Asami grabbed Korra's bicep. "Do you even have a plan?"

Korra glances towards the big rock next to the dead plumb tree. "Get in there, kick Amon's butt, save Mako and Bolin."

Asami sighed. "You need a plan." She looked around to try and think of a way to devise one.

"The longer we wait the greater risk Mako and Bolin are at!"

"The rain," Asami declared. Before Korra had a chance to reply Asami continued. "It's supposed to rain soon. As if on cue, there was an echo of thunder.

"Ok, so what's the rain going to do?" Korra asked. "I bet their underground lair isn't going to flood."

"No," Asami agreed. "But, it would be a shame if lightning struck that dead wood on the tree and set it on fire and broke the tree's foundation." She finished with a sly grin.

Korra blinked before smiling back. "That would be a shame. Stand back." She checked her surroundings before standing up and moving closer to the tree. She took a deep breath and calmed herself. Just like she had been taught; deep breathes and every ounce of concentration. She felt the chi move through her body and forged the lightening and quickly directing it to the tree. Instantly, it was sparked and quickly burning. Korra sent another shot of powerful lightening towards the base of the tree, trying her hardest to shake the foundation.

"Nice!" Asami cheered as she ran over to Korra, who was taking some finishing breaths. They both heard a fury of commotion and Asami grabbed Korra's arm before dragging her away. They hid behind some bushes and watched as Equalists came out running out a few minutes later to examine what had happened. The girls saw smoke rising up from under the rock and from the tree. Korra snuck around to grab two Equalists as he rose out from the hatch under the rock. Asami shocked another before he could realize what was happening.

Korra tossed the unconscious bodies aside. Korra was about to climb in when Asami grabbed her arm again. "Let's at least try to disguise ourselves." She suggested tossing her head towards the pile of unconscious Equalists. Korra nodded and reached over to grab them two disguises.

Once they had finished changing and successfully hidden the bodies, Korra allowed Asami to go down first before jumping down after and keeping the hatch cracked. Both girls coughed at the smoke filling the hall from the prodding roots. Korra punched a hole in the top to allow a small ventilation for the smoke to escape.

"Come on! You can take care of that later." Asami ran ahead and carefully watched Equalists running past. They stopped at a fork and Asami looked over at Korra. "Can you sense which direction they are with earth bending?"

"I should." Korra inhaled as she dug her feet into the ground. She felt her vibrations and chi echo across like sonar and concentrated on finding the familiar presence of her friends. "Mako!" She gasped when she found him. Her eyes shot open; she grabbed Asami's wrist and began running. "This way!" Following her memories on where she located him she nearly sped right into a group of Equalists. Thankfully, Asami twisted her hand and grabbed Korra's forearm and yanked her back before wrapping her other hand around Korra's waist and yanking her back into a cornering hallway.

"Be careful." She harshly whispered. "We're trying to blend in!"

"Right, my bad." Asami checked the corners before resuming walking in their original direction. Korra would whisper the directions while they strolled past trying to draw as little attention as possible.

"Hey, you two!" Asami and Korra both stiffen and fight their instinct to bolt away. They turn to see an Equalists running towards them. "Oh, Captain-m-ma'am, I apologize." The soldier said as he approached them. "You looked different from the back." He explained to Asami. "Ma'am, we've been told to evacuate; the south entrance is on fire."

Asami straightened herself, spread her leg and put her hands on her hips. "I'm aware, but we-" Asami motioned between herself and Korra. "have been instructed to bring the benders."

The soldier seemed nervous. "Z-Zut said that Amon wanted them to burn down here as punishment."

"And what would Amon do if he lost his prized hostages against the Avatar?" She spat the last word like a curse and Korra glared at her under the mask.

"I-I guess you're right, ma'am." He admitted. "I guess that's why you're a captain, after all."

Asami crossed her arms. "Now, if you're done pestering me then leave."

"Of course! I'll have them leave the north exit open for you."

"No need; I'll find my own way out even if I have to use the benders as a shield." Asami stated. "Now leave." The Equalists quickly obeyed.

Once he was a good distance away Korra and Asami resumed their original path. "You did a good job sounding like you didn't like the Avatar or 'the benders'." Korra air quoted.

"Thank you, I put all my annoyance with you in it." Korra huffed and was about to give her an earful when they approached an empty cell.

Korra stared dumbfounded. "This is where he was. He was just here a couple minutes ago!"

"They couldn't have gone far; no one was supposed to free them. They must have escaped with all the commotion. Can you track them?" Asami asked as she examined the cell. There were scorch marks on the ground; not only that but blood. Blood and something else. There were chains, but no bed, an abandoned water bowl with water still in it and a completely empty plate. Yet, Asami couldn't stop staring at the mess of who-knows-what at the front of the cell.

"I found them." Korra's statement snapped Asami out of the horrid ideas. "They're headed towards where we entered."

Asami turned away from the cell. "Let's go then." They sprinted as fast as they could.

Mako followed Bolin, trusting him and watching his every movement. He saw the pain in Bolin's first few steps and watched as he pushed through it. They were racing for their freedom. They didn't know what cause all the commotion but Bolin seemed to be in touch with the earth with each step and seemed to know when people were approaching and how far they were. Bolin wouldn't hesitate to push them back behind a corner while Equalists ran past them then quickly pulled Mako out and back to running when he deemed it safe.

How? How was Bolin so strong? How was he able to push past his pain and burns and know exactly where to go and what to do after everything he had gone through? Mako was supposed to be the older brother. He was supposed to be the one to protect Bolin. He had failed him their whole captivity, so he should be the one to get them free and yet he was failing again. He was a failure who was depending on his younger brother, who by all means should be a broken mess, to get them free. Mako choked back a sob. Crying wouldn't help their situation; he wasn't about to make Bolin comfort him when he's already doing so much. His baby brother had grown so much and it sickened Mako.

"I'm not sure why but all the soldiers are running either away from this point or towards the other entrance." Bolin explained through panted breaths.

"Bo," There was so much Mako wanted to say and ask but he just repeated his name again.

"We're almost there, bro!" There was real cheer and happiness in Bolin's voice and Mako couldn't help the sob that escaped at the beautiful sound of it. They were going to be free. They would get help. Everything was going to be ok.

They rounded a corner and Bolin instantly stopped and backed away muttering out repeated 'no's . Mako looked to see the end of the hallway engulfed in flames. "Make them go away." Bolin repeated. "Don't-don't-" Bolin looked frightened. Mako looked at his burned face, torn and destroyed body and understood why. He caused all this. Fire had cause Bolin pain. Who knew what else Amon had done to him when Mako wasn't there.

"Mako! Bolin!" The brother's turned around to see two Equalists running towards them. Mako felt something in him snap. They weren't going to take this away from them; they were so close to freedom. Mako could put out the fire with his bending and destroy the Equalists at the same time. He wouldn't fail this time.

He looked over towards his younger brother. "Bo," He put a hand gently on Bolin's shoulder. "Put up a wall around yourself and don't come out until I say so."

"M-Mako-" Bolin tried to oppose but Mako repeated himself and looked at Bolin like he was begging him to listen. Thankfully, Bolin nodded and backed himself against the nearest wall to put a barrier around himself.

Mako faced his enemies and took a deep breath, exhaling flames. The two Equalists stopped and one of them put the other behind them for protection. How cute. Mako gathered the fire from the end of the hallway and threw it at the two Equalists with a fierce yell. They weren't going back. Mako would die before he let anyone lay another hand on his brother.

His attack didn't work and he saw the front Equalist brush it away. This only enraged him more. The other one called out to him but all he heard was Asami's voice. He was going crazy. He attacked again and the front one kept brushing away his attacks. They were shouting at him but all he heard were Korra and Asami. He wasn't going back to that damned cell. Nothing was working on them and it only enraged him more. Why wasn't it working?! Attack after attack after attack and nothing was harming them.

He had to take them out. He heard Asami and Korra and Bolin and he knew he had to do this so he could see them again. He took a deep breath and tried to form lightening in his weakened state. He was going to kill those Equalist.

Just as the sparks started for form in his hands he felt someone grip his arm and rip it down. "Mako!" Bolin shouted forcing his brother to look at him. "Stop it!"

Mako was shaking in rage. "Don't stop me, Bolin. They're standing between us and our freedom!" Mako snapped.

"They're here to help us!" Bolin yelled back.

"Mako it's us!" Mako looked over to see the two Equalists rip off their masks and revealed Korra and Asami underneath. Mako stared for a moment before sagging to his knees in relief.

Bolin started harshly coughing slugged to his knees. Mako looked over at him and noticed the smoke filling the hallway. Mako scooped his arms under Bolin and lifted him up. "We need to get out of here." He said.

Korra and Asami ran over to the two boys. "Told you I should have taken care of the smoke earlier." Korra said to Asami. Both became silent as they got a good look at the brothers.

Mako looked filthy and exhausted. He had bags under his eyes and had a hallow expression. They could easily see the pain he was holding in and the guilt he was trying not to show. He was watching Bolin like nothing else mattered. The raw rage they had seen him fight with moments ago was truly frightening. Neither girl knew if they would be able to stop him; Korra was struggling against the power of his attacks, she had never experienced anything like it. He truly seemed willing to kill and destroy without a second thought but as soon as Bolin had snapped him out of it he instantly changed and seemed as if he were carrying the world on his shoulders.

But he looked better than Bolin. The lower half of his face was burned and so were parts of his body. While Mako had most of his clothes in tact Bolin was almost barren were it not for his tattered shorts. There were so many scars and markings all over him. He looked like a mess. He looked as if he should barely be standing or moving. But the way he looked at Mako with his bright green eyes made it seem as if everything was going to be alright. Korra instantly began recalling all medical knowledge Master Katara had taught her. She would know how to fix their injuries.

"You two can fight later." Mako snapped reeling them out of their thoughts. "Just get us out of here."

Korra nodded and pushed open a large hole at the roof of the tunnel. "Stand close." She commanded before pushing them all up on a pillar of earth and through the hole.

As soon as they were out of the tunnel, Mako carefully crouched to Bolin's level on the ground and embraced him. "Let's get away from here." He said gently as he looked at Bolin's exhausted face. Korra lifted them up again and pushed them as far away from the burning plumb tree as fast as they could go. Mako felt clean and refreshing rain and instant relief. "It's all over, bro." he whispered into Bolin's hair as he held tightly to him. Bolin dug his face into Mako's chest and began crying.

Ok thank you so much for your patience! I'm so sorry for all the wait but all of your comments and reviews and favs and follows inspired me to continue this.

I am going to have one follow up chapter to show the after shock of this and I already have written out so it won't take as long. I'm going to publish it after a little while so you won't be waiting forever.

I adore you all so much and please tell me what you think of all this craziness!

ION

Thanks so much

~Feathers