"I think I can help. Let me lead you into the Spirit World."

I didn't take the words seriously, at first. I responded automatically, "No way. I can't trust you."

"Maybe not. But if you had any other options, you wouldn't be here now, would you? We may have been enemies once, but for now, our interests align."

I stood there frozen, thinking of Kuvira and all the provinces she held enslaved, Suyin and her family her prisoners, how useless I now was to all of them. Of Jinora trapped in the Spirit World, waiting for me to rescue her, when I had neither the knowledge nor the power to so much as reach her, let alone help her. Wasn't it my duty to take the risk if it could help Jinora and the rest of the Earth Kingdom? I had to think of them, not myself. It was the only way to save those I loved...

As I prepared to answer, to accept his offer, my mind came back to the present, its focus shifting from thoughts of Jinora and the other prisoners to the sight of Zaheer. I stared at the man who had tortured me, ruined me, violated me as thoroughly as if he'd raped me. The question of trust was no longer an issue. As I remembered what he did to me and my body, I realized there was no way I would let him near me again. Whatever his motives, whatever his intentions, it wasn't possible for him to help me. After what he'd put me through, he could only do me harm; neither my body nor my spirit could receive any comfort or guidance from him, no matter what he or I wanted. After all the pain he'd caused me, pain was all he could bring me. A woman couldn't receive comfort from her rapist, no matter how skilled he was at comforting others.

Finally, I said in a blank voice, "It won't work." He didn't respond as I turned and left. So much for that plan.

Mako didn't say anything until we were back aboveground, outside. He waited until we took a few steps away from the prison before asking, "So what happened?"

"Nothing. Complete waste of time."

"Did you face him?"

"I saw him. I talked to him. Didn't do any good," I sighed at last. "I thought this would help, but..."

Mako waited until my voice trailed off before asking, "Did he say anything to you?"

I laughed. "He offered to help me meditate into the Spirit World!"

Mako's eyes widened in shock. "After what he did to you? How could he do that?!"

I knew he meant How dare he be so arrogant and callous to think you'd accept such an offer after what he did to you?, but I answered as if he meant it literally. "He couldn't. He tried to get me to trust him, but it didn't matter. It would never work. There was no point in trying." I felt sick as I imagined willingly placing myself in control of that monster, my spirit submitting to him... Never!

Mako took a step towards me, his arm outstretched, but I took a step away, and he drew back – I couldn't bear the thought of him touching me at that moment. With my face turned away from him, I heard him say, "Forget about him, Korra. We'll find another way."

"How?" I asked softly. I couldn't save Jinora, let alone stop Kuvira, until I was fully healed – that problem hadn't changed. What was I missing? What I was I supposed to do about it?

How did someone recover from something like this? I knew I wasn't the first person in history to suffer, but I honestly couldn't think of anyone who had been through what I had that day in the mountain. There were no stories of another Avatar being trapped in an utterly helpless position and ruthlessly tortured by her arch enemy in an attempt to force her into the Avatar State. How did I make that feeling of powerlessness go away? Nobody could seem to tell me; they either wanted me to give up so I wouldn't risk hurting myself worse, or shake it off and forget about it – they didn't understand what it did to me. No matter how supportive those who loved me were, they didn't know how it felt to go through that.

I realized now that was what I wanted more than anything – to find someone who understood what I'd been through, who knew how it felt because she'd been through it herself, and, most importantly, could tell me how she'd fought back and what I needed to do to heal once and for all. I needed to know I wasn't alone, that I wasn't the only person who'd ever been made to feel this way, that there was hope for me, that I wouldn't be like this forever. And as far as I and every human and spirit I'd met knew, there was no one like that in the world.

It was as pointless a wish as it was cruel. Why dwell on it? I shook my head and straightened up. "It doesn't matter. I tried. I'll never need to see him again."

"Good," said Mako. "So what's next?"

"I try again." I sat down on the ground right where I was and assumed the position.

Mako stepped up to me. "What do you mean?"

"I just keep trying until I'm able to break through this block and get into the Spirit World."

"You sure it works that way?"

"I don't know, no one does!" I snapped furiously, not at him, but at Zaheer, which I hoped Mako knew. "But it can't last forever. If I keep trying, it has to wear off eventually." I sounded as desperate as I felt. "I don't care if it takes another three years. I just won't stop until I can meditate into the Spirit World again." I could be more stubborn than some stupid vision!

"Do what you have to do. I'll keep an eye on you."

I looked up at him, wishing I could say something better than, "Thank you, Mako." I took a deep breath and faced forward. "Here we go again." I closed my eyes.

I tried to clear my mind, do nothing different than what Tenzin and Jinora had taught me, not think about what was coming... what I would see when I opened my eyes... who would be there again... The familiar sensation of my soul leaving my body. The upward rush. The lightness. The calm. I waited longer than usual before opening my eyes...

"Aaah!"

"What happened?" Mako asked once I'd caught my breath.

"The same thing," I answered truthfully. "No difference." Zaheer was still there, as I'd figured he would be.

To my immense relief, Mako didn't ask me for details. Talking about Zaheer sucking the air out of my lungs was the last thing I wanted to do. "You still want to try again?"

"I have to." I shook my head, pushed my hair behind my ears, and folded my hands again. I felt my pulse quicken as I closed my eyes. Don't do it – it'll happen again. But what choice did I have? I'm ready for you this time, Zaheer. Maybe if I prepared myself to face him, I could beat the vision this time. I braced myself as I sent my spirit from my body. As soon as I knew I was through, I opened my eyes and immediately thrust my fist forward. But I couldn't Bend here any more than I could in the Spirit World...

I pounded my right fist into the ground, grunting in frustration at myself, when I returned. "You all right?" Mako asked fearfully.

"I'm fine. Don't worry, nothing happened. Nothing different."

"Maybe this isn't a good idea..." Mako said timidly.

"It's not, but you got any better ones?" I replied weakly.

"Maybe if you take a break, try again later..."

"We don't have time." I couldn't stop until I made it through this block. Jinora's life might depend on it.

"Isn't there any way I can help?"

"There's nothing you can do." You or anyone else. No one could help me. I was on my own here. But it didn't matter; I had to do it.

I took another deep breath and prepared to meditate again. What could I do differently this time? Not thinking about him didn't work, thinking about him didn't work... I tried doubling my focus on my goal – the Spirit World – but that stopped me from getting anywhere altogether. What did I expect? I knew thinking too hard was the surest way of sabotaging meditation!

I sat there with my eyes still closed and my hands still folded, silently seething, no longer even trying to meditate, just hoping Mako wouldn't notice anything. I tried to think of anything Tenzin, Jinora, Toph, anyone had taught me for situations like this – no answers came. I wished Tenzin were here to help me now. Or Aang...

Aang, I said in my mind, Raava, anyone, if you can hear me, I need help. I prayed to any spirit who would hear me, I'm trapped. I don't know what to do. You've helped me before. Please help me now. Show me how to fight through this, how to do what I need to do. I don't care what happens to me – Jinora needs my help. Please show me how to save her. How do I beat this? If there's anything that can cure me, show it to me now. Please send me some sign, some answer, something or someone who can fix me. Please...

Half my brain continued to plead for help as I meditated, my focus on the Spirit World but my heart anticipating the inevitable meeting with Zaheer. I'd do anything to stop myself from seeing him again, ANYTHING! I hated knowing he had this power over me! Don't get angry. I had to stay calm, or I'd see him again... No, anything but that. Please, send me anywhere but back there...

In spite of the turmoil in my mind, I felt my spirit begin to leave my body again. My prayer became all the more urgent – anywhere but back there, anywhere but back there... Spirits, please guide me where I need to go. That was my one wish as I left my body and the world behind. I let my spirit fly free, gave myself over to the rush, surrendered to the pull of the other world, willing myself in the back of my mind not to stop on that mountaintop again...

This time, I was conscious of something else – something trying to pull me away. I didn't speak or move or look, but I felt myself screaming, Let me go! Stop! Somebody, anybody, help me, please!

As suddenly as it had started, the feeling was gone – whatever had tried to pull me down had released me. I could sense myself going on – where I didn't know, but I felt I was going far, like a bird flying faster and higher and farther than I'd ever flown before. A rush of motion, a whirlwind of air, a sensation of dizziness and falling, and then it stopped, and all was still. The journey was over.

Had I made it this time? I was too afraid to open my eyes. I listened but couldn't hear anything helpful (but of course, I never did). I didn't move a muscle or say a word. What would he do if I did nothing? Maybe if I didn't see him when he attacked me, something would change, end differently...

The longer I remained still, the more I realized I was being stupid. I couldn't stay like this forever. Worst case scenario, it would be horrifying, but it would be over soon. Trembling like a leaf in the wind, I opened my eyes.

What I saw made me gasp. I wasn't on the mountaintop. I wasn't in the Spirit World. I had no idea where I was.