to her, he wished he could help her. He wanted to take her place, he wanted to promise her it would be alright, but all he could do was watch her suffer. His eyes widened; the moment was near. “Korra!!!” He called her name in desperation; it was all the support he could offer. He winced in pain.
Her breathing quickened; she was gasping for air. She inhaled sharply as Amon placed his hand on her forehead; she closed her eyes tight, hoping it was just another nightmare like the ones she had on Air Temple Island of Amon stealing her bending… but unlike in the nightmares, try as she might, she could not shake herself awake. The sensation was like nothing she had felt before. Her strength, her spirit, her very will to live- it was all leaving her. It felt like an eternity, but not in the good way, like when she had kissed Mako; she wanted it to end, but she couldn’t speak; she could merely silently scream in agony… And then it was finally over. She hardly felt any physical pain; the pain she now felt was internal. She felt as though someone had just told her she must attend her own funeral. For indeed, a part of her was dead. Her body was alive, her mind was intact, but she was…empty. Everything was going black. She was falling… falling…. Falling. She was the fallen, never to rise again.
In the darkness, she heard a distant, cold voice taunting her. “I told you I would destroy you. Finally, you are powerless.”
In one last, desperate attempt, she tried to attack the source of the voice. But nothing happened. The elements that she had always instinctively interacted with since early childhood did not respond to her call. She was silent. Her emptiness consumed her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mako’s heart sank as Korra fell to the ground. But all his fear had been felt only for her- now, it was his own fate on the line as Amon neared him, pulling him upright into the same kneeling position in which he approached all of his victims. Anger surged through him, but it was more than that- righteous indignation, anger because of what Amon had done to the benders of the city, what he had done to Korra… As it stirred within him, it became heat, building up, longing to escape if only he could channel it…
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the Equalist Lieutenant enter the room, apparently confronting Amon for himself… Mako was not one to lose hope; the encounter would surely buy him just enough time to come up with a plan. He had been in countless impossible situations for the last ten years, and he always thought of something… He scanned the room, looking for inspiration…
Amon bloodbent the Lieutenant, casting him into a pile of boards stacked against the wall, which fell on top of him. And he did not emerge…
That was it. There was another pile of boards against the other wall… if only he could force Amon against them, somehow…
He had to muster the strength. For Korra. Amon was in front of him, it was his last chance… He just needed to move his fingers, that was all… It was the hardest motion of his life, but he finally managed it. He was in the proper position. He was ready to release his wrath. With one final effort, he straightened himself just enough to angle his hand up at Amon, as streaks and bolts of brilliant blue lightning burst through his fingertips and surrounded Amon. Suddenly, Mako once again felt free- his body was his own, but perhaps only for a few seconds. He sprang up and threw fists of fire at Amon, then at the stack of beams behind him, which crashed down on top of the bloodbender.
Mako didn’t take the time to assess and strategize. He had already determined what he would purchase with any time he might buy- Korra’s safety. He rushed to her, gently lifted her into his arms, and then he ran like never before. He raced out of the gym room and down the hall of the arena, glancing over his shoulder, hoping his familiarity with the building would give him an advantage in their escape…
“Mako…” The voice was weak, straining to even softly get out the two syllables of his name. He turned his head forward and looked at Korra, who looked even worse than she had after her narrow escape from the mountains just a few days prior. “My bending…”
“Everything’s going to be alright!” He assured her. “We just need to get out of here-”
But then he froze, caught leaning forward in mid-stride. Korra fell out of his arms and hit the ground, sliding a bit from the forward momentum of her fall. Against the light of a window at the end of the hall, Amon’s silhouette stood in a firm stance behind them. Suddenly, Mako was violently slammed against the ceiling and the wall, before forced to the floor once more, back into the kneeling position as Amon approached him from behind…
“I’m impressed,” he said to the agonized Mako. “No one has ever gotten the better of me like that. It is almost a shame to take the bending of someone so talented… almost…”
Korra gasped, eyes widening as she tried to prop herself up on her arms. Knowing firsthand what it felt like, she couldn’t let the same thing happen to Mako… after everything he’d done to try to protect her, she wished more than anything that she could protect him… She looked up, she saw Mako, Amon, and out the window, where the last leaves of autumn were blowing past in the cold winter air…And suddenly, Amon’s cold, dark voice inside her head was replaced with children’s voices, from warmer, brighter, happier days… Dance, dance like the wind… Be the leaf.
“NO!!!” She shouted and punched the air with all her might, throwing all her energy, everything she had left, out from her fist. The air in the hallway spiraled forcefully, knocking Amon backward and freeing Mako. Mako looked from Amon to Korra, eyes wide in shock.
No one could see Amon’s eyes, but they all heard the utter shock in his voice. “Impossible!”
Korra realized she was no longer laying on the ground; for at least a moment, she was no longer weak. She stood straight and determined, a bit surprised herself. “I- I can… airbend?” Her eyes narrowed. She wasn’t out of the fight yet. “I CAN AIRBEND!” She sent fists and kicks of energy through the air at Amon, beating him back toward the window… But he managed to recover from his shock, regain his footing, and once more place her under the control of his bloodbending…
No, she would not lose. She could not lose. She knew she had the strength to overcome the attack this time… “No… you… don’t!!!” With one great airbending kick, Korra knocked Amon straight out the window of the arena and into the waters of the bay below. The crowd outside the arena gasped, then shouted chaotically as Korra and Mako stood up and managed to make their way to the shattered window. Amon’s mask surfaced on the water. The crowd hurled insults at her, but she didn’t care. It was done. They had lost their leader and their impetus. Their cause was hopeless.
They had yet to lose their faith in their leader, but fortunately, that happened quickly. In a masterful water cyclone, Noatak surfaced above the water, and the jaws of the crowd dropped simultaneously. The cries were no longer directed at Korra; now they were “He’s a waterbender!!! What?!?!? He’s waterbending!!!”
Noatak’s eyes met Korra’s in one last furious glance. But he acknowledged his defeat as he tunneled below the water and propelled himself away. Mako tried to hit him with projectile fire blasts from the windows, but to no avail. Their quarry was gone.
Korra felt her momentary strength from the adrenaline of airbending leaving her. Her knees started to buckle, but Mako reached out to her, and she sank against his chest as his arms wrapped around her. It was finally over. But it was far from a victory. Their embrace was sweet, but the loss of Korra’s bending and Noatak’s escape were harsh, bitter realities.
II. The tension in the room was nearly tangible. All of its twelve occupants were silent, waiting.
Mako sat on the couch between Bolin and Asami. He knew next to nothing about the spirit world, but he hoped the spirits had some sway in the situation and that his silent prayers could spur them on. At any moment, the sliding door at the back of the room would open, and one of two things would happen. If all went well, Korra would come out with a wide smile on her face, and they would all watch joyously as she once again bent each of the four elements. His Korra- bright and optimistic, full of energy and passion- would be back. But if Master Katara could do nothing…
Mako had watched sadly the last few days as the Korra he knew disappeared and drifted away from him. The sparkle was gone from her eyes; she hadn’t once laughed. She hardly ate, and he knew she wasn’t sleeping well. She would find a place on Air Temple Island and hide for hours, finally emerging with tearstained eyes and speaking to no one as she made her way back to her room and closed the door. He’d overheard Tenzin trying to encourage her with his plan: “I have to stay in the city just long enough to sort things out and get them moving back in the right direction, but as soon as we can, we’ll go back to the South Pole. You can see your parents. And I’ve let my mother know we’re coming- she’s the best healer in the world and has more knowledge of bloodbending than anyone else we know of. If anyone can figure out how to restore your bending, she can.” She agreed to go to the South Pole, but she seemed unenthusiastic.
What made the whole thing so hard for him was that he longed to help her- after all, he was the only one who had been with her when it happened- but she refused to let him. He tried to tell her that he would be there for her if she needed anything. He wanted to hold her and let her cry on his shoulder, but every time he approached her, she asked to be alone. And he obliged.
If Katara could do nothing to help her, he didn’t know what he would do. He noticed Korra’s parents in the corner… Korra looked just like her mother. Senna’s head was resting on Tonraq’s shoulder, and his arm was wrapped around her consolingly, although he grieved with her. Mako wanted nothing other than for Korra to let him do the same…He couldn’t just let her…
The door opened suddenly and everyone started as the elderly Katara emerged. As they saw her downcast expression and they caught a glimpse of Korra, still sitting in the small room with her back toward them and her head down, as she closed the door, their hearts sank.
“I’ve tried everything in my power,” Katara began. “But… I cannot restore Korra’s bending.”
Lin, having personal reason to be more desperate than any of them to reverse the effects of the bloodbending, implored her. “But you’re the best healer in the world! You have to keep trying!” Her voice, though impassioned, sounded weak.
“I’m sorry, there’s nothing else I can do… Korra can still airbend, but her connection to the other elements has been severed.”
Lin’s face fell.
A second later, the door opened again, and Korra stepped through. She looked up at all of them, and felt that although the thirteen pairs of eyes were sympathizing with her, they were staring straight into her soul, prodding her wounds- and she didn’t want them to. She just wanted to get away.
“It’s going to be alright, Korra.” Tenzin said, calmly.
But only Korra would say what all of them were thinking: “No… It’s not.” She crossed the room, grabbed her fur pullover off its hook, and walked out the front door without another word or another glance. Mako was about to stop her, about to say something… but he couldn’t. He didn’t know what or how. He just watched with the rest of them as she pulled on her sweater and walked down the front steps. And then it hit him. He hesitated for the briefest moment, but then he was ready to act with determination. He had to do it.
He followed her out the door and down the steps. “Korra!” He shouted. “Wait!”
She stopped, but she did not turn to face him. As he approached, she said firmly in a cold voice, “Go away.”
He was momentarily shocked- he had never heard her speak like that. But he had to continue. “I will,” he said softly. “But I just want you to know… I’m here for you.” He smiled at her tenderly as she turned around, but her face was still set in cold stone.
“No, I mean go away. Back to Republic City.” She gestured to the North. “Get on with your life.” She folded her arms across her chest.
“What… are you talking about?”
“I’m not the Avatar anymore. You don’t need to do me any favors.” She turned and began to walk away, but he grabbed her shoulder before she could leave him.
“I don’t care if you’re the Avatar or not! Listen,” he said, dropping his voice back down to ensure that no one but Korra could hear. “When Tarrlok took you, I was losing my mind at the thought of never seeing you again. I realized…” Just as he was having a final internal debate over whether or not to say it, she turned around to look at him again. Her face was sad, but one look at her beautiful blue eyes and he was a goner. He placed his hand gently on her cheek and his soft amber eyes looked straight into her sharp blue ones.“I love you, Korra.”
Korra exhaled deeply and closed her eyes, placing her hand over his. But suddenly, she shoved it away from her face. “I… I can’t.” She turned around for the final time, ran straight toward Naga, jumped on her back, and hastily rode her out of the compound.
“Korra!” Mako called, but it was too late. He watched her leave, downfallen.
Tenzin approached. “We need to be patient with her. It will take time for her to accept what has happened.”
Tenzin was right. Mako wouldn’t give up on her. And whether she wanted him or not, he would be there.
Korra dismounted Naga and walked toward the precipice. The sun reflected off the brilliant ocean as she stood above it, looking out over the endless water. Her toes were on the very edge of the ice cliff. She still stood on dry land, but she felt as though she was already drowning in her complete and utter despair. She had held out hope, however slim, that Katara might be able to help her. But now that one hope to which she could cling and stay afloat was gone. She had nothing left. A single tear trickled down her cheek. It dripped off her chin and joined the sea below, glimmering in the sunlight as it fell. As the sun began to sink on the horizon, she felt that her sun had already set. There was no light in her world anymore- only infinite darkness.
Korra broke into heavy sobs. She sat down on the edge, curling up as she cried. It was all over for her. Her life could be nothing more.
Suddenly, she heard footsteps behind her. She looked up and saw the auburn hem of airbending robes out of the corner of her eye. “Not now, Tenzin,” she said through her tears. “I just want to be left alone.”
But much to her surprise, an entirely different voice responded. “But… you called me here.” She looked up and saw none other than the previous Avatar, her past life, standing before her.
“Aang…” She said softly. “Could it really be…?” Suddenly, she noticed she felt different. She was no longer sad in the presence of the past Avatar.
“You have finally connected with your spiritual self,” he declared.
“How?!?!?” She was bewildered- she couldn’t do it while she was trying; how could she possibly do it without trying?
“When we hit our lowest point, we are open to the greatest change.” As he spoke, the line of Avatars materialized behind him. Aang placed his hand on Korra’s forehead, she closed her eyes…
And then she felt like never before. Pure energy flowed through her body. She could do anything, even… bend. She spun into the air atop a cyclone, and with a motion of her arms, rings of fire and earth emanated out from the ground at the base of the cyclone. She raised her hands up and the ocean followed, crashing in a huge wave higher than the precipice itself. Finally, the euphoria left her, and she returned to the ground. But she had changed. She felt… alive.
And suddenly, she knew that although the Avatar spirits had disappeared, she was not alone. She turned around, and sure enough, there stood Mako, staring at her wide-eyed. He broke into a smile when he saw her face, and she couldn’t help but smile back. He began to walk toward her, opening his arms to her…
And she ran toward him like she had never run before, throwing herself into his arms, wrapping hers around his neck, burying her head in his shoulder and kicking up her feet behind her as he caught her and twirled her around. He finally set her back on the ground, but their arms stayed around each other. And this time, it was her eyes that looked into his, her hand that rested upon his cheek, and her voice that said softly, “I love you, too.”
She stood on her tiptoes and pulled herself up to him as he lowered his face to kiss her.
And the rays of the warm, flaming sun lit up the icy, beautiful landscape.
Together, they would walk back to the training complex.
Together, they would return to Republic City victorious.
Together, they would share the news with the world: The Avatar has returned.
OKOKOK so I wrote this yesterday and initially I wasn't going to circulate it except to a couple of friends but ummmm I feel like we all need this after what happened in this last episode so HERE YOU GO.
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Makorra: Memory in Stone
Word count: 553
Alone one morning, he receives a letter from the Southern Air Temple. It’s from the monks- all they say is that it’s finished; they invite him to come see it.
Five days later, he sets foot in the paved welcoming veranda of the temple. He is greeted warmly by the abbot, who offers him rest and refreshment. But he declines- he wishes to do what he came for. The monk’s face turns more grave, but he nods and motions for the visitor to follow.
They make their way down a beautiful stone passage, and they reach an elaborate door at its end. They stop; the monk turns to the visitor. “No one has seen it yet. We thought you should be the first. Are you sure you want to-?” The visitor to the temple nods. The monk opens the door.
The visitor enters alone. The monk stays behind to close the door behind him. The monk understands- this man needs to be alone with her for a while. For him, it’s still sinking in.
Thousands of statues fill the circular hall that seems to extend infinitely upward. The man approaches the center of the room slowly. He nears the center statue. It is freshly carved; it is made from the most exquisite white marble. The woman it portrays is strong and beautiful. She seems so natural- her posture is graceful and her hair falls on her shoulders in a wavy cascade.
Finally, he is close enough to look into her eyes. She gazes back, strong and determined. And they just look at each other for what seems an eternity.
Then, he takes a step closer- he is close enough to touch. He slowly extends his arm to the side of the statue, and traces its surface with his hand. The curves of the stone feel distantly familiar under his palm; he had come to know them so well so long ago.
He brings his hand to her face, coming closer still. It seems an age since he has stroked her soft cheek. A single tear trickles out of his eye. He puts his face near hers and whispers in her ear, like he always used to: “I miss you. But I’m proud of you. And I love you.”
He gently kisses the smooth marble lips; of all the times he has kissed her, perhaps this is the most tender.
He stays a moment more, then breathes in deeply and prepares to leave.
But before he goes, he takes off the tattered, threadbare red scarf that has always kept him safe, always been with him. He drapes it carefully around her lovely shoulders. He knows he won’t be needing it much longer, anyway, and he’d like her to have it. Because he promised her they’d always be together.
And so, as he leaves, he doesn’t say goodbye.
Once the hall of Avatars is sealed once more, the monk again offers refreshment and rest to him.
“I’d like to rest...” He says. It is true. He is ready and quite in need of it. And he has nothing left to do. He plans to rest, perhaps for a very long time. And perhaps, when he awakes, it will be in the arms of his beloved Avatar. And she will smile again, and he in return.
