//------------------------------// // The Idea // Story: The Little Pony Legend: The Redeemers // by eric-emanwu //------------------------------// Chapter 3: The Idea Korra walked out quietly, flew up a bit, then let out a scream. A scream that echoed across the island, and was accompanied by a small jet of flame flying into the air. A scream that the other airbenders cautiously watched, wondering if they’d have to exercise their right to act against the avatar in case of emergency. A scream filled with frustration, anger and pain. A scream that eventually died down as the great protector then rocketed off to her castle nearby, slamming the door behind her. Inside, Mako was waiting in the hallway. In his arms, he held their little daughter Iris, dressed in a cute purple dress that matched her eyes, but with a look of childlike fear in them too. Mako for his part was carefully holding Iris close as if he was trying to use her as a shield. “So, how did your meeting go?” If looks could kill, Korra’s glare might’ve killed a manticore on the spot. But to Mako’s credit, he’d known his wife enough that he wouldn’t back down from her if needed. “I can’t believe this! After all this time, and all the new beginnings, they still cling to ‘duty’ and fear. I just...UUUUGGGHHHH!!!” Mako made his way forward. “Honey, honey. Calm down.” Just as Korra turned to shout at Mako, he held up Iris in front of him. “And remember, we have to set a good example for our little girl.” “Don’t bring her into this!” “So long as you promise not to blow me over, bury me up to my neck, attempt to drown me or try to agni kai me, then I will let Iris go!” Korra took a very, very deep breath. So deep, Mako was pretty certain she was airbending while doing it. Then she exhaled a mini whirlwind, which was definitely her airbending. “Alright. I promise.” With that, Mako set Iris down. “Alright Iris, you go play with Spike in your room. Mommy and Daddy need to work out some silly grownup problems.” Iris gave them both the most sad eyes either of them had seen. (And that was saying something since Korra and her fellow ponies had a habit of creating super cute sad eyes when trying to get what they wanted) So, Mako gave a sigh. “Alright, but then you have to be good for Spike.” So Mako took Iris in his arms, and gave her a horsey ride up to her room. Mako and Korra were now seated in the living room. They’d considered trying to create an office space for Korra as well in the house, but Korra had ultimately been adamant not to have one. “My workspace is the world, not my home!” So they both sat, Mako still glowing in the love his daughter had given him, while Korra meanwhile suddenly looked drained. Just exhausted, and showed it by slouching slightly on her couch. Mako cleared his throat. “So, are you ready to talk about this morning now?” Korra just glanced away. Mako though wasn’t going to let Korra sulk. “Come on Korra. Where’s the take action woman who I first fell in love with?” Whether Mako was trying to goad a reaction out of Korra or not, the look he got in return was not what he expected after her initial outburst. Korra remarked sadly, “She got poisoned. And after that, she realized she needed to take action with others, not alone.” She then sighed, looking at the window in the room. “Do you remember when I first came to Republic City and thought I could pound Amon and Tarrlok into the ground with nothing but bending and charisma?” Mako could almost see where this line of questions was going, but he decided to poke it out of her just to be sure. “Yeah. Personally I didn’t see most of it due to feeling like a powerless street rat who thought he could bend his way to the good life, but I was still grateful once we got that boost.” He then gave a slightly bitter laugh. “Of course, it didn’t really prove to be all that effective, what with Amon paralyzing you when you challenged him, or Tarrlok bloodbending you when you tried to get him to release us.” Korra gave a groan. “How is it that every time I think I’m the most powerful being in the world, something comes around to cut me down?” Mako smiled. “Because nobody, not even the Avatar can ever do it alone. Not saving the city, not fighting giant monsters, not bringing balance to the spirit world, not fighting for a nation…” then Mako went in for his knockout blow. “And certainly not trying to get one’s friends to a better place.” Korra turned her head at last to look at Mako. “I presume you figured out that they’re not going to release P’Li?” Mako gave a mirthless smile. “Spike sent me a message when he heard you yell, ‘WHAT?’. Said to be prepared for you to come home in a bad mood. I then had Jinora quickly fly him over here since I knew we’d need to talk.” Korra looked at Mako, her eyes glistening. “It’s...not just about Kuvira you know.” Mako raised an eyebrow. “Kuvira?” Korra realized her slip of the tongue, but then gave a slight smile. “Alright, you got me hothead.” Then she adjusted herself. “Ever since I found out about Camp Everfree, I’ve been...fighting some bad feelings inside. That for all the good I’ve done, there’s still little things I still haven’t finished with.” Mako pushed her on. “Such as…” “It’s all the people around us who haven’t gotten their new chance to shine. Remember when we got Queen Hou Ting to turn the last years of her rule around through some perspective and friendship? That was...amazing. Seeing someone bad become something much better. But there are so many others who are stuck paying for their past deeds. Kuvira, The Siren sisters, P’Li. And those are just the people I’ve seen in the last 2 weeks or so! They’ve repented, so how can I call myself a princess of friendship if I still haven’t found a way to help them out? Have them show the world they can shine too?” Mako again gave a humorless smile. “It’s not your place to have the world decide to forgive them.” Korra sighed. “I just wish there was I way I could, I dunno, speed up their sentences somehow!” Mako suddenly felt his cop instincts kick in. Mentally going over basic law tenants he’d learned at the academy in his mind as he mulled over what Korra said. Speed up their sentences? That would mean commuting them to different things, or pardons typically. Although, I remember learning once about the nations resorting to using criminals as soldiers when the need was great, but we don’t have war to fight. And besides, it’s not like they’d be able to show the whole world they were...the whole world…. Then Mako stood up, Korra also rising after him. “Mako?” And for the briefest moment, Korra could’ve sworn she saw some rainbow lights dancing around Mako’s eyes. “Korra, I have an idea for your problem. What if...we created a force for the whole world to use in your name?” Korra gave Mako a confused look? “Like, an army for myself?” Mako shook his head, the idea fleshing out. “No. Not an army. More like, a universal force that any of the nations could call upon to help them. A group that would serve the needs of each nation on request. And in return, they’d have some time taken off their sentences. Each nation would sign off on it until at last a prisoner would have done enough that they could go free. It’d be like community service, but for all the world! Just like what you and the ponies did!” Korra began to perk up, but then shook her head. “No. No way. There’s no way all the nations we’ve ever been to would agree to something like that! And how would we keep them from being used for less than spreading friendship and harmony?” “We’d have a leader. A warden to screen the missions and keep the less honest prisoners in line. They’d work off time in quicker time, we’d still be doing our work of keeping balance and harmony in the world, AND we could do it in such a way that the leaders would trust the good intents and show that your friends are worth having around.” Korra pondered all that Mako had said. She still had doubts that something like this could even get off the ground, but the more she heard, the more she began to hope again. “Alright, we’ll try this ‘service squad’ idea of yours, but where do we start?” Mako gave a chuckle at that. “How about we start with who you want to help, and then we can move on to convincing everyone to do this?” Korra nodded, a look of determination coming over her face again. “Okay, let’s do this!”